Cheeca Lodge & Spa
Resort hotel · Islamorada, Village of Islands ·
Luxurious resort with pristine beach, golf, spa, and dining
Information
81801 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 Get directions
Luxurious resort with pristine beach, golf, spa, and dining
81801 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 Get directions
"A tropical, resort-style property spread across 27 acres of foliage with a rare palm-lined private beach for the Keys, offering opportunities to relax in private casitas or luxury oceanfront suites. Guests can enjoy fishing off a 525-foot pier, schedule spa treatments to unwind together, or simply soak up the island atmosphere for an unplugged couples’ retreat." - Skye Sherman Skye Sherman Skye Sherman is a travel writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Aside from traveling, she's also a pilot, scuba diver, bookworm, and fourth-generation Floridian. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Palm Beach Illustrated, Atlas Obscura, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"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
"I found Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada provides luxury touches without the high prices, and I enjoyed a mojito at its beachfront tiki bar." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"We stayed in a two-bedroom oceanfront casita with butler service and loved the white-sand beach and private casitas; when we weren't at the Tiki Bar or riding bikes around the property, we appreciated having plenty of room to spread out and relax. The resort also offers tennis courts, a golf course, a fishing pier, three pools, and multiple restaurants." - Nina Ruggiero Nina Ruggiero Travel + Leisure Senior Editorial Director Nina Ruggiero oversees T+L's award-winning travel content across digital platforms. She is also the co-founder of Be A Travel Writer, an online course for aspiring travel journalists. When she's not traveling between her current home in Los Angeles and T+L HQ in New York City, Nina can often be found in Italy or the UK. She has lived in NYC, LA, Miami, Rome, and Sicily, and has traveled extensively through Europe, the U.S., Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico, in addition to visiting Botswana, Morocco, New Zealand, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines