Cheeca Lodge & Spa

"With a fascinating history dating to 1946, Islamorada’s Cheeca Lodge has hosted the who’s who of politics, Hollywood, and fishing royalty over the decades, most notably President George Bush Sr. in the 1980s and 1990s (who, in fact, for ten years hosted “The George Bush Cheeca Lodge Bonefish Tournament.” ) Accommodations are spread across a massive campus and vary greatly by enclave. The most coveted units include the Premiere Oceanfront Suites of the 43-room Premier Tower, completed in fall 2022, as well as the Casitas, a collection of 11, two-bedroom stand-alone villas, which share their own beach, tennis court, and swimming pool. Thanks to a long stretch of sandy beach, three pools, a 9-hole golf course, and extensive programming, there’s never a shortage of things to do in the greater Cheeca resort. However, given that it houses the longest pier in the Florida Keys—and fishing rods and bait are complimentary—a preferred activity among repeat guests entails languid days at the ocean’s edge, beer in hand, trying to reel in a catch." - Paul Rubio, Nancy DePalma

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?Cheeca Lodge has it all, from the longest pier in the Keys and a stretch of sandy beach to three pools, a spa, and plenty of activities to keep guests of all ages content. Even the family dog can join in on the fun. What’s the backstory?George H.W. Bush used to run a fishing tournament at Cheeca, so it has a longtime following with an in-the-know crowd. After the most recent hurricane season, however, the resort was reimagined. What will we get from our room?The rooms and suites have just the right amount of Floridian flair—think palm leaf fans, rattan furnishings, and a few bright colors. Rooms are spacious and have views of the resort, golf course, lagoon, or ocean. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?It’s built into the resort fee. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?For breakfast you can grab something quick at the coffee bar or indulge in the buffet at Atlantic’s Edge, an all-day dining restaurant with AAA Four-Diamond status. There are two other food options in the evening: Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant or Mia Cucina, a Neapolitan pizzeria serving Italian classics. For something more casual, the Tiki Bar is a favorite for lunch and casual dinner. What type of travelers will you find here?This isn’t the read-a-book-on-the-beach crowd. Cheeca offers so many ways to spend a sunny day—golf, spa, water sports, a kids’ camp, three pools, a sandy beach—and that’s exactly why this crowd is here. What else is nearby if we venture out and about?Islamorada is one of the best islands in the Keys, with plenty of options for dining, shopping, and activities, and less of the kitsch of some of the other Keys. Anything we missed?Islamorada is a huge sportfishing draw with plenty of guided trips out on the open water, but you can grab a reel and fish right off the pier at Cheeca, since it’s the longest pier in the Keys. Bottom line: What makes this place worth a stay?There’s so much to do here, you will never be bored." - Nancy DePalma

"Cheeca Lodge sits on a pristine stretch of white-sand beach in Islamorada, and its private casitas might be the best crash pad for an adult family vacation in all of the Keys. We had a two-bedroom oceanfront casita with butler service and deeply considered flying the rest of the family down and moving in. When we weren't at the Tiki Bar or riding our bikes around the stunning property, we had plenty of room to spread out and relax. Cheeca Lodge also has tennis courts, a golf course, three restaurants (don't miss Atlantic's Edge), a fishing pier, and three pools." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Cheeca Lodge Cheeca Lodge manages to be upscale and relaxed at the same time. This duality is perhaps best embodied in Cheeca’s flagship restaurant Atlantic’s Edge, which offers a refreshed take on island cuisine (like the roasted red snapper with dragon fruit or the hibiscus swordfish) in an elegant but breezy oceanfront setting. The 27-acre luxury resort on Islamorada Key—one of the sport-fishing capitals of the world—was renovated following damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017. The revamped lobby, fully rebuilt fishing pier, 214 redesigned guest rooms, and new Italian restaurant have made Cheeca even better than before. Airy suites feature curated artwork, hand-tufted rugs, and rattan accents, and each suite opens to a private lanai with a partially enclosed open-air jacuzzi. A new point of pride is the refreshed 5,700-square-foot spa, which now has seven treatment rooms, a wet room with Vichy shower, hydrotherapy facilities with a steam room, and a fully equipped fitness center. Still to come in early 2019 is a brand new oceanfront pool (bringing the resort’s total to three, including a saltwater lagoon) and tiki bar, 25 South. If you must leave, book a fishing excursion, sunset cruise, or round of golf at the 9-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course—and enroll the kids in the eco-focused Camp Cheeca."

"If you go to the Florida Keys and don’t order a rum runner while sitting under a palapa, were you even there? There’s no reason to chance it, really. And The Tiki Bar at Cheeca Lodge is an enviable spot to soak in all the sunny indulgences the Keys have to offer. At any other serious bar, in any other place, the idea of a frozen cocktail is almost laughable. But they’re a popular choice at the Tiki Bar. However, it’s not just about kitsch here; an impressive menu of handcrafted cocktails makes use of the area’s bounty of fresh fruit to mix and muddle into blueberry mojitos or mango mules." - Jennifer M. Wood