As lovers of places warm and tropical we simply could not pass on the chance to share our experience with you. We booked this resort on a whim as an impromptu getaway. I am happy to report that we could not have been happier with our choice. This resort is far and above what one would expect in a "near third world" environment such as Key West. The resort is one of two Hyatts, and is the smaller one. It is located on the western side of the island, adjacent to the Southern Whitehouse. Mallory square and Duval street are literally within a stones throw, making driving unnecessary at all ( driving and parking are to be avoided in Key West).

The suites all face the water, and the architect was careful to insure a magnificent view for all. The full suites boast a complete kitchen and living room with a wonderful private patio / balcony. Everything was very much in order and clean. The staff was wonderful, especially Therasa and Michelle, these two displayed the effeciency, concern and professionalism I would like to see in all staff members everywhere.

This reort is best suited for singles, couples, romantic get-aways, and families with older children. I would not recommend it for families with small childeren who require constant attention and special ammenities. If you are looking for a quiet and safe place to unwind, this may be it. If you are looking for the glamour, bright lights and noise... try New York City.... this is Key West as it should be...... tropical, quiet and peaceful.

The pool and spa area is breath taking with a vista of the old port area with its topaz blue water and palms. Well sheletred from the wind, it is perfect for a lazy afternoon or evening swim after a day of exploring the island. Cruise ships come and go in the harbor behind the resort lending a festive and ever changing aspect to the view.

The resort has no on-site eateries which is not an issue considering the wonderful culinary delights that await within walking distance. One can literally find any type of fare, in any setting that strikes your fancy. The waterfront establishments offer fresh, succulent fish, shrimp, scallops and crab. We enjoyed tasting and comparing crab cakes at various establishments. (The Commodore finally won this with their lobster / blue crab combination). We found that Caroline's on Duval street offered some very good light fare... fantastic blackened Mahi-Mahi, and wonderful cocktails. Be sure to try the key lime pie here.... it is real..... not the touristy imitation. ( We implemented an in-depth research effort on this Keys product as well .... OK we will be dieting for a while! )

The Hyatt also lends itself well to the night life. After watching the sunset from your harbor front room make the short walk to Duval street. Once there, many places "jump off the page". Sloppy Joes, Captain Tony's and others offer drinks of all kinds and some very good entertainment. The resort made good recomendations on activities and trusted vendors for them. We utilized their advice and really enjoyed the trip to the tortugas and ft. Jefferson. The water is dazzling amd the snorkleling is better than anywhere in the Bahamas.

Some of the pro's:

1. Safe, clean, and wondeful staff.
2. Close to everything that is anything.
3. Wonderful and beautiful views
4. Location, Location, Location.
5. Activities galore... day trips to Ft. Jefferson - Dry Tortugas - (We reccomend highly) - Snorkeling - Jet Skis - Boat Rentals.
6. Park and walk - Covered parking shared with Hilton - Safe.

Cons:

1. Might be a little more difficult for handicapped access.
2. Luggage load / unload area is tight ( real estate is precious).

Overall.... we can't say enough good (and we are very picky). We had a blast and so did our teenagers.... this is a resort we were comfortable allowing our kids to roam freely without worry. As a family that travels extensively in the carribean, WI's and the Americas we know the "best from the rest" and we will be back.

Clan Hunter

Just got back today from the Hyatt Sunset. What a lovely, charming hotel! Only 2 blocks from Duval and Mallory Square. Great hot, sunny weather. Almost too hot, so dress very light. KW is very casual, nothing but shorts and tank tops everywhere, even at night. We got a 1 BR suite for my husband and I, and 2 teen boys. Very roomy, it was more like a big apartment. The living room was down a long hall from the kitchen/LR so we had privacy. There was a little patio with chairs in the back that led out to the pool. I can't think of anything bad about this hotel at all.

We spent 4 days at the Hyatt Sunset Harbor, and overall, it was a great place. It's in a great location, right by Mallory Square and Duvall street, has nice rooms with great balconies and a great pool area. The condo was nicely decorated, fairly large, and very clean.

We stayed in a one bedroom condo, with our 2 teenagers sleeping in the living room. If we had to do it over, we would get a 2 bedroom. I did not remember reading in the description that the one bedroom condo's only have one bathroom - I don't think that was mentioned, but it was a problem for us - the bathroom had very little counter space, too. Also, the beds are double size, not king size as stated in the description.

Another small problem was that a maid came into our room when we were out in the morning and our kids were still asleep in the living room. She saw them, said something to them in Spanish, but kept cleaning. My son told her they were trying to sleep, but she apparently didn't understand. Just remember to put the do not disturb card in your door lock! Also, every day that the maids came through they took what dirty dishes we had used, instead of just leaving them or putting them in the dishwasher. By the last day we were down to drinking out of coffee cups because we had no glasses left.

It was still a very nice place, and we would stay there again.

We stayed at The Hyatt Sunset Harbor Resort and absolutely loved it! We stayed in a STUDIO for $110/night and it was well worth every cent, being on a budget and all! The studio included a mini-fridge/freezer, microwave, toaster and even a blender on request! The room was perfect for my husband and I...although the bedroom was small, the bathroom was huge with a full size whirlpool tub, huge walk-in shower, separate sink/toilet area. We rarely felt cramped in the room. The grounds were beautiful and the pool, magnificent! We spent every day of our vacation at the beautiful pool, where floating rafts and "noodles" were provided for resort guests. We saw wonderous cruise ships dock in front of the resort on most days we were there. The location was perfect! Mallory Square was a few steps away and Duval Street was right down a few blocks. The nice thing about this resort, is that it was somewhat secluded from all the hussle and bussle, yet close enough to walk to all the various hot spots! One slight drawback was that we were suppose to get daily maid service and that did not happen. We had to remind the front desk on several occasions that our room needed cleaning. But overall, we would highly recommend this beautiful resort.