Stayed here for a week with my wife and 3 children, what a lovely place.... You step out of your straight on the beach WOW, don't know many places that you can do that at only $200 a night!!!! Some on trip advisor moan about the dated rooms but I would say that if they wish to pay twice as much they should go to Tranquility Bay!!! There is a bar next to the beach which is always a bonus.Great place guys thanks and see you again soon.

Clean room, comfortable bed, nice sandy beach and heated pool. It is a good location in the central Keys. It is not "fancy" but a nice little hotel. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There is food and entertainment within walking distance and loads of choices within a 1 hr drive. Sofa bed was not ideal for two teenage girls but was ok. Full kitchen a plus. I would stay there again.

My husband and I had booked a standard ocean-side room for one night here in late November 2011. I was a bit nervous because of the mixed reviews, and then when we arrived, the front desk told us that our room type was being redecorated with new furniture so they would have to give us a different room. But they gave us an ocean-front suite instead, and what a GREAT ROOM for a vacation. King size bed, separate living room with a sofa, bar stools, chairs, and a flat screen tv. The kitchen had a fridge, oven, diswasher, sink, toaster, coffee maker, microwave, and a blender (frozen daiquiris anyone?) Yes it is an older hotel, and the bathroom was a bit small.. but I didn't travel all the way to the Keys to hang out in the bathroom. This place has a relaxed atmosphere that is great for couples or families, and you can just walk ten big steps to the ocean (but wear water shoes because Keys beaches are rocky, and so is the ocean bottom). Granted, the Ocean Beach Club is not high-end, but it is really very nice. If you're looking for pricey, someone at the tiki bar told me the ritzy frou-frou hotel was Hawk's Cay. We thought the Ocean Beach Club was PERFECT for relaxing, sitting outside with a cup of coffee in the morning, listening to the waves hit the beach, taking a late night swim in the fabulously warm pool and/or hot tub, and going next door to the tiki bar & restaurant with wet hair and wearing shorts for a drink and a meal (literally, there is a gate from the pool into the bar/restaurant). The restaurant also has the dock you see in most pictures, but they are happy to let you tote your fishing gear and bait out there and spend all the time you want... they just ask you to clean up after yourself and provide a table to filet your catch, and a hose to wash up. We enjoyed ourselves so much the first night, we called the front desk and ended up staying for three nights instead of one... and we met another couple at the hotel who was doing the same. Not sure why some people have a completely different experience and give this place bad/questionable reviews, but my husband and I are already planning our next trip here and we can't wait to come back!

I rated the Ocean Beach Club poor for several reasons. First, let me start with the good.

The property is one of the few with a real beach. It is very small, rocky, and can have seaweed, which is all typical for beaches in the Keys. However it was pleasant. The pool was heated and looks over the ocean, which is also very nice. Hot tub is large and warm. There were plenty of chairs and tables. The sunset and views are just fantastic.

There is a very nice tiki bar right next door. The drinks were good and inexpensive. The food was fairly good. The people (locals) were all very friendly and pleasant. Key Colony itself is very quiet and relaxing. We had no noise issues.

The woman working the front desk was very pleasant, so I have no issues at all about the management that was there when we stayed. Note also that I did not raise these concerns with her, as we were only there for a couple of days.

Now for the not so good. Apparently for "insurance reasons" -- and I have family in the hotel industry and have never heard of this -- you cannot use any of their facilities until you check in. Once you check out, forget it as well. I've seen other reviews where Ocean Club management indicates it is a maximum capacity issue, but when were there they were less than half full.

The place itself is older, which I knew and I have no problem with at all. We stay at a lovely old place in Hollywood Beach all the time. However, this place is not that well maintained. Glasses were dirty, refrigerator was beat up, tables were dusty underneath. They have no hair dryers or irons in the rooms. You have to sign them in and out at the front desk. The overall condition of the place is just poor.

In addition, we smelled something bad when we went out the first morning after our arrival. It turns out the huge trash dumpster was right outside our room.

Oh, the front desk also closes at 7:00 (I believe 9:00 on weekends). You cannot access the elevators to upper rooms and must use the stairs. This is also where the ice machine is, so make sure you get any ice before they close (as well as the hair dryer and iron).

The computer is also in the lobby, so your time is limited as well (if it even works -- was down while I was there).

Overall, I would not stay there again. However, your choices if you must stay in Key Colony are limited and not sure if any place else would be much better.