All the prior reviews are right on. This inn is something of an anomaly. My girlfriend and I stayed here while attending a Mustang rally at Holiday Isle last weekend . This place is a rare gem. Their private oceanside beach is just outside your bedroom sliding glass door. Unlike larger inns on the beach, there are few if any guests out in the beach area, so it has the feel of a private home on the ocean. The inn is completely renovated, ground up, with new attractive and comfortable furnishings. Don't let the exterior photo fool you. In Monroe County, you can't build anything that doesn't look retro. We didn't miss the pool. We preferred a private and quiet beach outside our bedroom to a poolside beerfest.
The staff and management could not have been more accomodating. Talking to them, we learned the story behind this inn. The new owner neglected to oversee the renovation by his minority partner who went overboard with the design and furnishings. Egyptian cotton linens. Completely equipped kitchen, with all appliances including dedicated tea brewer and assortment of fine teas (my girlfriend loved that). Housekeeping was absolutely first rate. One would not expect that this (Islamorada) market would support this type of product at the prevailing rates. What they created, completely by accident, is a great inn with a niche market, properly targetted toward couples looking for private comfortable oceanside accomodations for a romantic vacation or weekend for two. Between its size and the helpfulness of the staff, it has the feel of a B&B.
Any squawks? Only one. Some guests might find the air conditioner too close to the bed. I didn't mind the white noise, but some may want to inquire about a room with reversed layout. Otherwise, we could not find a single flaw. When we return again to Islamorada, we won't even bother to conside staying at any other inn (Cheeca included). This is as close as you can get to a private house on the ocean in the keys without breaking the bank. This place is a rare gem.
