Island Bay Resort

We came across this place through Southwest Airlines vacations. It's tucked away near Key Largo, and though the property is fairly small, it feels personal. The bay and dock are beautiful, with plenty of ways to take a quick kayak trip. The cottages are a little small, but we weren't in the room much. It made for a peaceful, fantastic getaway, and we'd love to come back.

Cottage number 6, Sunset, was perfect, and the grounds are beautiful and well maintained. There’s a great private beach, plus easy access to Key Largo and Islamorada. New Year's traffic was really heavy, so I was glad to be in that area. Key Largo itself wasn't congested and was handy for Publix, the library, and a fruit stand we visited often. One thing to watch for on arrival day: you'll need a gate code sent by email or message. I was driving and missed both, so I had no idea how to get in. My fault.

Island Bay Resort was lovely, with beautiful surroundings and everything kept spotless. It has just 10 units, so it feels very intimate. The private beach is right outside the property and easy to get to. This was the cleanest place we've stayed that had a sandy beach. We'll definitely recommend it to others.

We loved our stay, and Pat in the office was attentive and an absolute pleasure. The setting is beautiful, quiet, and very private, with an intimate, paradise-like feel. This is a low-key vacation, though, so if you're expecting a swim-up bar, you'll be disappointed. What people want from a place is subjective, and this suited us really well.