End of the Road

Key West is a unique place. Stuck out nearer Cuba than Miami, it retains a strictly Caribbean atmosphere, but with the easy living afforded by American facilities. The place should be experienced, not merely visited. From the beautiful beaches of Fort Zachary Taylor, amazing snorkelling, diving, and fishing (for the less environmentally sensitive!!), watersports such as kite boarding and water skiing, and of course, eating and drinking, there is something here for everyone.

Quick Tips:

1. Laze on Key West's best beach - Fort Zach - and snorkel the breakwaters not 75 yards offshore for a reef taster - I have seen red snapper, jewfish, and nurse sharks here!

2. Drink! and lots of it. Visit the Green Parrot and Schooner Wharf Bar for authentic conch socialisin'! Visit Capt. Tony's, Hog's Breath Saloon, and Sloppy Joes for overpriced drinks and tourist traps!

3. Eat! You may be lucky enough to be visiting during lobster fest! If not, try breakfast at Blue Heaven or Camille's or beautiful seafood dinners at Louie's Backyard or Turtle Kraals.

4. Ride! Rent a bike or a scooter. Do both of these at Moped Hospital. (I'm biased, as I used to work there - mention Geordie John, and you may get a discount).

5. Enjoy a sunset - at Mallory Square. Another tourist trap, but a good laugh too!

6. Get rude. Go during Fantasy Fest in October for an eye-opening experience of proper hedonism.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walk, bike, or scoot. The island's only 2x4 miles. You can rent a scooter or bike very cheaply. There is a notoriously unreliable bus called the Bone Island shuttle, but it's often quicker to walk. If you're thinking of driving up the Keys, Alamo and Tropical (a local hire firm) are good for cars.

Bogarts is part of the Casablanca hotel site. It's on the 900 block of Duval Street. It's a pretty nondescript place, really. What makes it special, though, is the staff and the clientele. This is the favourite bar on the island for British and Irish expats, and if you're looking for casual work on an extended stay, this is a good place to pick up tips. 4-7pm is happy hour and is always a laugh, especially at weekends. DJ Stu sometimes plays on a Saturday night - top tunes.

Beautiful. We rented a car from Key West and went up there armed with snorkels and lots of food and wine. Try and get on the site near the north of the island, as it's more peaceful there, and you can step out of your tent onto the rocky beach. Make sure you heed the advice of the rangers and keep all food hidden in your tent or car! We got many visits from racoons during the night. They managed to open our cool box, eat their way through a bag of nachos, (including the bag), and even chewed through our candles before they started fighting over the rubbish bag. Funny, but slightly unnerving at the same time!