Islamorada holiday condo

My family of 4 wanted to spend an extended week over new year in islamorada relaxing after a week in Orlando.

We have previously stayed in motels and efficiencies in the keys - very nice, but cripplingly expensive in high season.

Research on the web pulled up these condos in Islamorada.

They looked just fine, and at around half the rate of a suite in a local 4 star hotel, I booked it.

Upon arrival the condo campus is impressive but not intimidating. Some can be too "posh" which is way out of character for the keys. This was securely gated, but the campus was spacious, well equipped and inviting.

Our condo was very "keysey" meaning well equipped and comfy but not fussy. Very homely and relaxed.

Beds clean and comfortable, and a whole stock of linens and towels and other important trinkets ! A rare joy for a rental condo in my experience.

Full AC available, but we rarely needed it with the windows open and the fans on. Balcony has a lovely view of both the gulf of Mexico AND the Atlantic plus the gardens beneath.

Many glasses of wine were consumed on there !. There's a gas BBQ too, but we never used it.

Kitchen well equipped and spacious - being able to actually COOK means a lot when holidaying, it means we aren't tied to local restaurants all the time. Especially useful with two kids - a veggie and a fussy eater !

The Futura yacht Club campus is great, we played tennis, volleyball and did great fishing off the dock. Many of the boat owners were fun to talk to, despite being quite obviously very rich !

Perfect sunsets available free from the wooden chairs on the beachy dock headland too.

This condo is extremely convenient for Founders park, Harry Harris' park and shopping at Tavernier. Also theatre of the sea and an endless supply of fantastic restaurants.

MM 88 is nice, but expensive next door. Chris' famous fish sandwich is a couple miles but EXCELLENT.

The pool was heated a little warm for my tastes considering we had 80-degree weather during our stay but is great and well appointed with seats , loungers and tiki huts around it.

The condo really became our home after a day or two, with none of the issues of a hotel. We didn't miss maid service once, as the dishwasher was spacious and there's laundry facilities on our floor.

trying to think of problems but there were none. It was a bit "closed up" smelling when we arrived, but a couple of aroma candles from winn-dixie fixed that double quick.

Everything clean, comfortable and fun.

Highly recommended for independent minded travellers who want to explore the keys from a very civilised vantage point.

I'd love to own such a condo someday in the keys. Susan is lucky, but so are the folks who rent one of her great , personality-rich condos.