I came here for a work conference with my family. Unfortunately although the property is really beautiful, the service was just very poor. We had reserved a 2 bedroom villas, but had no idea it had stairs. This wouldn't matter except we had our 18 month old with us and he is very active no there was no gate to prevent him from going up and down the stairs. We called the front desk to ask them if there were any other villas that was a single story, but they said there wasn't. Our only option was to move to a 3 bedroom, but that would cost more and wouldn't be available for another day. We then reminded them about setting up the pack and play we had requested when checking in and they said they will be there soon. 30-40 mins later someone came to set it up, but only partially and left saying they will come back with the missing part. It took another 30 to 40 mins for him to come back (after I called and was told that there were so many ppl ahead of us). The next day we were told they would let us know immediately about when the bigger villa would be available, but again it took many calls and much confusion. Due to all the confusion they did waive the extra cost. We appreciated the gesture and hoped that was the end of the bad service. Our last night someone claiming to be from security opened our door at 9:10 PM while we were trying to put the kids to sleep. They said they had gotten a call about a problem with our lock, but we hadn't called. It was pretty alarming. 15 mins later the front desk called to apologize. The next morning when I tried to get into my room after taking my daughter swimming the key didn't work. I called the front desk and they said they would send someone, 15 mins later I walked to the front desk since it was clear no one was coming. I talked to the front desk and they couldn't figure it out. I told them about the person last night as I'm sure they had done something to the lock. In the end I missed a good portion of the conference that day and we never had a new key. There were two people who did provide excellent service and that I'm very thankful. Ms. Sharna was so kind to my daughter, provided her extra olives for her pizza and when she hurt her eye found some sterile water to flush out her eyes. The other person that did a wonderful job was William the event manager. He was running the games and music and again he was so kind to my daughter and did a great job of making sure everyone had a great time. I really wish that we would have had more Sharnas and Williams helping us during our stay. read more

We did a large family vacation here recently over the Thanksgiving holiday. In total we rented 4 different villas all in a row in the Sunset Villa area. We were surprised how very different all the villas were from each other even though they all had the same layouts. Each villa had a completely different decor style and level of "update". One villa was filled with various lots of little statues and odd decor. It would be nice if there was an online catalog where you could click on each villa and see the inside furnishings before booking. This would allow people to pick a villa that fits their tastes since they are SO different. Each villa had two smaller bedrooms upstairs, one full bathroom, half bath downstairs, and washer dryer upstairs. The villa I stayed in was about 3 feet larger in width than the others, which actually made a big difference in the feel of the downstairs area. Pros of staying in Sunset Villa is I think it is the best area for young children. We had a large grassy area in back of the villa and a small sand beach area directly behind us. This allowed the kids to all run around and play in the sand as we sat on our deck having coffee or dinner. NOTE: bring bug spray. We got absolutely eaten alive at sunset. CONS of Sunset Villa: you have to cross a semi-busy street to get to the main pools and restaurants. We didn't mind the walk but I wouldnt allow the kids to go on their own. Also, the pool that was near our villa was absolutely freezing, even the kids didn't want to swim in it. This meant every time the kids wanted to swim we had to get all packed up and walk to the bigger complex across the street. It would have been much more convenient if this pool was heated. The Harbor Village villas have the best view in my opinion and a few of them even have screened in back porches. But they are very close to the water with only a little grass space in between. There is a dock that goes straight into the water; 100% not great for young children. The marina village also had a water view but not a very pretty one. It was closer to the main road. We ate at the Angler and Ale which was really good but service took a LONG time. It took about a hour to get our food which made it difficult with young and hungry children. The fish tacos were a favorite. We decided to eat in every night afterwards. There is Publix 20 minutes away in Marathon. We also found a free grocery delivery service with Instacart. The breakfast buffet looked good but seemed way overpriced at $24 for adults. We spent most of our time in the kid pool area with the pirate ship, soccer field, ping pong tables, minigolf, and playground. This is a great area with activities for kids of all areas. We had kids in our group ranging from 2 - 14 and everyone found something here to do. The pool was also warmer than other pools. The pirate ship area was great for kids under 3. The regular pool was nice for a bit older kids. I wish it was a zero entry pool so kids that are too young for waterwings could also play in the same area as the older kids. If you have kids under 2 and older kids, this would be difficult because there isnt one water area that accommodates both age groups within eye range. The staff were very helpful and kind. One day we rented bikes and road around the grounds exploring everything the resort had to offer. The bikes were very nice and in great shape. The smallest bike was a bit large for my six year old. She tried it out but it had hand brakes and was a little large for her to control. She lost control and went down an incline area and wiped out. Good thing she had a helmet on. Note: the entire kid area closes every day around 4. We also did the dolphin connection with our stay. This was a highlight for our 6 and 10 year old. The only problem was you have to arrive like 15 minutes early and then there is about a one hour long talking session before you actually get to go near the dolphins. This was WAY too long for all of the children and most of the adults as well. They offer a wetsuit, take the wetsuit. My 10 year old didnt want one and was mad she didn't . The water is COLD. Also, we spent up for her to have the chance to ride the fin of the dolphin. I think it was a $30 or $40 price difference from the other package and the 7 second ride was the only difference. I would say, save your money and stick with the middle package. Also, during our stay we made the trip to Key West one day. It was about an hour drive. Finding parking there took about 25 minutes as well. All in all, we really enjoyed our stay here. I do think the villas are a bit overpriced compared to other villas you could rent in the keys. read more

Dirty swimming pools! Mold on tile and oil slime floating on top of the water where is the managers who check on this? read more

Hawks Cay Resort - Mold all over adult pool . The general pool has an oil slime floating on the top of the water . They need to clean their pools . Gross! - Resorts Near Me - Duck Key, Florida

Hawks Cay is one of the nicest resorts in the keys! Family Friendly with tons of activities! The staff are very attentive and professional. Karen Schulte with Guest services is the absolute BEST and will treat you like family. She made sure our stay was welcoming and fun for the kids. I highly recommend Hawks Cay and will definitely be back! Thank you for making our family vacation unforgettable! read more

Very nice resort. I would say five stars but this last visit wasn't the best. We have stayed there a many times before no issues. The views are amazing. The best part is you never have to leave the resort. Great spot for kids with the pirate ship and Coral cay (basketball golf playroom). Hotel rooms are nice and updates. The villas are average but great kitchens with everything you need. Now to what went wrong. The pirate slide was closed when I asked nobody could tell me why (sucks when you have two kids dying to go on) however it was fixed the next day The food! Ayi ayi food by the pool is awful. I rather have had papa johns pizza then what I got there. The mahi did not look or taste like mahi and was soooo over cooked. For the price it should have been better. Avoid the bar food at all cost. Anglers and ale is your best bet for reasonable food. The trams were broke so they had golf carts that took FOREVER!!! Omg and the dockside store $15 for a case of Dasani water is a JOKE. So please stop at a store ahead of time. read more

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First time staying at Hawks Cay and it is absolutely breathtaking! The service is incredible. The tiki bar provides the tropical feel without leaving the US! Katie from Alabama was an absolute pleasure. She provided exceptional service at the tiki bar and made the experience that much better! I recommend stopping by to see her before taking a swim in the lagoon or pool!!!! read more

We went to Hawks Cay for spring break. The Florida Keys are amazing and beautiful, and I will be back at the very soonest possible moment. And we will 100% stay somewhere else. We were two families of four with little kids traveling together. We booked several months in advance and called multiple times prior to arrival (both families called) to ensure that the rooms would be together. We got the verbal repeatedly that we were in good shape. Upon arrival, after waiting in the 20 minute check in line, the surly desk clerk informed me that the two families had different room types (first we had heard of it) and that we could not even be in the same area of the ENORMOUS resort. No apologies, no accommodation, no our computer system had a glitch, no nothing. It was very frustrating given the fact that having rooms together is the whole point when traveling with little kids. So we headed off to our villa (and ours was the "nicer" room type). Our room was clean and the view was great. It was in the loading dock. There were 18 wheelers pulling up so close that we could have touched them from our second story porch. And then the trucks would put on their reverse beep to back in to the loading dock...starting at 7AM. I am not sure about anyone else, but that's not my idea of relaxation. So I called. And I waited on hold. And I waited. And then I sent the following email.... ______ Dear Hawks Cay Team, I am staying in room 2104. I know you guys just reopened, but the truck traffic outside of our room is truly unacceptable. Trucks drive in and then turn around about 10 feet from our upstairs room window starting at 7am with their reverse beep turned on. I couldn't even believe it until I walked outside and saw a US Foodservice truck so close that I could almost touch it. You desperately need to get a handle on the traffic flow and noise issues. We've battled through it for the majority of our stay but we have paid WAY too much money to be here for that type of disturbance. This is unfortunately not our only issue. I've found your restaurant and service staff (other than housekeeping, which is great) unfortunately unhappy and unhelpful. It's not the level of service I expect. Our room interior is dated but thankfully clean. I have now called two times today and been unable to reach anyone at the front desk even after waiting on hold for 5 minutes. I'm on vacation and would prefer to be making memories with my family vs. waiting for service. I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. _______ ...And then, guess what? Still nothing happened. I am just not sure they even care. I should not have paid what I was charged. And the dolphins program is fun to see but stay on the dock. There are biting fish. I ended up having to take my daughter out after I got bitten so hard that my leg was bleeding. Disappointment is an understatement. I strongly do not recommend. read more

Was really surprised by the negative reviews...The staff here was great!!!! I'd like to give a shout out to Andrew, Megan, Treena and RACHEL!!!!! They made our stay amazing and my engagement on the property super special!!! A special little thank you to Megan and Rachel. Megan gave me and my fiancé complimentary tickets to the Tyler Farr concert to celebrate our anniversary and I can't thank her enough. And Rachel, Rachel was a genuine GEM throughout our entire stay. Rachel was SO friendly, she remembered our names throughout our stay and we truly enjoyed our time with her. Andrew remembered we were the engaged couple and made sure to congratulate us and ask us how we were doing all around the property. It's the little things for me. They had a swimming with the dolphins experience right on property which was incredible!! We were able to book our fishing excursion with them and although I wasn't able to experience the spa they had a spa. They are a little under staffed but it's completely out of their control, nevertheless they are trying. read more

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Loved our stay at this hotel! It's really beautiful. And the staff are delightful. The room/town house would have been better if little details were not missed. Only one conditioner, no shampoo. The shower curtain is missing the plastic part and water leaks all over the bathroom. The room was missing the stick on the blinds to be able to open and close them. No tea kettle, or complimentary coffee or filters for the machine. Plus we visited for a wedding during the off season, so it felt a little empty. The gym was nice, and very clean. We will be having massages this weekend in the spa. read more

We hosted our company's annual sales meeting at Hawks Cay and we couldn't have asked for a better 4 days. Karen Schulte and Zak Allen were fantastic helping us organize the event. The entire staff was extremely helpful, and the property was beautiful. Great place for a corporate event. read more

Very mixed feelings about resort. Beautiful entrance gate that says.Fuck Key, but Hawkes Cay hidden by some immaculately trimmed bushes. All of the staff were above par and friendly. The problems arose in my Villa which is a small two bed , two bath townhome. At no time during the registration process was I told that this was a timeshare. The closet door was broken off the tracks and the bed was made with a rough cotton blanket that grated next to the skin with a cotton sheet on top. I hindsight I should have swotched it myself and saved the bitching from my wife. We insert a special moment from or balcony, which are designed to observe sunsets. A man proposed to his fiance. The staff photographed and helped him pour champagne. read more

Hawks Cay Resort has been renovated since 2017 hurricane. The resort part which is only the hotel and swimming pools, were great. The resort consists of 4 large pools and a salt water lagoon that is very rocky and smelly at times, but it's the ocean. The food was over priced but very good. The best bar is next to the main pool, pricey but If you rent a townhouse, you can mix your own and bring it in. Now to the lodging, we rented townhouse 5033. First I want to tell you somethings that the resort fail to communicate and we found frustrating. The townhouses are privately owned rentals, it's a 40/60 split with the resort (I have been told). So each townhouse is different they should have ALL been renovated, but it depends on what kind of pride of ownership the townhouse owner has. Well our 5033 decided that he would take the money and run. We had the worst townhouse in the block, this townhouse should've been rented in the state that it was. We arrived to a musty smelling place. The carpets were filthy, light sockets falling out, horrible and dated decor. Yes, I have pictures to prove it. From wet carpet to stained couch and dirty wobbly kitchen table. Once again I would like to remind you that it's not owned by Hawks Cay, but they are according to them, have standards. After reviewing comments about Hawks Cay, I came across a man whom had rented the same room with the exact same complaints. This made us mad!! We demanded answers and got a runaround and a different room on our last night stay. Ugh the pain! May karma strike the townhouse owner. Our new townhouse for the night was what we should have had in the first place (I have pictures). Hawks Cay told us that this unit will no longer be part of the resort rentals. So I'm here to make sure that it gets dropped and the owner is shamed for it. Another interesting thing is that this owner owns more than one unit! Now to the hotel side of the resort, it's all new the main pool get a bit warm due to all the drinking bodies that boodle around. The pirates ship/kids area is great! It has a small bar and snack bar that closes way to early. The sunset pool is the quietest and has the most amazing view of the sunset, but hit or miss on the towels and there is NO, yes NO restroom. So hold it while you swim or knock on a townhouse door and see if they will let a wet stranger in to use the bathroom. The adult pool I heard was quiet, but I wouldn't know because I'm here to hang out with my children. Last but not least, you will want to read and take note of this. I will save you a lot of headache and tell you something that the resort fails to mention anywhere. There will be a hold on your credit card you must have room on your credit card to cover this hold of accidentals. What does that even mean??! Well... they want to hold on to your $42 per Night of your stay per person, just Incase you need to use it. you will bet it back if it wasn't used, adult or child $42. Pictures are from room 5033 June 2019. Next is room 5026 June 2019. read more

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I had a really good time, first time to the keys and couldn't have gone to a better spot for my first time, also one of the workers george was great. Taught me how dance and had amazing energy the whole time read more

Super awesome. Staff was great and kind especially Radar and Omar. They were very patient and serviceable. 10/10 would recommend and come again. read more

My daughter and I had a fabulous time at your resort this past week! We thoroughly enjoyed our day at the saltwater lagoon with Radar keeping us well supplied with water, mojitos and food throughout the day! His enthusiasm really made the day extra special for us! Make sure to find him when you stay! The included kayaks and stand-up boards were fun to use and we will thrilled with all the resort had to offer. Watch out that the iguanas don't steal your chicken wings! They are sneaky critters but fun to watch! I do wish the marketplace had a bit more to offer in the way of conventional convenience store offerings (salads, sandwiches to go, etc) read more

Love this place. People are really nice. The first night they even called to make sure we have everything we need. Keep in mind this was our first family vacation with a 15 month old. Pack and play was huge plus. It was clean. Room was always kept cleaning by the cleaning crew. Great staff on hand and helpful. Great restaurants on the resort. Short ride from Marathon and Sombrero beach. Would recommend this to anyone going to the keys, especially with kids. read more

Hawks Cay Resort - Pool - Resorts Near Me - Duck Key, Florida

Emily M was great for helping us with our coconut painting on our last day of vacation!! The kids activities and area was great. Our daughter was excited to see what the craft of the day was every morning. Thank you to all the employees from the mermaid to the crafts it was amazing!!! read more

Okay, tricky review... There's nothing "wrong" with this place. It's clean, the room was clean, the pool area is clean... God, that sounds boring. The problem here is simply one of cost. Add in taxes and "resort fees" (whatever they are) and you're looking y$400+ per night. This place has the look and feel of an all inclusive but EVERYTHING is extra. Not only is it extra, it's high-end Manhattan prices. We had an okay time but I'll never go back because I can fly to the DR for a week, stay all-inclusive, get MUCH better service and it'll cost me the price of 3-4 days at Hawks Cay. Honestly, don't bother. read more

Pros: room was clean and confortable. Night dance competition was nice, the french soup and the prime restaurant was great. Downs: food: very few options and expensive for what it is. Website claims to have 5 but there is only one at the resort that is open for dinner on weeknights, even during the peak week of spring break. Store and restaurant does not even have cereal. Finding dinner reservation was a mission Covid safety: restaurant uses paper menu but re-uses them. Hand sanitizer were almost all out for the three days we were there Kids activities: i chose this place because of the reviews from the miami moms group. Activities they claimed to have were CANCELLED including story with the mermaid, family scavenger hunt. Very unhelpful and low energy staff. I was in shock that they rather prefer have many disappointed and sad faces on little girls than just dressing themselves (two ladies were in the front). Staff: seems low on staff and many not friendly and look mad Beach: adding some sand will help Pool: freezing expecting to have a heater but it was a cold as my pool at home with no heather. Dolphins have a very tiny area to rest and made me remembered of the cove movie. read more

Let's start with what was great. + The main pool and two surrounding hot tubs were great. The pool was perfectly heated - not hot but warm enough to not be chilled when you step in. + The food and drinks at the tiki hut and the breakfast place was good. + The property and buildings are beautiful! + Our "Sunset Village 2 Bedroom Townhome Villa" was clean, nicely decorated, and equipped with two porches and patio furniture - one from the living room (first floor) and another from the master (second floor), as well as two and a half bathrooms. Please note the bedrooms are upstairs in the villa, in case stairs are a challenge. + The dolphin experience was AWESOME! The staff who work there are clearly passionate about dolphins and were patient and kind. My 9 year old and I had an amazing time. + The add-on photo package for two of us was $80. I think that is a good price for how many professional photos they took (a photographer takes shots of you close up during the experience) - we had 97 photos in ours which I was able to see first, no pressure to buy, and immediately have downloaded on my phone through a cool app they use. + The dolphin area is closely visible from the shore. I wasn't sure if the experience would be worth the cost and it was nice to check it out first. Now the not-so-great parts: - It's pricey here considering the already high cost to stay. The only breakfast spot has one option: buffet. The buffet was great and had very fresh fruit and many choices - but for four adults and one child we paid something like $150 for food, coffee, and a Bloody Mary. - Angler & Ale, the casual restaurant nearest our villa, was a mess. It was not slow nor busy, but we waited for at least five minutes while the hostess walked back and forth near us, talked to her manager, etc, before she even acknowledged us (which only happened when I said Hellooo!!). There was an hour wait for our party of five despite there being many open tables and seemingly lots of staff standing around, so we left and went to Marathon for dinner. - The villa didn't have any coffee, which felt annoying and cheap. We had to buy Starbucks coffee from the lobby, which was far enough to have to drive to, until we could head to another key to buy coffee. Please provide a $5 bag of coffee for your guests! - Our group included grandma, grandpa, myself and my husband, and our 9 year old son. He doesn't need a room to himself when it comes with a $200/night price tag. The 2 bedroom villas were advertised on the websites as "sometimes" having a pull-out couch. I requested at reservation and two weeks before we arrived that we have a villa with a pull-out bed. They said they couldn't confirm but would do their best. I almost canceled at that time because I didn't want to share the already-small full beds with our son, or make him sleep on a normal couch. We decided to hope for the best, and to their credit, we were given a villa with a pull-out. Please, be able to confirm room types with consideration for factors that are material to guests - # of bathrooms, # of beds (including pull-out), proximity to amenities. - It was rainy and stormy all day our first full day. That's of course not the fault of the resort - however, they had no indoor activities to keep us entertained. Get creative and have some options for people when there's rain! We did swim when the lightning cleared. The kids center was babyish for our 9 year old plus it closes at 430 or 5 so though we stopped by, we didn't use it. - The hot tubs didn't have normal jets. The had "jets" but were just light streams of water coming from the tub, rather than the typical jets you'd expect in a hot tub. - The staff was a mixed bag of nice, not super fast people and people who seem to resent your existence. From my own experience and the comments of others, please do some training and quality control on your staff (specifically housekeeping and food service). The staff of the breakfast buffet and the dolphin experience were awesome, excited, and helpful. - It would've been very helpful to have clearly posted signs in multiple locations regarding the various activities throughout the property each day. There are things we would've participated in if we knew they were happening. - The hours of the tiki hut, lagoon host, and hours of both main restaurants should be clearly posted and also adhered to!! We kept hearing "they might open if it gets busy" but ... why would something get busy if it's closed? We are paying guests and even if we're the only ones at the pool, there should be food and drink service at the tiki bar at noon! Overall - I WOULD recommend this to others with the caveat that you should plan to spend a lot more than just the room rate and "normal" food prices. My son had an amazing time here, and we also had a very good time - there are just some minor fixable things and the large problem of cost for food/drink/extras that would make me think twice about returning. read more

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I rarely write reviews but I was left with such a bad taste in my mouth, I felt compelled to do so. We looked forward to staying here for a while but were disappointed. The grounds were beautiful and the room was clean, but nothing except for parking was included. Breakfast for 4 was over $75 at the buffet and the bars and restaurants seemed to be understaffed with miserable people. Every single person in the food service department was unfriendly and we seemed to bother them. A few times, we were blatantly avoided and never checked on after ordering over priced food that took forever to come. We were charged for things we didn't buy. When we brought it to the front desks attention, she seemed confident that we were mistaken and when we weren't, there was no apology. We got a "it's rare but sometimes that happens." Really? Check your receipts or don't charge anything to your room because apparently some villas and the hotel overlap room numbers. Oh, and nobody takes cash. For the amount of fees they charge, the cost to stay, and the cost of food, I expect better service or at least a smile. We did the dock side dolphin experience, which was very nice, but again, the price for what you get isn't worth it. The main page says it's $69 pp. then at check out it jumps to $79 pp because they are so nice to add a $10 credit towards a photo package for you! But the packages for 4 people were around $150! So I was forced to spend $40 for something I didn't want. There wasn't a single place to hang a towel so you have to get creative if you want to try and conserve water by reusing your towel. The valet and housekeeping were wonderful and always pleasant. But that wasn't enough to get us to go back or recommend Hawks Cay to anyone we know. The bottom line is this, if you're super wealthy or on a budget, this isn't the place for you. If you have money to spend, you want the service and quality that comes along with it. If you're money wise this definitely isn't the place for you. You'll be charged for everything from paddle boards to the kids club to a beach towel if you don't return it. Suggestions for management: -Add some damn hooks-we all pay enough for you to add a few in the bathrooms. -Play some music around the main pool. Make it feel a little more relaxing as we hunt down a server -include more with the resort fees. Paddle boards and other lagoon activities should be included. The lagoon is small, grassy, and not really exciting enough to charge a premium for. -I'm not sure why your staff is so unhappy. But you need to figure that out and adjust some attitudes. We are happy easy going people, but after 2 days of waiting and getting attitude or ignored, we were so frustrated that we left the resort to go hang at other places to get better service. P.S. Having the police hang out there all day and all night sipping on drinks as they walk around was concerning. My kids were upset every time we walked out of the building and saw the cars sitting there. They thought something was wrong. Sometime 2 cars at a time??? But I am sure they got their sodas in a timely fashion. read more

Stayed here with the family for my wife's conference last week. Resort grounds are sprawling and beautiful. Room was nice, spacious and comfortable for the 3 of us. Waiting for drinks at the tiki bar was annoying. The crowds in the main pool were as well. The good news is that they have a salt water lagoon and 4 other pools that were less crowded. The folks who worked valet are super nice and friendly. They even offer shuttle service in the golf cart to parts of the resort that are further away. Great kids pool and lots of activities. read more

We stayed at Hawks Cay from 15 - 20 of April and had the most incredible time. We stayed in one of the 2 Bedroom Villas overlooking a beautiful lagoon of turquoise blue water. The facilities were very accommodation for the family. The on site market filled all our forgotten needs. If you need a little quiet time the adult can move to the 21 plus pool and bar area, and can still spy on the kids when needed. I would recommend the Dolphin experience for the family. The dolphins are taken care of and we all learned a lot from the biologist. We also took out a charter and caught dinner for multiple days. There are several restaurants that will prepare your catch. I would like to give Kodus to Hue our server and the "Final Final " charters.. See you next year to read more

Hawks Cay Resort - The cool Lagoon .. Thanks Hue for the great Service.. - Resorts Near Me - Duck Key, Florida

This was our first time visiting the resort. we were traveling with our 2 children ages 8 and 11. The grounds were beautiful and there was lots for our children to do. They especially enjoyed the lagoon where they could kayak and stand up paddle board. Donnie at the lagoon was amazing. My family really liked talking with him and he helped my kiddos with there kayak and paddle boards. He was so friendly and was very knowledgeable on the resort and things to do! I also highly recommend the dolphin encounter. Our 8 year old did this encounter and can't stop talking about it, also they have a photographer and all the pictures were included in the price. The marina on property was also fun. Head over in the evening when the charters are heading back and you can feed the tarpon and see so many sharks and fish right off the dock! i could go on and on!!! read more

A once proud resort in Marathon, FL that now is literally a former shell of itself! This was everything you could've imagined years ago with their adult pool, kids pool, beach area, lagoon, on-site food options, but now it's a hodgepodge of excuses. I get that they suffered extensive damage from last years hurricane, and now under new management, but at some point stop with having they politically correct apologies for all their shortcomings. They should've waited on opening until they were 100% done with renovations and staffing. Instead, they jumped the gun and have really angered many customers who were repeat clients. For the expensive prices that they sell themselves on, and for the current state of finding themselves, I'd be hard pressed to pay for another visit of excuses. read more

Hawks Cay Resort - Resorts Near Me - Duck Key, Florida

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We had the best day by the pool. The staff here is extremely friendly and attentive. Senel was our server by the pool and helped us with umbrellas when the sun got strong, drinks at just the right time and had the perfect food suggestions. Senel single-handedly provided the best local knowledge and really felt out what we were looking for to ensure that we had the best vacation yet. Every resort should feel privileged enough to have their own Senel! read more

Perfect for couples, families, or even a solo traveler, you couldn't ask for a more beautiful place to enjoy the Keys and every single activity you could possible want to do. The on site bars and restaurants are great, and you won't find an unfriendly staff member. I love the variety of rooming options, and the multiple pools and hot tubs on site (plus the saltwater lagoon) mean it never feels crowded even though there could be hundreds of people on property. The dolphins are amazing, as are all the fire pits, activities and frankly Just the pavilions and chairs everywhere where you can just relax and take it all in. For families, definitely check out the kids club and pool and all the activities especially for families. Since I was there with all adults, we greatly enjoyed the 21+ area and the fact we could walk right out of our room and into a hot tub/pool. read more

I'm very surprised that previous reviews are so bad in this hotel. Probably ppl who satisfied not posting their experiences :) Ppl complaining about overpriced, all key west and dock key overpriced so its not a surprise. Not inclusive hotel, you need to pay for each meal, for each drink . Hotel is very low key, jeans, t-shirts, no heel, even in a night , families and kids. Live music outside next to fire was nice and romantic , but again , looks like for kids :) food is good , service is good . In the general nice relaxing vacation! read more

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We had a great time this weekend. the staff is always so welcoming. Radar, a server, and Lemar, a valet, were 2 notable staff members who provided excellent service. The villa itself was only satisfactory. The shower water never got hot, only lukewarm and the walls look like they needed some repairs along with the carpet on the stairs needed cleaning - even the banister was sticky. The ac vents in the master bedroom were broken and closed so we were unable to open them. Overall, we had fun and enjoyed the pool and staff. read more

Pilar Bar- Our room wasn't ready yet and we found ourselves at the Pilar Bar- in between the adults only land and the family pool. Jason, a true mixologist, was on duty. He made the best dry gin martini that I have ever had. He loves the history of the cocktail world and takes pride in creating the perfect refreshment. So far, 10/10 on the martini alone- absolutely delicious. I can't wait for tomorrow to get another martini for myself and an old fashioned for my husband! It's a great start to the vacation!! read more

Stayed here overnight for my best friend wedding for one night this past weekend and wished that we were able to stay a longer. Living my whole life in South Florida, I rarely head south to the Keys since the beaches are not as accessible as the ones in Miami or Key Biscayne. The hotel was super clean and the staff were very friendly, while the rooms were spacious. The bed was one of the most comfortable I had the pleasure of sleeping on. There are several pools, the main one is the family one, while there is an adult only pool on the side. Also you rent a kayak roll out with a friend on the man made lagoon. One of the biggest highlight of the resort is a pool where you can swim with the dolphins. My wife and I are already making plans to return to this hotel because it truly another world from Miami. read more

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Great Resort for Both Families and Couples I have visited this resort many times over the years. It is a great resort for both families and couples. The resort does a pretty good job maintaining peaceful, adult only environments for couples seeking a romantic experience while maintaining family environments for children and young adults to run free and have fun. There are so many activities such as the Dolphin Experience, the Spa (book your reservations early to ensure availability), paddle boarding, etc, that I would refer you to their website. Many of the popular activities may book early especially during season so recommend making reservations up front. Amenities. I have enjoyed the spa many times (even through name changes) and have had many relaxing massages with my husband however not this trip since it was a trip associated with a small fishing tournament with an industry trade association. Generally though, we always book our massages at the same time we book the room because we have missed out in the past. I have also enjoyed all five of the pools but we especially enjoy the Serenity Pool which is very quiet and peaceful (this is where to head if you are on a romantic trip without the children). There is chairlift in the main pool which I am seeing at more and more resorts in Florida. Besides the pools, there is also a very nice lagoon now to hangout at. A nice fire put to hangout at night. Very pretty at night with all the tiki torches lit. Rooms. They have rooms and townhomes. We have stayed in both. This trip was a room in the main building. There are robes, and the bath and shower stuff are from the Spa. Plenty of outlets. Coffee machine in room. Nicely decorated with a tropical flair. Typical room otherwise. Food. The food is good however this trip, since we were with a group of 400 for the fishing tournament as mentioned above we ate in the conference center, not the restaurant. We ate one meal off campus which I will write a review for (as well as review a restaurant we ate at on the drive down). Valet. We do not always valet here (we typically arrive in the boat or sometimes the motor cycle). This trip we valeted the first day but because of some of the confusion my husband saw the first day, he was not comfortable valeting his sports car the second day so he self parked. We did not have much luggage so it also expedited our departure not having to wait. They were friendly though. Service. I can best describe this with a common saying down here, "changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes". It is VERY laid back so if you take that into consideration, service was not bad. In fact, better than many other places we have visited in the Keys. Management. I probably should have waited to write this however I have noticed a number of times, having difficulty with our bill and this time I have a couple of charges on the bill I did not understand and have yet called about it. In fact, there was even confusion when we checked in when there should not have been --this trip was a company trip (the company was paying). Complaint (?). I was a little miffed that the water in the shower was not very hot. Just because it is hot outside does not mean that I desire a cold shower. Also never saw such a cheesy luggage stand (in fact two good stands would have been bonus). Again, I would remind the reader about the very laid back atmosphere mentioned previously which could affect your rating of service (I know to expect it so it does not disappoint). Lastly, still have not resolved my questions about the bill as mentioned earlier (hopefully it is okay but will update if not). Overall, I recommend this resort. Like I said, we have visited many times. read more

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We were here for the Park West VIP event. Due to my food allergies(which I spoke to them about the first day) I could not get food that was safe for me to eat. Even plain salad had shrimp piled on it. When asked about ingredients was told chicken skewers were safe. Spent that night sick. The event provided an open bar unfortunately they couldn't find them a blender. day one was scrambled eggs and scrambled eggs with peppers for breakfast with bengals and mint fruit. No cheese or ketchup was provided. The eggs were cold. We ended up going to Publix for pop tarts. The next day was quiche which I could tell had one of my allergiens in it. I asked for something I could eat. The staff member said he would get me scrambled eggs. When he came back said management said I would have to go pay for food at the restaurant. Back to the room for more pop tarts. They also failed to inform the convention hosts that all of the villa rooms have only upstairs bedrooms. As a result Individuals with mobility issues were left sleeping on pull outs in the living room. There is no handicap parking for the convention center. The first day the wheelchair access was blocked by a wedding party. The rooms are a significant distance from the convention center. They offer golf cart transportation, however you have to call from your own phone to have it come. 3 calls and 45 min, having to stand outside, later they finally arrived. Very disappointed. read more

We were here a few years ago, staff is still very friendly, but I think some of the accommodations could use a face lift. Pools are great, but wish they were open a little later. Love the tram and the Anglers and Ale restaurant. read more

Hawks Cay Resort is a family-friendly hotel and set of villas on Duck Key, slightly more than halfway down the ribbon of keys that end at Key West. For those who've never been to the Florida Keys, it's not just like Hawaii, or even the Caribbean islands. Firstly, sand beaches are hard to come by. It's more about boats and boat culture, and fishing, followed by snorkeling, scuba, and then other water sports. Hawks Cay Resort has managed to incorporate almost all of these into a single location, but then they added in a beach as well. Boating/fishing - The extensive Marina area caters to boaters from all over, and several fishing charters operate there. Nearly all the resort villas line the marina dock or the dock along the eastern inlet (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hawks-cay-resort-duck-key?userid=ZXNwO2bY3QTYP0k_5bhG1A#RcVimg1wOoH3sIxPIc9ykQ) Snorkeling/scuba - Co-located operators will take you snorkeling off a catamaran or scuba diving off a smaller boat. Other waters sports - sea kayaking, kiteboarding, paddleboarding; they even have a dolphin swim program next door. Beach - Via a man-made, enclosed lagoon, with a small connection to the ocean at high tide. It features a large floating platform in the middle; this is where our kids spent most of their time, while we watched them over the tops of our books. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hawks-cay-resort-duck-key?select=D7ElS7b_zHvch1HdyQI53g#D7ElS7b_zHvch1HdyQI53g) As for our trip in a nutshell: Location and layout was great; Room amenities were nice; the beds were comfy and the overall vibe was "Relax". But the staffing was thin, the service was slow, and the resort itself was showing signs of neglect or bad judgement in a few areas (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hawks-cay-resort-duck-key?select=i4IONspCRitJwbFOtAO99g#i4IONspCRitJwbFOtAO99g) However, my biggest issue was that the food and bar service at Hawks Cay were sub-par and overpriced. Though there were several on-site restaurants, the food was very hit or miss, mostly miss; The bartenders seemed poorly trained and were often rude or grumpy. As for the overall cocktail vibe, Hawks Kay seemed catered to heavy drinkers. And the focus was on quantity, not quality (the opposite of what I look for); I regularly saw pails of bud light one ice within arms-reach of the pool, and many of the cold rum drinks (hurricanes, rum punch, etc.) were sold in 32 oz. servings called "buckets." No lie. The beer list was lengthy but had no microbrews. Thankfully we brought a supply of good beers and G&T mixings for ourselves at the villa. (mmm...Boodles) Overall, Hawks Cay was a decent place to stay, and a great place to take the kids, but it fell short of its potential as a full-service resort. If you decide to vacation here, I recommend going off-site for food and drink as much as you possibly can. There are a half dozen good spots within a 15 minutes drive (and I know a good website that will help you find them). read more

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Dear Hawks Cay, What an amazing birthday getaway for my love's 33rd!!! We were looking for a quiet, romantic escape and that's exactly what we found. I had made reservations online just a couple weeks before we went, and was glad to have found a great deal and a room at such short notice. We arrived on a Friday afternoon, a bit later than we had intended, but were quickly taken care of and in our room before we could blink. I love great service! The weather teetered between sunny and partly cloudy, but it made no difference to us, as we laid poolside regardless, enjoying our delicious piña coladas! Your resort is stunning and the room was beautiful, although "Island View" was really the view of the valet parking area... But with the windows closed, we never really thought twice about it. The room was quite plush, with a king-sized bed, nice-sized plasma TV, plenty of closet and dresser space, and a small, but nice bathroom, and a desk for "working". The toiletries were all made by Tommy Bahama, which was a nice touch, and the shower/tub had good water pressure. Throughout the resort, you have a no-cash policy, so everything is charged to the room, which accounts for the $200/day incidental fee. Additionally, there are a couple of different restaurants which includes an automatic 18% gratuity charged to all bills. The staff definitely deserves it and their level of service far exceeds the 18%, so we often left a bit more. Speaking of the restaurants, they were definitely great, albeit a bit pricey. But it's vacation and a resort, so the prices were to be expected. Additionally, I will reserve my reviews of them for their actual page. I will say, the piña coladas were some of the best I've had, and better yet with the Meyers Dark Rum (with floater, of course!)!! DELISH!! I think I drank those ALL weekend... No really, I did. And the "Terrace" restaurant, which is where brunch was served, had a great variety of breakfast items and it was all very tasty. The service was phenomenal wherever we went (minus an incident at Alma, with a specific waiter), and I have to say it was definitely a pleasure to stay here. It made the weekend feel like a week-long vacation, and I definitely did NOT want to head home. You have plenty to do for all ages, from adventure trips, to swimming with dolphins (which are located AT the resort - very expensive), to sunset boat rides, and of course the pirate-themed kids area, there is fun for the whole family! We enjoyed walking the grounds (quite extensive) and taking pictures of the beautiful landscaping and sunsets. There's a marina and harbor as well, with an ice cream shop, which made for great people-watching and picture-taking. Overall an excellent experience, no matter what the reason for the vacation. Next time, I definitely hope to rent at the villas and enjoy at least a week. Looking forward to returning! All the best, SabrinaAnna* read more

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Extremely disappointed with our stay. I agree with other reviewers, the front desk (once they actually showed up, the desk was unattended for several minutes) was rude and not helpful. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa that was in need of significant repair - dry wall damage that was poorly spackled, not even painted, ceiling fans didn't work, tv didn't work, air vents falling from ceiling held up by towels, drains broken, shower curtain ripped, stained and with a terrible order, dryer also had a terrible odor (see pics). We called engineering twice to address the lack of hot water but no one came. I got fed up and asked to change rooms and was provided keys that did not work by the again unhelpful front desk staff. I was told new keys would be brought to my room but after waiting over an hour, I gave up. Needless to say we will never return. Last year we went to the Índigo Reef resort in Marathon and the villa were MUCH better. Don't waste your time or money on Hawks Cay. read more

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gorgeous resort. Stayed for a work conference. The entire staff was great and Radar is the best poolside bartender ever! 10/10, would recommend. read more

I read multiple bad reviews for this place before our trip and had very low hopes. Everyone who had something bad to say about Hawks Cay mainly complained about the staff being lazy and people were upset that 18% gratuity was added onto everything. From the first minute we arrived I had no idea what those previous reviews were referring to. From minute 1 til the minute we left the staff bent over backwards to try and help where need be. There was one staff member that stood out among the rest, which is hard to do, Donnie from Ohio. He came up to me to see if there was anything I needed. We ending up talking for a good 10 minutes about "The Big Ten" and life. The next day he asked me if we were planning on going to marathon. He then went to get a map and circled the "Must Eat At" restaurants in the area, and boy was he right!! With the staff so nice and the hotel so clean I figured this place was amazing, and then I ate the food.. The Beach Grill which serves food poolside is just awful. Every piece of food we ordered was plain and flavorless and some was even uneatable. The Ocean Grille, which has a breakfast buffet that is slightly below average, alunch that is over priced and average in quality and the dinner is the same menu as lunch unless you want the buffet which is on-par with old country buffet. (not a compliment) The only highlight food wise was Alma, the food there is terrific. It is very expensive but worth every penny. The drinks at both bars are fantastic, they serve the best Pina Colada's I've ever had. But the food cannot allow me to give this place more than 2 stars. Side note, the hotel provided our convention group a free continental breakfast everyday but to be honest, they couldn't pay me to eat it. They also provided appetizers for 3 night gatherings.. 2 of the three nights they made me lose my appetite.. read more

Three and a half stars is way too generous for this place. We stayed here for a weekend and when I first arrived, I was quite impressed with the look of the place. Well-manicured lawns, clean parking lots, a pristine lobby. All very well done. I arrived early and I didn't expect to be allowed to check in, but they were fine with that. By the end of the first day I found that the air conditioning didn't work in the bedroom I was staying in (in one of the villas), the toilet paper holder was missing the piece that goes through the tube, the phone did not work (and since the place is so remote, I didn't have cell service so the only way of contacting the front desk was to leave the villa and walk up to the main building), and the hotel staff do not know what they are doing. At 9:55 p.m. I finally had time to eat. The restaurant was no longer serving but they sent me to the tiki bar, which serves until 11:00. By the time I found someone at the restaurant to tell me they were no longer serving, it was now after 10:00. I went to the tiki bar, where I was told that they stop serving at 10:00 and I would have to call room service. I can't call room service because the phone in the room doesn't work, so I went to the front desk. They called room service and I placed an order. I was told it would be 30 to 45 minutes for it to arrive. It was nearing midnight when the food finally arrived. The next day I had breakfast in their restaurant. This is a very small island and outside of the resort, there really isn't any other place to eat. The breakfast is a buffet, which is great if you're a meat eater. I had scrambled eggs, two small pancakes, some fruit and a cup of tea. For that small amount of food, I was charged $22. I never ate at the resort again. When I returned to the villa in the afternoon, there were fresh towels on the sofa in the living room and the garbage in the kitchen had been emptied. This is all you get in the way of room cleaning. The beds were not made, the trash in the bathrooms was not emptied and the place was not vacuumed. If you're accustomed to hotel service, you don't get that here if you stay in the villas. All-in-all, I can't recommend this place. There are plenty of places to stay in the keys and there have to be places that are better run than this one. I'll keep looking. read more