Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort

Return Visit Still Good for our Family of 5

Pros: Great location just across the bridge from Miami. Great for kids 5-16. I would NOT call this a romantic spot. Pool is very nice. The guys with "Emocean" (the watersports company onsite) are great. Food is good, but super pricy. The views are very nice, especially for sunset. You could just make one stop here and not leave, save for dinner and activities. First time we visited, we had a room with 2 queens; this time we upgraded to the 2 bedroom suite, which was as nice as any condo at the beach (although we would have been fine with a smaller kitchen for the addition of a 2nd bathroom). Even so, it was absolutely great. We would come back, especially considering how many improvements they have made to the property since our last visit, 5 years ago.

Cons: Food and drink, although good, are resort pricy. Lunch for me, my wife and 3 daughters (15,12 and 9) was $121. And we're talking about sandwiches, etc, not filets. Also, there is a hybrid of "island time" here, akin to what you might find in some place like Jamaica. It's not QUITE as slow paced as Jamaica et al, but it is definitely a bit slower than you are accustomed to back on the mainland. Also, although it is a well run resort, you must keep in mind that they are on a schedule and there is a time for everything that may not be exactly when you would want it to happen (e.g. when are you making up our room?). If you can overcome this, you will likely be able to recognize that the service and staff are actually quite good, with some minor exceptions: a better front desk/concierge experience has been lacking both times we visited.