Let’s be honest, the Florida Keys are not known as a budget friendly destination or a place with affordable prices.
Even some of the most “basic” accommodations in the Florida Keys can run upwards of $400 per night depending on the time of year (for example, peak season tends to be in the winter months, when prices will be much higher).
The Keys are a popular tourist destination, people want to visit, and there’s only so much space to build a resort on a tiny little island.
That makes it pretty expensive to find a place to stay.
But, it’s not totally impossible. Whether you’re road-tripping from Key Largo to Key West or spending a few nights in one spot, here’s a hotel guide to budget friendly accommodations in each of the major Florida Keys.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this travel guide are affiliate links (including links to Amazon) providing us with a small commission if you make a qualifying purchase – at no extra cost to you. We greatly appreciate your support! As always, we share our honest opinion and everything is written by us.
A Few Tips
Before we jump into my recommended “cheap” hotels in the Florida Keys, there are a few things that might be helpful to know.
First, a disclaimer. When I use the term “affordable” or “cheap”, I’m talking about Florida Keys standards. I often hear people disappointed in the service they receive for what they pay. But what you pay in the Florida Keys will generally be more than what you’d pay in other places.
For example, a $300 per night hotel room might be a splurge to you, but that might be a “cheap” room for the weekend you’re in the Keys. So it might not come with the amenities you’d expect for paying that much money.
Resort Fees
Regardless of where you book and for how much, you will want to check whether there are resort fees. Resort fees are very, very common throughout the Keys and they’re usually around $50. They typically include things that you’d expect to be included like pool towels and internet but at some hotels, the fees will also include water activities such as free paddleboard/kayak rentals. The disclaimer about fees isn’t always obvious.
Parking Fees
Similarly, many places also charge parking fees. We recently stayed at Casa Marina and even though this is far from a budget accommodation and I’m used to fees, I was surprised to learn that parking was an additional ~$40 per night (at the time of this writing, self park is $40 and valet is $45 per day).
This obviously won’t apply to everyone, especially if you’re flying into Key West and only staying in Key West. But if you’re like us and drive in or if you rent a golf cart, this may impact you. There are places to park on the street for free, but that can be a hassle and if you make the mistake of parking in the wrong spot, you’ll get a ticket which is more expensive than just paying for parking.
Long story short, even though you’re paying a lot of money, some of these places might be a little more run down than you expect for your “splurge”.
And while what I mention in this post are generally true, prices can fluctuate and vary. It’s good to know about big events in the Keys, such as Fantasy Fest in Key West or “mini season” (mini lobster season, a two-day event) throughout the Florida Keys. Events like these will make prices skyrocket.
While this is a great starting point, I recommend doing some of your own research by searching on booking.com or hotels.com and sorting by price. This can help you research the best value before you make a final decision.
Budget Friendly Hotels in Key Largo
According to Hotels.com, the average rate of a hotel room in Key Largo is $322 per night. Since Key Largo is the closest key to Miami, you also could stay in the Homestead/Florida City area for even cheaper. We have heard a lot of people refer to this area as unsafe, but we’ve stayed at the Home2 Suites multiple times without any issues and have not felt unsafe.
Bay Harbor Lodge
This lodge is kind of a hidden gem. Bay Harbor Lodge is a quiet and small spot in Key Largo. The grounds here are beautiful and well taken care of (the term tropical paradise comes to mind!) They make homemade scones in the morning (complimentary).
It’s really one of those authentic Florida Keys type of places that a lot of the big, nice resorts don’t (and simply can’t) have.
There is a beach area here and this is one of the resorts with kayaks and paddleboards available to use. There is also a heated pool and a small library.
Average Cost: $196, but it can range from $160 on the low end to upwards of $250.
Photo: Hotels.com
Courtyard by Marriott Key Largo
Something I like about the Courtyard is that it’s a chain, which makes me feel oddly comforted. With a chain, you know what to expect and what you’re getting. Though unlike many Marriott locations, you do not get free breakfast here (there are some hotels with free breakfast in the Florida Keys, but not a lot).
There is an outdoor swimming pool and it’s on a marina. The lobby is updated, but the rooms could use a remodel/upgrade because they’re pretty old. Overall, it’s a nice location in the northern Florida Keys and a great spot to be in Key Largo. There is also free parking, which is nice.
Average Cost: $181 on the lower end but can be as high as $360 during busy or popular dates
Book the Courtyard by Marriott Key Largo
Photo: Hotels.com
Bayside Inn
The Bayside Inn has a great location close to several restaurants within walking distance.
It’s pet friendly and there is even a dog playground on site. Do note that it costs an additional $50 per pet per night.
The Bayside Inn has a private beach area with plenty of chairs for relaxing (it’s great for watching the sun set). This is another hotel that includes bike, kayak, and paddle board rentals as well. And of course, there is a pool. There is also a fitness center on site.
There is a free Starbucks coffee machine in the lobby.
The hotel is older and despite its waterfront location, most rooms don’t face the water.
Average cost: $190 with lower rooms around $150 and can go upwards of $315.
Photo: Hotels.com
Hampton Inn Key Largo Manatee Bay
The Hampton Inn in Key Largo is a good option for a clean, standard room (though a tad outdated). The grounds are nice and there is a small private beach and tiki bar.
The location is great and close to several restaurants in Key Largo.
Parking is free and there is a fitness center. But perhaps one of the best perks is that there is complimentary breakfast (like I mentioned, not very common in the Florida Keys!) with some basic food options. They have kayaks on site, but you’ll need to rent them for a fee.
This is also a good place to stay if you have a dog because they’re dog friendly!
Average cost: $109 on the low end to $300+
Book Hampton Inn Key Largo Manatee Bay
Photo: Hotels.com
Budget Friendly Hotels in Islamorada
According to Kayak.com, the average rate of a hotel room in Islamorada is $454 per night.
Sands of Islamorada Hotel & Resort
The Sands of Islamorada is a pet friendly hotel with an authentic, old Florida feel. They are located right on the water, in good location, and have a nice pool. It’s quiet and still a hidden gem in Islamorada.
There is a coffee pot with coffee in the rooms but no sugar or creamer. This is a common complaint in reviews, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they started providing this in the future.
They also have four macaws on site, which are fun to visit.
The rooms are a bit outdated, but about what you’d expect for the price point.
Average Price: Upper 190’s to lower 200’s
Book the Sands of Islamorada Hotel & Resort
Photo: Hotels.com
Fisher Inn Resort and Marina
There was a period in our lives where we were traveling to Islamorada on a regular basis for work and needed a place to stay. The Fisher Inn was consistently one of the cheapest places to stay with a dog (our bernedoodle was coming with us). It’s a hidden gem, no frills place yet it’s right on the water.
Some rooms have private balconies and we usually splurged to make sure we got a balcony (I worked from the hotel room while my husband left to work on the island).
The first few times, we had nothing but wonderful experiences but over time, some of the cons started adding up. Here is what we personally experienced:
- Multiple times when we were checking in, people in front of us had their reservations magically disappear. The hotel employees couldn’t find the reservation in the system. Each time, the guest said they booked directly with the hotel (missing hotel reservations can occasionally happen with a third party booking, but it really shouldn’t be happening when you book directly). It also happened to us once. I normally wouldn’t think anything of this but since I personally saw it happen so many times, it seems like a pattern. Every time, it did end up working out but if they’d happened to be booked, it would have been really stressful. Hotels in Islamorada are expensive, especially last minute if you’re stuck without a place to stay.
- On 3 separate stays, the fire alarms went off. That’s a lot of times. Again, I think if we’d only stayed once and it happened, I’d write it off as a fluke. One of the times, we asked the front desk about it and they mentioned it was a known problem at the time.
- One one trip, our internet wasn’t working. I know when you’re on vacation, you’re supposed to take a break from things involving the internet, but remember we were here for work and I was working from the hotel room. The internet not working made it impossible for me to work. One employee acted surprised when we told him and said he’d restart the router. The next day, another employee told us it had been out for over a month.
- I emailed them to let them know that I was a repeat guest, had previously enjoyed all of my stays, and was wondering if there was anything they could do for us given that I lost an entire work day. They said they’d refund the resort fee. Unfortunately, they never did and never responded again when I emailed.
We’re loyal and it wouldn’t have taken much for us to look past these mistakes. But we didn’t feel valued so we haven’t stayed since.
So why am I still including the Fisher Inn?
Because it really was one of the best values over and over again.
It’s walking distance to Hog Heaven (a great bar restaurant in Islamorada with good BBQ and right on the water) and the hotel itself is also on the water.
If you are bringing a boat, they have the only boat ramp at a hotel in Islamorada. They also have trailer parking for a reasonable fee each night ($40/night, which is a steal in Islamorada). There is a continental breakfast (nothing fancy, but not easy to find in the Florida Keys) and you can use kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes.
Do note that even though this hotel is right on the water, there is no beach that you can enter. They have plenty of chairs right on the water but you can’t get in to swim.
Our negative experience probably won’t be an issue to you – I can’t imagine they’d allow fire alarms to continue going off, if you’re not working then you probably don’t need internet, and hopefully they don’t lose your reservation.
Average cost: Around $220. However, we have had to pay around $400/night on multiple occasions when we booked last minute or when it was a busier weekend (but keep in mind, we also splurged on the ocean view room).
Breezy Palms Resort
Breezy Palms is the epitome of laid back with a great location right on the water. It’s walking distance to one of our favorite restaurants in Islamorada, Lazy Days.
There is a large beach with plenty of lounge chairs, a pool, and a tiki bar (they have 50% off some of their drinks during happy hour from 5 pm – 7pm!) There are also grills available.
The rooms are a bit outdated, to be expected for the price point but they are a good size and most of the rooms come with a kitchen, though there are a few smaller rooms that don’t. We love having a kitchen when traveling with kids or when trying to save money on meals. They also have snacks for purchase.
They also have a cat that lives on site, which is a huge pro to me (her name is Bonnie!)
Do note that the property doesn’t have an ice machine (but they do have ice for purchase).
Average Price: $110-$230 but some nights, you can get lucky with a room as low as $80/night for the small rooms!
Book the Breezy Palms Resort in Islamorada
Photo: Hotels.com
Kon-Tiki Resort
The Kon-Tiki has a similar price point as the Breezy Palms. Also like Breezy Palms, most rooms include a kitchen. There are several layouts and price ranges depending on your needs.
The Kon-Tiki is on the bay side, rather than the ocean side. I personally prefer the ocean side, though the bay is best for amazing sunsets. It’s in a good location with walking distance to the Islamorada Fish Company (a popular restaurant in Islamorada). And of course, there is a pool.
Rooms are clean and simple. They are not modern, but they are fine. The grounds are gorgeous and well taken care of.
Average Price: $209
Photo: Tripadvisor.com
Budget Friendly Hotels in Marathon
According to Hotels.com, the average rate of a hotel room in Marathon is $313 per night.
Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club Marathon, Curio Collection by Hilton
The Faro Blanco Resort has a great location and they kind of share a hot tub and a nice infinity pool with the Marriott next door. They do have their own pool, too.
They have bikes available to use and an on-site restaurant and bar. The property itself is very pretty.
The Faro Blanco is also a dog-friendly hotel. It’s worth noting that while many of the properties I’ve mentioned do have some sort of balcony, this property does not.
Average Price: As low as $177 but can definitely reach up to the $400s during busy weekends.
Book the Faro Blanco Resort by Hilton in Marathon
Courtyard Faro Blanco Resort
The Courtyard Faro Blanco is the Marriott property that’s right next door to the Hilton property mentioned above. Their pool is nicer and they also have a hot tub (but again, the two properties share so you can access the pool if you’re staying at the Hilton).
The views are beautiful here and they have a beach area, but you can’t swim – it’s mostly for enjoying the view or laying out. There is also a fitness center and a bar and grill as well as a breakfast spot on site.
Average Price: Similar to Hilton’s Faro Blanco Resort, you can find rooms as low as ~$150 but they can definitely get up to the $400s during busy times.
Book the Courtyard Faro Blanco Resort
Photo: Hotels.com
Fairfield by Marriott Inn and Suites Marathon Florida Keys
The Fairfield by Marriott has a nice pool and an on site tiki bar. It’s right next door to Sparky’s Landing, one of the most popular bars and restaurants in Marathon (and right on the water!) and across the street from Island Fish Co (another very popular restaurant in Marathon right on the water).
Being a large chain comes with pros and cons. You get a clean room and breakfast but there’s not a ton of personality.
This is a place that seems like it should come with free parking but it doesn’t and will run you $17 per day. A couple of other downsides to consider are that the rooms don’t have any patios or outdoor space and there is no accessible beach here.
Average Price: $200-300 but you can get rooms closer to $150 during slower times (like on weekdays)
Book the Fairfield by Marriott Inn and Suites in Marathon
Photo: Hotels.com
Knight’s Key Suites
Knight’s Key Suites is probably one of the best budget options for a hotel in Marathon. It’s more like an airbnb with furniture and kitchens. It could definitely use a renovation, but the rooms are clean and it’s a great budget option.
It is right next to the 7 mile bridge in Marathon and they have a pool.
Average Cost: Around $120, but you can find rooms as low as $90!
Photo: Hotels.com
Budget Friendly Hotels in Key West
Overall, Key West will be the hardest destination in the Florida Keys to find a cheap place to stay.
According to Kayak.com, the average rate of a hotel room in Key West is $322 per night. Personally, this seems a little low to me.
Best Western Hibiscus Motel
The Best Western Hibiscus is only a block from the south end of Duval Street, making it an ideal location. There is a nice pool and the rooms are large clean.
You do get complimentary breakfast here, something rare in the Florida Keys but even more rare in Key West.
Averge Cost: Around $147 for a standard room.
Book the Best Western Hibiscus Motel in Key West
Photo: Hotels.com
The Perry Hotel and Marina
The Perry tends to have more reasonable prices than the rest of the hotels in Key West. It is technically in Stock Island, which is right outside of Key West (but hardly). You won’t be walking distance to most of the fun things to do in Key West (like the beaches and Duval Street) but they do offer a shuttle.
They also have a gorgeous location right on the marina with a nice pool. It’s a newer hotel that opened in 2017.
It’s dog friendly and they even have an amazing fenced in turf dog park. There are two restaurants at the hotel, Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar and Salty Oyster Dockside Bar & Grill.
I mentioned a few times throughout this article that you want to watch out for resort fees and parking fees and this is a perfect example. The Perry has a $50 per night resort fee and also charges $27 per night for parking.
Average Cost: $296
Book the Perry Hotel and Marina in Stock Island
Photo: Hotels.com
Hampton Inn Key West
The Hampton Inn is not close to Duval Street, but they do have a free shuttle every 45 minutes from 8 am until 10:30 pm that will take you to downtown Key West. The location is about a mile from Smathers and you can walk along the water to get there. It’s a great place for morning walks because the sidewalk along the water is really nice and you can’t beat the views.
They have a nice outdoor pool, fitness center, and free breakfast. They also offer free parking.
Average Cost: Around $250
Photo: Hotels.com
The Duval House
The Duval House has kind of a bed and breakfast feel. It has a perfect location right on Duval Street, yet it’s quiet. The property has 7 classic Conch style houses (they are really cute and give you a slice of authentic Key West!)
There are various room options and no two are quite the same.
The property is gorgeous with a 100 year old banyan tree and lush tropical gardens. They do have free breakfast and coffee as well as a pool.
Average Cost: Around $210 but can range from $127 to $438
Book the Duval House in Key West
Photo: Hotels.com
La Pensione Inn
The La Pensione Inn is a bed and breakfast in a gorgeous Victorian mansion that was built in 1891. It comes complete with a wraparound porch and a pool. We found it to be quiet but I’ve heard others mention that the street noise can be a little loud.
Also, while the house is absolutely stunning, you can’t access the entire house like you usually can at a B&B. You’ll enter through the parking/pool area.
Rooms are clean and spacious. There is a free breakfast, which we thought was fine (again, free breakfast is difficult to find anywhere in Key West) but others complained that they expected more. You’ll get your breakfast from their sister property across the street, the Silver Palms Resort. We have also stayed there and thought it was really nice. It could probably make the list for cheap places to stay in Key West because their prices usually are good, but it does tend to be a bit more than some of the options I mentioned here.
The La Pensione Inn has a great location around 3 blocks from Duval Street. They also provide free off-street parking.
Do note that this B&B is adults only.
Average Price: Around $250, but it can skyrocket all the way up to $500 and I’ve seen prices as low as $150.
Book the La Pensione Inn in Key West
Photo: Hotels.com
The Garden House
The Garden House is another bed and breakfast option. It’s in a great location around two blocks from Duval Street. They’re also just a short walk from Mallory Square and the Seaport. It’s on a quieter street, so you’re close to the action but can still enjoy the peace.
They have a nice pool and a free breakfast.
The rooms are on the small side. They have 7 parking spaces that come on a first-come, first-served basis for an additional $30 per night.
Average Cost: Around $210 per night, but I’ve seen them as low as $133 and of course, they can skyrocket during busy times.
Book the Garden House in Key West
Photo: Hotels.com
Seashell Motel and Key West Hostel
In full disclosure, we have not stayed here, but I wanted to mention it because this is more than likely going to be your cheapest option in Key West. The Seashell Motel does have some private rooms and then the hostel side has 10 bunkbeds to a room.
Average Cost: Hostel beds start at $49 per person and the private rooms start at $125.
Book the Seashell Motel and Key West Hostel
Photo: Hotels.com
Final Thoughts
Sure, the Florida Keys aren’t cheap but as one of the best places you can visit, it’s worth it. And the good news is that you can still have a great time on a budget. And finding an affordable hotel is often the first step.
While the Florida Keys have many options of luxury hotels, there are also some great budget-friendly hotels. Hopefully this list helped you get a good start on where to stay so that you can find the perfect hotel for your vacation to the Florida Keys!
