Have I mentioned that this listing is for celebrating New Year’s Eve in sunny Key West, FL? You will be staying at the Hyatt Beach House; 7 nights; fully furnished condo style residence; sleeps 6; 2 bedrooms; king bed in master bedroom; queen bed in guest bedroom; sofa bed in living room; 2 bathrooms; kitchen; dining area; living room; balcony w/ Gulf of Mexico, swimming pool, and courtyard views; Gulf front zero-entry lagoon shaped pool and hot tub. Private beach & boat docks. Check-in Sunday, December 29, 2024; check-out next year Sunday, January 5, 2025.
New Year’s Eve Celebration -
Key West has become known nationally for its New Year’s Eve celebration with annual live TV coverage. The lowering of a drag queen on Duval Street from atop one of the island bars makes great television. It’s even better when seen in person.
No doubt about it…Key West loves to party. And what’s a better excuse than New Year’s Eve?
FOUR different gathering spots offer their own unique version of the time-honored tradition of lowering something special as the clock winds away the last seconds of the year.
Typically, your choices are:
o to see a big conch shell lowered from atop Sloppy Joe’s Bar…a crowded and boisterous affair,
o to see a Pirate Wench lowered from the mast of a schooner docked at the Schooner Wharf Bar in the Historic Seaport,
o to hear the free concert on the Sunset Pier at the Ocean Key House and watch as they lower a key lime wedge at midnight or,
o to see Sushi, a local drag queen celeb, lowered from a Duval Street balcony, riding a huge high-heeled shoe.
Whatever your choice, Key West will wish everyone a New Year filled with joy, coconuts, a nice tan, good health, laughter, and wonderment.
Oh…and peace on Earth (come on World…make believe you just booked a vacation to Key West).
Hyatt Beach House -
Welcome to the Hyatt Beach House, a Hyatt Vacation Club, your own private sanctuary amongst the lush landscape of Key West. Envision old-fashioned screen-enclosed porches, gardens bursting with tropical flowers and crystal-clear water views. Enjoy the privilege of a primitive, private beach, furnished with thick-cushioned chairs, picnic tables, barbecue grills and a private dock. Soak up the sun in the zero-entry lagoon shaped pool and spa tub or take cover in the shade of a tropical palm tree.
Set on the northeastern corner of Key West, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Hyatt Beach House retreat’s breathtaking Gulf coast setting is matched only by its top-tier amenities and meticulous attention to detail that Hyatt is renowned for. Most, if not all, of the residences at the Hyatt Beach House are Gulf view. All residences also have swimming pool, hot tub, and/ or lush courtyard views. Some residences also overlook Cow Key Channel. Key West is a tropical paradise. Some water views may be partially obstructed by palm trees or other vegetation.
Cherish the lavish plantation-style décor while taking advantage of the convenience offered by a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, living room, 3 flat screen TVs, DVD player, private screened-in furnished balcony, heated zero entry pool and hot tub, BBQ grills, pool bar/ grille, etc. Complimentary Wi-Fi access, in room washer and dryer, and on-site parking are also included.
All 74 residences at the Hyatt Beach House feature two bedrooms - a Gulf view master bedroom suite with king-size bed and adjoining bath with walk-in shower and jetted spa tub, and a guest suite with king-size bed and full bath. All units also have a sleep sofa in the living room and sleep 6 adults.
The Hyatt Beach House offers well-appointed comforts of home and signature Hyatt care. Hyatt typically offers complimentary, freshly brewed Starbucks coffee and an assortment of teas from 7:00 to 9:00 AM each morning in the lobby.
Spend your days relaxing by the lagoon-shaped pool with zero-entry end for easy access, or on Hyatt's primitive, private on-site beach. The heated pool is wheelchair accessible and open year-round.
The Hyatt Beach House courtyard also features a private, small, primitive beach area and boat docks, paddleboards, kayaks, tetherball, cornhole (bean bag game), and barbecue grills. The boat docks will accommodate boats up to 22’ in length and are available to guests on a first come first served basis. These boat docks must be reserved. See "Other Details" below for additional information on use of these boat docks.
The Hyatt Beach House’s convenient location puts you just minutes from the free-spirited art, music and entertainment scene of Old Town. Or head over to nearby Smathers Beach, the biggest white sand beach in Key West to rent windsurfers or go parasailing. The keys are also a haven for anglers - shallow flats, mangrove islands, inland channels and open blue waters offer world-class fishing opportunities. Hoping to test your skills on the green? You're in luck - Key West Golf Club is located nearby and is the only Caribbean inspired course in the U.S.
Whether you choose to spend your days simply relaxing by the lagoon pool or setting off on a diving adventure, Key West delivers a dream vacation of your own design. Your island home is just minutes away from celebrating the sunset each evening at Mallory Square and taking in the renowned dining, shopping and nightlife of Duval Street.
The photos in this listing are stock photos and do not show the actual room that Hyatt will assign to you. Hyatt will assign your room to you at check-in depending on availability.
Sights and Attractions Unique to Key West -
(that you may not want to miss)
Attractions:
o Mile Marker 0 (US Hwy 1),
o the Southernmost Point Buoy,
o the Little Whitehouse,
o Ernest Hemingway’s Home,
o the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory,
o Mel Fisher’s Maritime Museum,
o Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square and the Sunset Pier,
o Sunset Sail or Day Sail Adventures (my favorite is Danger Charters),
o Day Trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park & Fort Jefferson (70 miles West of Key West by Boat or Seaplane; Tour the Historic Fort, Swim, Snorkel, and/ or Dive),
o Fort Zackary Taylor State Park (possibly the best beach on Key West), swim, snorkel, fish, nature trails, cookout, or bike), and
o Mangrove Eco Tour, Paddleboarding, Kayaking, etc. at Lazy Dog adventures.
o Happy Hours at the Historic Seaport (from about 4:00 to 6:30 daily). My favorites are:
o The Boathouse at Turtle Kraal (½ price appetizers and drinks)
o Alonzo’s Oyster Bar (Special priced oysters, appetizers and drinks).
Local’s Hangouts:
o Captain Tony’s Bar (Yes, Captain Tony did not just exist in a Jimmy Buffett song. He was a real person, and I did meet him.),
o Green Parrot Bar (Key West institution since 1890), and the
o Schooner Wharf Bar (open air rustic Key West institution).
Breakfast & Brunch Spots:
o Pepe’s Café (the oldest eatery in the Keys, uses fresh squeezed juices),
o Blue Heaven (open air restaurant, share your breakfast with the free-range chickens),
o Harpoon Harry’s, and
o The Breakfast Club, Too.
Popular Watering Holes & Eateries:
o Sloppy Joe’s Bar,
o Hog’s Breath Saloon,
o Margaritaville,
and many, many more.
2024 Bubba Awards Marked Another Banner Year -
Key West People’s Choice Awards celebrated its 11th year in 2024 honoring 91 local businesses, people and nonprofits for their commitment and contributions to the Key West community. More than a quarter-million votes were cast in the nomination and final voting phases of the awards that truly are the people’s choice.
Key West’s People’s Choice Awards were announced by “Keys Weekly” in July 2024. Here are the 2024, 2023 and 2022 winners (listed 1st and showing the year) and 2024, 2023 and 2022 runners up in the “Food & Drink” category (W Indicates Winner, R indicates Runners up).
o Best Key Lime Pie: Blue Heaven (22R, 23R, 24W), Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppe (22W, 23W, 24R), Red Shoe Island Bistro (24R), Square Grouper (22R, 23R)
o Best Cuban Sandwich: Sandy’s Café (22R, 23W, 24W), Kim's Kuban (22W, 23R, 24R), Fritas Cuban Burger Cafe (24R), 5 Brothers (22R, 23R)
o Best International Restaurant: Benihana (23W, 24W), El Siboney (22W, 23R, 24R), Atlas Izakaya (24R) Bel Mare (23R), Fritas Cuban Café (22R), Tikka Bar (22R)
o Best Cup of Coffee: Cuban Coffee Queen (22W, 23W, 24W), Key’s Coffee Co (22R, 23R, 24R), Sandy’s Cafe (24R), Baby’s Coffee (22R, 23R, on US-1)
o Best Breakfast: Goldman’s Deli (22W, 23W, 24W), Harpoon Harry's (22R, 23R, 24R), Blue Heaven (23R, 24R), Two Friends (22R, 23R)
o Best Brunch: Hot Tin Roof (23R, 24W), Azur (22R, 23R, 24R), Morning Joint (24R), Blue Heaven (22W, 23W), Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen (22R)
o Best Lunch: Hogfish Bar & Grill (23R, 24W), Moondog Café (22R, 23W, 24R), Miami Subs (24R0, Little Whitehouse Subs (23R), Hogfish Bar & Grill (23R), Fritas Cuban Burger Café (22R), Pepe’s Café (22W)
o Best Bar: Green Parrot (22W, 23W, 24W), General Horseplay (24R), Bearded Lady (24R), Hank’s Hair of the Dog (22R, 23R), Virgilios (23R), Tattoos & Scars (22R)
o Best Gay Bar: 22&Co (22W, 23W, 24W), Aqua Bar and Nightclub (22R, 23R, 24R), 801 Bourbon Bar (22R, 23R, 24R)
o Best Wine Selection: La Trattoria (24W, 23R), Grand Vin Wine Bar (22W, 23W, 24R), ViV Wine Bistro (24R, 22R), A&B Lobster House (23R), Vinos on Duval (22R)
o Best Mojito: Pepe’s (24W), El Meson del Pepe’s (22W, 23W, 24R), Willie T’s (22R, 23R, 24R), Seaside Café (23R), Two Friends (22R)
o Best Beer Selection: Bearded Lady (24W, 23R, 22W), My New Joint (22R, 23W, 24R) on Cudjoe Key), Cayo Hueso Brewing (24R), The Retro Room (22R, 23R)
o Best Bartender: Micela Elechko (@ Green Parrot) (23W, 24W), Alex Tolmachenko (@ Virgilio’s) (23R, 24R), Neil Lindley (@Orchard Key Inn) (24R), Carlos Home (@22 & Co) (22W, 23R), Fabiola Azuaje (@Two Friends) (22R), Joan Kongos (@ Rams Head Southernmost) (22R)
Cont'd below -
