Villas at Hawks Cay Resort

The pools and outdoor bars were pretty nice, but the townhouse felt like poor value for the premium price. The kitchen was heavily worn, paint throughout needed a serious repaint, and the sliding glass door looked ancient and nasty. The shower door was the wrong size and wouldn’t close. Wi-Fi was nearly unusable. Friends staying in other rooms and villas had the same problem, and these days decent Wi-Fi matters. Housekeeping was a mess too. We called the day before to schedule a cleaning, then called six times during the day when nobody showed up. Each time, we were told it was in the system. At 9 PM, a manager told me housekeeping had gone home for the day. That seemed very poor service for a resort at this price. The manager offered sheets for the bed, but said there was no one to bring them to us. Meals on site were about $50 a plate before drinks, and the wait was long. We expected the prices, but ate at local places every night but one because they felt more down to earth. The marina was expensive as well, $60 each way to use the boat ramp, overpriced slips, and fuel that was far more expensive than seemed reasonable. I understand the costs of keeping equipment running, but this was too much, so I fueled elsewhere.

The room itself had several problems: stained pillows and bedding, and a hallway carpet that stayed dirty with crumbs and garbage throughout my Sunday-to-Thursday visit. There were also lots of bugs by the elevator door every night, and my room was right beside it. The resort is spread out, so getting between areas would be difficult in the rain. I was there for a work conference. The place was okay, but seemed poorly maintained for what they charge. Service at the lobby café and pool changed from day to day. The pool food wasn’t terrible, while the café had major delays even early in the morning. A regular breakfast sandwich and coffee cost over $20 for one person, which gives you an idea of the prices. They also held over $200 per night on my card. For those rates, I expected much better service.

We stayed a few extra days after the Grouper Season Opener and loved the pool and hot tub. The oceanfront views were breathtaking, like looking at a painting of the Atlantic. The marina also looked fantastic: the upgrades appeared finished, everything was working, and the property felt polished. This was another stay at Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key, and the event was phenomenal again. Simon organized it for the second year in a row and somehow made it bigger and better than last year. His hospitality stood out from the moment we arrived, and he made sure people had a great experience. The entertainment was extraordinary, the atmosphere was electric, and the whole weekend felt first class. Simon’s leadership made the event unforgettable. Already looking forward to next year!

We were on the fourth floor, looking over the adults-only Serenity pool, with gorgeous views. There’s also a lagoon pool and a large area for children at the main pool. Our room was upgraded to a junior suite for our Anniversary. It had spectacular views, though the “suite” felt dated and the artwork was bizarre. We hardly spent time in the room, but I expected something a little nicer for a suite. The air conditioner was unbelievably loud, like a jet airplane, and made it hard to sleep. At least it worked and kept the room comfortable. The resort was fully restored and renovated after multiple hurricanes, and it still shines. Most of all, the staff were kind and polite, always opening doors and trying to please. Emily gave us the best service we’ve ever had at this resort. She was welcoming, personable, professional, and a lot of fun. She was always smiling and interacting with coworkers and guests, spreading sunshine wherever she went. Hawks Cay is lucky to have her representing and serving the bar areas. The resort has changed over the years, but the hospitality is still the finest. If you’re looking for a place to stay, come to the fishing capital of the world. You won’t be disappointed.