Located in Isamorada the Islander Resort recently joined the expanding collection of Guy Harvey Outpost properties after concluding a yearlong multi-million dollar renovation last year. Renovations included upgrades and added amenities throughout both the main 114-unit oceanside property and the 25-unit bayside marina townhouse compound.
The Islander is a huge oceanfront property with more than 1,100 square feet of beach area filled with lot’s of beach chairs and umbrellas. There is also a long pier from where you can fish or just take a walk to enjoy the gorgeous azure water. We stayed at various hotels during our recent island hopping trip to the Florida Keys and no where else was the water this beautiful turquoise color which really made the view from our room look like it came out of a postcard.
There are two pools and the zero entry pool was ideal for the kids while the second pool near the restaurant and bar was perfect for the adults. We where there on the weekend and there was live music playing in the restaurant area, right next to the pool which I thought was great.
The property is beautiful and although the ocean view rooms have a breathtaking view the other rooms look into the beautiful courtyard and gardens and the view is also really nice.
We stayed at one of the ocean front suites, these are spacious studio type rooms with a full kitchen and a private, screened lanai where you can relax and watch the sunset while you sip on a piña colada or daiquiri. The rooms have a fun ocean themed decor and include paintings by Guy Harvey.I really like that all of the rooms are on the ground floor and have direct access to the beach it was a real treat to just open the door to our lanai and find ourselves so close to the water.
There are also two bedroom ocean front town homes available which are ideal for families or even for two couples. They are two stories and have breathtaking view of the ocean. If we go back we will give the town homes a try for sure.
What we loved about the Islander, a Guy Harvey Outpost
- We loved that all the rooms are on the ground floor giving you easy and direct access to the beach and the view from our ocean front room was gorgeous.
- There’s plenty to do for everyone in the family: swimming in their 2 pools, walking along the ocean, relaxing in the beach chairs or fishing on the dock (requires no license and you can rent a pole). You can also rent a boat or a wave runner at the water sports rental located right on the resort’s beach.
- The full kitchen in the rooms is very convenient specially for families and there are also grills and tables right outside your rooms. Ours was conveniently located under some palm trees so we could have a pick nick with right on the beach just steps from our room..
- The location is ideal near many great restaurants and just minutes from the Trading Post, where you can buy anything you need to prepare a meal in your in room kitchen. The hotel is also really close to the Theater of the Sea; which in my opinion is a must if you are traveling with kids.
- The two on site restaurants had great food at a good price. Guy’s Beachside Bar & Grill provides oceanfront dining right next to the pool and Bonefish Flats, the breakfast restaurant, has a fun and lively fishing themed decor.
- The hotel is a great value with free Wifi and continental breakfast is included.
- The hotel showcases Guy Harvey’s marine wildlife art, scientific research and conservation advocacy and we really enjoyed the bright decor and Hervey’s art everywhere.
Things to Consider
- The sand on the beach is not soft and more of a crumbled coral surface, so not really the type of sand to build sand castles on but still beautiful and ideal for lounging with a front view of the gorgeous ocean. Getting into the water can also be a bit tricky as there are rocks and lots of seagrass. This is pretty standard for the Florida Keys where you will not find many beaches and we found the beach at the Islander to be truly gorgeous and the kids loved all the space as the beach is huge.
- The Islander is an older property that has been renovated and the AC in the rooms can be a little noisy, so if you are a light sleeper definitely bring your earplugs.
- The guest villas or suites, as they are referred to on the website are more of a spacious studio apartment, which was ideal for our family but referring to them as villas can be confusing.
We really loved the property and would highly recommended as a great place to stay at in Islamorada. For more information about the hotel visit the Islander Resort: A Guy Harvey Outpost website and like their Facebook page to stay up to date with all of their latest events and offers. If you are headed to the Florida Keys be sure to check out my article about what to do in the Florida Keys with kids. You can also check out the Florida Keys website where you will find countless resources about where to go, what to do, where to stay and what to eat from Key Largo to Key West.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
- Guatemalan Dulce de Chilacayote Recipe (Crystalized Chilacayote Candy) - February 26, 2024
- Guatemalan Naranjas en Miel Recipe (Candied Oranges Recipe) - February 25, 2024
- Traditional Guatemalan Candy - February 25, 2024
