Thursday, January 20, 2011

Westwinds Inn

When my wife's cousin Kirk came to visit from Seattle he wanted to know where she recommended he stay. My wife has, over the years, researched a whole lot of options and thought this place might fit the bill:The inn is a compound of buildings clustered around a pool and garden in the center.Westwinds has a driveway where guests can pull in to load and unload their vehicles but because the place is on the 900 block of Eaton Street, about five blocks from Duval Street on street parking isn't horribly hard to find nearby and the noise of drunken revelry isn't a problem. Motorcycles manage to squeeze a space on the property apparently. This machine came down from Miami, the middle aged owners' longest ever ride, they said.The place really is lovely.The guest units are clustered around the central area, all in the classic Key West style. We joined Kirk and Jay for breakfast by the pool. Kirk admitted the morning air was cool enough to merit a sweatshirt, but he was enjoying his tropical breakfast of coffee cereal and fruit by the pool.The breakfast buffet included muffins and do-it-yourself toast. I also had a pastry with my coffee, the net result of which was a spot of indigestion later in the morning. I am no longer used to sugar confections for breakfast, and all this tourist living was proving more robust than my tender constitution could take.Standing around making toast for myself enjoying the view is a life one could get used to I suppose, with a little effort. Though honestly my porch at home where I eat oatmeal and drink tea isn't so very different.I am a self reliant man for the twenty-first century and I don't mind washing up my own dishes which is not an issue when you stay in decadent places like this where they clean up after you..." Not bad," was Kirk's verdict on the place though he thought $200 a night was quite high. Not for Key West in winter, my wife pointed out, and Kirk agreed remembering that summer rates are considerably less.We paused too check out the flora, though with my brain like a sieve I forgot what I read before I was back out on the street. I will never be a botanist.
Lovely morning light at all angles.
Eaton Street is main road into the Duval Street area, as it comes off Palm Avenue from North Roosevelt Boulevard. Traffic can be heavy but for all that, this isn't a busy corner of town, surprisingly.
http://www.westwindskeywest.com/ for rates and all the other useful information.

5 comments:

Dale said...

I can attest to this place. Ive stayed at the Westwinds twice in the last two years. The setting is lush with plants and trees and the staff has been friendly.Its also close to one of my favorite areas where the Schooner Wharf bar and the Half Shell Raw Bar is located. With hundreds of these kinds of Inns to chose from in KW, you cant go wrong at this place...( I should get a discount my next stay for this endorsement)

combustibleturnip said...

The Paradise Inn on Simonton is very similar--we (wife and kids and I) have stayed there on different occasions. Nice and not pricey by KW standards.
Nice pics, once again.

Unknown said...

You should consider having your out of town visitors stay at one of the many Key West homes that are for rent. We stayed at a home on William over Christmas this year that was very nice for about $180 per night (11.5% tax included). We also stayed at a home in the back yard of your favorite ice cream store during another Christmas visit for about the same money, of course the $2 breakfast was not included but it is completely private and you get a real feel for Key West living.

Rob said...

Nice pics of Westwinds and good suggestions. My wife and I always stay with my parents at their home on Cudjoe, which is nice enough, but my wife who has never lived in Key West wants to be able to walk around town when she wants without having to make the half-hour drive into town.

Conchscooter said...

It's funny because I hardly know the inns and guest houses at all. Even at work I can hardly keep their addresses straight without the computer's help. Each one is a bit of a mystery to me. I expect I need to sleep more in beds other than my own.
In any event I beleive the seattle crowd is going to rent a house for their tri generational mass return in the spring.