juha's "Miami and a Caribbean cruise"

I guess it's hard to get here unless you're on a cruise. That's how I got here. Beautiful beaches and lots of opportunities to snorkel on the reefs, jetski, zipline etc. Really a fun place to have an active holiday outdoors. It's a pity that on a cruise you only get to spend one day here.

Make sure to visit also the other fortress although this one is bigger and better. It was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 95% humidity while I was here. Makes you wonder how the soldiers in the old times could live here with the thick uniforms.

Don Q is one of the Puerto Rican rum brands. In this museum/shop/bar you'll get to see how rum is made, you get to taste it for free (they make pretty good drinks) and get to buy it too. Convenient and educational!

A fort built by the Spanish. Lots of interesting stuff here too although the other fort just a kilometer away is bigger and perhaps a bit better.

San Juan seems like a nice city. Only spent half a day here. Lots of history, shopping opportunities, rum and great weather.

This was one of the stops on our Caribbean cruise. A very nice city with interesting (war) history and fortresses. Makes you think how those guys survived the heat in old army uniforms... See the two fortresses. That's the best thing here. And buy some local rum.

Eat here even though on the outside you might want to think twice. It's a shack but that's the way it's meant to be. Just great burgers. Perhaps the best ever. One of the best things in Key West. Don't miss it.

http://www.keywesttravelguide.com/bos-fish-wagon.html

Old railway bridge destroyed by a hurricane. You can see it while crossing the new Bahia Honda bridge. It's a bridge, what more can I say...

The only semi-bad thing worth noting about Eden House is that there's no breakfast included and the restaurant close by that gives a discount to Eden House customers is totally overpriced. A truly small glass of orange juice costs 4 USD. Even if the place is mentioned in Zagat I find that bad.

Spent the night here while on Key West. Usually I don't care about hotels as long as I have a place to sleep in but Eden house was just fantastic and was by far the best thing in Key West. More than a hotel. It has a great atmosphere, nice people, hammocks in the garden, pool and jacuzzi just right out the door, free booze by the pool in the afternoon and books as well as games that you can use to pass the time. Just fantastic. It didn't feel like a hotel at all.

OK, the place is made for tourists and you actually don't get to see big wild alligators or anything like that but still in less than two hours you'll get to have an airboat ride, see alligator wrestling, get to hold a small alligator (4 feet long) and see when bigger alligators are fed. Not the most extreme experience but worth the money still unless you want to head deeper into Everglades. For that I can't give any advice as I only went on to this guided tour. :)

http://www.gatorpark.com/

Note that it'll take you about three and a half hours to drive here from Miami even using the Turnpike instead of the free slower roads. So it's not really a day trip. It's worth spending the night anyways in Key West.

Duval street is where all the action is. There are also all the tourists. I didn't find it particularly interesting. Quite the contrary.

The sunset is overrated. On top of that all the tourists (and there are plenty) will gather to the same place to watch it. You don't miss anything if you don't go.

Eat at B.O.'s at least once! Great burgers.

At sunset everyone (the tourists at least) go to Mallory Square. Don't. There's no reason to do that. I know you will go because it's the place to see the sunset and where all the action is. But when you are there you'll know why I said "don't go". Told you so!

Don't forget to shop at one of the big malls close to Miami. Sawgrass Mills mall is a good choice.

Great location on Ocean Drive and the art deco district and in many ways a nice hotel. Unfortunately the airconditioning in the room was from the fifties or something and kept me awake half the night even with earplugs. A perfect example of how one thing can ruin an otherwise OK hotel.

You can find almost any brand outlet you want in the Sawgrass Mills mall. It's one of the biggest malls in the world.

User attached a link to simon.com

I know I shouldn't love TGI Friday's but I do. In addition it was just across the street from our hotel. Quick and great lunches. Again.