La Siesta Resort & Villas

The water taxi between all three resorts was a fun ride across the ocean, especially the Bayside route. Captain Jen gets a shout-out. It’s free, but the schedule can change with the day of the week and water conditions, so check ahead. We enjoyed being able to visit the other two properties. Three Waters is the larger, fancier and pricier one, with restaurants and several bars, while LS has just one small bar. A few of the bars have good happy hours. La Siesta felt like the quietest of the three, which suited us. The resort is beautiful, just like the pictures, and every staff member was delightful, especially Marilyn and Kristen at the front desk. We booked a garden view but could still see the ocean from our patio. Our room was large but basic. The microwave was grimy, and the kitchenette had no soap or hand towel. It was cleaned only once during our four nights. Those things were fairly minor since we mainly used the room to sleep. We’ll definitely be back.

The property has a tropical, almost Hawaii-like feel, and it’s well kept, quaint, and close to restaurants and attractions. The pool worked well for kids and adults, and the beds were comfortable. It was a great spot for our family’s winter getaway, and we’d like to return if the room experience is better next time. There were some hassles. We couldn’t reach the front desk, and the number on the outdated events calendar was out of service. It took two days of stopping by in person to get the towels and sheets we’d requested. Nobody told us where to find the beach towels or pool toys, even though we saw other guests using them. Communication could be much better. Our room also needed attention: chipped paint, tile that needed a deep clean, a broken edge on the kitchenette counter, and a very loud air conditioner. The resort offered to replace the AC during our stay, which was considerate, though dealing with that was still inconvenient. Solid 4/5.

We especially liked the Rum Runner boat that connects the group’s three Islamorada properties. Shout-out to Jen and Bruce. You can also walk to some fantastic restaurants and breweries if you’d rather eat out, though the room kitchenettes and free activities make a budget-friendly stay possible. La Siesta is a small, beautiful place right by the ocean, with palm trees and a warm, comfortable pool with a bar. You can lounge on the sand and look out at the water, play cornhole, or go kayaking, though it isn’t a beach you can walk straight into the water from. We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend it.

The only real drawback was housekeeping. Nobody came during our four-day trip, even though we went out of our way to request it. We could have used a visit, since the trash was overflowing by the second day. Otherwise, it was a great resort and I’d come back. The rooms were clean and roomy, with a Keurig, mini fridge, and sink. Kayaking and paddleboarding were a blast, and the poolside bar had tasty drinks. There isn’t a walk-in beach for swimming, just a boat ramp, but several nice beaches are a short drive away, so it wasn’t a big deal.