Creekside Inn Islamorada

“Pleasantly surprised”

We have recently just returned home from our stay at the Creekside Inn and had a great time. I have to admit after reading some bad reviews I was concerned about our decision but as our stay was for over a week in the area, budget was obviously something of a concern. The Creekside prices worked … more

We have recently just returned home from our stay at the Creekside Inn and had a great time. I have to admit after reading some bad reviews I was concerned about our decision but as our stay was for over a week in the area, budget was obviously something of a concern. The Creekside prices worked for us so we decided to take our chances! Our room was large with plenty of space for us all (we were traveling with our teen daughters), It was clean and comfortable, had a very welcome strong AC, plenty of dresser and hanging space, a full size refrigerator, large microwave, a descent size counter along side the microwave, and clean and functional bathroom complete with complementary shampoos and body lotions etc etc. The bed mattresses are firm but everyone slept really well our entire stay. We paid extra for a waterside room and that was definitely worth it - and I would strongly recommend requesting a ground floor room if possible - we had a nice sized dining table out on the deck area in front of our room and we ate many breakfasts and dinners there, enjoyed lots of conversations with our neighbors and hotel staff and did some creek fishing just steps from our door. The creek, as many others have mentioned is a real treat in itself, we saw parrot fish, a nurse shark, manatees, and an enormous barracuda, as well as many sunbathing iguanas, geckos a friendly, if opportunistic, white heron! There are two pools, a fire pit and grills available for use, a kayak to borrow and a pass to get into Founders Park for free. Honestly the best way to find out all the hotel has to offer is to talk to the staff. Ronny, Amy, Sherry and Beulah are all wonderful and we shared so many good laughs with them. I’m sad to hear the rumors of the Creekside closing or being sold ….I’m not sure if that’s a done deal or not. To address directly some of the negative reviews, was the hotel completely brand new and sparkling? No of course it is not and there’s definitely signs of age and wear and tear all over. The hotel’s second building to our north had caution tape and a ‘do not pass’ sign that was a bit of an eyesore and would have marred staying at that end of the property. But staff were keeping on top of the garbage, hosing down the patio areas and keeping the us stocked with towels without any problems. Maybe our room allocation was particularly fortunate and perhaps a different room would have left an entirely different impression, but ground floor of the South building was good. With the layout alongside the creek, you are a little at the mercy of your immediate neighbors as to what your experience might be. During the course of our stay we had families, fishermen and partiers all stay close by but it all worked out just fine. If you want an exclusive, pristine boutique resort experience, this is not it. (But I think the price tag alone would tell you that). If you are looking for a convenient home base, with a giant supermarket close by and many nearby restaurants and cafes, having chats with staff and neighbors, kicking back and enjoying the views, Creekside might be perfect for you.! Thanks Creekside, it was fun!

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