Tag: Hotels

We needed a dose of sunshine this February so we took a Budget-Friendly Trip to Key Largo. I was hoping to utilize the Hilton option to book 4 Reward Nights and get the 5th Night Free, but there was no availability for the last night of our planned stay.

A friend of ours highly recommended the Hampton Inn Key Largo. He had stayed there on many occasions and thought that it was a very nice hotel. Since this was our first time visiting Key Largo, I was excited to be able to compare the 2 properties. In order to get a good feel for both hotels, I reserved 3 nights at the Baker’s Cay Resort and 2 nights at the Hampton Inn.

Hampton Inn – 102400 Overseas Hwy Key Largo, Florida  

I booked a Pool View King room for 80,000 points per night, but as Hilton Diamond members, we are always hopeful for an upgrade.

Check-in is at 3pm for this hotel and Check-out is at 11am. We arrived just after 3pm and our room was not quite ready yet. The Desk Agent was very nice and apologized indicating that the previous guests had requested late check out which was why the room was not yet ready. She immediately phoned Housekeeping and had them prioritize our room.

The Desk Agent then gave us some towels and suggested that we take advantage of the pool and beach area while we waited. It was very much worth the wait because we had been upgraded to the best room at the hotel (in my opinion). We ended up in a Bayview King room on the top floor facing the ocean which would have been 160,000 points per night. Having hotel status can really pay off.

The Room

We ended up in a 2nd-floor room on the end with a lovely patio and a great view of the beach and bay. We loved hanging out on the patio, drinking a glass of wine, and listening to the music wafting up from the tiki bar. It was also a great place for watching the sunsets over the bay.

When we first entered the room there was a closet to our left and the bathroom was to our right. We also passed through a kitchenette area before getting to the main room. The kitchenette had 2 sets of cabinets, one on either side of the walkway. On one side there was a microwave, a mini fridge, a small counter with a coffee pot, and some cabinets. The other side had a sink, an ice bucket, and more storage

This area was very useful for storing and preparing drinks and munchies during our stay.

The bathroom wasn’t fancy, but it was clean, everything worked properly, and there were plenty of fluffy towels. I thought that it was a nice touch when the staff called us the next day to ask how we were enjoying our stay and if we would like any more towels.

The vanity lighting was pretty decent (something I am picky about), and the only thing that I would have liked was just a bit more counter space or a shelf for storing our grooming supplies. The hotel provides Neutrogena amenities and has converted to bulk bottles for shampoo and body wash.

The main area of the room had a king-sized bed and a dresser with plenty of drawers. There was also a seating area with a couch, coffee table, and a large TV. Since we had a kitchenette, it was also great having a table where we could sit and enjoy a snack. The bedside table was equipped with an alarm clock with handy USB ports for charging our phones.

The Hotel

Convenience Store

There is a convenience store located near the front desk. You can buy snacks, drinks, microwavable foods, and sundry items that you might have forgotten to pack.

Business Center and Kayak Rental

In the same area, there is a small business center with 2 computer stations and chairs. If you rented one of their kayaks, this is also where you would pick up your paddles and other equipment.

Fitness Center

The fitness center is located in a separate building. Although we didn’t utilize this option, it looked very spacious and well-equipped.

Breakfast Buffet

This hotel offers a complimentary breakfast buffet rather than the Food and Beverage Credit that you get at some other Hilton property types. We checked it out one morning and it was fine. The buffet is what you would expect and included a make-your-own waffle station, a variety of cereals, yogurt, pastries, and fresh fruit. There were also a few hot items like cheese omelets and ham.

The dining area was pretty large so there was lots of room for guests to spread out. The bar top had plugs for people working on their computers while enjoying a bite to eat or a cup of coffee.

Pool and Tiki Bar

There is a nice-sized pool with lounge chairs and a few tables with umbrellas located on the side of the hotel. This area offers a mix of sun and shade. Pool towels are available at the Front Desk.

Chill music fills the air each afternoon when the tiki bar opens. This shady open-air bar is a great place where folks can sit, enjoy a drink and hang out. You can also take your drinks to enjoy at the pool, beach, or in your room.

Beach and Bay

This hotel sits directly on the bay. It has a long cement break wall that allows boats to pull up and dock as well as a sandy area with lounge chairs and a small pavilion. If you are a sun worshipper, this is the place for you since there isn’t much shade or umbrellas at the beach.

Wildlife

A channel runs along one side of the property and I enjoyed watching groups of fish swimming and jumping in the water. This area also attracted a few different varieties of birds. Small boats and kayaks glided in and out of the channel throughout the day.

A manatee stopped by for some fresh water on our last morning. After it had a drink, it swam around the area for a bit before making its exit. It was super fun to watch.

Final Thoughts

The Hampton Inn Key Largo is located on the Overseas Hwy which makes it easy to get to. There are many local restaurants and activities within just a few minutes’ drive of the hotel.

I would like to say that the staff at this hotel were absolutely fantastic. When we arrived, they recognized our Hilton status and thanked us for staying. They made every effort to get us into our room quickly and to make sure that we were having a great stay. My husband loved that there were special parking spaces designated just for Hilton Diamond Members.

Yes, there are a few wonky features at this hotel and the rooms aren’t the most stylish that I have ever stayed in, but it was very clean, really comfortable, and had everything we needed for a great stay. I think this hotel is a great value and I would definitely stay there again in the future.