Courtyard Marriott Key West Waterfront Review – Is It Worth It?
In this Courtyard Marriott Key West Waterfront review, I’m sharing an honest, firsthand look at what it’s really like to stay at this Marriott hotel in Key West.
Since we were driving to Key West, we wanted a hotel with free parking. So we chose to stay at the Courtyard Key West Waterfront, which is one of the Marriott hotels in Key West that is located about 3 miles from Duval Street.
I’ll admit, I was initially unsure if staying outside the historic district would be a good move. But after a few nights here, I was genuinely surprised by how much we enjoyed staying at the Courtyard Key West and we would honestly stay here again!
I’ve covered the pros and cons, including what surprised us—and what didn’t—during our recent stay, so that you can decide if it is the right hotel in Key West for your trip.
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Here are the pros and cons of staying at the Courtyard Marriott Key West Waterfront:
✅ Pros of the Courtyard Key West
- Beautiful surroundings – including a peaceful waterfront area and lots of tropical plants
- Rooms have balconies or patios
- Great pool area with a Tiki pool bar
- Spacious, comfortable rooms
- Good prices for Key West
- Free Parking!
❌ Cons of the Courtyard Key West
- Location: Not walkable – Its a 3 mile bike ride or 10 minute drive to the historic downtown (Uber is available)
- Some rooms could use an update
- No elevators, but the hotel is only 2 stories
🌴 🏖️ Ready to book your trip to Key West?
✅ Book the Courtyard Marriott Waterfront Here!
An Honest Review of the Courtyard Marriott Key West
My overall review of the Courtyard Marriott Key West is that I loved staying here, and would definitely stay here again on a future trip.
Below, I’ve broken down the major considerations including cost, rooms, amenities, and location – so that you can determine if this is the right hotel for you!
Cost
Key West is expensive to stay in, especially over the weekend. I did a ton of research on hotels before visiting and one reason we chose this hotel is that it was more affordable compared to other Key West hotels, but still had excellent reviews, free parking, and great amenities.
Money Saving Tip – if you are looking to keep costs down try visiting over the week days for lower dates.
⭐ I also recommend comparing prices using Tripadvisor or by checking Booking.com and Expedia for the best deals!
Location of the Courtyard Marriott Key West
The location was the biggest downside for our stay, because it wasn’t walkable to the historic downtown.
Instead, it was about a 10 minute drive or a about a 3 mile bike ride. We did have our car with us, but there is extremely limited parking in downtown Key West so it was better to Uber there. Luckily, Ubers were pretty cheap and fast to get one.
The upside to the location is that it was quiet and peaceful in the hotel and on the grounds, even though it is located off from a busy street.
In the end, we didn’t mind having a further out location because we saved a lot of money compared to staying right downtown and the hotel was quiet at night so we got a great night’s sleep there.
Amenities
I loved the amenities at the Courtyard Marriott Key West! The property grounds are so peaceful and it was such a relaxing stay.
Waterfront Boardwalk & Small Beach
There is a beautiful waterfront boardwalk area with seating. This is the perfect place to enjoy some of the complimentary coffee in the mornings!
There is also a small beach with a few lounge chairs. It doesn’t seem like a place to go swimming but it is a nice place to relax.
Pool, Hot Tub, & Tiki Bar
We really enjoyed the pool and hot tub at the Key West Marriott Waterfront. The pool area is actually pretty large and during the day time they have a fun tiki bar where you can enjoy tropical drinks.
There is also a spacious hot tub, which is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring.
We were in Key West over a weekend and didn’t feel that the pool or hot tub were crowded at all, which made it a nice place to chill out and enjoy.
Free Parking
Free parking is a great amenity in Key West as parking is limited and expensive. At most hotels, you will have to pay for parking which gets pricey. The free parking was one of the reasons we booked here!
Rooms at the Key West Waterfront Marriott
When I originally booked this hotel, I was expecting a pretty dated room based on a few of the Tripadvisor Reviews of the Courtyard Marriott Key West.
In my opinion, I was pleasantly surprised and found the room to be pretty modern and comfortable. I also thought it was quite spacious.
Could some of the rooms use an update? Possibly. Some reviews mentioned that a refresh was needed, however our room seemed modern and updated.
The rooms also have either a balcony or patio, which I personally loved. Our balcony was surrounded by tropical plants and it added to the feeling of a tropical weekend getaway!
Just keep in mind that with tropical plants come tropical creatures (especially lizards) so make sure to keep the door shut to your room. We didn’t have any issues with bugs or lizards getting in and used the balcony frequently.
Courtyard Marriott Key West Waterfront Review: Who Should Stay Here?
The Courtyard Marriott Key West is a perfect hotel for couples or families, especially those who want a budget-friendly stay or a more relaxing area compared to downtown Key West.
One thing to note is that there are not elevators (hotel only has 2 stories) so you may need to go up 1 flight of stairs or request a 1st floor room if you need an accessible room.
Additionally – if you are driving to Key West this is one of the few hotels that offers free parking.
Couples
We stayed here as a couple and feel it is a perfect place for a couples weekend getaway to Key West. It was relaxing and had great amenities like a tiki bar and hot tub.
While there are lots of amazing hotel options for couples in Key West, I think this is a perfect choice if you are looking for something that is more budget-friendly but still has easy access to downtown Key West.
Families
We didn’t bring our daughter on this trip but if we bring her we would definitely stay here again – this hotel is perfect for families.
The historic downtown of Key West gets rowdy at night, so I personally would rather stay in a quieter location like this hotel if I was visiting with kids. The only downside is that it isn’t walkable to many things.
However, kids will love seeing Iguanas that surround the property, playing in the sand at the small beach, or going swimming in the pool.
Lastly, the rooms are spacious which is ideal for families. We booked last minute and had a 2 queen room – which definitely has enough space for a family of 3 or 4.
FAQs: Courtyard Marriott Key West Waterfront Review
The hotel includes a heated pool, hot tub, a tiki bar, a fitness center, free Wi-Fi, complimentary coffee, and on-site parking. Some rooms have private balconies with marina views.
The Courtyard Key West Waterfront is located about 3 miles from Old Town, Key West’s historic district. While it’s not walkable to Duval Street, its a quick Uber ride away.
The hotel sits on the Gulf side waterfront, with a small sandy area, but it isn’t a place for swimming. Instead, it features a private waterfront dock, a pool area, and beautiful sunset views. For beachgoers, Smathers Beach is just a short drive or bike ride away.
Final Verdict: Is the Courtyard Key West Waterfront Worth It?
My review of the Courtyard Marriott Key West Waterfront is yes it is worth it to stay here. While the location is 3 miles from the historic district, it is still close enough to enjoy Key West and the free parking and lower cost of the room (compared to other hotels in downtown Key West) make it worth staying here.
We really enjoyed this Marriott property and liked the tropical feel and waterfront views that it offered. Plus the tiki bar, hot tub, pool, and waterfront boardwalk made it a fun place to spend time when we weren’t out exploring Key West.
