Florida Keys Camping, any recommendation?

[Kidoo]

Hi, I am looking for a campsite in the Florida Keys for next winter season.

I tried to reserve at Bahia Honda, but people must have some trics, I can never get a spot, maybe I should wake up at night and type in some dates.

[Dog_Folks]

Jfet wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

Yes, you did misunderstand. The $3,000 mentioned was for a 3 bedroom 2 bath rental house, weekly.

$3000 monthly, not weekly

One rental mentioned here was monthly, however the majority of places down there are weekly. That was why I cautioned that against that price, it is suspiciously low.

Here is a link to one of many: Rentals

[Jfet]

Dog Folks wrote:

Yes, you did misunderstand. The $3,000 mentioned was for a 3 bedroom 2 bath rental house, weekly.

$3000 monthly, not weekly

[Dog_Folks]

805gregg wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

805gregg wrote:
Holly******Geiger Key is $140 a night, I'd get a hotel room first

Do you have any idea what hotels there cost? Try $300.00 a night!

It just goes to show there are too many people on the east coast for too little real estate, there by driving up prices. The last time I was at KW it was about $140 at the Travelodge, guess I will go elsewhere in the future

Right. And California does not have inflated land prices? Sure.

[Dog_Folks]

Bigfootchevy wrote:
Unless I am totally misunderstanding this post, it cost over $3000.00 (a week or month) to park your Truck Camper in the winter months in the Florida Keys.

If that's true, then why would people do that???????????????????

Paul

Yes, you did misunderstand. The $3,000 mentioned was for a 3 bedroom 2 bath rental house, weekly.

$2,000 to $2,500 is typical for campground monthly rates.

Why do people do it?

If you love the water, you have never seen anything so beautiful in the U.S.

Snorkeling/Diving there is like swimming in a big aquarium.

Key West is also a unique city. Everyone should experience it at least once.

[Bigfootchevy]

Unless I am totally misunderstanding this post, it cost over $3000.00 (a week or month) to park your Truck Camper in the winter months in the Florida Keys.

If that's true, then why would people do that???????????????????

Paul

[soos]

RV parks are not $150 a night if you book for a month so it's not a fair comparison to the monthly rate of a condo.

about the Zodiac- we discovered that winter in the keys is pretty windy which meant ours didn't get in the water very much.

Sue

[805gregg]

Dog Folks wrote:

805gregg wrote:
Holly******Geiger Key is $140 a night, I'd get a hotel room first

Do you have any idea what hotels there cost? Try $300.00 a night!

It just goes to show there are too many people on the east coast for too little real estate, there by driving up prices. The last time I was at KW it was about $140 at the Travelodge, guess I will go elsewhere in the future

[OVERSIZE_LOAD]

sunshine key resort, hands down. we go every year for Christmas & new years.

[silversand]

Are there any *bad* neighborhoods in the keys?

....some crowded mobile home style parks, but that's about it 🙂

...the winter rates on that VRBO place (nice!) is $3000 per month (+ cleaning, and a few other incidental costs).

[Jfet]

I mean this or something like it doesn't sound too bad:

"Located at the end of a quiet dead end street, the home sits on the corner of 2 canals with over 170 ft of water front. Ample dockage available as well as your private boat ramp to launch small vessels, jet skis, kayaks, zodiacs, etc. Ample room for trailer parking. Bring your own boat or rent one from several nearby brokers."


$1800 to $3000 a month at VRBO

http://www.vrbo.com/402581


Are there any *bad* neighborhoods in the keys?

[silversand]

We are interested in staying in the keys for about 2 months the winter of 2015/2016.

It looks like you can rent a 3bd home by the month for under $3,000 which includes enough room to park the truck and it has a boat dock for our sailboat.

...the most appealing rental places we could find in the Keys were 3 bedroom homes without water view (however, within 200 feet walk of water, with dock privileges tied to the rental house) for a minimum of $3400 per month + tax (in the 12% range).

When you calculate the monthly for a campground site in the $150 per night range x 30 days = $4500 per month. At Sugarloaf Key, the KOA rates (for 16 days) we got quoted was $100 + tax a night ($3000 a month)....and you have to haul (and own an RV) your RV all the way down there and back + $$$$gas. Where camping would make sense, is to luck into a "John Pennekamp State Park" situation (a park I always like to visit) with spacious lots, and beautiful surrounds for a reasonable cost, with the truck camper.

Personally, and IMHO, I would prefer (in the busy winter season, where the State Parks are all booked up a year in advance) to rent a nice quiet stand-alone house with kayaks, canoes and small motorboat included for $3400 a month in the Keys (say, Key Largo region), and drive there in the 23 MPG SUV, rather than be jammed into a sardine can of a commercial campground....and be paying a wheelbarrow load of money for that, um, privilege.

[jspringator]

I know the ramp at Geiger Key was free. I imagine there are a LOT of ramps.

[Dog_Folks]

Kidoo wrote:
Ok, 3000 a week for a rental, 150 a day for camping! And it is probalby even more expensive with a view by the shore line. I think I will change my plans. You can go a lot of nice places for that price, and that does not include fuel to get there.

I like the idea to stay at Homestead and drive down, can even do with the boat in the truck bed.

Anybody know some free boat launching places on the keys?

Probably not a bad idea. Have you ever been there? 95% of the Keys IS a shoreline view. The islands are not usually that wide! LOL:)

When this Floridian visited Vermont , while checking in I asked for a "mountain view." The 80 year old owner that was checking me in replied: "They are all mountain views son. You are in the mountains."

What did I know? I come from Florida where a mountain is defined as an interstate overpass. LOL

[Kidoo]

OOps!

[Kidoo]

Ok, 3000 a week for a rental, 150 a day for camping! And it is probalby even more expensive with a view by the shore line. I think I will change my plans. You can go a lot of nice places for that price, and that does not include fuel to get there.

I like the idea to stay at Homestead and drive down, can even do with the boat in the truck bed.

Anybody know some free boat launching places on the keys?