adequate, no frills
Review Submitted: February 16, 2009
Date of Stay: February 2009
I would recommend this place for a group of retired couples, that prefers a low key vacation away from the buzz of Key West, plans to take day trips up/down the Keys and has plans for simple meals at the house. You will need a car to get around and ask for detailed directions to the house.
Our group included parents in their mid 70s and 3 families including 3 kids (12, 2 and 2). Space for our group was adequate, the interior was clean and for the most part, everything worked as expected. There was adequate space to park 3 vehicles. Cooking amenities were fine. Service in planning our stay was good and the layout was accurate. WiFi access was nice to have.
Some things we wished for include a heated pool (we assumed vs. checking on this), a bigger oven (it's quite small), better lighting (there are a lot of lights but things never seemed bright enough), dressers for unpacking (there are night stands and closets) and more games (there are only a couple; we bought/left a game of scrabble).
The main living area has 2 sets of stairs so beware of kids and anyone with physical challenges. They do provide 2 baby gates, which were a help with the little ones. In general, we thought the place was fine - a little worn in terms of linens and amenities and a little hacked together in terms of things like window coverings. Nothing magical, nothing over the top, no "wow" factor.
In Big Pine Key, we enjoyed Big Pine Restaurant and Cracked Egg for breakfast. No Name Pub was worth the wait for dinner. Rob's Island Grill and Crazy Fish both were decent for lunch. Winn Dixie was perfect for grocery shopping. We tried Bert & Frannie's salon for manis/pedis, which was an expensive experiment.
If I went back to the Keys, I would probably stay in Key West. The energy in Key West is less of a retired community and has more for the tourist on vacation to explore and has more opportunities for pampering.
Hope this helps with your decision!
Owner's Response: Many regard Big Pine Key as an oasis in an otherwise mad, rushed world. I have been here for four decades and remain as passionate and enthusiastic as ever… Big Pine Key is untrammeled wilderness and wildlife, back country flats, blue water fishing, snorkeling over shallow coral heads and diving the magnificent canyons of Looe Key. The island has a family atmosphere, is not overcrowded, and has a rich history for those that enjoy wildlife, fishing and water sports. Located minutes away from the nicest beach in Florida (Bahia Honda) it is also located 30 miles from Key West.
I regularly recommend interesting restaurants in Key West for guests curious about our Southern most neighbor. Personally, I find it very commercial and saturated with T-shirt shops to accommodate the thousands of cruise ship passengers that flock Mallory square daily. If partying on Duval Street, loud music and the smell of stale beer is your thing, Key West is perhaps a better destination.
We have dozens of satisfied families that have stayed with us over many years. I make it a point NOT to solicit reviews because, frankly, we like keeping Big Pike Key off the radar. For most who come, they leave with a profound impression they have found one of America’s best kept secrets. - I wouldn’t change a thing…
Owner
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Helpful votes: 6/14
