Nov. 01–The Keys are still recovering from the wrath of last year's Hurricane Irma, and some tourist destinations have recently reopened. Many of the properties have taken advantage of the downtime in business to make upgrades to their buildings and grounds.
The Parrot Key Hotel and Villas in Key West opens Thursday (Nov. 1) and the Postcard Inn Beach Resort and Marina in Islamorada opens Friday. The refurbished Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum reopened earlier this month.
Keep coming back to this post, as we will update it as more Keys locations reopens.
Parrot Key Hotel and Villas
This resort in Key West, known for its four swimming pools, is reopen as of Nov. 1. Its website says, "the full experience won't be complete until the New Year," but the hotel is open following a multimillion-dollar makeover. In an email, management says the hotel underwent a full renovation, including interiors, exteriors and landscaping.
Through March, the Parrot Key Hotel is offering "sneak peek" rates for the reopening. Guests can book stays from $149 to $299 a night depending on the month. For more information, go to ParrotKeyHotel.com/Offers/Experience-the-New-Parrot-Key.
Improvements coming in early 2019 will include a new restaurant called the Grove Kitchen and Bar as well as new waterfront villas
The Parrot Key Hotel is located at 2801 N. Roosevelt Blvd., in Key West. Call 888-665-6368 or go to ParrotKeyHotel.com.
Postcard Inn Beach Resort and Marina
The 15-acre getaway, which also has the tallest building on Islamorada, has made some major upgrades while shuttered for rebuilding. Postcard Inn had structural and landscaping damage due to Hurricane Irma. For example, its Raw Bar was washed away and had to be totally rebuilt.
When the resort reopens on Friday, Nov. 2, the Postcard Inn's general manager Eddie Sipple says, it will have these additions:
–New entrance and lobby area with separate front desk for children
–Expanded oceanfront rooms
–Newly designed guest rooms and cottages
–Five top-floor suites showcasing floor-to-ceiling views of the bay and Atlantic Ocean
–New swim-up pool bar, Kokomos, with an expanded deck over the ocean for sunbathing
–A refurbished marina providing 55 slips, including 26 transient slips with accommodations suited for vessels up to 90 feet
–Enhanced guest experiences such as tarpon feeding from the marina, expanded walk-in beach area, bocce ball courts, "Fish Like a Local" fishing classes and a new Tiki Stage.
The Postcard Inn is located at 84001 Overseas Highway, in Islamorada. call 305-664-2321 or go to HolidayIsle.com.
Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
The museum has been open for some time, but the 65-foot tower that offers bird's-eye views of the island and the harbor was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma and required extensive repairs. The tower reopened for guests in October.
The Shipwreck Treasure Museum offers exhibits of Key West's past, when the island's pioneers made a living salvaging wrecked ships in the Florida Straits, from Spanish galleons to merchant ships.
The Shipwreck Treasure Museum is located at 1 Whitehead St., in Key West. For more information, call 305-292-8990 or go to KeyWestShipwreck.com.
rhagwood@southflorida.com
