January 2012
My husband and I invited our friends to join us in our stay at the Banyan Resort. After all it was a two bedroom timeshare which indicated it could accomodate up to six people. Not! What threw us for a loop was the one bathroom which was quite small. It was a good thing we are close friends because this unit was too small for four adult people. We only had one couch and a side chair that wasn't very comfortable to sit in at night. This is not counting the four chairs around the kitchen table or the outside chairs around the patio table. It was hard to get comfortable in the evening inside this unit. I guess if we had NOT had friends with us it would have been okay.
Since we were facing Whitehead Street it was noisy with the rumbling trucks, roosters crowing etc. so our day started extra early. I guess if you get a unit in the back the noise would not been much of a problem.

Note: There is a charge for everything, We knew about the 20 dollars a day parking fee plus tax but we were not expecting a 5 dollar a day energy surcharge. We own two timeshares Hilton and Marriott but in all my travels I have never paid a surcharge for enengy use. Just to let you know there is no salt and pepper, soap for dishes or laundry, no shampoo or conditioner, and no free daily newspapers. If you want your room cleaned there is an extra charge too. If you don't clean the place up there is an additonal charge as well. I guess I will be running the vacuum cleaner. My husband was bitten by a spider and has a nasty bite which probably came from the pool area or the room??? One last thing if you are late checking out of your room on Saturday or Sunday there is an extra charge..

What The Banyon does have is location, location, location and a beautiful pool area. In some ways I felt like I was staying in an old Bed and Breakfast hotel.

I wrote another review of the Banyan following a stay in August 2011, in which I expressed disappointment that the tranquility of the place had been spoiled by noisy residents.

We have just returned from another visit, which we'd booked before the August trip, and our experience this time was much better. This was the first week of January, which I wrongly expected to be busy but wasn't. The weather was unusually cool for some of our week - at times too cool to want to use the pool area. However, on the days that we did, it was always the "tranquil oasis" that it is supposed to be, and we enjoyed the stay very much.

Back in August, around the pool, space in the small areas of shade were much sought after, as it was so hot in the direct sun. In January, the exact opposite was the case - it was only warm enough if you were in the sun. Unfortunately, because the sun was lower in the sky, there was actually more shade and less sun in January, so everyone tended to huddle in the sunny areas. This really wasn't a problem but I suppose it could be if the resort were full.

Following my previous review, in which I comment on the lack of guaranteed parking for disabled guests, they seem to have updated their policy (or reminded the reservations staff of their existing policy) on this. If you have a disabled parking permit, you can phone a week or so before your visit and arrange on-site parking. We did this and they provided an ideal place, only a few steps from our room, which was perfect.

Accessibility is be difficult for a wheelchair user. Very few rooms have completely level access, but they are old historic buildings so this is understandable. To get to the pool or one of the pool-side rooms involves crossing some very course gravel in the parking are, which would be difficult in a wheelchair, and then negotiating the newly upgraded - and very attractive - paved paths through the gardens. These paths are narrow and bordered with rocks, just to be even more challenging! My wife rented a mobility scooter, which was much easier, but still required some skillful driving through these hazards.

In the past when we've stayed here we always liked room 403, which has a large balcony overlooking Whitehead Street but set back a little behind the large Banyan tree that gives the resort its name. As these days we need a ground floor room, we were lucky enough to be given 401, which is below 403 and is just as good.

The pool-side Tiki Bar now do breakfast and even deliver this to your room and charge it to your room account. I believe this is a new service that we made good use of this time.

If you like peace and tranquility, I would still strongly recommend you avoid the last week of August but overall, this time, the Banyan was just what we remembered from our visits in the past and we look forward to returning again this time next year.

We come to Banyan resorts every year. It's a beautiful place, lots of gardens, two pools. rooms are clean, pleasant, have full kitchen facilities so we can also make our own meals. Staff are always friendly and helpful. The location is so perfect for Key West, close to Duval, yet not so close you hear all the noise. it's a short walk to the pier where everyone watches the sunset, and a nice walk to so many other tourist attractions and nice shops.

Perfect placement in a paradise. close to Duval and all the action. These are more like apartments than hotel rooms. full kitchen, full size refrig. Small supermarket nearby, less expensive food at Publix by the airport. if you're driving in, stop at Publix. Refrig great for taking home leftovers from all of the resturants. Microwave and stove. had a rental car when we arrived so we stocked up on food.

very friendly staff and most of the people we met there were back for their 3rd to 10th time.

Internet was a bit slow, but they know and are working on it.

Allows you to take advantage of everything Key West has. 15 minute walk to the most southern point in the US.

Only negative - if you have an outside apartment, the roosters think that 430 am is when you want to get up. you do get used to it quickly and it's fun to talk about.