Aqua Lodge Rentals At Coconut Cay

It's a pretty affordable stay, and the unusual part is that you get an entire houseboat to yourself. It stays tied up at the dock, so you never head out on it. With 30 mph winds while we were there, it rocked gently, which was kind of soothing. A neat experience.

We'd prepaid for four days but could only put up with three. The Aqua Lodge was clean, though really tiny, and even with just two of us the bedroom areas felt cramped. The couch was hard as a rock and the bathroom sink was clogged. The marine toilet takes getting used to, with its foot lever and the need to use very little water. The decking and picnic tables were splintered, weathered wood, so shoes are a must. They do provide kayaks and bikes, but getting a kayak into the water looked like a neck-breaking task: no sloped ramp, just a steep drop and sharp rocks to climb back up. Getting in and out of the place also felt dangerous because the entrance is on a blind corner in either direction, and there's a dump truck company across the road. At the pool first thing one morning, I found a bottle of urine and other paraphernalia. The woman in the office deserves credit: when I told her, she went straight out and cleaned it up. But on my next visit, a pair of women's panties was there and stayed until I left. I think you can do much better elsewhere. I don't know how this got five stars, because I couldn't see it.

We could watch all kinds of fish and lovely birds from the back deck, since our houseboat was right on the water. The Aqua Lodges are one of my favorite places I've stayed, with lots of activities and amenities in a quiet, beautiful little oasis. Those sunsets from the small beach were absolutely breathtaking. Such a unique place, and I highly recommend it!

We usually go to Key West, but tried Marathon this year and had a great five-night stay. The houseboat was clean and well maintained, the staff were exceptionally friendly, and we felt safe the whole time. It's close enough to everything, and we'd happily come back. Go watch the sunset at the point, then take a dip in the clean, well-kept pool. Just keep in mind it's a houseboat, not a yacht, and the tides affect how much seagrass is in the water. Have some grace about that.