13201 Overseas Highway, Mm 53.5, Marathon, Florida, United States | (586) 210-9239
Swimming pool facing waterfront
Tarpon Creek Wood Fire Grill restaurant
Free Wi-Fi, HBO, and DirecTV
Pet-friendly
Kayaking, snorkeling, and boat tours available
24-hour business center
Gym with up-to-date cardio equipment
Free breakfast
Free parking
Thin walls mean some rooms can be noisy
Lobby gets crowded in the morning with breakfast rush
No beach at the hotel
Fee for pets
Far from Key West tourist attractions
**This hotel has reopened following the impact of *Hurricane Irma* in September 2017, though the restaurant and marina were damaged during the storm and are currently closed. We will update our review as soon as we have more information.** Holiday Inn Express & Suites Marathon is a three-story, 134-room (including 24 suites) hotel located a five-minute drive away from the Florida Keys Marathon Airport. Situated in one of the quieter island communities, the hotel offers water sports at the on-site marina but does not have its own beach. Rooms are modern and clean, but thin walls mean some rooms can be noisy.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A family-friendly budget property with access to on-site water sports and boating
A budget hotel located in the Middle Keys, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Marathon is a family-friendly, waterfront property. There is free on-site parking and a covered carport, where guests can drop off luggage and check-in at the front desk. The lobby is bright and airy, decorated in pastel beach colors, including a baby-blue painted wall with a silver fish design hanging above a green loveseat.The hotel does not have beach access, and the closest public beach is about a 10-minute drive away. Situated next to a marina, the hotel offers boat docks, fishing and diving charters, and other non-motorized water sports on-site. The heated outdoor pool overlooks the inlet, as does the Tarpon Creek Bar & Grill, an outdoor restaurant covered by a giant tiki hut that serves lunch, dinner, and tropical cocktails.
Location
A quiet area with not many attractions within walking distance, but the airport is a five-minute drive away
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Marathon is located on a quiet island in the middle of the Florida Keys, halfway between Miami and Key West. The structure sits on a protected inlet and has waterfront access and an on-site marina. The Island Fish Company is a short walk across Overseas Highway. There is no beach at the hotel, but Sombrero Beach is about 10 minutes south by car. The Dolphin Research Center is about a seven-minute drive north. It's just a five-minute drive to the Florida Keys Marathon Airport.
Rooms
The rooms are clean and basic, but some can be noisy
The rooms and suites are standard for a Holiday Inn, with modern, chain-like decor and free Wi-Fi. The walls, carpet, furniture cushions, and bedding are in earthy tones of yellow, green, and beige, and the furniture is of dark wood. Some rooms have views of the pool and the inlet, where boats come and go out of Tarpon Creek Marina. The walls are thin, and some of the rooms can get fairly noisy. Guests looking for longer stays may want to consider the nearby (and pricier) Coral Lagoon Resort, with two- or three-bedroom villas with laundry and kitchen amenities.
Features
Plenty of activities on and off the property, but no beach
Although there is no beach access on the property, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites does have a waterfront swimming pool with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas. The pool is adjacent to the open-air Tarpon Creek Bar & Grill, which has views of the inlet. Free breakfast is served each morning. The hotel can arrange outdoor adventures, including snorkeling, kayaking, and boating trips to the Dolphin Research Center and Turtle Hospital. There is a 24-hour business center with computer access, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and a gym with new cardio machines, but no weight-lifting machines.
