Amara Cay Resort

The exterior of The Islamorada Resort looks like a typical value hotel chain and the interior is somewhat worn, with tired public areas and guest rooms. A complete renovation of the entire property is currently underway to create a more welcoming atmosphere.

The lobby is fairly sparse, with light wood floors and a wood-paneled ceiling punched up slightly by tropical accents that include leaf-style ceiling fans and giant replicas of tropical fish hanging on the walls. There is little seating outside of a pair of dark wicker chairs with green cushions directly across from the dark wood check-in desk. An interesting addition to the decor is an antique diving suit that looks more like a space suit, which is located near the front lobby doors and next to the gift shop selling Florida memorabilia.

The pool deck, tiki bar, and man-made beach are the standout features of the hotel. The ocean views from the pool, hammocks, and tiki bar are stunning and provide the best reason to visit the Middle Keys. This hotel provides more value than the typical budget-style property, particularly since guests can participate in any type of water sport without leaving the grounds. However, the hotel can definitely use the facelift that is currently in progress.

Islamorada is located halfway between Miami and Key West and the hotel is situated on Mile Marker 80, which is how to figure out where restaurants, hotels, and attractions are located off of U.S. 1 (a.k.a. the Overseas Highway). It’s difficult to get around the Middle Keys without a car, so most travelers rent a vehicle, and the hotel offers free parking. With that said, it’s much easier to drive to nearby hotspots, rather than walk. The Theater of the Sea, which offers wildlife shows and opportunities to swim with dolphins, is located around five miles away. Robbie’s, located about three miles away on the next key, is a tourist hotspot where travelers can feed giant tarpon and also get a quick bite to eat for lunch. The Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana bar, a waterfront restaurant known for its key lime pie, is located about two miles northeast of the hotel.

The hotel was formerly a Hampton Inn, so rooms are decorated and furnished in the style of a budget hotel chain. Decor is Florida kitschy, with white wicker furniture and tropical prints, green floors, yellow walls, and beachy artwork. Rooms have balconies with white plastic furniture and not every room has an ocean view. Some rooms directly face the ocean, while others overlook U.S. 1, the busy road that connects the Florida Keys. Both the rooms and bathrooms need to be renovated -- they’re plain, aging, and unimpressive. Some rooms have older kitchens with dated appliances. Cleanliness issues in the rooms have been a problem for some guests. The property is currently undergoing a renovation that is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.

The Islamorada Resort sits directly on the ocean, and while there isn’t a traditional beach (there are actually very few beaches in the Middle Keys), there is a man-made stretch of sand encased by a seawall, where hammocks hang between palm trees and lounge chairs face the water. There’s also a small kids' play area with a jungle gym and swing set, as well as tiki huts with picnic tables in the sand. The hotel has its own boat dock and dive shop called Sea Monkeys. The shop offers wave runners, kayaks, paddleboards, boats, and bicycle rentals, as well as full dive certification programs and refresher courses.

There’s a rectangle-shaped pool that overlooks the ocean, a tiki bar, and a restaurant called Ocean 80 Seafood & Grill (named after Mile Marker 80, where the hotel sits). The restaurant and tiki bar often offer happy hour drink specials and live music as the sun sets into the ocean. Other amenities include a small gym with a handful of exercise machines and some free weights, an outdoor hot tub, and computers for guest use. Freebies include Wi-Fi, parking, and a continental breakfast served each morning (though it ends on the early side).