Fall 2021 – A Better Value For A Beautiful Time of Year

The Fall is actually a great time to be in Key West, there’s less traffic and the island is much quieter, allowing you to enjoy all of your Key West favorites without having to deal with the crowds. The Fall is also when you’ll find the best rate values of the year, your favorite Key West vacation homes can be booked for nearly 20% less than the cost of on-season rates!

fantasy-fest-key-west-2021

Get ready for Fantasy Fest! An experience you have to see to believe. Fantasy Fest is an annual 10-day party for grown-ups including costumes, parades and excitement! This year’s event will be held from October 22, 2021 to October 31, 2021. Put on your most extraordinary costume and get ready for all the fun!  While it’s true the parade is cancelled this year, 95% of the festivities are still going on, so honestly, no one will even notice! Find a Key West vacation rental near Fantasy Festival.

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Planning a getaway to Key West?  Fall is a perfect time! Temperatures start to cool down slightly in September. Key West averages a daily maximum temperature for September that’s between 87 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit (30 to 32 degrees Celsius).  October averages a high of 85 degrees and a low of 78 degrees (25 – 29 degrees Celsius). 

You can also enjoy less crowded beaches and attractions.  With kids going back to school, your Key West vacation experience can be a bit more relaxed and slow-paced.

Your time in Key West can be as action-packed or as relaxed as you desire. Adventure-seekers can book a fishing charter, snorkel trip, or dive to explore a shipwreck. Or, simply relax and unwind at the beach, at your vacation rental’s private pool, or strolling the downtown area. 

April 2018 Review/Photo of the Month

Each month we receive dozens of fabulous reviews and photos from our guests following their stays with us. We then choose the most memorable review and or photo for that month to win a $100 cash card. Our April 2018 Review/Photo of the Month Winner is Dr. Lentini’s chiropractic group that stayed with us at << THE COMMODORE’S MANOR >> for a long weekend. The group submitted a terrific review and awesome photo from their stay.

This fun group of Chiropractors enjoyed a day of jet skiing on the Gulf during their stay.

5-star review from the group.

We love hearing about our guests’ vacation experiences and seeing these amazing moments. It reminds us how lucky we are to do what we do everyday and to live in such a magical place.

We ask our future guests to send us a photo/video of your time on vacation and/or submit your memorable review for your stay to be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 cash card.

March 2018 Review/Photo of the Month

We received a multitude of excellent guest reviews and photo submissions this month! Each month we select the most memorable review/photo received as our monthly contest winner of a $100 cash card.

Our March 2018 Review/Photo of the Month Winner is The DeFelice Family, who stayed with us at << AVALYNN HOUSE >> and submitted a glowing 5-star review for their stay and shared some fun photos of themselves enjoying their vacation home and celebrating St. Patty’s Day!

The DeFelice Family celebrated St. Patty’s Day in true Key West style during their stay!

The 5-star review submitted from their stay at Avalynn House.

The whole gang posing by the pool.

It never gets old seeing moments like these of our guests enjoying their vacation homes and time in Key West. We take full pride in providing them with a memorable vacation experience.

Future guests: Be sure to send us a photo or video of your time on vacation and/or submit your memorable review for your stay to be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 cash card. You could be April’s winner!

The Insider Guide to Prime Season Key West Vacation Home Booking

The keys to scoring the best Last Key vacation home fit for your prime season stay are: educate yourself on our policies ahead of time, let us help you find a match, and be prepared to secure your rental. For those prime season Key West vacationers who brave the vacation rental market each year, this is your insider’s guide, created for you by our Director of Marketing & Reservations, so that once next year’s dates become available for rental you are ready to pounce on that vacation home you’ve been crushing on.

**Insider Tip** Understanding Right of First Refusal

In order to properly prepare for prime season rentals, it is best to start with the pre-booking policy of Right of First Refusal. We offer the Right of First Refusal to our prime season monthly guests (Jan-April months in relevant homes.) “Right of First Refusal” simply means we try to give current guests the first crack at renting the same home for the same dates the following year before it is made available to the public. Our timeline for this shifts each year, but typically seasonal guests are contacted the December prior to their stays to exercise their bookings for the following season. As an example, in December 2018, guests for season 2019 will be contacted regarding Jan-Apr 2020.

What this means for prime season vacation home shoppers is the day following the right of first refusal deadline is the best opportunity to jump on a reservation for the home you have your sights on. Mark your calendar for the right of first refusal deadline and call our office on that day.

Let Us Help You Find a Match

Our goal is to host you as our guest in the home that fits your needs. Help us do this by thoroughly communicating what you do and do not like about various homes we discuss in the booking process. New homes join our inventory all year long, so the more we know about you and your search, the better. Just in case the home you’ve been eyeing is unavailable, it’s always a good idea to have other homes in mind. Rank your top choices (1-4) and communicate why you do or do not like options we share, and we can best match you with the right home for your dates.

Tour The Home In Person

Although our homes are very true to the photos here on our website, we appreciate that many guests prefer to personally view a home prior to confirming a rental. We are available to walk you through any of our rental homes free of charge, as long as the home is not occupied by guests at that time.

Not able to come tour a home for yourself? We encourage vacation home “shoppers” to take a look at the reviews past guests have entered on our website, on HomeAway/VRBO/AIRBNB listings, and on Google.

Be Prepared to Secure Your Rental

Provide our team with as many details as you can about your needs so that we can best consult on the homes in our inventory that may match your search. On the day that homes become available for rental, be prepared to secure yours by knowing what you need – we require a signed contract and a 50% deposit in order to confirm your reservation. Be ready to sign and put down your deposit to lock in your dates as quickly as possible.

There you have it, the recipe for how to get the vacation home you want! The prime season months always book up the fastest (a year or so in advance) so do not hesitate to make your plans early. Remember we’re always here to help you plan your next Key West adventure – contact us at rentals@lastkeyrealty.com or call our Office at (305) 292-6266 to speak with a reservationist directly.

Merry Keysmas

Feeling lost about how to best spend your holiday? ‘Tis the season to celebrate all of the traditional joys associated with this time of year, with no snow shoveling involved! Key West is the perfect location to celebrate the season with family and friends for a holiday everyone will remember.

Escape from the cold and experience the holiday season a little differently here in Key West.

This Year Shovel Sunshine, Not Snow!

The winter chill might be on around the world, but here in sunny Key West you can expect temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s. Sometimes cold fronts bring a frost to the mainland of Florida, but here in Key West we stay frost-free! Rain is uncommon this time of year too so you can expect sunny skies and warm enjoyable temperatures.

Imagine enjoying a bike ride through Old Town to view the creative talent of Key West locals as they decorate with lights on everything from their homes, to fences, to boats… Palm trees make great Christmas trees too. Santa can even be found snoozing in a hammock or on a front porch.

Worried about stressful travel to Key West? Well don’t be, because getting to Key West has never been easier… United Airlines is now offering direct flights to Key West from Chicago and Newark throughout the Holiday Season.

Christmas in Paradise!

Give the ultimate gift of a last-minute Key West vacation to your spouse or family this year! We are currently offering a SUPER special of up to 60% off remaining rentals for Christmas, and we’ve extended this deal for January rentals as well. To make the deal even sweeter, our Concierge Team is offering Christmas Tree delivery and set-up, as well as all of the usual services (bike rentals, dinner reservations, fishing trips, etc).

Don’t hassle with traveling with gifts, just ship them to our office and we’ll deliver them right under your tree!

Enjoy More Churches and Bars

You are probably not surprised to hear that Key West offers more churches and bars per capita than anywhere else in the USA. For those looking for worship, you can attend a service at any of the many churches and synagogues. For those seeking happy hour and perhaps more, enjoy an eggnog martini or your preferred beverage at your favorite Key West watering hole. FYI Virgilos is open again!

Events = Lighted Everything!

December in Key West means the festive season is in full swing. The island buzzes with magical events for all to enjoy… and lots of lights!

Take a lighted trolley to view all the wonderful lights around Old Town.

Enjoy the annual lighted boat parade.

Take a tour of the Historic Inns of Key West.

Ring in the New Year… Key West style!

Spend your last nights of 2017 sipping on bubbly in Paradise! Key West is the best place to celebrate New Year’s Eve – watching the famous drag queen Sushi drop from a shoe at 801 Bourbon or the famous Conch Shell drop at Sloppy Joes bar. Duval street is closed to cars for the big party. The best part – sipping champagne in 75 degree weather. We’re also providing special welcome and celebratory gifts to guests staying with us for New Years.

Consider spending this holiday season with us in Key West and make a special holiday memory or plan a surprise trip for your spouse or family as a Christmas gift. Give us a call at 305-292-6266 or browse our available homes for last minute availability.

October 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

We are excited to be back delivering our guests a truly memorable vacation experience in Key West. Our winning Review/Photo submission for this month was from one of our first Post-Hurricane Irma guests, and we are so happy that they were able to enjoy Key West to the fullest.

Our October 2017 cash card winner is The Julien Family, who stayed with us at :: CASA VICTORIA :: and submitted an awesome 5-star review for their stay, as well as some fun photos of themselves enjoying the home and their time in Key West.

Julien Family 5-Star Review.

Guests enjoying their time at Casa Victoria.

The whole gang at the Southernmost Point.

Enjoying some fun on Duval Street.

These guests celebrated a birthday while in residence.

We are beyond thrilled to be back doing what we love – providing our guests an unrivaled Key West vacation experience. Seeing these amazing moments reminds us how lucky we are to be doing what we do and to live in such a magical place.

Future guests are encouraged to submit a review for their stay and to share your photos/videos of your group enjoying your Key West experience with Last Key. All entries are automatically entered into our monthly contest, for a chance to win a $100 cash card. See you in Paradise! 🌴

Time to Kick Start Key West – Post Hurricane Irma Update

Six weeks have passed since Hurricane Irma showed her ugly face in the Florida Keys, primarily impacting the middle and lower Keys about 20 miles North of Key West. Magically (see more on the mystical Grotto here), Key West was spared from much of the devastation and is now back to normal… which if you know Key West, is not normal at all.

Last week many Key West lovers flocked down to take part in the annual Halloween celebrations known as Fantasy Fest. It was such a fine sight to see so many people enjoying our glorious island again! If you weren’t able to make it to Fantasy Fest, don’t worry: There are a great number of fun events on the calendar for the rest of the year, including next week’s 37th Annual Super Boat Races, where guests can witness exciting power boat races right from the Truman Annex waterfont.

Now that Irma is in our rear-view, we need your help in bringing the activity back to our island! Despite the media’s portrayal of Irma’s impact, Key West was mostly spared – but what is now hitting us the hardest is the misconception that we are not yet open for tourism.  The island opened back up for tourism on October 1 and is back in full swing at this point. If you love Key West, it’s time you escaped all of your worries and took a relaxing vacation to our beautiful island. The weather is literally perfect, the beaches are glistening and you couldn’t pick a better time of year! Support your favorite vacation destination AND do your quality of life a favor by making a plan to spend a few nights, a week, or a month in the Conch Republic!

 

To make the deal even sweeter, we are offering some AMAZING specials that you will not want to pass up like our Procrastinator’s Discount, Snowbird Special, and Kick Start Key West.  See our specials page for details. Discounts included in online quoting.

Should you have additional questions about the impact of Hurricane Irma, the state of the island or our properties, please do not hesitate to call us directly at 305-292-6266.

Long live the Conch Republic!  #keysstrong

August/September 2017 Review/Photo of the Month

With Hurricane Irma impacting basically the entire month of September, we were never able to announce our winning submission for August. Also, being that there were no photos submitted (obviously) in September, the winner of this month’s $100 cash card will be for both months… Take that Irma!

Our August/September 2017 Review/Photo of the month winner is The Owens Family, guests of ours at :: OCTOPUS’S GARDEN :: They submitted a very flattering 5-star review, and shared some creative and fun photos with us from their time in Key West!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing these amazing moments of our guests’ vacations just reminds us how lucky we are to be doing what we do and to live in such a magical place. Now that Key West is back in business, we look forward to receiving more memorable photos from our fabulous guests.

Future guests are encouraged to send us a photo or video of their time on vacation and/or submit a memorable review to be automatically entered in our monthly contest and have a chance to win a $100 cash card.

Welcome Back Key West! #ConchStrong

Key West is BACK IN ACTION and ready to welcome all of the Keys lovers from around the world!
The official start to tourism is October 1, but our homes in Old Town through Stock Island are cleaned up and ready for visitors.
Last Key Realty has reopened
Help us support our brothers and sisters in the lower and middle keys, many of whom work in Key West, by keeping our tourism alive and showing your love for the *CONCH* way of life! Come take it easy – enjoy your favorite restaurants (all open!), visit your favorite watering holes (all ready to pour your drinks!), take a dip in our beautiful waters and catch some fish & some rays of sunshine.
We are offering 20% off our homes through October – come on down, the water’s fine!

Slow Down, This ain’t the Mainland: Your Guide to Getting Around Key West Without A Car

Getting around Key West isn’t too difficult, after all it is an island. Speed limits are low, people are friendly and you’ll probably see a few bumper stickers with the tagline “Slow Down, this ain’t the mainland.” At Last Key Realty, we’ve come up with a guide – for those vacationing without a vehicle or for those that want to ditch their vehicle – to get you around Key West in the style that best fits your island experience.

Ride A Bike

The quintessential mode of island life transportation is biking. Most streets in Key West have designated bike lanes, making cycle commutes safe and easy. However, be sure to keep your wits about you and watch out for traffic. Key West has a long history of being a bike-friendly community. Many locals take pride in dressing up their “conch cruisers” and rig them with distinct character, flair and fabulousness. Just remember to always use bike lights at night, and to lock up your bike when making a pit stop downtown. Renting a home without parking for a vehicle? Bike racks are located all around Key West, and most LKR vacation homes have designated space for locking up your bicycle when you aren’t out cruising around. If your bike won’t fit nicely in the overhead bin or safely under the seat in front of you, don’t worry, our Concierge Team will be happy to help you secure two wheels during your time in paradise. They can even arrange for bike delivery to your Key West vacation home, so that you won’t have to waste valuable vacation time. Not the most confident on a bike? You can always snag a three-wheeled adult beach cruiser for an easy ride around town, plus these tri-cycles feature ample basket space. This set-up is perfect for a “beverage” run or a quick trip to the local grocer, Faustos, for the essentials.

Hop on a Scooter

There’s nothing like scootin’ around town with your hair blowing in the wind. Driving a scooter is quicker than riding a bike, yet more convenient than driving a car. Key West is very scooter-friendly and scooter/moped parking is a breeze – especially in Old Town. Plus, you really get to see more of the island up close when riding a scooter compared to driving a car. Reserve a scooter for your stay through our Concierge Team, who will offer to shuttle you to your scooter pick-up location.

On Foot

Get your steps in! Nothing is “too far” to walk in Key West. At only 2-miles by 4-miles, walking the entire island can be accomplished in a single day. Walking is a safe option (especially after you’ve hit a few happy hours) and it allows you to soak in and marvel the island’s beautiful architecture.

Ride Sharing

Now that Uber, Lyft, and other Ride Sharing Services have made their way to Key West, enjoy the convenience of a quick ride around town just by using your smartphone. Ride sharing is a great option after hitting the bars on Duval Street or for a prompt fast trip to and from the airport. Ride sharing is the perfect option for reaching locations that may be a bit far for a bike ride or a walk without having to rent a vehicle for your entire stay.

Duval Loop

As of August 31st, Key West will offer a circulator bus ride to your favorite stops on and around Duval Street. Tentatively called the “Duval Loop,” this complimentary bus service consists of a sixteen stop route. The Duval Loop is part of the city’s “Car Free Key West” initiative to eliminate cars and ease congestion in the heart of Old Town Key West. Check out the official Duval Loop website for pickup times and stops. You can also search for one of our amazing vacation rentals on Duval Street, or rentals near Duval Street.

Pedicab

Pedicabs are three-wheeled vehicles that seat two passengers in a hooded cab behind the driver, who operates it using pedals. You will see them riding up, down, and around Duval Street constantly, and hopping in one to get from one bar or attraction to the next is a relaxing and fun way to get around. It’s also a great way to see the island while letting the pedicab driver do all the work.

For any other questions, or to find a Key West Vacation Rental, just contact us at Last Key Realty.