I travel freguently and have been to many, many, five star resorts; Hawks Cay is five star money, but not five star service... It looks nothing like it does in the photos on the web site... there is not much to do, the food is terrible the service is a nightmare, and there are much much better places to stay in the keys. When we pulled in, I was impressed by the well kept grounds and the plush tropical landscaping; by the time my fiance and I reached the front desk to check in (carrying our own bags after waiting over 15 minutes for a concierge that never appeared) it was apparent that this would not be the vacation that I had been dreaming of for the past three months. The girls at the front desk were somewhat friendly, but clearly incompetent to say the least. They seemed very disorganized and flustered after "a busy Holiday weekend" Our room was certainly beautiful but NO OCEAN VIEW as we requested. It was a long walk to the Marina, which was the only spot to get food (the main restaurant is only open on select days)... we were told there was transportation, we were given a ride on our first day on a sort of golfcart style little bus... we rode it only once, then the rest of the time it stayed parked in fornt of the main building and did not move!!!!! There was no one managing the transportation and many of the other guests were complaining of the same inconvenience. When I inquired about the transportation, none of the staff seemed to have anything to say but "they should be coming soon" they never came, We walked in the 105 degree sun back and forth from the marina to the main building because we waited at least three times for over 30 minutes and almost missed the activities we booked

AH YEs the activities. The staff running the activities at the resort are barley out of high school, and they treated us like intruders when we went to inquire about activities. I should have known better than to think it would be legit. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY on the Dolphin Discovery! What a rip off ! you are better off going to seaworld. For $130 per person, you get to wade in a slimy pool and throw fish in a dolphins mouth for about 10 minutes. Then you have the option of buying a $20 picture of yourself doing it. Thants about the gist. The jet ski tour is no tour at all! it was a $150 ride around the island following an 18 year old "guide" around the shalow waters of the hotel on the resort's old and slow waverunners. At the end of the "tour" he goes "you didn't see the sea turtle?" What an IDIOT! The lagoon is DISGUSTING!!!!! It looks nothing like it does on the web site. I wouldn't even let my dog go in it!!!! The adult pool was the only pool that was half way decent, but try getting service or a towel! Again the food was HORRIBLE. The food at the beach grille was unedible as was Tom's on the Marina. We did not even bother with ALMA because we orderded drinks at the bar there on Monday night, and the bartender, Jazele, forgot to put liquor in my pina coloda and then she argued with me that she did. I watched her make it! What an IDIOT
and in her confusion she did not put ANY alcohol in it! I own a bar/restaurant in New York; I have been in the sevice industry for most of my life and I CANT BELIEVE the incompetence and POOR POOR service we recieved while paying almost $400 to stay at Hawks CAY. It gets worse...
when we went to check out, they slammed us with all these random fees. $20 a day resort fee... for what? the transportation we never recieved, the rude service we got. Also, they charged us a $150 housekeeping fee. When we inquired they told us we had to talk to Wanda, the little girl managing the front desk told us to have a seat and wait. We waited... and waited... and waited .... after 20 minutes(we had a plane to catch all the way in Miami) I asked again how long we would have to wait for this Wanda woman and the IDIOT at the front desk told us SHE WAS NOT IN YET!!!!! I was like Are you kidding me. WHAT AN IDIOT!!!!!!
So I spent my July 4th weekend sourounded by idiots! waiting for a valet guy, a waiter, for a drink, for Wanda, for transportation most of the time, walking in the 105 degree heat, trying to get a towel at the pool, starving because the restaurants at Hawks CAy SUCK and there is nothing else around for at least 15 miles. I wouldn't even stay there again if they paid me to! It's a boaring and low class place to stay LOOKS CAN BE soooooo decieveing. In this Economy, Hawks Cay will be a has been resort in no time!!!!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR VACATION THERE!!!!!

We recently took a side trip to Hawks Cay for 3 nights after a family affair in Lauderdale. Hawks Cay is located about half way down the Keys just north of Marathon on a private island called Duck Key. Hawks Cay is a very! nice place. One of the employees told me that they have gone more upscale over the last couple years. It is a full resort with spa and a marina. They have multiple pools with a separate one for adults only. There is a small salt water lagoon with a platform where you can rent kayaks, also. It's great for families and even has a dolphin program for an extra fee where the kids can feed and even swim with the dolphins. The service is very good and the staff is helpful and very accomodating. The room was very nice, clean, and well furnished with a large bathroom with granite countertops and walk-in shower with built in bench. The commode is in a seperate closet.
We like to try different places to eat especially ones recommended by locals. The meals at Hawks Cay were resort priced, read, expensive. We went out for dinner at Island Fish Company which I'm told is the best restaurant locally. It was very good and you can eat dockside. We also ate at Sparky's and enjoyed that also. We only had breakfast and lunch at the resort and it was fine.
Mu wife and I got massages at the spa which was very nice. Again, the advertised charges did not include the mandatory 18% gratuity. Unfortunately, the a/c was broken in the workout room which made exercise hot and somewhat uncomfortable.
The only real issue we have with Hawks Cay is that you felt like you were being nickle and dimed at times. The room charge did not include a required $20/day "resort fee". Why charge a separate fee if everyone must pay it? Just include it in the room charge. There was also an extra charge if you wanted to use a kayak in the small lagoon. The breakfast buffet was not a great value but the food was fresh.
In summary, I'd recommend Hawks Cay without reservation as long as you don't mind spending a premium.

Me and my girlfriend stayed at Hawks Cay Resort Hotel and it was great. The hotel is beautiful and so was our room. We had a pool view room with a partial ocean view as well. The rooms are spacious and appeared to have been recently remodeled. The breakfast buffet, which was $15.00 a person, was also good. You will never be bored on the resort there are so many things to do, the dolphin encounter scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, jet sking, etc. We did leave the resort once to eat because it can get expensive especially with the 18% gratuity but no worries. I will be coming back but next time I will stay in the villas which have full kitchen's that way we can prepare our food and save a little more money

We had a 2B/1.5B Villa that was perfect! Stop in Key Largo Publix and make sure to pack plenty of groceries. We saved so much money by cooking in our villa--it did not distract from our vacation experience by cooking dinner. The food was mediocre and so expensive so it was very cost effective. Also bring your own rum, wine beer, etc. You will be glad you did