When I was told about the Marquesa by my American Express agent, she said it was a lovely and well managed guest house, just off Duval Street, one of the main drags in Key West. We reserved one of the suites at the Marquesa for a night - before going on to Little Palm Island for my wife's 50th getaway. While on the plane I casually checked the reviews on the Marquesa... (yeah, I know... a wee bit late, yes, but when I was scheduling the trip, my wife's father was passing and everything was too nutso, so I simply 'went' with the Amex advice.) So imagine my discomfort when I read a review giving the MARQUESA 3 out of 5 stars... not a good moment.

Ahhhh, but when we were taken by cab from the Key West Airport to the 600 Flemming Street address of The Marquesa, my concerns lessened. The staff greeted us with warmth and courtesy, and 'Richard' sat down to complete our arrival papers. Ok, this Richard guy... this is NOT his 1st Rodeo! What a terrific and accomodating gentleman this was. He took my request for dinner reservations, promptly had us reserved at a marvelous seafood bistro, and then accompanied us to the suite. One look at my wife upon entering the suite erased any concerns about that ridiculous 3 star review. Either this was a very old set of reviews, or the 4 people who wrote the reviews lacked any and all cerebral capacity. The room was bright, dang near 'antiseptic' clean, and wonderfully appointed with very comfortable classic furniture in refreshing green and white patterns... yeah, beautifully 'Key West'd'! As soon as he had welcomed us to our suite Richard asked us if we'd enjoy a glass of wine... and he soon returned with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for my wife and a delightful Pinot Noir for me. Yeah... 3 star … uh uh! No way!

The Marquesa is wonderfully situated about 1 1/2 blocks from Duval Street, and even better, from Starbucks! It's only a five minute walk down to Mallory Square, through all the kitschy and classy shops, and to the water docks where restaurants abound.

The sleep at the Marquesa was blessed, and the mattress and pillows were 5 Star comfort. My wife and I have been fortunate to be able to experience some truly marvelous places, The Point in Saranac Lake, Little Palm Island, Cayo Espanto in Belize, and other amazing spots to rest your soul. While the Marquesa is not what I would call a ‘resort’... it IS one beautiful, comfortable, VERY clean, and well cared for little gem in Key West!

This is a place we will surely come back to!!