Adult/Couples Only?: No.
Time of Year/Weather?: This trip was taken in mid August of 2002. The temperature was an average of about 90 degrees and sunny each day.
Length of Trip?: 10 days/7 nights at the resort. We drove from Ohio to Florida.
Was this an All-Inclusive Resort?: No. It is a timeshare resort through Interval International.
Approximate per person cost?: N/A
Were there any hidden or extra costs?: Yes. If you wish to have the phone turned on in your unit you have to leave a credit card imprint with the front desk. They prefer you use a cellular phone to make your calls rather than have the phone turned on, however you can still call the front desk without having the phone activated.
Describe room accommodations (view, decor, cleanliness, etc.): The rooms are average size except for the master bedroom which is quite spacious. The master bedroom has a king-sized bed and the other bedroom has two twin-sized beds. There is also a pull-out sofa sleeper in the living room. The bathrooms are small, with the master bath having a tub with jacuzzi jets (it is only slightly larger than a regular tub). There is a double sink in the master bath. Both bedrooms have large closets. The kitchen area has a breakfast bar, a microwave, toaster, and blender, as well as a full-sized refrigerator and stove with oven. The unit also has an apartment-sized stacked washer and dryer combo. The dining area has a table for four, although the unit is sized for 6 people. The living room has a sofa sleeper and a loveseat placed in front of an entertainment center with large TV with remote control, cable, and a VCR. The unit also had a few movies on VHS tapes already there and the option to borrow others from the activities room. Each bedroom also has a TV with cable and a remote control, but no VCR. Our unit had a nice view of the swimming pool, basketball court, volleyball court, beach, and marina. This is due to the fact that the units have a wrap-around balcony covering half of the unit. There were six patio door exits out onto this balcony: two in the master bedroom, one in the living room, two in the dining room, and one in the kitchen.
Describe food/meals (presentation, quality,etc.): N/A
Describe Staff and Service: The front desk staff was quite friendly but not always readily available, even with the posted office hours. The only problem I encountered was that they never gave us the code to access the outdoor restrooms and activities room. We ended up getting the code from another guest.
Activities Onsite: Swimming pool, basketball court, volleyball court, small fitness room, community TV room, lending library for VHS tapes and books, beach, and marina (boat docks and rental kayaks available for a fee).
Offsite Activities: There are a variety of activities in the Florida Keys, all within a 2 - 2 1/2 hour drive. We went to the beach, had a picnic lunch, and went snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. We fed the tarpon at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada. We also went down to Key West and did a variety of sightseeing activities, shopping, and tours. There is plenty of shopping, for those so inclined, from the outlet malls in Florida City (just before you cross into the Keys) all the way down to Key West.
Value for the Cost?: Excellent
Overall Rating (10 being best)?: 6
Additional Comments: We were reluctant at first to travel to a non-amusement park location with our four children (ages 6 -13), figuring they would be bored. They were also not exactly excited at the prospect. All in all, this turned out to be a great family vacation and a learning experience for the children as well. It was refreshing to get away from all of the commercialism of places with predominantly amusement park attractions. We would definitely consider this type of trip again in the future.
Key Largo, Florida
