Kingsail Resort

For what I paid, this place beat my expectations, and the location worked perfectly for seeing the Keys during my three-day stay. It’s close to the 7 mile bridge. I’d come back, and the friendly staff helped make it a good stay. The landscaping was beautifully kept, with tidy rock beds and trimmed palms. Our room had a screened porch, a nice extra I hadn’t expected. The bathroom was a little dated but cared for, and the beds were comfortable. I also really liked the free coffee by the dock and pool, some of the best I’ve had. The bathrooms were a bit old-fashioned, but well maintained.

We booked the wrong dates by mistake. The front desk ladies were understanding and even gave us names of other hotels, but management refused a refund right away, despite having a whole week during peak season to try to fill the room. I could maybe understand keeping the payment if they couldn’t rebook it in that time. I can’t recommend this place.

We were extremely pleased with our stay and would highly recommend it. It’s an old-style Keys motel, with a clean, comfortable room and the basics covered. The staff were excellent. There’s a pleasant pool area and seating along the canal, plus free coffee outside each morning.

The motel’s location right on Hwy 1 in Marathon FL is excellent, and parking was free beside the room. It was also one of the cheapest options in the area, under two Benjamins for a night, which is why I gave it two stars. But I wouldn’t call Kingsail a resort. Our room was across from the office and had a thick, musty smell as soon as we walked in, even though it wasn’t a hot day. One A/C was unplugged and the other only sort of worked. The kind lady at the office tried to help with room spray. The beds were uncomfortable, the old fridge was rusty, and there was a small microwave. Stains showed around the flooring corners. The bathroom was spacious, but the water never got hot, just lukewarm both that evening and the next morning. It was a 60 degree day in Marathon, and only one of us braved a warmish shower. There’s a small pool area at the back with a coffee machine in an enclosed cabinet, but we skipped the pool because of the cold weather.