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    The Reef at Marathon

    4.4 (7 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    4 months ago

    Love this place. I come every few years and it is well maintained with great landscaping.

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    1 year ago

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    11 years ago

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    Ask the Community - The Reef at Marathon

    Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club - Sunrise from balcony

    Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club

    (41 reviews)

    Easily one of the biggest hidden gems on Marathon Key ... literally hidden because aside from the…read morenon-descript sign on the highway, the dense tropical foliage hides the place! Get past that and you find a first-class resort, dense beautiful tropical gardens, great staff, all the perks one wants in a Keys resort... pool, bar, water sports, super nice/clean rooms, plenty of parking! Mia helped us check in and gave us the property tour, did a great job... thanks Mia. Complimentary prosecco upon check-in! Nice little gift shop at the office. The resident cat Wilma will follow you around, so be aware, she'll join you for bed! Family and adults sides to the resort, which is nice. Only had one night this time around, but we'll be back for sure! Highly recommend!

    Secluded relaxing resort on a grassy water area with on-site market, restaurant, pool and rooftop…read morebars. 3.75 stars Highlights - Secluded area: very chill and relaxing - Nice staff: especially Jeff the bartender - Market was fantastic assortment of quality items - Grass hut pool bar: large covered area with some fun games spread around (connect 4, string hook, cornhole, ring toss, etc). - Waterfront with beach chairs on little sandy areas, sitting hammocks, and a pier. 2 pools-- one for adults - Aqua cabana: cool option to rent to float on the water for a while. Has a table and is covered. $199 for the day including bucket of beer/seltzers or a bottle of rose. - Basic kayaks and paddle boards included and other activities offered like kite surfing. - Restaurant and rooftop bar on site were great and convenient - Had a family 3 bedroom unit with kitchen which was nice. - Not so crowded when we were there mid-April Midlights: - Tide changes made it harder to do water sports since had to plan around low tide times. - Beds and sheets weren't the most comfortable - Day without Jeff the drinks were not great by the pool. - Adult section is more recently renovated than the family side. - Adult pool actually more crowded and set back in shade. Lowlights - Restaurant and rooftop bar closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays - Water ground is sludgey and not fun to walk on. Also sometimes an unpleasant odor. - Door to our main balcony was broken after our first night so for several days we couldn't go out there. Bummer cause was the main place we planned to hang out. And hub missed part of our aquacabana day waiting for someone to come up since his suit was out there. - No service for rooms while we were here 3 nights

    Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort - Sat in Adirondack chairs and sipped our drinks while we watched the sun set.  Do we really have to go home at all?

    Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort

    (245 reviews)

    Stayed Beachfront Villa in May. Approx. $980/Night Nice…read moreBalcony access to the beach directly. Hotel Structure was attached 2 story townhouse style. Pros: Close to Key West Very quiet & private beach. Relaxing. Clean room and well-maintained landscaping Cons: #1 No alcohol on the beach. Tiki bar was closed. #2 Man Made Tiny White Sand Beach #3 Balcony should have the divider to maintain the privacy. #4 Small windows next to the entrance door should be etched or blocked otherwise, people can see inside especially at night.

    Tranquility Bay is a beautiful resort with spacious villas, well-maintained grounds, and a great…read morelocation. Unfortunately, the customer service didn't match the quality of the property. Throughout our stay, whenever we requested something outside of the standard offerings, even when we offered to pay, the answer was simply "no," with no effort to find a solution. Great hospitality is about finding ways to say "yes" whenever possible. A few suggestions: * If you're going to offer late checkout, disclose the fee before asking if guests are interested (also $100 for 1hr later is absolutely absurd). * Consider allowing the restaurant to prepare guests' fresh catch, not just mahi-mahi. Many visitors come to the Keys specifically to fish and would love to enjoy what they caught that day. * When our room wasn't ready, we left refrigerated groceries with the front desk. Unfortunately, not all of them were returned, and we didn't discover items were missing until later. Better procedures for storing and returning guests' belongings would prevent this. Tranquility Bay has the potential to be a truly exceptional resort. A more flexible, guest-first approach to customer service would make all the difference.

    Hawks Cay Resort - Crudo

    Hawks Cay Resort

    (717 reviews)

    Villa 8303 was not ready for us: dirty linens piled outside our entry door along with full trash…read morebags. Unit was very basic but generally comfortable. No trash bags, one hairdryer for two bathrooms, no soap in unit,showers, lavatories, none. Called front desk and stopped by several times but trash and linen stayed at door for three days. A manager was to call us to discuss the shortcomings but never did respond. On last full day when we stopped by front desk to talkl about our experience, we were given a discount certificate for same day dining. Nice gesture but did little to allay the issues.Amenities on property are terrific but disappointed that water park isn't available until August. Advertising said "summer 2026," so we thought it would be open in June, but no. Grandsons didn't know the difference since the pool and lagoon are awesome, as was our reef fishing trip on the Salt Walker. We caught many yellowtail snapper and had Angler and Ale prepare fish for dinner that night. Restaurants are quite good with excellent service and priced as you would expect for resort dining (Salt and Ash is excellent and priced accordingly) Not sure if we will return to Hawk's Cay after this trip. It's a long trip from Colorado and a long drive from MIA for what we paid vs overall experience.

    Great Stay With Some Service & Logistics Gaps…read more Overall, we had a genuinely great experience as first-time visitors traveling without kids but with service animals. The property shines in many areas, especially if you're looking for a relaxing resort atmosphere with beautiful water views, pet-friendly accommodations, and a fun, laid-back vibe. That said, there were a few frustrating misses that held this back from being a 5-star stay. THE GOOD * Beautiful beach & lagoon area - Easily one of the highlights of the property. Relaxing, scenic, and fun overall. * Salt + Ash is a must - Exceptional food and one of the best dining experiences on property. The wine selection was top-notch and the beef tenderloin was outstanding. Easily our favorite restaurant. * Incredible staff throughout the resort - Bell staff, valet, oceanfront servers, housekeeping crew, and pool staff were consistently kind, personable, and welcoming. * Staff who go above and beyond - Huge shoutout to Joshua, who helped us secure chairs near the adult pool, and Danielle, who took time to chat, swap stories, and made us feel genuinely welcome. Hospitality like that sticks with you. * Captain's Suite is worth the upgrade - Strongly recommend spending the extra money if budget allows. The added space made the trip: dining area, living room, fridge, two toilets, large balcony, and beautiful water views overlooking the pool and lagoon. It elevated the experience tremendously. * Extremely pet & service animal friendly - This place deserves serious praise here. Few resorts feel this comfortable and accommodating for travelers with animals. Staff were respectful, welcoming, and there were no awkward restrictions or friction. If you travel with pets or service animals, this property stands out. * Tiki Grill - Great atmosphere for drinks and relaxing. Perfect for unwinding poolside. * 20% off dining on property helped offset costs - Appreciated perk considering resort pricing. THE NOT-SO-GOOD * Front desk communication & housekeeping logistics need work - This was our biggest frustration. We stayed in a Captain's Suite and requested both a room cleaning and balcony cleaning (bird droppings had accumulated on the balcony) around 10 AM. The front desk wrote down our room number and assured us it would be taken care of. When we returned around 3:30 PM, neither had been done. By after 4:30 PM, the room had finally been cleaned, but the balcony still hadn't been addressed. When you pay extra for a premium room and oceanfront balcony experience, this feels disappointing. There also seems to be a mild pigeon issue, and balcony maintenance should really be part of a regular checklist. Some simple bird deterrents or more proactive cleaning would go a long way. * Concierge/text support didn't materialize - We were told we'd receive a concierge-style welcome text shortly after check-in for support/questions. Unfortunately, we never received it. To make matters worse, the room phones didn't work, meaning concerns had to be addressed in person while waiting in the front desk line. * Food quality was inconsistent - Salt + Ash was phenomenal, but not every dining experience matched that standard. Tiki Grill: Great drinks and atmosphere, but the food was forgettable, under-seasoned, and not something we'd order again. Fine in a pinch. Angler & Ale: Beautiful waterfront views and exceptional staff, but the food leaned heavily fried and felt more like average bar food than resort dining. Fish and chips were disappointing. Oddly enough, the banana split ended up redeeming the meal. * Convenience store prices were shocking - Convenient? Yes. Affordable? Not even close. A few sodas and snacks escalated to $60+ surprisingly fast. I expected a slightly easier option versus restaurant pricing, but the markup felt extreme. * Parking costs add up - Valet runs about $40/day and self-parking is roughly half, but expect around a 10-minute walk with luggage, making valet feel almost mandatory. FINAL THOUGHTS Despite some communication breakdowns and uneven food experiences, we truly enjoyed our stay. The Captain's Suite, peaceful balcony views, fire pit at night, lagoon, beach access, pickleball, and pet-friendly atmosphere made for memorable moments. My advice: upgrade to the Captain's Suite, eat at Salt + Ash (seriously, get the beef tenderloin), enjoy the tiki drinks, walk the grounds, soak in the sun, and be selective about food choices elsewhere. Use the convenience store sparingly. Fix the housekeeping/communication gaps, improve how guests can raise concerns without standing in line, and clean those balconies consistently--and this place could easily become a 5-star destination.

    Isla Bella Beach Resort - The Marketplace~

    Isla Bella Beach Resort

    (208 reviews)

    $$$

    I was very hesitant to book this ResortPass for 4th of July because it was significantly less than…read moreother resorts in the Islamorada area about 50 miles north, but the Cabana at Isla Bella exceeded my expectations. All the staff were extremely nice and attentive The only negative I could say was that the reception/lobby building was a little hard to find, but it wasn't that bad. After checking in, everything else was great. We booked a cabana in the main pool which was large enough that we weren't really splashed or annoyed by little kids, and there were a lot there considering it was 4th of July weekend. The other pools were also nice, and just plain rectangular pools with lounge chairs around. They also have an over 21 pool which was pretty private and was great for an alternative to the large pool if the kids had been an issue. The resort has the nicest hotel store I've ever seen and they make fresh salads and sandwiches and had pastries and coffee and gelato along with other resort wear and items you may have forgotten. In that building you can book kayaks, padddle boards, jet skis, fishing etc. We wanted to do paddle boarding but the oars had melted from the heat, so we kayaked and melted ourselves from the heat but it was great and reasonably priced. There is beach access as well and the staff did a great job of cleaning the seaweed from the beach, however, the water was too warm to enjoy. Luckily the pools were perfect temps. Food and drinks were good, not crazy prices for a resort on July 4th. They had live music that was great and in multiple locations. Overall, we are 100% coming back for a day pass and will likely book a weekend at the hotel in the future.

    The hotel and grounds are beautiful. The rooms are very large. That's it for the positives…read more We stayed in room 360. The bathtub appeared to have been reglazed and was showing signs of wear to the point that it looked filthy. Both toilets had deep gauges in the bowels making them look dingy. The tile around the shower has not been scrubbed in years and the floors were in desperate need of a machine scrub. This hotel not only charges a resort fee but they charge for parking and a game fee. I still don't know what the resort fee was for because the WiFi was non-existent. Breakfast was included but you cannot go over $60 which I thought was easy until you see they charge $19 for pancakes!!!!! If you want to be nickel and dimed this is the place for you. We ate dinner here one night and we were not wowed. The Mohana restaurant lacks attentive service for the prices they charge.

    Faro Blanco Resort Marathon Florida Keys, Curio by Hilton - Pool

    Faro Blanco Resort Marathon Florida Keys, Curio by Hilton

    (91 reviews)

    $$$

    Loved this resort! Best part is you have access to 2. Both…read morehave pools with bar and ocean views. Music never stops and neither does the relaxing fun. Check in was easy (they even got us in early). Rooms were nice, sheets were clean, room was stocked and cool. Fridge in every room and all toiletries available. We jumped from pool to pool and when needed relaxation went over to the private beach area. The weather was sunny and windy. It was the perfect combination of a nap on there numerous provided hammocks. There's always some festivity going on to choose from but we went our own route. Happy hour is available even on the weekends and make sure to grab some bites. There are a couple of fast food places around just in case and local restaurants but all you really need is here at the resort. Our days were filled with ocean breezes, cold cocktails, naps by the sea, and the perfect sunsets. Also available were spa services and gym. Take advantage of it all!

    General - We came here for our 2026 winter vacation. We were looking for sun and sand and found it…read morein Marathon, Florida! Location - This hotel is located right in the middle of Marathon in the Florida Keys. Marathon is a fairly large city when looking at the keys and this hotel is right in the middle of everything this island has to offer. You are close to many different restaurants, a Publix, famous 7-Mile Bridge and the one of the best beaches in the Keys, Sombrero Beach. Rooms & Building - Rooms are all suites and spacious. They reminded me of what you would find normally at an Embassy Suites. The style and theme was modern, nautical which fit the surrounding area. The room had a fridge and microwave and a small living area. The bathroom had a spacious rainfall shower and large vanity with plenty of room to spare. Amenities - The hotel has two outdoor pools onsite. The pools are heated and stayed comfortable throughout our stay. The site also offers a small butterfly garden, green space with firepits and hammocks, and beautiful marina views (and sunsets). The property grounds are well maintained and beautiful. Food - Breakfast is not included in your stay but there is a restaurant and coffee shop onsite. The coffee shop serves Cuban-style coffee which was unique and very good. The breakfast sandwiches at the coffee shop were also pretty good. We didn't eat at the restaurant but the food menu looked interesting. Vibe - Easy going staff and customers. No complaints. Reality vs. Online - Pictures that I saw on their website and online matched the quality and condition of the hotel and rooms in-person. No surprises. Price & Final Verdict - If you are looking for a luxurious stay while in the Florida Keys, Faro Blanco offers a good mix of luxury and hotel-styled amenities. One neat perk - if you are a Diamond member, you can use the amenities at their sister resort next door (infinity pool, hot tub, and man-made beach). Prices tend to fall into the $300's+ for a night, so this place might not be in everyone's price range or interest.

    Hampton Inn Marathon - Florida Keys - Guest room bath

    Hampton Inn Marathon - Florida Keys

    (49 reviews)

    $$

    Clean and large breakfast selection. No issues with our stay. They offer laundry too!…read more Mr Li helped us check in and was super friendly and kind. Really enjoyed our stay

    I very much enjoyed my 3-night stay at this hotel…read more Compared to other Hampton Inns I have stayed at, this one had the most spacious room. It even had a wet bar with an extra sink and an outdoor patio area with a couple of chairs and a small table. There was also a larger-than-average fridge, microwave, and safe. Possibly my favorite thing about Hampton Inns is the included breakfast. It's so convenient to have a wide selection of foods available to start your day. There's always some meat (typically sausage patties or bacon), eggs (typically scrambled or frittatas), and breakfast potatoes; oatmeal, yogurt, and some toppings; cereal (frosted flakes, cheerios, and I forget the last one) and milk; bagels, bread, and toppings (cream cheese, butter, jam, etc.); fruit (typically bananas and apples); waffle batters (vanilla and a rotating flavor like blueberry or banana) and an iron; juice (typically OJ and apple or POG); and I'm probably missing other things. There is ice, hot and cold water, tea, and coffee available 24/7. Other amenities include a pool, tiki bar that serves drinks and food in the pool area, room service, a decent gym, and a little dock where iguanas like to hang out throughout the day. Service was excellent. Parking is $10/night with in and out privileges and there are plenty of stalls. And because of the layout of the hotel which only has 2 levels of rooms, you may be able to park right outside your room's patio door.

    The Reef at Marathon - hotels - Updated July 2026

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