Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina

You are choosing an island resort rather than a conventional hotel here: Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina combines rental campers with a marina, a protected lagoon beach and plenty of room to spread out. It suits divers and other water-minded travellers who would rather have a kitchenette and outdoor space than a formal lobby and a room-service menu.

The tone is relaxed and activity-led. You can spend the morning on the water, cool off in the pool, then settle under the outdoor pavilion or beside your own dining area. The resort's website is available in English and French, useful when planning your stay, although no hotel staff languages are listed.

This is also a workable choice for families, groups and guests travelling with pets in the permitted accommodation. The resort welcomes children, provides a playground and organises family activities, while selected rentals accept pets on request.

The address is on Overseas Highway in Big Pine Key, Florida, directly on the ocean and within the Florida Keys. The resort occupies an island setting with waterfront sites, a protected lagoon beach and its own swimming and fishing pier, so the water is part of the layout rather than something you reach by crossing town.

Sandspur Beach is about a seven-minute walk away. Bahia Honda State Park is roughly 2 miles from the resort, with Bahia Honda itself around 3 miles away; Loggerhead Beach and Calusa Beach are about 2 and 2.5 miles away by car respectively. Seven Mile Bridge is around 8 miles away, while the Blue Hole Observation Platform is about 11 miles away.

You will want a car for eating out and for exploring the Keys. Island Deli and Florida Keys Cafe are about 7 miles away, No Name Pub around 10 miles away, and the nearest named coffee options are roughly 8 to 9 miles away.

The accommodation is made up of holiday campers rather than standard hotel rooms. That matters when you come back hungry, sun-tired and carrying the day's damp clothes: the kitchenette gives you a refrigerator, microwave, hob, oven, toaster and dining table, while the separate dining area means you do not have to eat every meal perched on the edge of the bed.

Air conditioning will be welcome in the Florida heat, and each rental has a private bathroom with a shower, towels and linen. A flat-screen TV and fireplace cover the evening when you have had enough of the water for one day. The accommodation is non-smoking.

For two people, the one-bedroom camper keeps things straightforward. If you are travelling with family or friends, a two-bedroom option gives everyone a little more separation; the pet-friendly version is the one to consider when bringing an animal. There are no cots or extra beds, so plan around the beds already provided rather than expecting the usual hotel workaround.

The resort gives you an easy landing place between outings. There is an outdoor swimming pool open throughout the year, a hot tub and sun loungers, with the lagoon beach, umbrellas, outdoor seating and pavilion close at hand. If your legs have had enough of fins and ladders, the hot tub is the obvious piece of kit; nobody needs a timetable for sitting down.

On the water, the resort offers kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing, with equipment rental and marina services on site. The pier is set up for swimming and fishing, so you can keep the afternoon simple rather than turning every free hour into another excursion.

There is more for active non-divers: tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, billiards and a games room. Planned activities can include water aerobics, exercise classes, dancing, bingo, card games, creative arts and crafts, outdoor films and sightseeing. The children's playground and family activities make the resort suitable for mixed-age groups, while couples can simply take a lounger and let the schedule pass by.

Rental accommodation has check-in from 4 pm to 8 pm, with check-out by 11 am. You need to be at least 18 to check in, and a photo ID and credit card are required on arrival. Cash is not accepted at check-in. Children are welcome, but there are no cots or extra beds.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation required. Laundry facilities, a store and a marina and bait shop are also available, which is handy for a longer stay or a day spent fishing. The resort operates year-round, and online check-in is available.

Florida Keys Marathon Airport is about 12 miles away, while Key West International Airport is around 35 miles away by road. The resort sits directly on Overseas Highway, and an airport transfer service is not listed, so arranging your own transport is the practical approach. Pets are accepted in specified rentals on request, and smoking is not permitted inside the rentals.