The first time I went to the Keys was in 1971 and have been there probably 15 or 20 more times as far as where to stay cheaply you should do what we've done. Get your parents to retire there. They live on Ramrod Key mm 27.5 Some of our favorite places are No Name Pub for pizza the Looe Key reef resort tiki bar (at the end of my parents street) and El Siboney in Key West for a great Cuban meal Also catch the Cat Man at Mallory Square my daughter was in his trained cat show when she was about 8 and loved it