Isla Bella Beach Resort

Isla Bella Beach Resort, a Michelin Key Selected property in the Florida Keys, offers a luxurious and contemporary escape lauded for its stunning design, extensive amenities, and exceptional service.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Isla Bella Beach Resort is overwhelmingly positive. Guests frequently describe it as a "premiere beach resort" in the Florida Keys, offering a "luxury beach vacation" and a "meticulously crafted masterpiece" experience. Its selection as a Michelin Key property further underscores its high standards in comfort, service, style, and elegance. Many find it a welcome addition to the Keys' luxury hotel options.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several standout features:

• Design & Aesthetics: The resort boasts a crisp palette of blue and white, playful prints, modern furniture, and contemporary art, creating an elegant and fresh ambiance. The architecture evokes a Dutch West Indies vibe.
• Location & Views: Situated on a mile of waterfront, every single room and suite offers breathtaking ocean views from expansive private terraces.
• Pools: A significant draw is the impressive array of five oceanfront pools, including a main resort pool, four smaller auxiliary pools (some private to specific buildings), and an adults-only option. All pools provide plenty of cushy lounge chairs, umbrellas, and towels.
• Activities & Amenities: The resort offers a wide variety of complimentary activities such as guided runs, yoga on the beach, bracelet making, and games like ping pong, giant chess, and beach volleyball. Paid activities include jet ski tours, fishing excursions, diving, and snorkeling. An on-site marina provides convenient access to boat charters. Free bottled water is plentiful throughout the resort and in rooms.
• Privacy and Space: Despite being a nearly 200-room resort, the property is expansive, creating a sense of low-density space and intimate privacy.

Room Quality

The rooms and suites at Isla Bella are described as spacious, very clean, and modern, featuring tasteful, upscale beach decor. A key highlight is that every room includes floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a private furnished lanai or terrace overlooking the ocean, serving as an outdoor living space. Bathrooms are spa-like with rainfall showers and Molton Brown products. Some suites even offer full kitchens, ideal for extended stays. Guests appreciate the "fresh, clean feel" of the rooms, a noticeable advantage over older properties. A convenient wristband key system replaces traditional key cards. Daily full-service cleaning is also a point of appreciation.

Dining Experience

Isla Bella offers a pleasing variety and quality of dining options.

• Mahina: The Polynesian-inspired main restaurant serves classic favorites and Hawaiian Regional Cuisine with ocean views. It offers breakfast daily from 7 am to 10:30 am, with options like the All American, three-egg omelets, Eggs Benedict, Smoked Salmon Plate, Buttermilk Pancakes, Avocado Toast, and French Toast. Dinner is served from 5 pm to 9 pm.
• Sushi Cabana: A new al fresco sushi restaurant with outdoor seating under palm trees and umbrellas.
• The Beach Bar: A popular spot for sunset, offering freshly caught seafood, tropical cocktails, and lively music.
• Burger Palace: Provides convenient poolside lunch options.
• Marketplace Café: A quaint café for grab-and-go snacks, coffee, fresh pastries, and shopping for souvenirs.

All-inclusive dining packages are now available, offering three meals per day plus unlimited snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, with an option to include select alcoholic beverages.

Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently praises the staff for being friendly, attentive, and providing great service across all departments, from the front desk to the activities team and restaurant servers. Examples of personalized service include direct emails and phone calls from the activities manager prior to arrival, and texts during the stay with activity schedules. Staff members have gone above and beyond to accommodate requests, even providing items after closing hours or improvising solutions for guest needs.

Location & Accessibility

Isla Bella Beach Resort is strategically located in Marathon Key at Mile Marker 47, positioned between Islamorada and Key West, right at the threshold of the iconic Seven Mile Bridge. It's approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Miami International Airport, a 1-hour drive from Key West International Airport, and just 10 minutes from Marathon International Airport. While renting a car is recommended, the resort offers a comprehensive experience, minimizing the need to leave. The on-site marina is a significant advantage for those interested in boating and water sports.

The Florida Keys generally do not have many natural sandy beaches, and while Isla Bella boasts a 200-foot beach, some guests noted the water could be dirty or mucky, suggesting nearby natural beaches like Bahia Honda State Park for a better swimming experience.

The resort is committed to accessibility, with features such as accessible routes to all food and beverage outlets, the spa, fitness center, and event center, as well as pools equipped with chair lifts.

Value & Pricing

Isla Bella Beach Resort is considered a luxury property, with rates starting from around $295 per night for entry-level rooms and potentially reaching up to $1500 per night during high season. Average weeknight prices are around $522, while weekend nights average about $786. While on the higher end, many guests feel the comprehensive amenities, high level of service, and overall luxurious experience justify the cost. The resort frequently offers promotions such as "Fourth Night Free," advance purchase discounts, and special rates for Florida residents and AAA members.

Common Complaints

While generally highly rated, some recurring criticisms include:

• Beach Quality: The on-property "swimmable beach" has been described by some as a "huge stretch" due to dirty and mucky water, suggesting it's not ideal for swimming.
• Sulfur Smell: A sulfur smell is occasionally noted around the pool or beach areas, though this is recognized as a broader Florida Keys issue rather than specific to the resort.
• Marketplace Hours: Some guests have expressed disappointment that the Marketplace Café closes relatively early, at 7 pm, making it unavailable for late-evening dessert or shopping.
• Check-in Delays: There have been instances where check-in times were delayed.

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