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    Authors Guest House

    3.8 (66 reviews)
    ModerateHotels

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    nature trail
    Lisa S.

    Reviewed 2 days ago via mobile My husband and I had an unfortunate experience while staying here. Upon checking in, we were told by the employee at the desk that we could park in front of the guesthouse as long as there was no sign saying "residential parking".There was no sign, so we parked there. The next evening after walking back from town, we returned to find that our car was towed. It cost us nearly $300 to get our car back + the cost of the ticket. We had expected that because the hotel employee assured us it was ok to park there, that we would be compensated for a night's stay. Instead , the Manager indicated it was our fault and that we should have known we could not park there even though his employee assured us that it was ok. Aside from this, the service here is terrible. There is no employee available after 5:00 PM for any help if needed. The pool is not a pool, but a whirlpool. There is no pool as advertised. Also, there were no extra towels near the whirlpool, so we had to use our bath towels to dry off. Then, we were unable to get dry towels, as no staff was on duty. The breakfast is horrible - packaged , cheap muffins & a few tangerines. the positives: Good location in quiet neighborhood, decent room and comfortable bed. However, due to the terrible service and bad management, I would not recommend this place. It is overpriced for the level of service , bad advice by hotel employee, & the uncaring attitude of the management. VERY disappointing!

    Small pool
    Angelo R.

    I found an awesome rate on Hotels.com so we all stayed here when we went to Key West. It was about $160 per night for a large room with a king size bed and a twin. According to the nice front desk lady, all rooms do come with an extra twin bed which is a good deal if you split the room between 3 people. I was assigned the largest room on 2nd floor called Thornton Wilder. It was more than enough space for 2 people. It had a writing desk, 2 chairs, micro, fridge, chest of drawers. It was also very clean and loved the quaint Key West décor. Bathroom had fresh towels, toiletries, and a blow dryer. In the morning there was a complimentary light breakfast including coffee, fruits, yogurt, and bagels. There's also a small courtyard with a pool. I also had the pleasure of meeting one the friendliest cats just lounging on the chair which is common in Key West. Although this B&B is not on the strip, it's still walkable to Duval (7 blocks) or just take a Lyft for $8. There's no private parking lot but plenty of free street parking which we didn't have any difficulty finding spots. There's an abundance of hotels on the strip but If you want to stay somewhere tranquil in Key West, this is the perfect choice without breaking the bank. We definitely had lovely and quiet stay here.

    Jason B.

    I'm going to be honest and if it upsets the owners I do apologize. With my job I stay in hotels and b&b's no less than 255 nights each year allover the lower 48 states. I had been given paperwork for this trip to key west only a day prior to my arrival so I didn't have much time to locate a place to stay but with a quick orbitz search I decided on this location. $310 per night and hey it's the keys so it is what it is on pricing but I guess I was expecting more out of my stay but here goes. I did arrive late due to an issue with my flight not being able to land over a fog issue but I arrived around 8:45 pm and it was a little confusing on how to get in but after walking around I did locate the gate and there was my envelope with my room keys and information about the property. The place is huge and appears to have 7+ separate rooms they rent out but mine was located downstairs ( library room ) it's decent size with a king bed and tv with tons of windows and an Ac that worked great not that it was hot here in Feb but it kept the room a very nice temp. The bed was horribly firm to the point that I literally spent about 5 hrs sleeping in the little wicker chair on the room because my back was killing me. But hey it's a bed so it is what it is. The shower had horrible pressure ( it could be the way it is here so I don't blame the owners ) but keep that in mind because it is horribly low pressure. Breakfast items offered are a joke ( it's literally items that look like there from sams that's pre packaged ) muffins and granola bars. For $300 + per night I was really surprised by the breakfast options and that was one of the cheaper rooms they have here. Looking at this property online it appeared that it was comparable to a B&B but it isn't that at all. I was in the room for no joke 10 hrs but that isn't the owners issue it's mine but I just figured for the amount spent to stay there would be more options. Would I stay here again on my next trip it's 50/50 but I for sure wouldn't pick this room again. The bed was just way to dang firm for me. One good thing about this location is it's literally within walking distance to tons of places to see and hang out for drinks or a quick afternoon bite.

    Cool succulents
    Olivia S.

    I've been anxious to write this review since we booked this summer. The pictures and descriptions had me googly eyed before I ever stepped foot in the door. Upon arrival we were greeted with friendly and courteous staff right off the bat. The rooms are literature themed so we stayed in the library. It did not disappoint! Two full walls of windows on the first floor with a front row view of the beautiful foliage surrounding the property. The property has a large jacuzzi tub (not heated but still nice)! Their on-site breakfast was great! I liked the packaged snacks and cereal options. Key west is known for their brunch spots so the packaged bars were great for snacks later in the day too. The property has a ton of beautiful trees and plants. The whole premise is surrounded by a chest-height wall that made me feel way more comfortable being close-ish to the heart of downtown (TONS of intoxicated people at night). Speaking of downtown, it was a walkable distance but after walking up to five miles daily Uber was necessary. Our main MO was the price but this location will not disappoint!!!

    Poet's room
    KC D.

    Overall the location, price and accommodations were totally fine. Dislikes: no shower pressure, breakfast was underwhelming and our upstairs neighbors must have been elephants they way they walked around. :-/ We did have to ask for another cleaning after we checked in because there was sticky substance left on the bedside table and beers left in the freezer but that's not a huge deal. Housekeeping came by after requested and remedied.

    Hellman room at Authors Guest House in Key West
    Milly D.

    I wanted to experience a sweet B&B with my fiance in Key West for a couple of days that was not only affordable but also clean (despite of Covid19 pandemic) and cute. We searched and saw so many different locations but something about the Hellman room and the spa right outside the doors that attracted us to Authors Guest House. The room was clean, spacious enough for two. The bed was very comfortable and cozy. The bathroom was a bit small but it worked. The only mirror was the one above the sink and I found myself looking for a mirror in the bedroom to check my makeup or my outfit on my way out a few times. The only negative in the room but not enough to take away a star is that the dresser drawers had a musty smell to them. So I bought two $1 air fresheners and issue solved. The patio and spa outside the room was kept clean. We only saw one other couple using the spa the first night but other than that it was like our own private hot tub which was a bonus! The morning breakfast available was nothing grand but everything was packaged individually except the fruits. Again, they were very good about keeping everything clean in all aspects. There's only two parking spaces for the property but free street parking is available. We never had an issue finding parking. The front desk staff was so nice and professional. Overall we loved our stay!!

    Our room!
    Karen S.

    I absolutely love this place!!! I just wish we had spent more than one night. Barb the receptionist is AMAZING! She was so helpful!! Gave us the run down on the cool spots, restaurants and local entertainment to check out. And she gave us free drink coupons for several bars!! The kitty that wanders the property lives there too! When I went in, she was sitting on the front desk as if she's was waiting my arrival!! So cute. The rooms have their own separate entrance and theme. McCullers was our room. It accommodates 2 people. It's small but cozy. Beds are soooo comfortable!!! Nice sized bathroom with a large shower..there's a large hot tub/pool and outdoor breakfast in the am. As well as free coffee, tea all day! So.. a quick 15 min walk to Duvall St. I suggest leave your car parked at hotel and walk or bike. Plenty of good eats along the way too. Be on the watch for wildlife along the way. We saw a huge iguana!!! Stray chickens and cats roam the streets!! Lots of local art to check out in this eclectic little piece of the world!! Can't wait to return!!

    Tom T.

    Authors is a fantastic alternative to the $300+ per night hotels on Duval Street. Its about a 10 minute walk (through the cemetery if you're adventerous) to get to the bars and tourist traps of Key West. If you want to experience that true local Key West... stay here. If you want to get to Duval, you can be active and walk. To anyone who thinks it's too far away, get off your ass and walk dammit. If that's too much, rent a bike (bonus points for still being active and using the locals' preferred means of transportation). If you really can't stand the distance, rent a moped or call a pedicab. They have a variety of rooms and they are all unique which adds to the charm of staying at a guest house on the island. The room and the grounds were extremely clean and having stayed in Kwest multiple times this is definitely not one of those dingy, run down lodging options. The fairly large hot tub is open all day and night but you can't use the keys after 9pm. There are pool towels available for your use. Breakfast was fairly simple but at least there was something. It included bagels, yogurt, and fruit. Coffee was available during breakfast, but tea, cold water and ice was available 24/7. Staff were very nice and accommodating. The bed was great and the nicely decorated room included a small tv and a mini fridge. This place was a fantastic find!

    My favorite place to stay when I go down to the Key's!  I've stayed here 3 times and I've never been disappointed.
    Ines D.

    Best place to stay when down in Key West. Best value for the money. I've stayed here 3 times over the last 5 years and I've never been disappointed. The staff is outstanding.

    Nighttime view.

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    Authors Guest House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Authors Guest House

    I'm traveling with a 3 year old. Will she be able to walk to Duval and Mallory square or do we need to Uber it? Are there close by restaurants we can eat dinner at within walking distance?

    DUVALL IS 8 BLOCKS MALLORY I WOULD GUESS 12 TO 15. YOU MIGHT NEED A STROLLER. VERY WALKABLE FOR ADULTS

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Authors Guest House

    If you are looking for a true Key West feel outside the hustle if Duval street this is the place for you.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    Ocean Key Resort & Spa

    Ocean Key Resort & Spa

    4.0
    (216 reviews)
    $$$

    Terrible hotel building with terrible customer service…read more Building is old and consist of few buildings combined. Need to change elevator 2 times to go to your room. Rooms are nicely decorated but not what you expect for $1000 a night. They are way over priced for the quality. Front desk staff is terrible. Don't know how to handle issues which you will have plenty. We didn't have AC 2 out of 3 nights and they didn't even feel bad about it. They said basically it is what it is and we have to deal with it. One night they moved us to another room and they were acting like they were doing us a favor. It was major problem for us. second night they moved us to our room which has broken AC And gave us boxed fan to cool off. Front desk manager is clueless and don't know how to handle issues and he has kids working for him who do not know how to handle anything. They are like teenagers. I would never ever stay there again and warn anyone not to there. Oh you will wake up 5am because of dumpster trucks getting the trash and it takes like 20 min. Another thing is their damn roosters , they start 4am and won't let you sleep. Jesus, it was 3 days of hell!

    Sad for the resources and time spent here that I wont get back…read more Sometimes you can't trust your friends judgement on accommodations. We wish we had checked out and stayed at Marquesa hotel instead. But everyone was at the same hotel for the weekend so we stuck it out. For the price point, ones expectations are commensurate and this place was not even in the same universe as other hotels charging the same rate. The hotel is right on the water but in key west, the same can also be said for a gas station. Right away you know there's a problem because the elevator to reception smells like rotting seaweed (sargassum). The reception area seems like a guest room that was adapted and its small and dark and doesn't work. Then you get to the guest rooms from the year 1985 with chair railing and crown molding that has never seen a magic eraser in its life. Covered in 40 years of dust and who knows what else. The blinds have never been dusted or replaced in 40 years. Are you getting the picture? The head board had mystery smears on it. Floors were filthy with 40 years of accumulated dust. We dared not step one toe into the murky pool. We watched as guests sat there for hours, drink after drink, and never got out. Not even to use the bathroom? Ewwww. Every day the streets flood with high tide and poor civil planning so coming and going from the hotel means wading in ankle deep water and probably sewage, which is probably why the elevator smells so terribly. No wonder all the associates there seem so sad. I would be too if I worked there. I was sad for the resources and time spent here that I wont get back.

    Opal Key Resort & Marina

    Opal Key Resort & Marina

    3.4
    (97 reviews)

    We stayed her two night from 4/3/26-4/4/26 and loved it. The staff is extremely friendly and…read morehelpful. I like that I received a text from them early on our check in day and asked when we'd be arriving. We were a little early but our room was ready when we arrived. The lady working the front desk was very nice and check in was quick and easy. The guys working valet are top notch. They were quick and friendly. Even when I forgot to get something from the car and needed it again. I walked to it, but they offered to get it. The cleaning staff was friendly when we saw them in the hallways also. We book a King Pool view room and it was clean and spacious. It has a small fridge, coffee maker with pods, a pull out couch and 2 chairs at the desk, and a tv. The bed was firm but comfortable and the pillows were nice. The only thing I could see is the at the hallways of floor 2 needed some patching and paint at a few areas. We will definitely come here again on our next trip, soon.

    Save your money on the ocean view. the entire complex is obscured by 8+ story cruise ships that…read morearrive EVERY DAY at 7am, play the Star Spangled Banner (loudly) at 8am, and don't leave until 7pm. Also watch out for the valet guy. I rolled down my car window to find out where I should leave me car while checking in and despite being less than 10 feet away from me, he ignored me and walked away. After I checked in and tried to get my kiddos situated in the lobby with our luggage so I could go self-park the car I finally got his attention by him calling out "hey, can you move your car?" To which I replied "As soon as I'm done doing what I'm doing. And for the record, I tried to ask you where to park and you ignored me and walked away so... sorry, not sorry?"

    Eden House

    Eden House

    4.2
    (140 reviews)
    $$

    Absolutely LOVED this place. Free beer or soda upon check in. FREE HAPPY HOUR like what?!?! How can…read moreyou beat that??? All the staff are friendly and nice. The property is filled with hammocks and tree swings, perfect places to drink your FREE coffee or tea from the lobby every morning. You know what I loved more than all the free beverages (lol)? The fact that we visited in the middle of summer and didn't get bit by a single mosquito! How is that even possible in Florida during summer??? They must spray & have mosquito repelling plants. Or super powers. Our room was cute and clean. We got the standard room (no upgrades) after the Hyatt screwed up our reservation and we were scrambling to find accommodations last minute. But ya know what?! This place was so much better! I can't rave enough about Eden House. We are definitely staying here when we come back!

    ***Buyer Beware*** This hotel is a scam. They advertise…read morerooms with queen size beds that are clearly full size at best. I actually measured the bed and it was far smaller. On top of that the room is almost closet sized with an exposed shower and sink which makes it feel very humid in the room. Theres barely enough space between the bed and wall to walking into the room. The shower also hadn't been cleaned with a piece of old soap stuck to the floor and bug crawling under the pillow when i moved it.. I brought it to the attention of the man working the front desk who first told me it was a queen. The GM came on later that evening and admitted that it wasn't a queen and offered us a slightly larger rom but same size bed. Again the sink was in the room and it was stuffy and humid which made it hard to sleep more than four hours. I canceled the room after one night and tried to get my money back, but they've refused. Do not stay at this hotel. The "queen room" is basically just a hostel at hotel prices. $260 a night in my case.

    Marquesa Hotel

    Marquesa Hotel

    4.4
    (134 reviews)
    $$$

    Marquesa Hotel is a small boutique hotel in Key West. Our brief stay was lovely, and I'd want to…read morestay here again if returning! What I enjoyed: *Great location *Delightful, helpful employees *Neighboring restaurant Cafe Marquesa is fantastic dining! *Complimentary sangria at afternoon check in and coffee in the morning. *Beautiful pools, water fall garden and tropical landscaping *In room dining available. *See attached Hotel information photos.

    If you are coming to Key West and want a place that's close to the action yet feels quaint and…read morequiet. This is your place. The lobby feels inviting and warm. They had fresh water and a welcome sangria as I checked in. *They have daily coffee in the morning and cookies and iced tea in the afternoon. The only thing missing is a happy hour with wine and cheese! I spent a lot of time trying to find the right room (online). Without being there, it was hard to choose. I chose a poolside room (shared balcony). I was given room 3 and I loved it. :) There is plenty of room for two people. The bed was so comfy and the pillows were perfect. They have complimentary water (2 bottles) in your room. They have a mini fridge and options to buy snacks and liquor. They have fruit infused water next to the pool daily. You will stay hydrated. There is an honor bar next to the water; which has a few pricy options for a beer or other canned beverages. I did see plenty of people have their own drinks poolside. So, outside drinks are allowed at the pool...but no glass. They have two pools. I preferred the pool towards the back. There are lush beautiful plants all around you and you'll often see little lizards scurrying by the pool. They did not have a late checkout for my room but they were nice enough to hold my bags and have use of the pool while I waited for my friends to arrive. I would stay here again but during high season, the rooms get expensive. I loved room 3 but would love to someday stay in the cute cabin looking rooms up behind the pool. They have a covered porch, sitting room m, and a large bathroom. Overall, the service was solid. The grounds of the hotel are lovely, the bed was amazing, and the pools were a lovely respite from the crowded streets and heat of the city.

    Authors Guest House - hotels - Updated July 2026

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