The Mermaid & The Alligator

We stayed for a couple of nights in December at The Mermaid & The Alligator in Key West, and were thoroughly impressed with our stay here. Our room was the Key Lime room which despite being small, had all the essentials for a short stay. They’ve other larger rooms inside the main house, as well as outside it, which you can choose during booking. The king bed is large enough for 2 people to sleep comfortably. The mattress and the pillows were quite comfortable to help us get a sound sleep after the long and tiring drive to Key West. The breakfast in the morning has a rotating menu, and the lady serving us was quite kind and polite. We had the waffle and berries on the day that we had breakfast here, and it was nicely done. They’ve other breakfast essentials like oatmeal, fruits and coffee. The property itself has decent space for walking inside, and the highlight was the heated pool, which helped us unwind after exploring the Key West. The staff is here to help you if you need help. Parking spots are limited. It might happen that all spaces are occupied when you arrive, so you might need to find a street parking nearby, which isn’t too difficult. The only suggestion I have for them: For people arriving after hours, please call or email them beforehand with instructions how to get in. We had to call on a number to figure out that the check-in instructions were in the mailbox outside the lattice door. It was a bit confusing how to get in. Overall, we had a pleasant stay here, and we recommend this place if you are looking for a comfortable bed and breakfast in Key West. The area is pretty walkable with a CVS and a grocery store within walking distance.

Love this place. Really quiet, accommodating, close to everything but far enough away. Free breakfast was always good, always plenty of snacks and drinks, great little happy hour. Sweet little pool that nobody took advantage of that I noticed. Free parking, fenced in parking for bikes. Super friendly staff. Can’t say enough nice things about the place. Thoroughly enjoyed my time here!

This beautiful place is in oasis in Key West! We came here to celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary and it was heaven. The site is only a few blocks from Duvall. Once we parked our car, we never moved it. We easily walked everywhere we wanted to go.|The bamboo room is spacious, clean and well appointed with a sofa, comfy chair and also a desk with a chair. We also had two chairs with ottomans on our private porch. The bed was comfy and the property was quiet.|They do have a rooster on property, which is the norm in Key West. He crowed at dusk and in the morning but he wasn't close to our room so we barely heard him. The pool is small but oh so refreshing in the hot afternoons of Key West. We really enjoyed it. They serve wine and snacks every day at 4 pm and a lovely breakfast from 8:30 to 10 am every day. The entire staff is so kind and friendly. We loved our 4 night stay at the Mermaid and the Alligator and can't wait to go back! This bed and breakfast is a true gem in Key West

Excellent accommodations and service! A delightful bed and breakfast. Homemade breakfast each morning with delicious Brazilian coffee. In addition to the homemade breakfast, yogurt, fresh fruits, hard boiled eggs and cereals are also available. A refrigerator with refreshing sodas, water and other nonalcoholic beverages is available all day. Happy Hour with wines is also available daily and included. The setting is calm and peaceful. The service is top notch including freshening of the room daily. You can find yourself blending into the lush greenery surrounding the property. You’re able to walk easily where you need to go or hop on the bus service which takes you almost anywhere for a nominal fee. (Bus service is different from the Trolley and Train tours, which are much pricier.) Definitely would return and highly recommend.

My husband and I stayed here for 6 nights at the end of July. Everything from booking to checkout, was on point! Clean, friendly, comfortable and water pressure was great! Breakfast was delicious. The lady’s were so nice and accommodating. The grounds are beautiful and quiet. Good location to Duval and surrounding site seeing adventures. We will definitely go back! Thank you!

We stayed here during the first week of June for 5 days. The staff were so kind and attentive. The breakfast was small but delicious. The rooms were cozy and spacious. The cocktail pool was perfect. Lovely afternoon happy hour snakes. Location was great by being only a couple of blocks from Duval Street so there is not much noise but convenient to the action. Highly recommend and we will be coming back.

It was our fault for not reading the room description of the “Sunroom” more carefully. We have never stayed in anything so tiny. There’s wasn’t even any room to put two small suitcases. 171 sq feet for 300 dollars plus a night was pretty awful.

Outstanding service and we loved that there are no TVs in the rooms. It's designed to be comfortable and a getaway. Tucked away in some trees too that muffle the nearby traffic. Overall great experience and we'll definitely come back.

Not a top level experience. My husband and I have been coming to Key West for nearly twenty years. Stayed at the Casa Marina resort and guest houses in Old Town. We've driven by The Mermaid and Alligator many times. For this trip we decided to stay here. Disappointed to say the least. It's advertised as high end and luxury. The property itself is truly captivating with lush landscaping. The room decor is equally alluring but as soon as you shower you're met with a WalMart quality towel. Rough enough to exfoliate your skin. Bedding not at as low of level but not high quality. Run of the mill hotel chain bedding. My biggest surprise is how guests are expected to accommodate the resorts strict schedule. This is a small property so they are dealing with a large number of people. Breakfast is a strict 8:30-10. It's modest at best although the cook does a preplanned cooked item. Waffles one day. Ham/cheese omelette another. Modest toast, bagel and fruit cup along side cereal. Hardly a luxury breakfast selection and again only available for 1.5 hours. Happy hour is again a strict one hour period. 4-5 in the evening. A Robert Mondavi common red and white. The snacks consisted of bagged cookies, microwave popcorn or Oreo cookies packages. Best Western hotel level of snacks to pair with your wine. Room service is my biggest complaint. At NO POINT at check in where we informed we needed to request room service/cleaning. A luxury guest house should attend to your needs and hanging a "service request" door hanger falls short. Apparently it's the backside of the Do Not Disturb hanger. Day two we put it out and received no service. Day three my husband watched the housekeeper look at the door as she walked by during the breakfast hour. Ours had the Do Not Disturb as I wasn't up yet. Before we left later that morning (10:45) it was switched to Service Requested. To be clear that I wanted the room cleaned before we left I stopped into the office and made a verbal request at which I was assured it would be cleaned. We returned at 4:00 and again our room hadn't been cleaned and by now we were out of towels. I went back into the office and spoke to the same lady. At this point it became the blame game and she kept trying to turn it back on me. I put the door hanger out and verbally told you. This was not a miscommunication or my fault but the establishment. It appears although a small property with limited guests they maintain a rigid schedule and you must confirm. If you want to eat the modest breakfast you have 1.5 hour window. Want wine and cheap snacks you have a strict one hour. Want your room cleaned and fresh exfoliating towels apparently you can't sleep in. Be up before the breakfast time with your door hanger hung. Perhaps add a blinking lighted arrow for attention. As I said for close to twenty years we've come to Key West and I've never wanted to move accommodations halfway through our stay. Beautifully maintained home and landscaping as advertised. Just don't expect an equal level of customer service. Clearly we won't stay here next year.

We made a memory that we will never forget. We were locked out of our room after hours. There was two after hours phone number posted. We called both numbers repeatedly (8-10 times each). One number would answer then discount. The second (EMERGENCY NUMBER) would answer and ask for my name, property we were staying at and which room we were in. Then stating that someone would contact me shortly. Nobody ever contacted us at all. We were forced to sleep outside all night while being attacked by mosquitoes and other bugs. When the morning cook arrived about 7:00am the next morning we were finally able to explain our situation through her broken English. The cook looked for and found the master key after an hour and let us into our room at 8:00am. When the manager arrived at 9:00am her response was why didn't you call this number (the emergency number). After explaining how many times we did call the number the manager said she would look into it. Later that afternoon the manager explained that the call center claimed they received no calls during the night. The manager refused to look at the call long on my phone as proof of our numerous calls. We were offered a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates as an apology for our inconvenience. We were refunded one nights rate since we did not have access to our room for one night. I feel I am justified in requesting a refund of two nights rate as a proper apology. Which has been refused by the Riley Group that owns the property. When checking in we were told that the room would be cleaned every other day. After three days we had to ask for the room to be cleaned and it still wasn't cleaned. While the property is 5 . The ammoniates definitely is not. The sheets and towels in the rooms are Walmart quality. Happy Hour is two bottles of wine and a few packing Oreo cookies. The complimentary breakfast is very basic offering only one hot option per day and is regulated to 1 1/2 hours only. You get a better basic breakfast offering at Denny's. We have not been contacted by the Riley Group about this incident except through the onsite management. This after numerous phone calls and emails directly to the company. I do believe the manager was truly sorry for the missteps we encountered but unfortunately her hands were tied by corporate management. The Mermaid and The Alligator of today is a prime example of how corporate management can and does trash what was once a great accommodation. So run do not walk away from this property.

I was absolutely blown away by every detail of this mansion-turned-B&B. It's truly an oasis of tranquility despite its ultra-convenient location. Nestled on the corner of US Route 1 & a sleepy side street you're a mere 5 min walk from everything you want in Key West--beach, bars, & restaurants! The mansion & cottage house sits among a haven of lush botanicals so if you're a plant lover, you'll never want to leave! The plunge pool is the perfect way to end your night as it's open 24h! They also offer massages in a private cabana located in the tropical garden. Each room is uniquely decorated--I plan to visit again just so I can experience another! The innkeeper addresses you by name, further adding to the intimacy of the property. Lastly, they offer complimentary breakfast every morning, midday snacks, and a happy hour cocktail to kick off your evening.

Friendly staff, wonderful stay. Everyone was super helpful including attention to detail snd recommendations. Different breakfast every morning. Amazing foliage. Rooms were well taken care of.

The Mermaid is a really lovely B&B. The garden is a tropical oasis, a place you can escape the hustle & excitement of KW. The main house & rooms are immaculate. Everything is very tidy & well-maintained. I especially appreciated the variety of sunscreens & bug sprays, umbrellas, & beach bags available for use while we were guests. Geri & her staff are very kind. She was available & willing to answer our questions & made us feel very comfortable. There were just a few things of note that warrant a 4* overall rating. The biggest for me personally was the lack of reliable WiFi throughout the property. In our room (the Key Lime) service was non-existent. It was essentially a black hole in the heart of Key West. Even in the garden, service could be touchy. I had a bit of work to tend to daily during our trip, so this presented a bit of an inconvenience. Rather than working from the privacy of our room, I had to walk from our cottage room to do so in the dining room of the main house. Second was the lack of a TV. While it's nice to unplug, we enjoy watching a bit of TV in the evening & catching the a.m. news. The only available TV was in the main house living room. That being said, we still had a great time. The breakfasts were tasty & made fresh daily. They alternated daily between savory & sweet. And although we weren't usually in for the 5:00 reception, wine & snacks are served, which is such a nice touch. Overall, this is a very nice property. My biggest recommendation would be to install a WiFi extender for the Conch Cottage rooms! :)

We had a delightful time staying at the Mermaid and Alligator! Maura is an excellent hostess and her recommendations were spot on. The rooms were extremely clean and well appointed. We would definitely book again. We had the Bamboo Cottage and the Caribbean Room. It is close to Duval. Be sure to ask about Lola's! That was a special treat.

We had an amazing stay at the Mermaid and the Alligator and Maura was an excellent host. The house was so cute and clean and Maura gave excellent recommendations for meals. It was nestled into the perfect spot, the back patio makes you feel like you are far away from everything but in reality you're just a short walk to all you could need. And to top it off, Maura's breakfast was amazing. Would highly recommend for a stay in Key West.

I've stayed in a few places in Key West and this is by far the best!!!! This place is breathtaking. Upon arrival I was met by Rebecca who showed me around this beautiful B&B and then to my room.I have the pleasure of staying in the house in the Audubon room which had patio doors leading to a private patio and pool area. My room was beyond beautiful, bed was extremely comfortable. I will have to say my favorite part was the bathroom, huge mirror, jacuzzi tub (stopper didn't work, so no tub for me) and open shower (my favorite part). Breakfast was served first thing in the morning (7:30-10:30 I believe) by Dean (a great guy and chef). They have several items available arranging from fresh fruit, cereal, yogurts, bagels, hot breakfast, juice and coffee all on the deck. Sunday morning breakfast was prepared by Dean himself, I was served breakfast quiche topped with sour cream and salsa, bagel and fresh strawberries. Yummy yummy!!! Afternoon lemonade on deck around 3 and wine at 5pm all on deck as well. Beautiful landscape, private pool with hot tub jets... Such a tranquility experience. I couldn't ask for a better night stay. I recommend this place to everyone and will definitely stay again. Thanks so much Dean and Rebecca for everything for my weekend stay.

Really enjoyed our one night stay! The level of detail behind every aspect - from decorations, welcome binders, menus for nearby restaurants and a ton of other little things is unmatched by any establishment I've ever stayed in. Paul was nice enough to let us know about a great restaurant nearby which we stopped by for some takeout - a great recommendation! For breakfast we enjoyed muffins, fruit, waffles and coffee before heading out. My wife was so impressed she started talking about running her own B&B. I told her that level of service is not an easy feat to replicate.

We stayed at this beautiful inn almost a year ago. As is often the case, we get back from vacation and immediately get pulled into work. I have been holding on to the email thanking us for our stay for many months because I wanted to sit down and write a review to thank the innkeepers and staff for a wonderful trip. Finally have some time to do that, and can't wait to tell you about this perfect place! The Mermaid & The Alligator is great for couples. Most of the other guests appeared to be couples of varying ages. It is also perfectly fine for kids and would probably be fun for a friends stay too. We enjoyed our meals and snacks at the Inn and never thought to venture elsewhere for breakfast (though there are some great breakfast spots on Key West). The staff did a great job with helping us figure out what we wanted to do during our trip and ensuring we had scheduled everything well in advance. I highly recommend the sunset kayak nature excursion if you can paddle an oar. It was not a lot of paddling but we were treated to beautiful pelicans, a gorgeous sunset in Cow Bay, and a fun time exploring the mangroves and seeing bioluminescent algae. We wouldn't have discovered this unique highlight of our trip without the concierge's help. We slept great in our nicely appointed room, enjoyed our little deck space in the afternoons, and found the location convenient for us to walk most anywhere we wanted to go. We'd like that the immediate area around the Inn was residential and quiet, but that we could also walk to more of the bars and nightlife of the island easily. We are city dwellers and in our 30s, so the distance was very doable for us, but I did see other guests opt for bicycles or cabs to certain areas of the island. It depends on your goals. We had a great stay at The Mermaid and The Alligator and I wish we could be there right now!

All I can is, WOW! Just came back from our first stay there, and we've decided we will never be staying anywhere else in Key West. Rebecca is the kindest soul who welcomes you upon arrival giving you a tour of the premises. Cookies and lemonade are served at 3 pm, along with wine and cheese & crackers at 5. Everywhere you go, there is a pleasant scent to be smelled and sight to be seen. All of the staff is so friendly and accommodating. The hot dish served for breakfast is always homemade and scrumptious. It was our first visit, but certainly not our last. We love the mermaid & the alligator!!

We stayed here for four nights a week ago. I can't recommend a B&B more highly. The accommodations were wonderful and the gardens gorgeous. The staff took good care of us! They were most friendly and helped us with finding restaurants and making reservations. Also suggested good activities and things to do in Key West. The breakfasts were filling and delicious. A great way to start each day. We also enjoyed meeting some of the other guests. This is how a great B&B vacation should be!

This is what happens when a corporation buys a B&B. 3 star service at 5 star prices. Breakfast was beyond disappointing, far below Select Registry standards. Odd choice of shower without partitions or doors ensured that the entire bathroom was constantly soaked and gross. Our "premium" room backed up to the office and had paper thin walls, ensuring we heard every word at all times, morning, afternoon and night (including the answering machine). The property is still beautiful, but find a place in KW that is still privately owned and run properly.

This place is very special to me, and holds a small spot in my heart somewhere. Not only was this my first Bed & Breakfast, it was also part of my stay for our honeymoon. It far exceeded all my expectations of a bed and breakfast and I loved every bit of this place. I can't wait to go back for an improptu, no reason at all, vacation to Key West during the Off-Season (NOT spring break) when prices here will be more affordable. The best of this B&B: 1. Their beautiful two black retreivers roaming around (not for the allergic) and are so well-behaved. They can't enter rooms and can't leave the premises, don't bark, etc. Made me want to go home and sign my pup up for training courses. 2. The breakfast was delicious. Who in there right minds would say it was mediocre? Homemade fresh quiche in two flavors: broccoli and mushroom on one day - perfect creamy blend that I definitely can't make at my home. Another day was french toast that smelled soo good it literally pulled me out of bed. Extremely vegetarian friendly. These items are a sit-down meal - so maybe the past reviewers didn't realize this? The other items like cereal, yogurts, and fruit are at the bar and self-serve. 3. The room! We stayed in the Audobon Suite which was so beautifully decorated I couldn't help and wonder about taking an Interior Design course. Who knew that zebra print went so well with florals, and a blue lamp could make the bedspread pop! LOL 4. Huge bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. The cleanliness was immaculate - a huge pet peeve of mine, worrying about nastiness on vacations, nothing to worry about here! 5. Mini heated pool - somewhere between a jacuzzi and a pool, with the infamous Mermaid & Alligator love story kissing statue behind. It was a very nice environment to get away from the Spring Break craziness and relax at the pool area. 6. The owners Dean & Paul were very nice and they even include a guestbook in the room of suggestions and locals favorites - we made a point to visit MANY of these places, and through conversations with them even found more places to go. 7. The common rooms are also greatly decorated and warm & cozy. They have a kitchen area stocked with beverages for guests. A cozy study room with a computer available, a living room to lounge. And the pool area has lemonade time at 3pm and a wine & snack happy hour at 5pm. As you can see, the positives far outweigh any negatives here (such as the prices, but you definitely get what you pay for), and the small room sizes and thin walls (the pictures make them seem bigger but you have to keep in mind it is a HISTORICAL building of Key West, they do the best they can with this renovated home). I 1000 times recommend this place, I even showed our room to some visiting family members and I could tell they were a bit jealous at our cutesy B&B compared to theirs!

I literally cannot say enough good about this wonderful establishment. We stayed in the Sun Room for my mom's 50th birthday and had the absolute time of our lives! The decor of the entire place is beyond words and gave me more inspiration than I know what to do with! The room itself was a bit small but the private balcony was like a second room so we didn't have any trouble with the size. The bathroom was nice a big - any woman's must-have! The staff is incredibly and genuinely friendly and willing to help you with anything. The owners are fantastic. The cleanliness of this place is one of the highlights. We could not find a speck of dust in our room! Everything smelled wonderful and it felt like we were the first guests ever to stay there One of the best parts are the two flat coated retrievers who "run" the place, Havana and Caya! They are two of the best behaved, most friendly and most beautiful dogs I have ever met! When we came home we talked more about them than the rest of the trip, haha! They serve a complimentary breakfast in the morning (and not like a continental breakfast, but a sit-down, homemade breakfast) which is the perfect way to start the day. (That was another one of our favorite parts) The glass of wine at sunset under the canopy is another moment of actual perfection this establishment has created. And the grounds are UNSPEAKABLY beautiful! Every detail has been thought out and executed perfectly. It was just a fabulous, fabulous stay. The only people I would not recommend to stay here are people looking for a party. The Mermaid and the Alligator is a quiet, laid back, beautiful, friendly paradise and I cannot wait to return!

We stayed in the garden room and it was fantastic!! You are served a delicious breakfast every morning with your choice of orange or cranberry juice, a fresh baked muffin, a piece of fruit, and the breakfast entree of the day!! Their breakfast is delicious! We had a variety of a different breakfast dishes every morning! The also have fresh lemonade and cookies at 3, and wine, cheese, and crackers at 5. You're given your own key to your room as well as the outside doors to get into the home so you're able to come In any time of the evening or night. Your room is cleaned daily as well as having your bed made. They offer a guest fridge you can put any leftovers or wine in you would like. They have an incredible small heated pool/hot tub that's amazing to soak in. You're also off of Duval St. enough where you don't get a whole lot of traffic or loud noises. I can't imagine staying any where else while down in the Keys.

We stayed in the Caribbean Queen room and loved every minute of our stay. First and most importantly, Geri was outstanding through every aspect of the trip. She provided consistently awesome advice for things to do, restaurants, and general advice for the area. She also was a gracious hostess and made us delicious breakfast! The room itself was full of interesting decor, was immaculate, and had a great front porch that allowed us to relax and check out the street below. I would absolutely recommend this B and B, and we will be back the next time we are in the area

As a Pilot and long time flight attendant , my boyfriend and I have spent MANY nights in hotels. This was hands down the nicest lodging experience we have ever had. From the downstairs fridge stocked with refreshments , to the fabulous banana pancakes, this is a "must " if you are heading to Key West.

I have not only stayed in a number of B&Bs but I have worked in one when I was in college. The Mermaid and The Alligator is by far the best! They have thought of everything and have put a tremendous effort into the littlest details. Their grounds and pool are beautiful and the breakfast was excellent in my opinion!

My wife and I stayed here as a one night getaway back in September 2013. My parents had recommended it as a nice place to stay, and I must say that we were not disappointed. The folks who received us when we arrived were wonderful, and even got us last-minute reservations at Latitudes, which is a very nice restaurant on Sunset Key with great views and great food. Our room was huge, with its own balcony, and very comfortable. Our breakfast on the following day was cooked by the owners, who are a hospitable couple - it was delicious. We were so sad to leave, but alas, will definitely be back for a longer escape in the (hopefully) not-too-distant future!

Our first B&B experience and WOW! The staff was very helpful and welcoming. We stayed in the TreeTop and the Audubon suites, both were awesome! Home-made hot breakfast in the mornings, afternoon snacks, sunset wine, and cookies at midnight! If you are thinking of staying here...Book It! I wouldn't stay anywhere else in Key West! It's everything the reviews say. My suggestion is to have rental bikes waiting upon your arrival, it's a 5 min ride to all the attractions! We didn't have to drive the car one time the 3 days we were staying at The Mermaid.

What a terrific place. I love the gardens, the amazing breakfast, the quaint cottage (Bamboo Room), and of course the attention to detail which was evident all around. They've truly thought of everything here. I felt like royalty and really wanted for nothing. The true Gem of Key West.

We had a wonderful 5 night stay here and it was perfect! We stayed in the Lime room which is one of the smaller rooms but we loved it. It was very private with a great little porch. The service was excellent and it was one of the cleanest places I've ever stayed. The courtyard is beautiful and so relaxing. The breakfast every morning was great with beverages and snacks available thru out the day. We had a very relaxing stay in Key West but we did take a sunset cruise recommended by Gerri on the Hindu sailboat and it was perfect. I can't recommend this little beautiful inn enough. We are talking about a return trip just so we can stay here again! And the sweet dog helps when you are missing your own dogs!

I cannot recommend this place enough. I have told everyone I know about it - and even people I don't know. THIS is what all B&B establishments should strive for as a level of excellence, customer service, and comfort. You are welcomed into a friend's home, is how I would describe it. Each room is unique (some bigger than others), but all rooms are quite comfortable. The grounds are luscious, luxurious, and made me WANT to stay in and not go out to enjoy the rest of the island! So, several days we just got lunch to go from somewhere local and popped back to the M&A to have lunch in the garden. Utterly pleasant. They provide everything. Heated pool, with towels. Wine and cookies in the evening. Breakfast in the morning. A fridge with soda and bottled water at all times. Towels for you to take to the beach. Sunscreen. Directions, suggestions, reservations....they have it all. Rebecca is an amazing resource - USE HER. She knows the island well, and can arrange things quickly because everyone knows her! Dean and Paul really made me feel like I was a guest in their home and were always happy to chat, see how our day went, offer suggestions...and take suggestions from us if we discovered something they didn't know! OK, I'll end my review, because I could talk for days about this place. Just stop looking and book here. For the price, location, hospitality, amenities...you WILL NOT FIND BETTER on this island.

My wife and I returned to Key West for the first time since 1979. We wanted a special experience and we weren't disappointed. We felt welcomed and comfortable. The M&A is lush and sophisticated yet still somehow warm and accessible. If you're going to Key West, stay here if you can. We loved it.

Don't get caught in the rain! We checked in on Wednesday and unfortunately tropical storm Alberto checked in on Friday, so we had to cut our trip short. So we asked the manager for a credit on the 2 nights we would not be useing and had already paid for and was smugly told that I should have taken out trip insurance. As the rain started outside it also started to rain inside in the kitchen so buckets were put out to catch the rain. I was also told that they were booked through next week and if our original flight was canceled we would not have a room to stay in, all flights were canceled throughout the weekend so it's a good thing we left on Friday. Worst customer service I have encountered in the Keys..

The absolute BEST bed & breakfast in Key West. Super nice staff, quality place. Would go back again and again.

Before booking your stay at the Mermaid and Alligator, pay special attention to the cancellation policy. There are only two ways to get a refund for your reservation deposit as well as not be charged for your ENTIRE stay if you end up having to cancel your trip. They require two weeks notice, absolutely no exceptions. The only other way they will refund is if the island is under a mandatory evacuation. Either get yourself some travel insurance or pick a hotel that has a more customer friendly cancellation policy. I booked without travel insurance and ended up having to pay for three nights at the M&A because I had to cancel my trip due to the poor weather that unfortunately came in a couple days beforehand. Since this unfortunate experience, I have done some research and found other options for lodging that will allow you to cancel closer than 14 days out and still get a refund. I am now out $900, and they did not even issue any kind of apology. My mistake, I will definitely book elsewhere next time. :(

Amazing stay earlier this month. Staff goes above and beyond to fulfill your every need. Beautiful house and grounds. Back yard is like walking into a tropical paradise. Made us restaurant reservations at a restaurant that had just told me they did not take reservations. We left early the last day, and they had a to go breakfast ready when we left. Would stay here again in a heartbeat.

This was our first time in Key West and we could not have picked a better place to stay! First, the accommodations are gorgeous- we ended up staying in two rooms during our trip on our own accord which the staff was more than helpful with. Second, the concierge. Christine and Paris were our concierge and they were both SO helpful making recommendations and reservations for us and resolving any issues.There were many unexpected pleasures- an outdoor shower, guest mini fridge stocked with beverages, sunscreen/bug spray, beach towels + umbrellas that you could take with you. We enjoyed the hot breakfast every morning and getting to know the other guests in the house.

This is a Grade A Place! The Staff Is amazing, so very helpful. It is a Great place you can ESCAPE to.

So charming! We had a wonderful time here. Service was fantastic! We loved the location too.

I recently stayed at this B & B and had a horrible experience. Yes, the grounds are beautiful, but the staff was very rude and the room we stayed in was so noisy, you couldn't sleep a wink. The office is next to it and the walls are paper thin. The owners of the place made you feel like you were intruders in their home and were not polite or friendly in the least. On the cab to the airport the driver told us that they are know around town for arrogance and unfriendliness. They should really learn to make their guests feel at home if they own a B & B. I would suggest the Popular House - the women who owns it is much more friendly.

My wife and I just returned from our 10th Anniversary in Key West. This place was highly recommended by a co-worker, and I have to say they delivered. Initially the website said they were booked solid, so I sent an e-mail on a whim asking to be wait listed. Two hours later I had reservations in the Tree Top Suite following a brief e-mail exchange. This is by far the nicest place I have stayed, eclipsing the Four Seasons at TRIPLE the cost. The grounds are beautiful, the rooms are beautiful, the entire place is just beautiful. We enjoyed the casual atmosphere, and it is within walking distance of everything in Key West. The breakfast was always fantastic as well. Without question, The Mermaid and the Alligator has ruined us on any other B&B. I can't see how anything could be better.

Beware, this Bed and breakfast will ruin all other B&Bs for you. My husband and I stayed her in November 2012 and I can't believe I haven't written a review yet. Every time we stay at a different establishment we compare it to The Mermaid and the Alligator and they always pale in comparison. The owners are incredibly helpful and friendly, the food is amazing the grounds are beautiful, the pool is heated and the coffee is to die for. What really puts this place over the top is all the small touches, cookies when you get home from drinking, a lovely happy hour, and a continental breakfast while you wait for your hot breakfast. I can't say enough about this place, it's definitely a must!

This is our second time staying at the Mermaid & the Alligator. Once we stayed in the cottage and once in the main house. It is simply an oasis in the middle of the city. When you are in the garden, you could forget you are so close to downtown. The location is perfect; easy walk to everything. The hosts are incredible. The booked excursions, dinners and even got a scooter delivered to us! The breakfast is always delicious and the room is impeccably cleaned each day. We love this place!!! We will be back.

I love going to Key West and most of the time we stay with a friend on a boat or camp. BUT in June 2012 we decided to live it up and try a B&B. BEST DECISION EVER. Mermaid & Alligator is worth every penny. We made it back for a second time in August 2013 and we love every minute there. Very relaxed and beautiful environment. It is a paradise within a paradise. Birds are chirping in a secluded garden and there's a hammock and small pool to lounge in. The hosts are friendly and accommodating. Their dogs are so well behaved and trained; they'll keep you smiling your entire stay. The breakfast was very good, too. We had homemade waffles with strawberries and their French Toast is very good, too! Yum! It's a short walk to the main street where all the shops are, so it's far enough from the noise but close enough to the fun.

We stayed at the Mermaid and the Alligator (or as the cab drivers call it, The MermaGator) for a week at the end of July. Dean, Paul and Rebecca were fantastic and very welcoming. They had great pointers for things to do/see/eat while in Key West. The dogs were also very friendly as to be expected, just be sure to heed the warning at breakfast not to feed the "Muffin Monsters" although they don't seem to beg nearly as much as you would think. We stayed in the Bamboo room was was absolutely wonderful. We had plenty of room for our entire stay although we heard some of the other rooms weren't quite as large. The decorations and landscaping throughout the property is absolutely fantastic and makes you feel like you're walking through a lush tropical rainforest. The property isn't huge, but that is very welcome as it's not busy like a hotel usually is. The property is also pretty centrally located so everything is definitely within walking distance, although it was very hot and humid while we were there so we occasionally took a cab especially before nice dinners. If you happen to forget something, chances are they'll have it. They had extra sun screen, after sun aloe, bug spray, even other little toiletries. Delicious breakfast served in the morning (their fritatta had to have been my favorite), lemonade and the occasional bread/cake in the afternoon, and wine at night. The pool is heated but wasn't during our stay for obvious reasons. It stays rather cool without the heater as it's in the shade pretty much all day. It's also a decent size for relaxing. It's not cheap, but it was WELL worth every cent just for how relaxing, comfortable, and well maintained the property is. We stayed in the Bamboo room which is in a separate cottage off of the main house. There are two smaller attached rooms in the cottage but we never once heard our neighbors. The Bamboo room was very roomy for two people.

My wife & I stayed at the Mermaid & The Alligator on a visit to Key West a couple years ago. We absolutely loved our time at this Bed & Breakfast. We had a little cottage on the grounds, apart from the main house, so we felt complete privacy like we owned our own cottage on this lovely property. There's a small pool on the grounds and a hammock that we made use of while listening to the winds blowing through the palm trees. The staff is very friendly and helpful in directing to great restaurants (Seven Fish & Good Life) and were great in setting up a couples massage on the grounds during our stay. We loved our stay and the proximity to everything in Key West and look forward to returning in the future.

This was quite simply an amazing place. I really don't see how a bed and breakfast could have offered a better experience. We came in late, but they made sure to have a welcome letter with all the instructions we needed for getting settled. We ended up in two rooms, first the Bamboo which is in an old carriage house and then the Sun room upstairs. Both were lovely. No television, but I consider that a plus! Each room was lovingly decorated. The garden was gorgeous with lots of little nooks and crannies. You felt you were in a botanical garden. Breakfast was tasty each morning with lots of yogurt and muffins and a hot dish that varied each day. Becca the concierge was extremely helpful with ideas for what to do and offered to arrange a lot of stuff for us and Paul and Dean were very nice as well. I look forward to coming here on our next trip to Key West.

Loved it! We had a little bungalow room and it was perfect. The courtyard is very private and relaxing.

My second trip to the Mermaid and the Alligator and it was so good we have already rebooked for next year.I think that says it all.This place is perfect for location,cleanliness,friendiness,and help in many ways in planning your trip in a very non-intrusive way.The owners and the staff were there to help and answer question and made reservations and suggestions .Thanks again Dean,Rebecca,Geri and the dogs for making our vacation perfect.

Our week-long stay at The Mermaid and The Alligator could not have been more pleasant. The beautiful old house is immaculate and the inner gardens provide a calming, peaceful sanctuary from the traffic and the "uniqueness" that is Duval Street. Paul, Dean, Geri and Rebecca all in turn, make sure that you have everything you need to provide a most comfortable stay. Even Caya, the resident beautiful flat-coated retreiver made sure that everyone received equal attention and play time. Breakfast was delicious (homemade muffins, quiche, frittata, pancakes, waffles) - every morning something different. Coffee was always ready and waiting for the early morning risers. Mid-afternoon lemonade and wine at 5:00 rounded out the days. When asked in town where we were staying, the response was always "that's a great place", or "we stayed there, it's wonderful". Would definitely stay again.

This was our first experience at a B&B, and I honestly don't think we could stay at a different one because the bar is set so high! From the moment we checked in we felt instantly welcomed. They've thought of EVERYTHING that you might need/want, and they know where all the great places are! Want to jet ski? They'll make your reservation! Looking for a great place to dine? Take a look at the menu book. Forgot some travel essentials? They've got a basket full of toiletries and things you might need. The pool area/patio is breathtaking and the rooms are five star quality. We stayed in the Audubon room and the Treetop Suite, both of which are magnificent. The breakfast in the morning is delicious with fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, warm MUFFINS (!!!!), and the hot entree of the day. I love that they offer things throughout the day, such as wine at 5pm and cookies at midnight. I honestly don't know what could have made our stay more perfect. Ahh and the dogs are so cute! It's great to play with them, especially when you're missing your pup back home. Tip: Have them get bikes for you right when you get there. It's the best way to get around Key West and the company they deal with has great prices and will drop them off/pick them up at the B&B. I can't wait to be back!!

Fantastic, Wonderful, Beautiful.....Perfect. This is an amazing sanctuary, the gardens are spectacular, the home is just lovely and the customer service is stellar. We stayed in the Caribbean Queen suite, the porch overlooking Truman Ave. was wonderful. We stayed there February 2015 for 4 nights and every breakfast was wonderful. We were traveling with a Seeing Eye Dog and this was the perfect place...even the dog of the house "Caya", was friendly and charming. We highly recommend this B&B and can't want to visit there again. All of the staff were wonderful, a special shout out to Dean and Jerry. Stop looking for B&B's and book this one before they fill up :)

I've stayed in many high-end hotels, and this was my first B&B I tried. I seriously can't compare any hotel to this topical oasis. Such a beautiful accommodation, great staff, and very relaxing. I would stay at this B&B over any 5 star hotel. Stay here, you will thank me later.

Wonderful accommodations -- we stayed in the Audubon room which was very code with direct access to the gardens. On the main floor. We enjoyed the gardens several afternoons//evenings before and after dinner. The little pool was nice too - warm enough to hang out in to relax, cool enough to feel refreshed. The hot breakfast dishes were tasty, the cappaccino muffins amazing. We'd definitely stay again - Rebecca, Gerri, Paul, and Dean run a top notch B&B.

This was our first trip to Key West and we were looking for a romantic way to do it. We searched online and found The Mermaid & The Alligator amongst the numerous B&B's. The price, location, and amenities met our needs and we booked it online. We arrived approximately an hour early and were welcomed in as part of the family. We were given a tour of the house and grounds; and then ideas on where things were such as good restaurants and attractions. From that point on we truly enjoyed every minute we were there. The staff was attentive and very helpful, including making reservations and insuring our stay was excellent. The garden was beautiful and a great way to take in breakfast each morning; which alternated between savory and sweet. The garden also provided a location for us to store our bikes (we highly recommend renting or bringing your own, as we parked the car and used our bikes to get around everywhere). The accommodations in our room were comfortable and private. I could keep going on about everything we liked about this B&B; however, you'll have to just book your own stay to find out the rest.

We checked in on May 23rd for an anniversary celebration. The place was just beautiful and we were already planning to return. On the evening of May 24th the first storm of the season became Alberto. By the morning of the 25th the streets were flooding, the kitchen of the inn was leaking into a bucket in the middle of the floor and the news of the storm was scary. We were lucky enough to get on the last two seats on the only flight to NJ that day. All flights including ours were canceled for the next two days. We would have been stuck. As we were leaving the island we called all planned and previously paid for activities and rentals. We were issued full refunds on everything else. We paid for four nights at the inn. Were there for only two. We asked the Mgr. to give us a credit for at least one of the nights that we could use to return for another long weekend in August. ( during their slow season) Her response was that we were choosing to leave and after just being at a seminar on how to handle this situation she told us to get trip insurance for next time. When I asked about the ability for us to remain in our rooms if the airport closed(which it did for two days) she informed us that we probably wouldn't have anyplace to stay. With that we called a cab and left in the middle of the storm with a terrible feeling about the place. We will definitely return to key west to finish our anniversary celebration. We will definitely NOT be returning to this place.