We have nothing bad to say about our stay at Island Bay - and we will be back. We stayed for three nights, and our first day there Carol, the owner was more than helpful in pointing us in the right direction on where to eat, things to do, and more. The gracious room even had a kitchenette, plus we had a grill on our private patio to use. (Which saved us spending money to go out to eat for every meal during our trip) It's a 10 minute drive from the famous Pennekamp State Park for snorkeling, a few minutes away from one of two major grocery stores, and oh...the BEACH. They have their own private beach and because IBR is small, it wasn't crowded at all. Most times, we were the only two people on the beach (granted, it wasn't high season yet) and it's located on the Bayside of Tavernier. Carol and the other lady she had working the front desk were more than gracious hosts, and I think we also met the other owner, Mike, Carol's husband, before they went out fishing. Super nice people, quiet, very clean rooms, and still far less than most of the other places we were looking at. Plus, they're considered eco-friendly lodging, which was a huge plus in my book. There weren't any small children there but I'm sure they'd acommodate families. They had a couple of kayaks we were able to use for free (after signing a waiver) and took out to some nearby mangroves in the Bay, which was absolutely beautiful. My mom even tried to book a room there for her next vacation but they were already booked that week, so PLAN AHEAD but definitely stay at IBR. Very Keys-ey with the decor and atmosphere, beautiful beach, and friendly folks. We will be back. :)

Charming cottages - we stayed in #5 and #6 (larger, with separate sitting room). They were spotless, whimsically decorated with local flavor, and homey, with nice updates like a flat-screen TV and wireless internet service.

Delightful hosts Mike and Carol are experienced divers, know the local operators, and have created a dive-friendly hotel that is also perfect for families or couples enjoying other aspects of the Keys. It was an easy 15-minute drive to Ocean Divers/Scuba-Do and other operations in Key Largo. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Sanctuary is almost next door and worth a look, especially with kids.

Be sure to budget some time just to hang out in the hammock admiring the ocean from their private, immaculately-groomed beach. The only thing missing was hammock-side cocktail service, but the kitchen made it easy to whip up a little something to hold us over til after the gorgeous sunset. When it's time for dinner, the Key Largo Conch House has wonderful fresh fish and a key lime pie not to be missed.

We loved staying here. It was everything we were looking for. We didn't want the big hotel, we were looking for a true get away with the flavor of the Keys. The pictures on their website represent well the beautiful resort they have. They were so friendly and help with sharing their recommendations for the area. We can't wait to come back again!

Island Bay is a great place to stay. We were there for a week in Dec. and enjoyed it very much. Mike & Carol are very nice and Knowledgeable about the area. The cottages are very cozy and the grounds are beautifully kept. We travel alot, from basic to deluxe and you would be hard pressed to find a better value. I can't think of much that we didn't like (pillows need upgrading) about Island Bay. We will certainly go back and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to friends.