Key West is known for its nonstop energy, but finding a place where you can actually unplug at the end of the day can be tricky. Margaritaville Beach House gives you the best of both worlds, pairing easy beach access with a free ride straight into Old Town whenever you want to dive into the action. If you are heading down to the Keys, here is my honest take on what it is like to stay here.
Location and How to Get There
Margaritaville Beach House sits right in Key West, the southernmost island in the Florida Keys chain. With Key West International Airport right on the island, hopping down for a long weekend is ridiculously easy. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale instead and tackle arguably the most scenic drive in the country. It takes about three and a half to four hours, cruising across the Overseas Highway with ocean views on either side.
If you do fly directly into Key West, the resort is a quick fifteen-minute ride away. Even better, they offer a complimentary on-demand shuttle service to and from the airport. Simply call or text the front desk upon landing and they will send the shuttle to scoop you up. The entire process felt seamless, and we waited less than ten minutes before being whisked away to check in.
Check-In Experience
On arrival at Margaritaville, we were warmly welcomed with ice-cold margaritas. Because our flight landed well ahead of standard check-in time, our room was not quite ready yet. The team promptly took charge of our luggage, allowing us to head straight to the resort’s open-air bar and restaurant to settle in with lunch.
Before long, I received a text notification letting us know the room was prepared. I stopped by reception to collect our resort wristbands and made our way upstairs, where our luggage had already been seamlessly delivered.
Rooms
We were fortunate enough to check into one of the one-bedroom suites, featuring a generous bedroom and a completely separate living room with its own TV. Tucked into the corner was a convenient kitchenette equipped with a microwave, mini fridge, and coffee maker, which came in handy for keeping cold drinks on hand and storing leftovers. The setup was wonderfully comfortable, and between the plush mattress, blackout blinds, and white noise sound machine, we slept soundly every single night.
The bathroom was equally spacious, offering plenty of vanity counter space along with separate areas for the walk-in shower and toilet. My absolute favourite spot in the entire suite, though, was the private balcony overlooking the pool courtyard. Decked out with comfortable loungers, it quickly became our go-to retreat for morning coffee and some genuinely entertaining midday people-watching.
Food and Drink
The on-site restaurant, Tin Cup Chalice, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, dishing up an impressive variety of poolside comfort food. Naturally, the cocktail menu is as extensive as you would expect from a Margaritaville property, packed with specialty margaritas that take the “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” philosophy very seriously, even before noon. The waitstaff were consistently attentive, and the bartenders brought great energy, always ready to craft something fun and get the island vibe rolling.
I ate here multiple times throughout the stay and sampled a bit of everything. The towering plate of loaded nachos, fresh burrata salad, and blackened mahi tacos were all absolute standouts. If you just need a quick grab-and-go bite, there is a convenient sundries market right next to reception stocked with sodas, cold drinks, and snacks, complete with a self-checkout scanner that lets you bill everything straight to your room.
Facilities
The lagoon pool and waterfall serve as the undeniable centerpiece of the resort, surrounded with sun loungers, whimsical pool floats, and private cabanas available to rent. Twice a day, staff make the rounds with poolside treats covered by the daily resort fee, dishing out fresh smoothies at noon and popsicles at 2:00 PM. If you wander through the lobby mid-afternoon, you will also spot fresh-baked cookies, right in time for the daily happy hour from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
My absolute favourite resort perk, though, was the complimentary shuttle running between the property and Old Town Key West. With a packed itinerary of excursions departing from the historic district, having free transport was a huge bonus that saved me a fortune on Ubers and parking fees. The van departs from the lobby on the hour from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and returns from downtown on the half-hour until 11:30 PM. The evening runs back at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM can fill up quickly, so get in line a few minutes early because if it hits capacity, you will be waiting for the next run. Aside from one driver, our rides were pure entertainment. The drivers loved sharing local lore, wild island history, and commentary, including the hilarious saga of an official chicken wrangler once hired to round up the island roosters, only for rebellious locals to secretly set every single bird free into the streets where they reign to this day.
The fitness center is surprisingly spacious and well-equipped with cardio gear, resistance machines, and free weights, and I practically had the entire gym to myself whenever I peeked in. It also features dedicated showers and changing rooms, an absolute lifesaver if you have an evening flight and want to spend a full final day in the sun and freshen up after checkout.
Location-wise, the resort sits directly across the coastal road from Smathers Beach, easily the best beach in Key West. Being a quick two-minute stroll away made it effortless to wander over for an ocean swim and stroll right back without touching a car. While the resort does not provide private beach loungers on the sand, the Sunset Watersports concession right along the shoreline rents umbrellas, chairs, Hobie Cats, and paddleboards.
Finally, beside the grab-and-go sundries market, the gift shop stocks plenty of Margaritaville merch, from branded tees and hats to classic koozies for your pool drinks.
Activities
Being in Key West, you will never be short of things to do around the island, but there is also plenty to keep you entertained on property. The resort curates an engaging weekly schedule, with the full events calendar posted right in the lobby. Highlights during my stay included a rum tasting session, bingo night, aqua yoga, and evening live entertainment.
Service
We experienced warm, attentive hospitality throughout our entire stay. It began the moment we landed: our airport pick-up was prompt and effortless, and our shuttle driver even had a bubble machine in the van to kick off vacation mode.
While my pre-trip emails went unanswered, any communication hurdles disappeared once on-site. The front desk and concierge teams were exceptionally fast and efficient, easily reachable via text message. They checked in daily with a quick message to make sure everything was running smoothly. When we left our “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door one afternoon, they proactively texted to let us know that extra towels and amenities were readily available at reception whenever we needed them.
Closing Remarks
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Margaritaville Beach House Key West. It is one of those places where every detail just clicks into place. Between the laid-back atmosphere, the warmth of the staff, the vibrant pool scene, and having Smathers Beach right across the street, the resort felt like an absolute win. Throw in the effortless shuttle service straight into Old Town, and you have the ideal, stress-free base camp for exploring the island. I would not hesitate to book another stay here.
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You can find out more about my stay on my “Key West” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.
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