Margaritaville Key West Review

Have you ever booked a hotel without doing any research? Probably not, but that’s pretty much what happened to me when I went down to the Florida Keys back in April. I had no expectations about the Margaritaville Resort & Marina, but since this was one of the featured stays during my press trip, I knew I was in for a treat.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about the Florida Keys at all. I only knew two people who had been, but they weren’t my target demographic so I tried to keep an open mind. The good thing is that the Margaritaville Resort & Marina ended up being the perfect introduction to the Keys since the chill and relaxed vibe of the property was pretty much what you can expect when visiting this part of Florida.

Here’s my Margaritaville Key West review:

The location

As you’ve probably figured out, the Margaritaville Resort & Marina is located by the marina. This is the busiest tourist area since it’s beside Mallory Square where there is nightly entertainment and the cruise ship port. Needless to say, you’ll see a ton of foot traffic, but this isn’t a bad thing since you’ll also be within walking distance to some of the city’s most popular restaurants, activities, and nightlife.

The rooms

There are two buildings that make up the resort, but if given the choice, ask for a room in the main building since it’ll be closer to all the amenities. Rooms start at USD $199 a night and range from traditional rooms to two bedroom suites. I should also note that there is a USD $29 per night resort fee, but this is waived during special promotions.

I stayed in a deluxe room that had two queen beds, an unobstructed view of the ocean (except when a cruise ship pulled in), and a small balcony with chairs and a table where I could relax. Wireless WiFi, local and toll-free phone calls, bottled water, mini-fridge, coffee machine, safe, bathrobe, and slippers were all included. The bathroom was quite spacious and the beds comfy. The decor wasn’t exactly my style, but it definitely fit the theme and location of the hotel.

The facilities

The pool at the Margaritaville Resort & Marina feels like a private oasis since it’s located within the inner courtyard away from all the crowds. Although you won’t be able to do laps, the pool is a decent size. Alternatively, you can relax in the whirlpool or on one of the lounge chairs. From 1pm – 3pm, refreshments including frozen drinks, fruit skewers, and popsicles are served free of charge. Towels are widely available at no extra charge.

The fitness studio is open 24-hours and features treadmills, strength machines, free weights, and much more. Towels and water are available for free, so you don’t need to worry about bringing things from your room.

Guests can also get access to a private beach on Sunset key where there are spa services available. I didn’t check out these extra amenities since there was an additional charge.

The food & drinks

I would argue that the food and drink options at the Margaritaville Resort & Marina are the star attraction. Open from 6pm – sunset, the Sunset Deck bar is a great place to lounge while watching the nightly Sunset Celebration of the pier.

Located below Sunset Deck is the resort’s onsite restaurant, Bistro 245. Considered one of the best restaurants in the Keys, the portions are huge and setting ideal. When I was there, I had the seared tuna as a starter, but the portion size was large enough to be a main. For my main, I had the midwest beef tenderloin which was cooked perfectly, but the porcini and thyme gratin was a bit salty for my tastes. Of course, I had a slice of key lime pie (whipped cream) to finish my meal and it was easily one of the best slices I had the entire trip.

Final word

Overall, my Margaritaville Key West review is positive. The $29 Daily resort charge is a bit annoying, but these kinds of fees are pretty common with resorts so I guess I shouldn’t complain too much. I loved the location of the resort and was pretty impressed by the restaurant.

**Barry Choi was hosted by the Florida Keys Tourism Council during this trip. The Margaritaville Key West and Florida Keys Tourism Council did not review or approve any aspect of this story.