Southernmost Hotel

Though it might not actually be the southernmost hotel in the U.S., this Key West property is located a block away from the Southernmost Point and offers a charming, relaxing stay amid palm trees and azure swimming pools. The entrance to the hotel is wreathed in palms and lush plants, with a circular driveway presided over by a fountain skirted in flowers and greenery. An inviting lobby features blonde wood wall paneling and front desk that is paired with tiled floors and round rope chairs for a light and airy, beachy feel. Large windows fill the space with natural light and overlook the pool, while a leafy potted plant gives a fresh burst of green to the sitting area. Common indoor spaces are limited, but there’s plenty of seating around the pools and poolside bar. The property mainly attracts leisure tourists -- mostly couples -- though business travelers are also catered to with a meeting room.

Southernmost Hotel is located on the southern end of Key West, a block away from the Southernmost Point and the beach. Key West is the westernmost of the Florida Keys and offers a thriving nightlife scene, as well as great diving, shops, restaurants, and decent beaches. The hotel is right on the quieter end of Duval Street, a main artery, and within walking distance of lots of places to eat, shop, and drink. Key West can feel like a bit of a tourist trap with its tacky bars, hordes of cruise ship passengers, and T-shirt shops, but it’s one of the few Keys that has historic sites to visit. On the literary side, Ernest Hemingway (among many other writers) spent a big part of his life here, and his home has now been turned into a museum that’s about an eight-minute walk from the hotel. Other attractions within walking distance include the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory (one-minute walk) and the Key West Lighthouse (eight-minute walk). The Key West International Airport is about a 10-minute drive, while the Florida Keys Marathon Airport can be reached in about an hour and 15 minutes.

These stylish rooms feature elegant, contemporary decor in neutral hues with sleek, dark wood furniture and beige, tufted headboards framing beds topped in crisp, white linens. Framed oceanic photographs adorn the walls and lend a subtle beach feel, and many rooms have French doors that open onto lovely furnished balconies or patios. All room have work desks, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and a supply of daily bottled water, plus some have microwaves. Bathrooms are fairly standard, with marble-topped vanities offering ample storage space, shower/tub combos, and a range of Gilchrist and Soames bath products, while some have large, modern walk-in rainfall showers with stylish mosaic tiling.

The hotel has two pools (one for adults only) surrounded by sundecks with loungers, as well as access to the pools, beach, and other facilities of its neighboring sister property, Southernmost on the Beach. A poolside bar serves drinks and a light lunch menu, plus there are two bars and a cafe serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the sister hotel. Business travelers are catered to with a meeting room. There is a fitness center on-site and in-room spa services can be requested, including massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures. There is an obligatory resort fee that covers Wi-Fi and use of facilities like the fitness center. Parking also incurs an additional fee.