The Marker Key West Resort: Fun, Tropical Hotel at the Historic Seaport

When you hear “Key West” you get a very specific sort of image in your mind, of tropical trees and vines overtaking front porches and warm breezes blowing down the street, and that’s just when you get at the Marker Key West Resort. We really enjoyed our time here, both for the location and the amenities and are excited to share all the details!

Be sure to check out our other Florida Keys recommendations too. From our Miami to Key West road trip plan to the best places for kayaking in the Florida Keys, we’ve got a lot to share. And as always, feel free to leave a comment or send us a note if you have questions about staying at the Marker Key West Resort or anything else Florida Keys related!

Already know you want to book the Marker Key West? Book it here!

Staying at the Marker Key West Resort

The Marker Resort Key West is a really special place, and it really does capture the feeling of vintage Keys life, which is something we look for when we plan a Florida Keys vacation. The location at the Historic Seaport is awesome both for getting on the water with tours and for the food nearby. The service at the Marker Resort was also exceptional. Traveling during COVID times, you so often find people stretched thin and generally done with tourists, but that was not the case with any of the interactions we had staying at the Marker Key West.

What Are the Accommodation Options at the Marker Key West

I love that every room at the Marker Resort Key West has a balcony. Having outdoor space, especially when you’re someplace like Key West where it’s warm and breezy, is so important for relaxing travel. While every room has a balcony with lush tropical vegetation outside, the bigger suites are the only ones with full sized decks/patio spaces. That’s okay though, as the hotel rooms themselves are very large and there is plenty of public space too. Check out the hotel website here.

The primary room types at the Marker Key West are either King or Two Queen rooms. None of these have sleeper sofas in them, so the maximum capacity is either two or four people. There are one and two bedroom suites that sleep several more people, but at that point, the cost has at least doubled for booking, so you might as well consider multiple rooms as well as the suite options.

Top Pick: Classic Room – you need nothing more

Like I said, the primary room option of the Classic King or Two Queen room is all you need. The views are what starts to create a variation in room types, but they all have balconies with tropical trees and bushes around them, making them very private, so you might as well just book the Classic and roll with whatever view you get. They’re all great.

Already know you want to book the Marker Key West? Book it here!

Check in / Check Out at the Marker Hotel

A bonus to the beautiful setting and great location of the Marker Resort Key West is the welcome. You check in via the lobby front desk, and they welcome you with champaign / prosecco / bubbles of some sort. It’s a nice way to start your stay at the Marker. They also have options to make kids feel welcome (our boys were given smoothie vouchers) but the property as a whole is more designed for adults, hence the bubbles.

The Marker Key West Resort Amenities

Like with the Laureate Key West, the Marker Resort has the basic amenities of a very nice property, but not an inclusive as a mountain retreat, such as the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite might. There isn’t a spa or on-property adventures, but there is a concierge and wonderful poolside equipment to add to the fun and relaxation. To make visiting Key West and exploring easy, the Marker Resort actually can bundle accommodations with activities such as sailing, taking a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, bike rentals and more.

Pool and Recreation at Marker Resort Hotel Key West

There are several pools at the Marker Resort. There’s the main pool area, which has two pools and recreation space (yard games) as well as lots of lounge chairs and umbrellas. There is also the adult pool which is intended for guests 18+. It’s also well suited with lounge equipment. There are towels provided in both pool areas, so guests don’t need to bring them from the rooms.

Also in the pool area there is a small stage. Music can vary from a DJ quietly spinning chill Florida Keys music to live performances by local musicians. Check with the front desk for a schedule of events around the pool area. You’ll also find the Marker’s dining option by the main pool.

Dining at the Marker Key West: Starboard

Since you’re in Key West, you might as well enjoy Florida food by the pool (or relative area). The Starboard and Starboard Bar are the dining options at the Marker Resort. These are both located in the main pool area and serve standard American cuisine with the Florida Keys flare. That means fish tacos, fish dip, grilled shrimp, and then a selection of salads, burgers and brick oven pizzas.

The Starboard Bar at the Marker does poolside service and has a pretty great drink menu, with all the blended drink options you can imagine. I mean, you are in the Keys. The best drink though is the spicy paloma (grapefruit margarita, basically).

Favorite Key West Restaurants Near the Marker

We love to explore beyond the hotel, and since the Marker Resort is at the Key West Historic Seaport, there are several great restaurants close by. These are our tops picks for quick walking distance (less than 10 minutes) from the Marker Key West:

• Waterfront Brewery – good beer, okay food
• Harpoon Harry’s – really great, family friendly dining, especially if you’re looking for ways to do the Florida Keys on a budget
• Cuban Coffee Queen – wonderful coffee and sandwiches to walk with
• Fisherman’s Café – awesome yucca fries
• Half Sell Raw Bar – such good fish sandwiches and some of the best Key Lime Pie and cocktails in the Keys
• Conch Republic Seafood Co – very busy and popular, but surprisingly good for being so touristy

Where is the Marker Key West Hotel?

I love the location of the Marker Resort Key West. Located directly next to the Historic Seaport, it’s in a great place for relaxing and walking to many spots for dining or tours.

Transportation To and From Key West Airport

Unfortunately there isn’t a shuttle provided from the Key West Airport (EYW) to the Marker Resort, but getting a taxi, Lyft or Uber isn’t difficult. You can also rent a car at the airport, which is a great idea if you plan on doing any portion of the Florida Keys road trip. It’s actually nice to have a car when you’re in Key West, because although most things are walking distance, getting from one side of the island to the other is way easier when you do have your own car.

Can I Walk from the Marker to Downtown Key West?

Walking from the Marker Resort to downtown and the Mallory Square area is very easy. The Historic Seaport is just steps away, and many tours go out from RIGHT HERE, including the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park. If you’re heading to the historic center, which includes the Key West Aquarium, Mallory Square for the nightly sunset celebration, or the shipwreck museum, it only take about ten minutes to walk there.

The Marker also can get you set up with a bike rental if you like. There are some parts of town where biking is a bit tricky because the streets are narrow and bumpy, but then other parts of Key West are great to see from a bike.

Parking Details at the Marker Resort Hotel

There is parking at the Marker Resort located under the hotel. It’s easy enough and you can access the parking garage area directly from inside the hotel. The thing to know though, is that this garage HAS VERY LOW CLEARANCE. We tried to park with our travel carrier on top of the car (streamline design) and had to remove it before parking. It’s a well monitored area though, so we just removed our carrier and stored it in front of our car. The cost of parking on property is $30/night.

If you do have an oversized vehicle, there is a public parking lot directly across the street in front of the Waterfront Brewery. You’ll need to pay for that parking (not included with hotel cost) but it’s not bad for overnight parking.

Best Key West Activities Near the Marker Hotel

I love the location of the Marker Key West Resort because it’s such a great launch point for getting on the water or walking through town. True, you’re not directly next to Mallory Square and the Audubon House, but there’s plenty to do and see very near the Marker Key West.

Our top picks for activities that are REALLY close to the Marker Resort are:

• the Conch Train tour – historic trolley tour of Key West (or do the hop-on-hop-off)
• Honest Eco Tours – dolphin tour and snorkeling in the sponge beds (see Trip Advisor reviews here)
• Dry Tortugas National Park day trip
• visit the Audubon House and Gardens – really beautiful home and quiet garden setting (part of Historical Walking Tour)
• cheers the sunset with hundreds of your closest friends in Mallory Square (Google maps link)

Of course there are even more things to do in Key West, but these are our top pics for being really close to the Marker Resort. If you want to get more ideas, for tours and activities, check out our Key West tour booking page.

I hope this has been helpful. We really loved our time at the Marker Resort and always have a great time in Key West. If you have any extra questions, feel free to leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to help you plan an awesome trip to the Florida Keys!

Excited to stay at the Marker Key West? Book it here!