Sunset Key Cottages

I just had the pleasure of photographing Nicole and Matthew’s destination wedding on Sunset Key this weekend, and it was magical from start to finish! The tropical ambiance, pastel hues, and sparkling waterfront views created a dreamy, intimate atmosphere. The staff’s warmth and attention to detail elevated every moment, making my job effortless. Whether for a romantic ceremony or weekend getaway, Sunset Key is an unbeatable paradise—truly a five-star treasure. As someone who photographs weddings all over the country, Sunset Key is an absolute must for anyone seeking the flawless island escape!

The pool activity instructor, Sarah, was amazing. She had the kids playing in the pool and they loved her energy. The service was exceptional and we enjoyed spending time in our cabin. We slept great 10/10. The weather was perfect, and we were able to relax and have some quiet time. We loved the walks on the beach, and attended a wedding on the beach. Highly recommend!

Every detail was perfect from ordering groceries ahead, through wrapping our luggage in plastic at departure as it had just started to rain. In terms of grocery delivery, we requested gluten-free options and everything we ordered was waiting for us when we arrived. We also requested extra pillows and coffee and it was done. The hotel recommended that Taras pick us up at the Key West Airport and bring us over to the ferry. He was amazing! Kind, professional and his sprinter vans are clean and comfortable. Taras even helped us retrieve our missing luggage! Breakfast delivery was lovely. Again, specified gluten-free options and received just that, plus goodies for the rest of the family (yogurt, apples, oranges, muffins, power bars, etc). Pool bar food and service very good. Latitudes food very yummy. Ferry easy to get back and forth to Key West and came and left frequently. Wonderful stay. We'll be back.

The stay here at Sunset Key was wonderful! Latitudes is such a special place to dine any time of the day! The resort is beautiful throughout, the landscaping is breathtaking! The staff through out the resort are top notch and always go out of their way! The following deserve recognition for their outstanding service - Katrina, Jameson, Smithers, Vlad, Jas, Theresa, Melvin, Maddie, Thomas, Teppan, and Victor. The boat staff are also wonderful and provide a memorable boat ride - kudos to Betsy and Zach! We look forward to returning soon! The stay is truly a memorable experience because of the staff!

Relaxing and peaceful. We come very often and throughly enjoy our stay. We love the atmosphere, the staff, the beach. I wish they would switch up the menu more specials conch fresh fish etc. The cottages are cozy, new comforters would be amazing. Overall we love love love it here.

Sarah Jo did a great job with the kids activities at sunset key! My kids had a blast and enjoyed winning a delicious smoothie! They want to play every day now! We love coming to Sunset Key. The island is beautiful, but it is the wonderful staff and hospitality that makes this place so special.

We have been vacationing here every year for years. Melissa the manager is wonderful. The attention to detail in every direction shows. The cottages are beautifully appointed and the grounds are spotless. We love the exclusivity of the island and the views are amazing right from your cottage. Their restaurant, Latitudes never disappoints with great service, food and cocktails where you can also catch a beautiful sunset.

Very nice hotel with great location. It’s on its own private island, which is awesome… you can take the ferry back-and-forth. The ferry does stop at 12 AM so if you’re looking to have a late night in Key West, I would reconsider booking something in the main area. Food is good, service is good !

3/16/24-Well, all I can say is, thank goodness for Sunset Cottages. It was gray and rainy in DC (that's the norm this time of year) so Key West was a wonderful way to avoid the DC winter! I can't say enough about the staff. I've never met so many people with smiles on their faces. Food was fabulous. Pool satisfied my grandchild. Two br cottage perfect. Glitch in AC, which was fixed in a nanosecond. I can't say enough wonderful things about this resort! Thank you Sunset Keys!

Hands down - the best place to stay in key west. Beautiful cottages located on private sunset key. Absolutely love Latitudes, the restaurant/bar on the island.

Wonderful experience! The check in process is straight forward! The boat to the island runs timely. The cottages are well maintained and grounds are well kept. Staff is courteous and accommodating! The only thing that would be nice is a coffee bar in the am or resort activities throughout the day. The ice cream treats in the afternoon are a sweet touch along with the welcome bag in your room. The sunrise and sunsets are not to be missed. Always a seat on the beach or poolside available with clean towels. Expensive but worth it - will be back!

Hand s down the best place to stay in Key West. The cottage was well maintained and the property was pristine. I love that you can enjoy Key West but then escape all of the noise and drunks with a quick 5 minute boat ride. The whole vibe of the place feels more like staying in a Caribbean resort rather than in the Keys. There is not much to do besides the pool and beach - and sometimes that's exactly what you want in a vacation. Highly recommend you give this place a visit for a few days.

Had to take our own bags onto the boat and over to the resort. In a complete downpour. Not a single employee asked if they could help us. What a terrible start to a vacation.

There are some positive elements here but on aggregate the product is atrocious for the price point. Get a $200-300/ night experience for 5-6x as much. Think average Hyatt or Marriott stay but you prepaid a suite at the Four Seasons. I would say the chief underlying problem is poor management but after 4 nights here, I am not convinced there is any management on site whatsoever. Lone superlative: the reception / concierge team are fantastic. They are warm, friendly and seem to truly care about your experience. You get the sense they know they are fighting an uphill battle but that doesn't stop them from trying. They do their best to make up for the shortcomings of the less motivated staff, aging facilities and insanely overpriced product. Other Positives. Location is nice and peaceful. Views are great. Cottages are nice enough though very dated. Restaurant and valet team also do a nice job. Negatives: Resort fee. It is charged when you book, so though excessive, it is not a surprise. But when you check in, you get a nice 2-sided card boasting about all you get for that fee. Do yourself a favor; tear that card up and don't let anyone in your family see it. Virtually every item on it is a complete fiction and staff at respective stations will look perplexed when you ask them for your special x, y or z. My family got particularly excited about 2PM smoothies. This meant at 2 PM everyday, I magically transformed into Larry David and my life became a real time episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' After a bit of exploring and a lot of confusion, you'll eventually find someone who can point you to the poolside bar for your "smoothies*." If you're lucky enough, the bartender there will acknowledge the existence of this smoothie promotion. That won't stop him / her for treating you with the complete disdain the barkeep at a local dive might treat an unwelcome out-of-towner with. In the best case scenario described, a bartender who is making it known he/she despises you, a non-paying customer looking for comped smoothies for your stupid family, will toss whatever daiquiri mix is not selling well on that day into a blender with ice and slop it into a few tiny cups from the water cooler and call it good. That is best case. More likely, after a song and dance that makes you question whether you made the whole 2PM smoothie thing up, you will finally get to the aggravated preparation of the virgin daiquiri, I mean "smoothie" and then they will present you with a bill for like $30. Then you can discuss the guest fee and the card you got at check-in and how your wife put reminders for all of the fun, but fictional, things that card said your guest fee is paying for info her iPhone so you wouldn't miss them. In a worst case scenario, 2 bartenders will yell conflicting misinformation about the guest fee program at you simultaneously in front or multiple other guests about how (bartender 1): your free smoothie is only a small sample and (bartender 2): you can just get popsicles! POPSICLES*! (*free popsicles are clearly listed as the 1PM promotion and mercifully my family never took interest in those and I never had to endure the same humiliation over 3 cent frozen novelties. Other negatives: housekeeping. I've already spent too much time on this review and though it has been cathartic, this place just isn't worth it. But the housekeeping staff make the poolside bartenders look like Mister Rogers and Rachel Ray. They will make it 100% clear that the only thing they hate more than their jobs is you. If you and your family aren't up and ready when they make it to your door, you are SOL. Prepare for attitude. And if you ask them to come back later, disdain. And just so you can prepare, they won't be back later. You can and will go to the reception team and they can and will put in a special request for someone to come back during your dinner. But you will pay for it with even more attitude and disdain when the same scene plays out the next day. Oddly, the housekeeping staff also very publicly hate eachother. There was a very loud and public confrontation between 2 factions of the staff on the path adjacent to the pool one afternoon that involved lots or yelling and cursing some pushing and shoving and who knows how it ended because I hurried my family along as quickly as possible away from that situation. Fortunately, my 2-year old has not started dropping expletives at us as of writing. But again, zero management presence whatsoever. You want to aggressively fight in public guest areas? Fine. You want Fine. You want to spray the stone work of the pool's waterfall with concentrated Clorox while guests stare at eachother in disbelief and migrate to more dilute regions of the pool? Fine. You want to humiliate the poor schmuck whose family are excited about 2PM smoothies? Fine. Anyway, bottom line: avoid this place. They are price gouging and laughing in the customer's face about it. Roll the dice somewhere else.

Resort nice restaurants not so good Latitudes hostess rude food underwhelming Pool bar dirty understaffed bartenders not very friendly For what you pay a night the dinning beverage service nit a 5 star experience at all very disappointing

From the moment you valet your car you are greeted like royalty. You take an 8 minute ferry ride to the island and check in. At the reception you are offered scented towels and bottled water. We got our keys and went to our cottage/ home for the week. It was decorated tastefully, immaculate inside and every attention to detail You can ask for. Our refrigerator was stocked with water, sodas, beer, champaign and wine. Of course there is a fee for what you select but the selection was impecable. We spent the day at the beach and the pool. The beach was busy but they brought more lounge chairs to accommodate us. It is a romantic/ relaxing / family friendly resort that has everything you need right and don't need to leave the island. There is volley ball, basketball and a gym as well. You don't need to leave the island if you're looking for adventure. If you do, the ferry runs 2x's per hour throughout the day. At 4pm and ice cream cyclists comes around with delicious sorbet selection at no additional cost. At 4:30 you have "rum tasting" at the latitude bar and there was no charge as well. We woke up and had a basket delivered to our door with fresh croissants, muffins and a variety of jellies.

Stayed here for five nights! It was nice and relaxing being on a private island. We had a two bedroom cottage and it was very nice (see pictures). It was very easy to ride the boat back and fourth from the island to key west. The beach is pretty rocky so I would recommend bringing water shoes so you don't hurt your feet. They have free catch and release fishing off the dock. They provide the bait and the fishing poles. It was fun and I caught a couple of cool fish! They also have different events that go on throughout the day. Some include frozen drinks, ice cream and rum tasting which are all free if you stay at the cottages. I would say the only downfall of this place is that there are not many gluten free or vegetarian options for room device or for regular dining. But the chef did help us find alternate options. We had a great experience and all of the employees here were great and helpful! We will return in the future!

I've been staying at Sunset Key Cottages once a year for the last 6-years. It has always been a good place to stay and offered a good experience. This year it was exceptional. Our cottage had been updated with paint in the interior, the staff was fantastic, the complimentary snacks were appreciated and even the weather was perfect. This place is worth every penny and is the best place to stay when in Key West. You have your own private beach, pool and a hotel spa. You are completely removed from the action of Duval Street and have a tranquil environment with a great view. However, a 10-minute shuttle provided by Sunset Key Cottages drops you right in the action of Key West. I highly recommend this Sunset Key Cottages.

The private beach is amazing! Great for a couples retreat this will add years back on to your marriage.

Amazingly beautiful resort with private cottages. Dinner at their onsite restaurant Latitudes was superb! Exceptional service from everyone at the property !

This review is a bit late, but we're returning in a couple of weeks for a longer stay and I can't wait to get there. We stayed last year in early September, and my family came along. To make a long story short, everyone fell in love with this place. For my two older daughters, one boyfriend, my wife and myself, there was something for everyone. The ladies had a spa day and shopped in Key West, I enjoyed the gym each morning and took advantage of local fishing and my younger daughter and her boyfriend went jet skiing one day, which was set up at the front desk. Everyone was accommodating, friendly and very helpful--and extra star just for the great staff. We loved exploring Key West each morning, then heading back to the quiet and luxury of "The Island" as we came to call it, for an afternoon by the pool. The pool area, though a bit dated, was so relaxing and really perfect; exactly what you want on a island trip like this. Drinks from the bar, good lunches and plenty of lounges, towels and umbrellas. The three bedroom cottage we had was wonderful. Plenty of room and very nicely decorated--everyone loved it, too. Latitudes restaurant is excellent and, as they claim, the sunsets are to die for. I loved both the indoor and outdoor bars myself and had a drink there a couple of evenings. They were relaxing with nice wines and great service. We head back in less than two weeks; my suitcase is already out and ready.

Beautiful place but expensive. The average person can't afford it here. I get the old saying you get what you pay for is true. Especially here.

Lovely tropical getaway just off Key West. Only reachable by boat, this luxury destination is a real slice of Heaven! Upon arriving at the Westin, you're brought by boat on a short 6 min ride to the island. The check in area is tropical and reminiscent of Tommy Bahama style! *Hot towel and welcome cocktail would be a nice addition for guests when they arrive. * The cottages surround the island and have wrap around porches and Adirondack chairs to take in the views. Hammocks are sporadically placed in palm trees for lounging too! The pool and hot tubs are centrally located (pool is a bit shallow) *Another nice addition would be to offer live music on Friday and Saturday, as this would compliment the atmosphere for fine dining at Latitudes (acoustic) or smooth jazz. Overall an incredible place to stay, if you're on a budget this place may not be for you, or plan ahead and save!

We are staying here now and we are in a two bedroom cottage. Very disappointed in the service and how rude the personnel are. You pay a fortune and have to take you garbage out and it's sits on the porch for two days. Have to call you housekeeping and then they show up at 600 when your eating dinner. There are small ants or some type of bugs on the bathroom counters. I can go on and on. The only thing nice here is the privacy of the island and Smithers at the pool. The beach is nice but to get in the water take some work as it is all rocks. There is no store to purchase snacks there is a grocery list you can order from but wasn't informed of that at time of booking Very disappointed

My family and I had an absolutely amazing weekend at Sunset Key Cottages. I planned a surprise trip for my mother's 60th birthday and the Sunset Key staff was incredibly professional, accommodating and attentive. They helped me make the trip so memorable with special touches and surprises well before and during our stay. The cottages are so comfortable and well designed. The morning delivery of breakfast was a wonderful treat and the staff made sure the cottages stayed well kept and clean. All staff was friendly and helpful. The beach views are absolutely stunning, and the pool area is very relaxing. We loved enjoying the sunset each night, and spent many afternoons at the Latitudes bar enjoying the delicious food/drinks and taking in the beauty of the island. We had a WONDERFUL time and I am already planning our next trip. I highly recommend this resort if you are looking for a relaxing, quiet getaway.

Hands down 5+ stars! This place is amazing!! The only issue we had was that when our flight out of key west was cancelled, we called to go back and they were completely booked. Besides that, flawless through and through. See you soon Sunset Key Cottages! Truly a traveling experience to always be remembered.

What an amazing place to stay. We stayed in one of the cottages right on the beach. The concierge service is amazing as is the rest of the staff. We were lucky enough to have great weather the entire time we were here. Hanging out poolside was another highlight of our trip. Who doesn't love to sit in the lounge chair and have tropical drinks deliver to them. I also spend a day at the spa which is also five star. Just an amazing trip around. I could live here. They keep the property grounds looking beautiful and housekeeping is great. You have to come see for yourself.

This place is beautiful. It is a private island with access to the "mainland" via an eight minute boat ride that leaves every 30 minutes. Honestly, even with me having a meeting off the island every morning it really wasn't much of a problem. A few things to know: one, it is very kid-friendly during non-school dates so: not much romantic peace for couples if it's summertime or spring break . My kids had a good time, but the pool scene at times was a bit of a zoo. Two: the housekeeping staff does have a bit of the "Island time" lack of urgency which basically every Caribbean property suffers from. Your room may be ready for check-in at 2 or 5 PM. Housekeeping might come each day at 10 AM or 5 PM. They may or may not replace your soap or shampoo all week. None of those things really bothered me...if they bother you, then now you know. The actual beaches themselves on Key West are well-known to be pretty weak, but Sunset Key has manicured a decent beach set up. Also the spa is right on the island. I didn't visit it, but it was located very conveniently. The other half of the island is for permanent residents and their homes didn't look too different from the guest cottages. I definitely hope to go back someday, it certainly is a beautiful setting.

First, Westin Sunset Key Guest Cottages' three bedroom ocean front cottage is quite likely the best accommodation you can have in Key West unless you buy your own house. It is also one of the only accommodations in the Key West that is located right on the beach. But this is a cottage, not a villa and should be considered and reviewed as such. We had a group of 10, including two toddlers, one 5-year and three seniors. Five of us stayed at the three bedroom ocean front cottage at Sunset Key Guest Cottages and the rest at West Resort & Marina. Both resorts are under the same management and under Westin flag, although operated by a local company. We arrived to Westin Resort & Marina around 5 pm on 23rd of December and although this must be the one of the busiest times of the year, we were checked in quickly - however, we did not get the keys to Sunset Key Guest Cottages, only "temporary pass" - which created extra hassle. Once we arrived to a Sunset Key by quick 5 minute boat ride, we had to find the concierge to get real keys. Concierge's location was not marked in the map we were provided by Westin Marina & Resort. Keys provided by the concierge did not work first - we had to reprogram them to get working. I would have expected someone to greet us on arrival - since the cottages are expensive and this is supposed to be a luxury resort. After the initial small hassle, we were finally able to get in and our luggage was brought quickly to the cottage. Our 3-bedroom Ocean Front Cottage quality was good quality, comfortable and clean - things that you expect from Westin. Three big bedrooms, nice well equipped kitchen, super-quiet A/C, very nice and huge outdoor patio - perfect place to spend a Christmas with family and just chill out. We felt that the cottage and location was very child- and senior-friendly, since we were travelling with one toddler, one 5-year old and one senior citizen. However, cottage's floor was somewhat dirty (not visible dirty, but socks and our toddler got dirty quickly) and floor would require washing. First night we ordered food from a room service, which was very fast, good quality and pricey as everything is in this island. If you're looking for low price stay, this is not your place anyway. We also used room service for breakfast and dinner main times later, which was always delivered quickly and was good quality. Our cottage was right next door to Latitudes-restaurant, right on the beach and very close to the boat that drives between mainland and Sunset Key every 30 minutes. Someone might be troubled by the noise generated by the boat, but we felt that it was nice to watch people come and go, while sitting in the very large patio of the cottage. Food at the Latitudes was good and service excellent. Like mentioned, cottage was right on the beach and it was nice and easy to have a dip in the ocean. Sand was rougher than in some more exotic places and there were lot of small coral-type rocks in the beach. Maybe the beach's cleaning staff could have removed at least some of the rocks. However, beach was otherwise well maintained and clean. Beach chairs, umbrellas and towels were available on the beach and our cottage also had four chairs in our patio. Beach was not busy and there was always some space. Pool area was very nice, equipped with a bar and with the depths of 0-4 feet. Since one end of really shallow, our toddler could enjoy the pool as well - and five year enjoy running to the water - just like in the beach. Water was warm and clean and pool was not busy - which was great considering that we were staying during Christmas holidays. There was also a hot tub, but the water seemed a bit unclean. Service at Sunset Key in general was good and prompt and you were quite much left alone unless we needed something. In some resorts, there's always somebody trying to help you which is sometimes annoying. Would we come again or recommend to our friends? If you're travelling with family and want to relax, swim in the ocean/pool and take it easy and quiet - yes, this is your place - if you can afford it since cottages are very expensive. If you are looking for more action and more services, then you should stay in the mainland. We might consider renting a vacation rental next time close to the public beaches, but not really sure that would work as well as the Sunset Key did. Room Tip: Three bedroom ocean front cottage is better than four room cottage.

The service and food was excellent. We stayed at the Margaritaville Resort and caught a boat to the restaurant. The view is amazing.

This is my second time here and I am so very upset with this hotel. I booked a 4 bedroom cottage, thinking what a nice peaceful respite it would be. My god, I am here now and literally cannot believe that this place has the audacity to call itself 5 stars. More than anything, the cottage, which I am paying a FORTUNE for, sits literally right on top of the restaurant. We were assured, promised that being this close was never going to be an issue (we have 2 small.kids) and that NO ONE has "ever complained". What??? We've only been here for 3 hours so far and it is a madhouse. Not only can you hear then diners (and see them) but at 11 pm (!!!!!!) what sounded like an industrial vacuum RIGHT OUTSIDE just began to generate so much noise that it was impossible to have a conversation INSIDE the cittage with the doors SHUT! I am sorry but for the price I am paying, I have never, ever ever in all my years of traveling experienced ANYTHING like this We called security, it didn't stop and after 15 minutes, my husband just went TO THE RESTAURANT to complain. You CANNNNNNOOOOTTT be serious that this occurs at a 5 star or even 2 star hotel. We were promised nothing like this would happen. 3 hours in and I'm already ready to go home

This has been our third stay at Sunset Key by Westin in Key West and I have quickly come to loath this place. First and foremost, it is a very nice. The grounds are incredible and folks working there are helpful and personable. However for a luxury resort that costs more for one night than most people would spend for a five day vacation, it is ridiculous. It starts at check-in. Your room is never ready if you get there early, which is ok and not expected. Worst part is that they make you take the boat over to the island to tell you this. They could easily save you a precious hour or more of vacation time and tell you on the main land. A simple radio call from the main bell desk to the island would solve this problem. Cottages are nice and well appointed. The restaurant, Latitudes, has a great selection of food with attentive service and prices are in-line with the rest of Key West. The pool area is nice, however the families and kids running wild are out-of-control. If you are looking for a romantic get-away, look at one of the many Key West adult-only B&B's or hotels. So I guess in the end I am saying if you are a couple without kids, look elsewhere. If you are parents who just want to get drunk and let your kids run wild while disrupting couples who don't have kids vacations, then this is the place for you. We just checked out and I see they charged us $100 / day for an Island Amenity Resort Fee. This is CRAZY! I am so disappointed we chose to stay here for our 20-year anniversary and will never be back.

If you are thinking about planning a trip here, I want to let you know about the high risk you are taking in booking here. My family and I flew from across the country and were supposed to stay 5 nights. Tropical Storm Elsa was forming the day we were leaving and I called the Sunset Cottages and asked what the plan was. They assured me that they are "monitoring the storm, but are not worried". We finally arrived after a long day of travel and about 12 hours later were told that the Coast Guard has made the decision to evacuate all of Sunset Key to Key West. The disclaimer they don't put on their website: Since they are a private island, the Coast Guard makes the evacuation calls, and will evacuate for even a tropical storm. We were to evacuate 48 hours before the storm even hit. They put us up at the Opal Key, which - while has nice rooms - has no beach, a very small pool, and we were split up in hotel rooms rather than a cottage... We definitely would have never flown across the country to stay there. The storm only lasted about 6 hours, but my family was so upset because the vacation was not what we had imagined nor saved up for. I just wish I had received honesty about the chances of evacuation when I called the hotel, or it was posted online. And to top it all off, I did not receive any sort of credit... I somehow owed about $500, which I believe if you're calling yourself a 5 star resort there should be some sort of compensation for the inconvenience. But they obviously believe otherwise. **I especially would like to alert anyone who is thinking about getting married here that in my opinion is way too much of a risk!

This is primarily for those who want seclusion. We thought we did but if we go back to Key West we probably won't want the seclusion. As New Yorkers were long for seclusion but cant deal with it when we are faced with it. You have to be a New Yorker to know what I mean. (I don't mean recent transplant New Yorkers either) Unlike what one reviewer said it is like a private Hawaiian island. Spoken like someone who has never been to Hawaii. When we first went to the Keys it was before we ever went to Hawaii the Keys being so close to New York compared to Hawaii. The water in the ocean in the Florida Keys is like bath water, hot not refreshing. The water in Hawaii isn't cold but it isn't hot. It is refreshing enough like pool water in the sun not too hot not too cold! The water in the ocean here is not refreshing. Hawaii never gets too hot or to cold. The weather is perfect. We were in Hawaii last during a "heat wave" we loved it! As it was cool to us! My husband found the Keys to be too hot for him. (we laughed in Hawaii when they said they were having a heat wave) The culture here is nothing like in Hawaii which is very rich culturally. This is the Florida Keys. Very different culturally than Hawaii. But I would say this is like a private island in the Caribbean yes. It is close to the Caribbean. Being on a private island does not make it cooler than Key West. Only more quiet if that is what you want. The real name of this island is Tank Island but they changed the name for tourism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Key There is a restaurant on property but we didn't eat there we went to Key West every single night so that is why this wasn't the right choice for us. But I know someone who is a travel agent and she thought this was best for New Yorkers wanting to get away. It was really nice. It gets you away from the noise if that is what you want. 7-minute ferry ride to Westin Key West Resort; ferry leaves every 30 minutes, or upon request after 2 a.m. Distances from the Westin Key West Resort, where the Guest Cottages ferry lands: 2-minute walk to Mallory Square, where the famous Sunset Celebration takes place 12-minute walk to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, with exhibits about local fauna and flora 12-minute walk to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and Beach

We have vacationed here for 17 years. It is a favorite of ours!! The only opportunity is for the 2 bedroom cottages to be updated. They are a little dated. The island premises are beautiful.

Hi all! Be certain to read all the posted "reviews" about this location B4 you decide. We booked a 1BR Cottage for 2 nights after our ocean view room at the Westin Hotel turned out to be a view of a massive cruise ship that slipped into port under cover of night fall and blocked out everything viewable from our lanai, including sun and sky! So I complained, loudly, and management offered us the next 2 nights out on their private island for the discounted rate of $693.00 per night, plus tax! I assumed that being on a private island we would get the ocean views I thought that I had paid for at the Westin, but, no, this rate was for a garden view. Ocean views were restricted to 2 BR and 3BR cottages and the rates for them were way, way beyond my means! To their credit, the Westin Management seamlessly packed us up and moved us out to the island on their water taxi. I am guessing that they have a lot of practice doing this sort of thing. We loved the adventure of staying out on a private island. We kind of made believe we were on that Fantasy Island TV Show! The 1 BR Cottage was adequate for our 2 night stay. The web site description mentions the size as being 900 sq ft which is accurate. Our cottage had the Westin Heavenly Queen Bed which was very comfy. Our cottage had a kitchen space with a cooktop, refrigerator, and a coffeemaker with coffee supplied. There was a safe but it wasn't big enough to house a laptop. We enjoyed the private beach and snorkeled each morning in the designated beach area. The water was clean and very warm. The Latitudes Restaurant is adjacent to the beach area and great for a lunch but very pricey for a dinner. The pool area was a kinda disappointment. I expected something lavish. I actually enjoyed the Westin's Hotel Pool and location much more. The Sunset Key was secluded, as advertised, but we found ourselves back in Key West on Duval St every night enjoying the music and the people. Seclusion was not our thing. We really only had wanted an ocean view from our room at the Westin! The Sunset Key expense was an unnecessary splurge, especially since the splurge did not come with an ocean view. So, am I happy that I experienced a 2 night stay out on Westin's private little island?....yes! Would I do it again knowing what I now know about the place?.... No! The Sunset Key cottages were much too expensive and I discovered that I am not into seclusion when staying in Key West. But if you want privacy, this should certainly meet your needs, especially if money is no concern. And if that is your situation, send me a PM and let's discuss how we can plan your return trip, and may I suggest booking the oceanfront deluxe cottage? It looks magnificent on the web site. I'd be happy to tag along. I will cook and clean and run errands for you. I need only a 1 week notice. Thank you.

Sunset Key cottage resort is no more than a motel with high end hotel prices. It began with amenities like plastic cups in the bathrooms and little soaps in plastic. Housekeeping also shows up whenever, and sometimes not until you call them. And when calling frustration sets in because you get recordings half the time. In addition, the gym seems to be an afterthought in a small room with old machines, and a soda dispenser requiring money! One day, we tried making dinner reservations and were told that a business group was coming in a taking over the restaurant (instead of being accommodated in a separate space), and seating was not available. When we asked where we should eat, we were told in our room. the list goes on, but if this resort wants to charge such exorbitant prices, they need a complete make-over, beginning with the staff.

One of the most beautiful, exclusive properties I've ever been too. As soon as you step foot on the island after taking the quick boat ride, you will forget you're in Key West. Sunset Key really is the ideal tropical oasis--it's as if you're on a private island in the Caribbean, perfect for a family or couple retreat. The staff was very polite and helpful, the grounds and cottages are maintained very well, and the food was fresh and delicious. Most importantly, the views of the sunset are UNREAL. For lunch, my boyfriend and I went to the pool and ordered the fish tacos, which were awesome. For dinner, we went to Latitudes for a sunset dinner and ordered the burrata cheese appetizer which was one of the best I've ever had. We also got the tuna tartar and the tenderloin, both of which were exceptional. Can't forget about the couples massage that was so great it almost put us both to sleep. Overall, I have absolutely no complaints about this place. Check it out if you're looking for pure bliss; I promise you won't be disappointed!

I booked a three-bedroom cottage at the Sunset Key Guest Cottages for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. From the moment we arrived at the Westin for check-in before we boarded the ferry for Sunset Key, we were treated like royalty. The staff at the valet area made certain that our belongings arrived at our cottage safety and soundly. The boat ride to Sunset Key was very pleasant and when we arrived at our cottage we were very impressed by how clean, comfortable, cozy and spacious it was. The staff was constantly on hand to help in any way they could, and the breakfast basket delivered each morning was a welcome surprise. The full kitchen stocked with silverware, plates, napkins, coffee and anything else one could possibly need made our lives so much easier. The beds were unbelievably comfortable, and it was easy to feel right at home. The pool area is extremely pretty, clean and comfortable. I could have stayed at the pool all weekend. The beach area was also wonderful for laying out, but the beach itself is very rocky which made it difficult to enjoy fully. I was also startled when a big "fish" swam right by me that looked strikingly similar to a baby hammerhead shark. I would without a doubt stay at Sunset Key again. I think it's a wonderful option for a family vacation, or a group of friends looking to enjoy Key West's charm.

YOu have to make a reservation for the restaurant and the ferry that takes you there. You have to go here when in kw. The people are wonderful, service was fantastic and food is great! The fish tacos were great. The margarita's were perfect. Views and vibe were five star.

My wife and I spent the weekend at a private home with two other couples at a private home on the island. We were guests of the owner and had won the stay in a charity auction. The out island resort is part of the Westin hotel. Upon arrival the employees did not appear to know how to process our reservation. It didn't appear that the resort island staff coordinated with the hotel staff. We were instructed to simply board the ferry and the property manager would be waiting for us on Sunset Key. The staff at the hotel was not prepared to allow us on the ferry and had no record of a reservation. After a brief wait a woman appeared and confirmed our stay and we headed to the island. My greatest dissatisfaction came when I was told I could not use the fitness facility or the pool. The woman managing the spa told me that there were only 7 members that were permitted to use the facility. The brochure clearly advertises the fitness center as a benefit and makes no mention of restrictions. I stopped off at the concierge office and he was quick to tell me that the woman at the spa was in charge and that he couldn't help me. I asked if I could take the ferry back to the hotel on key west to use their fitness center and was told that I'd need a room key for the hotel which we did not have. The same policy applies to the main pool. We left early and regret having chosen to waste a weekend and 400 mile round trip drive to stay here. No coordination and the hospitality is mon existent.

AMAZING. Best family vacation ever. Zero complaints. The staff is incredible, accommodating and genuinely kind. We will be back for sure.

Just returned from a wonderful, blissful trip to Sunset Key Guest Cottages. I had taken a red eye flight from CA the day before and of course my flight was delayed. After driving for 4 hours from FLL to Key West, I was exhausted. From the moment that I pulled up, we were pampered and well taken care of. We parked in their garage after they took our luggage and placed it on a rack to be brought over to the island. Check in was simple and the employees were friendly and efficient. They told me that I would be greeted on the island and shown our room. Ferry ride was short but very scenic. It gave me a beautiful view of the island and the surrounding scenery. You can also opt to sit inside in an air conditioned cabin of the boat. We were quickly greeted by an employee who showed us around and walked us to our 2bd 3ba cottage. Our luggage quickly followed. Pros- Beautiful island and views Secluded and private but you can hear some of the loud music from the mainland (if you can call it that). Great service- Concierge is great and they are so helpful regardless of the request. Continental breakfast delivered daily, including water and OJ. Free WiFi- there was a storm during our stay and our WiFi was down for 2 days, but the staff was very helpful in answering questions and even offered to call when the WiFi was working again. Clear warm waters on the beach- but you do need water shoes or wear sandals as it is rocky. Roomy cottages and the island never feels overcrowded. Great food at Latitudes. Ferry service is efficient and the staff was always friendly. Cons- The island and Key West in general does have an ant problem. There were ants in our room and when I called housekeeping regarding the issue, they said that they would tell housekeeping to spray. The number of ants dwindled but there are still some. I am afraid of all bugs/insects and this did not sit well with me. Then again, anywhere tropical has a bug/critter problem. Housekeeping needs to do a better job- ie ant problem, our fitted bedsheets in both rooms were flipped inside out (??), and there were dust bunnies in various spots. Overall, this is a beautiful property and the staff was wonderful. I would not mind coming back again.

What a beautiful and special hotel. We came for a 3-night vacation from Miami with our 4 kids. We stayed in one of the 3 bedroom cottages, and it was just perfect. There was a special greeter at the Margaritaville hotel, who showed us the way to the Sunset Key ferry. It leaves every half hour from the main pier for the quick and easy ride to the hotel. Bruce met us as we disembarked, and his warm and gracious personality made for the perfect greeting (in fact, every time we saw Bruce during our stay he always said hello and remembered us). After explaining a little about the hotel amenities, Bruce walked us to our cottage and showed us around. There was plenty of room and even a kitchen. We loved how close the pool and beach were, while we still had privacy and our own space. We loved Flippers the pool bar, where we ate our first dinner and lunches. The bartenders were fantastic and the food and drinks we good too. We loved the hourly snacks at the pool, everything from fresh fruit at noon to the ice cream man at 3. We especially loved the adorable picnic basket delivered to our cottage every morning around 8am, full of (warm) croissants and muffins, fruit, jelly and butter, and juice. With the complimentary coffee in the kitchen, it couldn't have been better. We ate one night at Latitudes, which is beautiful and has the best place to watch the sunset. We played hours of corn hole and skipped rocks on the beach. We went parasailing one afternoon. We did not get around to fishing off the pier or any snorkeling adventures, so we will have to return. Even our teenagers loved it and took many social media worthy pictures :-)

Wow. What a location! Nice cottage right on the beach and the restaurant is really good. Downfall for the hotel is that it feels like a Westin and not like an upscale resort and at this price it should feel very upscale. I love this place but feel like my $1,200 a night gets me better elsewhere.

Amazing stay. You're own private island with everything at your fingertips. Impeccable service. Paradise at its finest.

The facilities on Sunset Key are great, getting there is another story.. upon our arrival we checked into the Margaritaville resort facility, NO bell hope was willing to take/ transport our luggage to the island. We took our own luggage in tow, NOT something you expect to do when paying this price for a room. REALLY SHITTY! Tonight we elected to spend some time on the town the ferry was suppose to be at DOCK 29.. after waiting over an hour it was identified that Dock 31 is where the ferry docked. A REALLY BIG ISSUE WHEN THR LEFT HAND HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING, can I say TOTAL CLUSTER FUCK! not impressed

We had a beautiful experience until 2 hours before check-out. I looked out the window of my v expensive cottage to see a golf cart with housekeepers waiting outside to turnover my rooms. I received a semi hostile call well over an hour prior to check-out time asking me when we were leaving. Very unusual and unnecessary since we were already packed and nearly ready to go. I wrote management a message later to express my disappointment and they never responded. Mind you, we had spent several thousand dollars at the resort and had a wonderful experience until they ruined it at check-out. Very short sighted on management's part. Makes no sense. We will not return.

Heaven on Earth, or at least the East Coast. I'm a Florida boy at heart, and the Keys are just about my favorite place on earth (Hawaii is a close second, it's just an 11 hour flight instead of 2 hour flight). My wife surprised me for my birthday with a trip to Key West. I was expecting to stay at a hotel on the beach, but she one up'd that and got us a private cottage on a private island, Sunset Key. The Westin's guest cottages on Sunset Key are simply amazing. A small private island with no cars, this is how the Keys should be experienced. This is a 5-star resort all the way. The service is fast and excellent, and there's tons of things to do on the island. You really never need to go to Key West, although you can because the ferry runs every 30 minutes. Make sure to try Latitudes, which is the restaurant on the island, and probably the best restaurant in Key West. Can't wait to visit Sunset Key Cottages again!

Had an amazing time! Rooms are clean and spacious, staff is friendly and helpful and the views are spectacular. Gym and spa on site as well as fishing rods with bait in the event you want to do a little fishing. If you want to just lounge at the beach all day, delicious cocktails and food can be brought to you by a beachside waiter. Breakfast at their restaurant, Latitudes was delicious and the portions were generous. There is also a ferry which provides transportation to and from Key West at all times. This place has thought of it all. I highly recommend Sunset Key to both couples and families alike.

I will write about this place even though I have never stayed here. Don't know if that is legal but it seems like such a magical hotel that you can only see from the mainland, you can't visit it unless you have the money to take the boat over from the tip of Key West and register. The way Key West works is you have the west side of island that faces the sun and everyone travels over to the squares, bars, and hotels on the mainland (if you can call Key West a mainland) to see the sun go down. And off Key West, you have another little exclusive island called Sunset Island, an island that is only for ultra-high-end living. There are no cars allowed, just golf carts and boats taking you back and forth from there to K.W. whenever you want to come over and go down Duval or Front for the action. Some day, it is my dream to stay here and sit on THEIR Western side to see THEIR sunset. Maybe have a honeymoon here.

Beautiful, relaxing, isolated, quiet place to stay in hectic Key West. Great for families with kids trying to escape the excesses of Duval Street. Only downside is the typical high end overreaching hotel food. Try to get a cottage on the water.

This is a great place off the main island. Secluded enough to not feel hassled by the hustle and bustle but close enough to be included in the great food and fun whenever you want. Danilo and Aaron at the pool bar are incredible. Great service, great conversation, all around great people to hang out with. The beach service, on the other hand, could use some work. Victor seems overwhelmed working the beach by himself and takes a long time to take/bring drink orders. I felt like he was avoiding me a lot of the time. Overall a great place to stay. Definitely made better by Danilo and Aaron at the pool! Loved hanging out with them.

We spent a week at this Westin "resort." Turns out "Sunset Key" is not the real name, the real name is Tank Island, just to highlight what a facade this location is. These cottages were built on top of dredged up sea floor so that the massive cruise ships can come and dock between you and Duval Street, definitely not romantic. The Navy used this landfill for holding the oil tanks, hence the true name Tank Island. The few guests we spotted were geriatric and probably are not filling out the favorable reviews you read here, so I highly suspect all the glowing reviews are fake and invented by the marketing machine from the Westin. In fact, I am pretty sure the reservation manager spends his time filling out fake reviews rather than helping customers. We travel quite a bit to Europe, Caribbean islands, Hawaii over the last couple of years and generally stay at five star properties. At the price we paid ($1000 per night), we were sadly misled on several points. First, I booked through Starwood SPG. I was told we were getting 35% off rack rate, so with taxes, a bargain $1,000 USD per night for 5 nights for a partial ocean view cottage. As a Gold SPG member I asked for upgrade at check in if available, but this request was not honored, the girl that checked us in wouldn't even check availability. I was tired from the flight, so I didn't make a fuss. Well, just out of curiosity, I checked online for the rate and found that I could have booked online through Westin and got $850 per night. So I was charged over the internet rate when I was suppose to get a "deal?" When I brought this to the attention of the front desk and then SPG, nobody is sympathetic, what would you expect, I am the sucker that got scammed. Then the Sunset Key Westin property itself, quality of Comfort Inn service dressed up in Westin garb. At the Four Seasons everyone smiles and knows your name. Here, everyone seems miserable, no smiles. The lone person "tending" the beach acts like he is doing you a favor and wish you would leave his beach and the dreadful pigeons that litter the small sad beach. The 50% gravel 50% sand beach is not combed at all, littered with cigarettes everywhere, really quite disgusting. We spent ten minutes and left. Nobody goes to Key West for the beach anyway, but this stretch of gravel is not worth walking on. The sand was supposedly brought in from the Bahamas, of course they had to, since this resort is built on landfill without natural sand. Well, over time the imported sand has eroded. Then the Sunset Key Westin cottages ... there is a serious ant problem. Small little critters came to visit as we checked in. They swarmed to any residue toothpaste, which was leftover from the last occupant. This tells you how much house keeping pays attention to details. We have a video of the ants swarming, which I will post to You Tube later. We called the front desk about the ants right away, and the girl was not surprised. But to our dismay, they also did not take care of it during our stay so the ants visited reliably every night. The Sunset Key Westin cottage is stocked with junk food at the standard gouge rate, just pick something up at CVS on Front Street and save a few hundred bucks. The room service and the restaurant Latitude are very average hotel food, the expected gouge price, with view of the neighboring petite landfill (just check Google earth to see for yourself), better you hike on to the island and have a real meal at A+B. The positives ... the ferry captains are nice guys, the pool is fairly empty as the island appeared fairly sparsely occupied. I learned this lesson the hard way, the waste of money really pales against the waste of time I spent at Sunset "Tank Island" Keys. The sun set on this mistake of land development sometime ago. Buyer beware of this Sunset Key Westin!

Not for us and with the rates you pay why do they let cruise ships dock right in front of the rooms and block the entire view! We tried out the pool and can see and hear the ships from the middle of the pool. Yuck!

If you are the sort of person who has never been at a real 4 or 5 star resort and can be duped into believing that geographical separation from the crowds of Key West is somehow exclusive, then this is the place for you. Pay too much, take the little ferry boat out to the private island, and sit in your exclusive cottage. They all have picturesque names, not room numbers, so if you call the concierge, they won't know where you are. Like when you call because a toilet is running, you have ants in the bathroom, or the in room safe does not work. You can call. Or not. There is no real customer service so it doesn't matter. Forget something? No worries. You can get crappy minibar quality stuff. Want a meal? The one restaurant on the island serves decent food at New York fine dining prices, about $100 per person all in. Oh, but you will get the breakfast basket in the morning. A couple of cold muffins and some underripe fruit. Enjoy. We will be at a real resort. In fairness, I must now add that they sent two guys out at night to replace the safe. After two days and three phone calls to two "concierges". Easier than what we went through to get room service. And perhaps the most annoying thing about the place is that the only way to get off the island is the ferry, which only runs every half hour. Kind of ruins vacation spontaneity, but hey, it's so exclusive. . .

Three years ago this place was perfect. The service was impeccable. The second time is a different story. Around the pool for 4 hours and the landscapers still haven't stopped mowing, edging, blowing and cutting my husband's leg. There have been more excuses and apologies for not getting things done and corrected then I have time to disclose. Management here is awful. For the money spend don't expect the service to translate. Apologetic and impersonal is more like it but no real concern, just more excuses.