The Moorings Village

"While some travelers live for the joy of meeting fellow jet-setters when they go anywhere, others prefer to exist in seclusion. Guests of The Moorings Village fall into that latter category. Though it’s located on an 18-acre stretch of waterfront land, the resort only has eight private stand-alone villas, which truly makes it feel like you’ve got the place to yourself. (Not to mention the added privacy provided by more than 800 coconut palms, which works out to about 42.1 trees per villa.) With in-room perks like ocean views, porches with hammocks, king-size beds covered in pillows, and galley kitchens, we wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to leave. Throw in a private beach, complimentary bicycles, and on-site kayaks, and The Moorings Village really is the next-best option to owning your own oceanfront Keys villa." - Paul Rubio, Nancy DePalma

"How did it strike you on arrival?There’s an odd feeling of calmness that can overcome a guest at The Moorings Village. Though it’s located on an 18-acre stretch of waterfront land, there are only eight private villas, which truly makes it feel like you’ve got the place to yourself. Not to mention the added privacy provided by more than 800 coconut palms, which works out to about 42.1 trees per villa. What’s the crowd like?While some travelers live for the joy of meeting fellow jetsetters when they set off anywhere, others prefer to exist in seclusion. Guests of The Moorings Village fall into that latter category, where they can be the architects of their vacation universe. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Each of The Moorings Village’s eight villas/cottages are different in terms of design, size, and views. Some have ocean views; others look out onto the other villas. Clearly, the former is the better option. A recent stay at the Maroni Villa offered plenty of space (1,000 square feet), ocean views from almost every window, a spacious deck off the master bedroom, a quaint front porch that looked directly onto the water, and a hammock—suspended between two palm trees—for when lazy days came calling. The tastefully decorated cottage was decked out in pleasing tones of tan and green, and offered as much privacy as a private home. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?The king-sized bed added just the right touch of casual elegance to the master bedroom and was covered in pillows of varying sizes, making it easy to construct the perfect headrest. How about the little things, like shower goodies or room tech?While the galley kitchen and washer and dryer were nice additions to the space, the addition of a TV with an Amazon Fire Stick was a pleasant surprise. It’s as if the hotel’s owners are going out of their way to devise ways to make you never want to leave. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.A simple rain shower lent the perfect amount of luxury to the bathroom, without being so over-the-top as to seem out of place. Molton Brown products are yet another classy touch, without changing the laidback vibe of the place. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Free and strong enough to let you stream a movie while you chill in your hammock. What stood out about the staff?Since seclusion is so key to The Moorings experience, the fact that the housekeeping staff manages to clean the villa in the short amount of time guests aren’t there lazing about is miraculous. Anything notable about other services and features?As if the hotel’s private beach weren’t already an envy-inducing amenity, complimentary bicycles and on-site kayaks will have you playing by land or sea. What was most memorable about your stay?Having a standalone structure to yourself allows you to truly relax without having to worry about the people in the rooms beside, below, and above you. Bottom line: Why are we choosing The Moorings Village?If you’re looking for a bit of serenity, and don’t own a private oceanfront Keys villa to find it, this is the next best thing." - Jennifer M. Wood

"Florida-based journalist Nila Do Simon, along with her two young children (then ages three and one) and septuagenarian in-laws, stayed at this collection of private cottages in the Florida Keys in September 2020. “It was a multi-generational trip that had what we all were looking for: a postcard-perfect location to relax and disconnect,” she says. Their three-bedroom cottage sat on a white-sand beach. When they looked out their windows and back door, they were met with “turquoise-blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, more than a dozen twisting palm trees, and a hammock that my daughter couldn't get enough of.” Simon also liked that the cottage was decorated with furnishings and artwork that the owner picked up in his travels to Bhutan, China, and Botswana. “The environment beckoned us to put down our phones and computers and take in the natural setting,” she says. “I even made an audio recording of the soft waves that danced upon the shore, and often listen to it. To this day, it instantly puts me at ease.”" - Ashlea Halpern

"In the tropical Florida Keys, this Islamorada resort provides one-bedroom villas for your own slice of heaven. Book the Honeymoon Cottage or Maroni House for sea views and enjoy the complimentary kayaks and paddle boards, plus a swimming pool long enough to get in some laps." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"A resort built on a former coconut plantation, home to eight private cottages amidst tropical landscaping steps from the Atlantic, with amenities like hammocks, paddleboards, and single-speed beach cruisers." - Travel + Leisure Editors