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Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#3 of 7 motels in Islamorada
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.5
Service
4.3
Value
4.1
Drop Anchor is a unique oceanfront nestled in the heart of the fabulous "purple isle" of Islamorada. Private accommodations range from Standard rooms to Suites, in most cases with private balconies. Each room is individually designed with a tropical flair befitting the unique island spirit of the fabulous Florida Keys. Our history is rich; we have been a landmark in for more than 50 years. We aspire to keep the "Old FL Keys" spirit alive while offering just 18 fresh, updated rooms with charming amenities for our guests' comfort is one of our top priorities. Lush palm trees sway over our beautiful pool and private beach. Our grounds feature tropical flora, relaxing sitting areas and hammocks under tall palms. The property also boasts an Oceanside dock and private boat ramp to our guests. Located in the "Fishing Capital of the World", we are within a few miles of the best dining and water sports in the Florida Keys and just over 1 hour from Miami
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Great View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
84959 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036
Drop Anchor
987 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
We worked hard for a quick spring break to the keys when Covid-19 began to occupy all the airwaves. It was still early in the news cycle so we took the risk and followed through with our resort stay at the Drop Anchor. I had mainly booked this resort due to it's proximity to Island Grill (world's best tuna nachos... holy moly)... but of course, they are remodeling and were closed! As a miraculous bonus, the resort only has 15 units which significantly limited the amount of tourists mingling around. We appreciated this so much during this uncertain time. The gm, Zack, was so helpful and reassuring. He made sure that any changes our little family needed to make in order to stay heathy and safe were the utmost priorty. I can't stress how much that means to me. You go ahead and get your fancy resort if you want, but you will find family here at the drop anchor. We kayaked and paddleboarded every day. We saw starfish at the sandbar... my kids played marco polo for hours in the pool. We were in the 2 bedroom kitchenette room and it was perfect for 2 adults, and 2 kiddos 10 and 7. It's dated and not perfect but I guess that's how you could describe us! We had everything we needed for our little getaway. Mostly, I'm grateful for Zack's reassuring, flexible attitude. He made sure we were able to do what we neededto stay healthy and safe. I'm so grateful. I can't wait to go back when our nation is healed from this pandemic.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Drop Anchor, General Manager at Drop Anchor
Responded Jun 9, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for providing us with your positive feedback. We value your input and are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We are delighted to hear that you took full advantage of what our property has to offer. We hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy during these crazy and unsure times. We hope you come back and visit again soon. Best, Drop Anchor Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Looking for luxury accommodates where you'll be pampered? This isn't it. Looking for cheap -- both price and quality? This isn't it, either.
If you're going to the Keys, ask yourself: "Am I going for the room, or the experience of the Keys?" If your answer is the latter, take a good look at the Drop Anchor as a place to sleep, park your clothes, bathe, etc. They handle that and a lot more.
First, you'll notice the 50's style look of the place. Second, you'll fine each room has a unique flare. Some are pretty sizable; others are quite cozy.
At the Drop Anchor, the room serves as your base of operations. There's a large, sandy waterfront with huts, chairs, picnic tables and chairs. There's a pool (yes, it's clean), and you have access to kayaks, paddle boards, a boat launch.
We initially booked a room with a queen bed, but we upgraded to a little larger room will a full 'fridge and oven, which came in nicely when we grilled shrimp, salmon and stakes on the grill.
Which brings me back to location... about two miles south, there's a Publix. (If you've lived in Florida, you know that's nice.) Also, there's more than a handful of interesting drinking/dining options in the Islamorada area.
The overall vibe of the Drop Anchor is relaxing. Again, if you need to be the center of attention or if there's a Karen in your group, stay away. They don't need the headache, and the other inhabitants probably won't put up with it.
That's not to say there is a lack of basic services. The housekeeping staff is pretty stealthy. We'd venture out to explore/shop/eat/etc., and when we returned, there were fresh towels, there'd been some general straightening, and the dishes we meant to wash before we left had been cleaned and left to dry.
This place suits all age ranges. By the way, from the water-facing rooms, the sun rises and sunsets are outstanding.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Book early. Ideally, book directly, not through a third party.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First time at Drop Anchor. We basically needed a room to shower, sleep and regroup during lobster mini season. Note: you can launch directly from Drop Anchor. Bonus! Every hotel was pretty much ridiculously over priced due to mini season. Found room 15 at Drop Anchor for $235/night! Far and away the top deal on the keys. Despite on the small side, the $/sq ft was in line with their larger rooms and much better than what competitors up and down the road were trying to lure. Room 15 is Oceanfront and has a better view and deck than the larger room behind it! If you need more room, you can book the 16 rooms behind 15. They are closer to the road but under the same roof. Our room was super clean and comfortable. Would certainly return again!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We book a room 2 months before our trip and got a great rate. Called to ask about bringing a boat. Was told our boat fit. Then 3 weeks before our trip I called to see if we could upgrade our room. Told them again we were bringing a boat. The gentlemen on the phone told me he was moving us to a room right in front of the docks even gave a specific room number. Upon arrival we got a totally different room, they didn’t know we were bringing a boat. Okay fine a room with no view of water, right off the road so loud every morning. We asked to have our room cleaned and the same dead bug stay with us the whole trip. But what really got us was a person at the desk told me that when you get a cheap price you get the cheap room. WOW I was shocked. No cleaning cigarette butts or towels left on chairs and no one could tell you how to navigate the very small channel. Cliff was very nice and we met so many nice guest but not sure I would go back
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Drop Anchor, General Manager at Drop Anchor
Responded Aug 28, 2020
Hello Kelly, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide a review. These reviews are a great way for us to understand from a customers point of view what we need to improve on. I am sorry you did not feel your room met your expectations. The unfortunate part, as with most motels and hotels, when you book a room you seldom know what room you will receive until the day you check-in. All of us here at Drop Anchor try to go the extra mile, and I'm sure our desk agent you booked with was doing his/her best to match you with a room that best fit your needs. Most of the time when we do this, there are no issues. However, from time to time, our guests may need to be placed in a different room (same booking style..1 bed/2 bed etc) in order to provide top service to all our guests. This may happen due to maintenance needs or scheduleing adjustments. Since your boat was not recorded as part of your reservation, we have reached out to our web designer and all 2nd party booking companies and requested additional boat information on the sites. This will be a work inprocess, but we hope it will alleviate future confusion. We are happy you still brought your boat with you to enjoy, and we were happy to waive the fee for your satisfaction. Out manager and groundskeeper have excellent knowledge of the channel, and the bug in your room was unfortunate. I would love for you to stay with us again and if you have these issues, direct them to me as I will always do whatever is necessary for the comfort of our guests. You were such a joy to talk to, I sincerely hope you come back in the near future. Sincerely, Cliff, Front Desk
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Imagine being invited to your friends house for the weekend, and they put you up in the shed in the back yard. Room 14B really shouldn't be advertised as a room at all. There are no closets, no shelves, no hangers, the bathroom toilet rocks back and forth, the bathroom is for skinny people only. I must say that the property is in very new condition. The buildings are freshly painted, the pool is excellent, the kayaks are brand new (10 dollars an hour) there is one paddle board, but someone stole the paddle. Also there were two bicycles, but someone stole them too.
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Date of stay: May 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:do not stay in room 14B
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Drop Anchor as a family of 5, our room had a full kitchen so we were able to make breakfast and lunch in the room and take it to the picnic tables. This is small boutique motel, family owned and operated. Service was excellent. For an additional 25.00/day for the entire family we had full access to paddle boards, kayaks, and bikes. Was walking distance to Starbucks, tiki bars and restaurants. Over the bridge from the marina we snorkled and fished. Highly recommend, we will be back
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Date of stay: April 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked four nights at Drop Anchor and paid up to have a balcony and full kitchen in our room (#10). There was no hot water in the shower unless you first turned on the hot water faucet at the bathroom sink. This trick didn't work for the kitchen so there was no hot water to properly clean and sanitize dishes, silverware, pots and pans, etc. The kitchen was missing a cutting board and paper towels. The bathroom was missing toiletries. The single lamp in the room was missing a switch so the only way to turn it on and off was by plugging it in and unplugging it. The shade on the front window was broken so could not be opened or adjusted. The ceiling fan was missing the globe over the light. We went to the front office to ask for the missing items and my husband fixed the lamp. While we were out the next afternoon, a rainstorm filled the balcony with water due to plugged drains and faulty construction. The water seeped inside under the vinyl flooring soaking the bedding, luggage, shoes, pillows and anything else we inadvertently left on the floor. We asked to be moved to another room but none were available. For the next two days we walked on a squishy, damp floor that seeped rainwater through the seams. Without remediation, mold can and may already be a health issue. When we requested a refund for the room amenities we paid extra for—a balcony (that flooded the room) and a kitchen (without hot water)--management said no. We were extremely disappointed and it clearly indicated that guests are not valued here. Despite the nice waterfront, Drop Anchor accommodations desperately need attention. We love Islamorada and will visit again, but there are many other places to stay at this price point.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Drop Anchor, General Manager at Drop Anchor
Responded Mar 9, 2024
Greetings Copper, There are not enough words to express how sorry we are for your experience. Our goal is to provide outstanding hospitality at every turn and ensure the needs of each and every guest are met, and your feedback lets us know we need to do better. We are committed to positive change and will seize all opportunities to improve the guest experience. We will also make sure to look into all your concerns with our maintenance team to ensure theres no issues going on in that room. If you're ever in Islamorada again, we would love the opportunity to welcome you back to our property as our VIP guest to show you want Drop Anchor is all about. Thank you again for your feedback
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I cannot recommend this place enough! I loved all of the fun colors and the retro vibe it had. The pool was perfect for us and loved that they had other activities like kayaks available for rent and a life-size chess board. You can also book tours from here and the boats pull right up to you since they have two docks. Or if you have your own you can bring that. The rooms were great, nothing too fancy but perfectly adequate for your beachy stay! The whole area was so relaxing and fun.
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Date of stay: March 2019Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ZacTranten, General Manager at Drop Anchor
Responded Jan 31, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for providing us with your positive feedback. We value your input and are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We are so glad you chose Drop Anchor, we look forward to your future stay with us. Sincerely, Drop Anchor Team
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The hotel had great amenities and was set up perfectly on the Atlantic to view the sunset in the evenings. We were torn between Fisher Inn and Drop Anchor, so glad we picked Drop Anchor. It was easier to get the boat in and out when docking and we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the great sunset from FI. A manatee even swam right up and greeted us on our first night there while viewing sunset! Hotel was within walking distance to several great restaurants or a short Uber ride/drive to many other attractions that Islamorada has to offer. Also in a great location to get out to the Sandbar, Alligator Reef Light or those famous great Islamorada fishing holes when boating! Staff was very friendly and helpful! If you’re looking for fancy smancy pay the full price at a resort; if you’re looking for a good room with all you need to experience a great stay in the Keys, Drop Anchor is your place! You’re actually only in the room just to sleep, anyways!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don’t let the initial pictures posted by this place deceive you. This is nothing more than an overpriced, dive motel. There is no sandy beach as described because there’s no beach...it’s a fake beach with a wall that drops off into dirty shallow and rocky water, the pool is also dirty, the room was subpar for the price and the bathroom...well, it’s tiny with only 2 ft of space in front of the sink. There are bugs that get into the rooms and the floors and shower stall were dirty. But wait! There’s more! Plumbing in the bathroom is loose, there are no window coverings in the bathroom, no vent, hot water takes forever to show up, there are no headboards (as pictured by them), sheets are mid-sized, mattresses are old & uncomfortable and some electric outlets in the room didn’t work. Don’t take my word for it, look at my pictures to see for yourself. If this place is priced at more than $99 (and that’s being generous) stay somewhere else. The GM will try to tell you that other hotels with a beach are going for $600+ a night. That’s false and WE wasted $300! Thank goodness we only reserved one night. They did have good lighting on the walkways. Yea, it shined into the room straight through the blinds, which also contributed to our loss of sleep. This place was the epitome of disappointment. Pictures and descriptions were well crafted to lure us in. Take our advice friends and choose a better place to spend your vacation. Obviously...NOT RECOMMENDED.
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Date of stay: April 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Islamorada area.
PRICE RANGE
$121 - $246 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
drop anchor hotel islamorada
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaFlorida KeysIslamorada
NUMBER OF ROOMS
18
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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