Anchorage Resort

Anchorage Resort is a small waterfront base for a Florida Keys stay built around space, independence and the marina. Its 30 one-bedroom suites have been welcoming short-stay guests and timeshare owners since 1983, giving the place a more residential feel than a conventional hotel. You come here to slow the pace down, keep your own timetable and have somewhere practical to return to between excursions, fishing trips and time on the water.

The tone is deliberately straightforward. Your suite gives you room to spread out, cook when you feel like it and sit outside with the water in view. If your ideal evening involves a cold drink, a balcony and no need to dress for dinner, the arrangement makes good sense.

The resort stands at 107800 Overseas Highway in Jewfish, Florida, on the waterfront of Jewfish Creek overlooking Blackwater Sound. It sits beside the bridge into Key Largo, directly across from Gilbert's Resort & Marina, with mangrove forest forming part of the setting. The location puts you on the road rather than in a town centre, so having a car is useful for getting around the Keys.

The immediate area gives you several ways to fill a non-diving day. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is about 1.5 miles away, while Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is also about 1.5 miles away. Biscayne National Park is nearby, and Everglades National Park is about a 37-minute drive from the resort.

Food is within reach by car. Blackwater Siren is about 250 feet away, with Buzzard's Roost Grill & Pub roughly 1.5 miles away and Shipwreck's Bar and Grill about 1.5 miles away. The resort also sits next to a marina, with slips available for rent if you are exploring the Keys by boat.

The one-bedroom suite is the main proposition here, and it suits divers who prefer a proper base rather than a room with just enough floor space for a suitcase. You have a separate sleeping area, a sofa bed and a living space with seating and dining areas, making it workable for a couple who want room to decompress or for a small group sharing without having to live on top of one another.

The full kitchen is the practical feature that earns its keep. A refrigerator, hob, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, coffee machine and kitchenware let you sort out breakfast, prepare something simple after a long day outside or keep supplies close at hand. There is also a tumble dryer, which is useful in a humid climate when you want ordinary clothes ready for the next morning.

For the night itself, air conditioning, a fan, tiled or marble flooring and a private entrance keep things functional in the Florida heat. The suite includes a king-size bed, sofa bed and a fold-up bed, while the private bathroom has a bath or shower, spa bath, hairdryer and towels. Views may run towards the sea, pool or garden, and the private balcony gives you somewhere to sit outside rather than treating the room as a place only to sleep. Two flat-screen cable televisions, free WiFi and an alarm clock cover the less glamorous but useful details.

This is a self-catering set-up rather than a hotel built around a dining room. Your suite's kitchen and dining area give you control over breakfast, packed food and the post-water meal, which is often exactly what a diver wants when hunger arrives on its own schedule. Coffee facilities help with the early start; the refrigerator helps with everything that should stay cold until you get back.

For an evening away from the hob, Blackwater Siren is about 250 feet from the resort, close enough to avoid turning dinner into an expedition. Buzzard's Roost Grill & Pub and Shipwreck's Bar and Grill are both about 1.5 miles away. A drinks vending machine is available on site, while the outdoor dining area, patio, picnic area and barbecue facilities let you eat outside when the Keys weather is behaving itself.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to cool down without organising another outing. Pool and beach towels, sun loungers, beach chairs and umbrellas make it possible to claim a patch of shade and let the day become pleasantly unproductive. The terrace, sun terrace and garden add more places to sit, with the waterfront and mangroves doing the visual work without needing a timetable.

For a little movement, there is a tennis court with tennis equipment, along with badminton equipment. Fishing is available, and the marina gives the resort a natural connection with boat-based outings. Snorkelling and boat excursions are part of the Key Largo offering, while the resort can also arrange or support excursions to places such as Robbie's of Islamorada, Bahia Honda State Park, Key West and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Couples can keep the day simple: swim, sit on the balcony, wander out for dinner and return to a suite with enough space for both of you to stop being sociable. Families also have room to spread out, with board games and puzzles available for quieter stretches indoors.

Miami Executive Airport is about 35 miles away by road, with Miami International Airport roughly 50 miles away. Private parking is available on site, with one car allowed per accommodation, and an electric vehicle charging station is available. Free WiFi covers the resort, and a concierge service is available for practical help during your stay.

Arrival and departure windows need checking before you travel: the stated arrival times run from 14:00 or 16:00 until midnight, while departure is listed at either 10:00 or 12:00 depending on the booking conditions. Guests arriving outside reception hours should contact the resort in advance. You will need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the minimum age for check-in is 21.

Daily housekeeping is available as an additional service, and laundry facilities are available for guests. Children of all ages are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to availability. The resort is non-smoking, and pets are not allowed. A lift serves the upper floors, and the entire unit is wheelchair accessible.