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A trip down to Key West, Florida, allowed me to use two Hilton Free Night Reward certificates at The Reach Key West.
I had mixed feelings about this resort, and while I don’t necessarily love it, I don’t dislike it either. If it wasn’t for the free night redemption, I can’t see myself paying cash at The Reach Key West because the resort is not an upscale Hilton property that matches its expensive rate as a high-end Curio Collection by Hilton resort.
Without further ado, here’s my review of The Reach Key West.
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| The Reach Key West |
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Location
The Reach Key West is a true beachfront resort located on the southern side of Key West in Florida. Sandy beaches in Key West are something other than what Key West is known for, so being able to stay at a beachfront property is definitely a different experience.
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| Beachfront – The Reach Key West |
Moreover, for sightseeing folks, The Reach Key West is within walking distance of Duval Street, but Duval Street is a long stretch of road, so it depends on where you are going, and an Uber ride may be more suitable if you do not want to walk. For instance, The Reach Key West is about 20 minute walk to Mallory Square for the sunset.
Room Upgrades
The Standard Reward room to use the Hilton Free Night Reward certificate is the Key West View room, requiring 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night. I decided to ask the resort for an ocean view upgrade as a Hilton Honors Diamond member but was told that any complimentary upgrades can only be done at check-in. Okay, fair enough!
Hilton automatically upgraded my Key West View room to the Key West View Studio room type. This is part of Hilton’s new upgrade process benefit, but I preferred an ocean-view room. Therefore, a day before my check-in date, I quickly searched for room availability at The Reach Key West, and all ocean-view rooms and suites were completely sold out. So I decided to check in online on arrival day since Hilton allows you to select your preferred room in your room type category on the reservation. I was given between 3 rooms on the third floor and 1 room on the fifth floor. I decided to select the fifth-floor studio room 5545 because the fifth floor is the highest floor at The Reach Key West, and the studio looks like a corner room that may offer a partial ocean view. See the screenshot below.
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| Room Selection in Hilton Honors App |
On arrival date, The Reach Key West system was down, so the front desk could not check people in, and those that had not had a room assigned were frustrated. So lucky for me, I did the online check-in, and the digital room key was available around 2pm (hotel check-in time is 4pm). Without going through all the check-in formality, we could go to our room and open it with the digital key on the Hilton Honors app.
It’s worth mentioning that Hilton emailed me a few paid upgrade options a few days before check-in. One option is the ocean view upgrade which costs only $100 per night to upgrade. However, I decided against it. Therefore, if getting an ocean view is a dealbreaker for you, it may make sense to pay for the upgrade instead of waiting for a possible ocean view upgrade on arrival. The Reach Key West is known for something other than Hilton Honors elite recognitions.
Key West View Studio Room
The Key West View Studio at The Reach Key West is a good size room, and it has a very comfortable king-size bed with comforters and pillows that I love.
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| Key West View Studio Room at The Reach Key West |
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| Key West View Studio Room |
There’s a small living area with a couch, and above the couch, two small windows look at the trees around the room. The view is nothing special there because the windows are small.
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A sliding door leads to the sitting balcony with two chairs and a small table.
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| Key West View Studio Room’s Balcony |
The view from the balcony is a corner view, with one side facing the ocean. The ocean view can be seen too, but it’s a bit far away, and you can only see a little because the trees are in the way, so it’s not a real oceanfront view but a partial one to enjoy the sunrise in the morning. On the other side of the balcony, the view has more trees and a road (a.k.a Key West View), but it’s nothing “old town charm” like what the resort describes its Key West View room types as. So it’s completely misleading there.
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| Corner Key West View Studio Room at The Reach Key West |
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| Ocean View From the Balcony Room 5545 |
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| Sunrise From the Balcony Room 5545 |
I recommend getting a higher floor at this property as much as possible because if you are on a third floor and below, you are likely looking at a parking space, as shown in the picture below. There are five floors at The Reach Key West.
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| Avoid Lower Floors Balcony Rooms |
The bathroom is adequate, but the shower door in our studio had an issue as it did not completely shut.
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| Bathroom |
What we found annoying about our studio room was that the noise was loud when the air conditioner kicked in. We could not have the balcony’s door open for fresh air because then we would hear road noise and trash trucks in the morning. So it’s a catch-22!
The elevator to the main lobby is also far away from our studio, room 5545. However, there’s another swimming pool elevator close to the room, but it was out of service on our first day. The Reach Key West seriously needs some maintenance to fix their elevators, the lights on the numbers are not lit up, etc.
Overall, the Key West View Studio is nice, but the rate is generally overpriced at The Reach Key West. It’s not worth paying cash to stay there.
Executive Lounge
The Reach Key West is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton; therefore, there’s no executive lounge for Hilton Honors Diamond elite members.
Welcome Amenity
As I previously mentioned, The Reach Key West check-in system was down, and we had to utilize online check-in, so I never got informed about Hilton Honors Diamond benefits at check-in. Fortunately, in the Hilton Honors app, you can pull up the reservation, and it has a menu where you can view all your elite status’s benefits while staying at The Reach Key West.
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, you receive 1,000 bonus Hilton Honors points as welcome amenity points.
Food & Beverage Credits
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, you generally receive $15 per person for food and beverage credits at Hilton properties in the United States. However, because Key West is part of the “select market,” you get $18 per guest, up to $36 for two guests instead. Simply charge food and drinks expenses to the room, and the system will take care of it automatically.
You can also dine at the sister property Casa Marina Key West, a mere 5 minutes walk from The Reach Key West, and charge to your room at The Reach Key West.
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| Hilton Honors Diamond Members Get $18 Per Guest at The Reach Key West. |
Breakfast
Hilton does not offer free breakfast for Hilton Honors Diamond members staying at U.S. Hilton properties anymore. Instead, you get the food and beverage credits, as mentioned above.
The Reach Key West gives Hilton Honors Diamond members $18 per guest plus an additional guest for a total of $36 per day. You can use that for any dining needs, including breakfast at the on-site Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining restaurant.
You can also dine at the sister property Casa Marina Key West, a mere 5 minutes walk from The Reach Key West, and charge to your room at The Reach Key West.
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| Breakfast at Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining |
Dining
There’s only one full-service bar and restaurant, Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining, at The Reach Key West. I like the restaurant’s setting because it’s an oceanfront dining restaurant with outdoor seats, and it’s a perfect place to enjoy meals with an ocean view and breeze.
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| Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining |
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| Oceanfront Dining at The Reach Key West |
The price on the menu is an over-priced resort type of menu, but they also have a Happy Hour between 4:30pm and 5:30pm! Draft Beers and Sangaria Wines cost $5, cocktails cost $10-$11, and 50% off appetizers.
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| Mango Crème Brûlée at Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining |
Another on-site place is Sand & Sea, a gift shop and cafe for quick bites like pre-made wrapped sandwiches, salads, etc.
You can also dine at the sister property Casa Marina Key West, a mere 5 minutes walk from The Reach Key West, and charge to your room at The Reach Key West.
Resort Fee
The resort fee is waived when you book using 100% Hilton Honors points or the Hilton Free Night Reward certificate.
Per The Reach Key West, the resort fee includes the following services: “Wi-Fi; poolside concierge services; activities including bocce ball & life-sized chess; beach chairs, umbrellas & hammocks; access to amenities at Casa Marina and The Reach; chilled fruit-infused spring water; pool hydration stations.”
Parking
Valet parking only and costs $37 per day.
Pet Policy
The Reach Key West allows up to 2 pets and costs $75 daily. There are no weights and breed restrictions.
Internet/Wi-Fi
The internet at The Reach Key West could be better. Let alone, their reservation system was down on the day of our check-in. To connect and use Wi-Fi, select the Hilton Curio Collection, and input your last name and room number. The Wi-Fi and our T-Mobile services at The Reach Key West did not work well or needed to be faster.
Bottled Water
Yes, two bottles of water are available inside the room.
Early Check-in
The standard check-in at The Reach Key West is 4pm. I did an online check-in and was notified by the Hilton Honors app that the room’s digital key was ready at 2pm.
Late Check-out
I requested a 3pm late check-out as a Hilton Honors Diamond member. Unfortunately, they did not honor that; the latest they could do it was at 12:30pm. As I said, The Reach Key West is known for something other than Hilton Honors elite recognitions.
Spa
The Reach Key West does not have a spa; however, you can get the spa services at the sister property Casa Marina Key West, and charge the bill to your room at The Reach Key West. It takes only 5 minute walk between the two properties, or you can shuttle the golf cart, complimentary to guests.
Fitness Center
Yes, by the hotel’s lobby. The fitness center at The Reach Key West also has towels and shower rooms.
In-Room Safe
Nowhere to be found in the studio room.
Robes & Slippers
Yes, robes are located inside the closet, but no slippers.
Swimming Pool
Unfortunately, The Reach Key West pool is small and not heated. So we did not hang out there much. The sister property nearby Casa Marina Key West has two pools that may be worth checking out instead. One of the two pools is an adults-only pool at the Casa Marina Key West, but the water temperature is not heated either.
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| Swimming Pool at The Reach Key West |
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| Adults Only Pool At Casa Marina Key West
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Beach
The beach at The Reach Key West is private and exclusive to guests staying at the resort and the sister property Casa Marina Key West.
The beach at The Reach Key West is very inviting. White sandy beach and many beach lounge chairs and umbrellas, complimentary to guests on a first-come-first-served basis. There’s a towel hut at the beach, and you tell the person who works at the hut which chair and umbrella you want, and they will bring the towels and beach chair cover for you. You can also order any food and drinks at the beach by hitting the service button on the umbrella stand starting at 11am.
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| Beach Lounge Chairs at The Reach Key West |
I found the ocean rough, and the wind was too cool to swim during our stay. One day, the shore is also full of seaweed. However, I did enjoy laying and relaxing, watching the waves crash on the white sandy beach at The Reach Key West. It was very relaxing.
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| White Sandy Beach at The Reach Key West |
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| Beach Chairs and Umbrellas at The Reach Key West
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Key West Sunset & Sunrise
Key West is a destination that’s known for sunsets. Several people flock the Mallory Square to get a beautiful Key West sunset. The Reach Key West is located on the opposite side of the island; therefore, you cannot see the sunset from the resort. However, a pier at The Reach Key West allows you to see the sunset.
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| Enjoy Sunset From The Pier At The Reach Key West |
For sunrise, The Reach Key West is a perfect place for that! You can enjoy sunrises from your room’s balcony with an ocean view or from the beach.
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| Sunrise From the Balcony Room 5545 |
Contact
You can contact The Reach Key West through the following methods:
- Phone: +1 305-296-5000
- Email: Contact Form
- Website: The Reach Key West
How to Stay at The Reach Key West Resort For Free
I am a dedicated travel enthusiast with a deep passion for miles and points. Always willing to share my expertise, I possess a wealth of knowledge on miles and points, extensively researching and staying up-to-date with the latest strategies for maximizing travel rewards through credit cards and loyalty program promotions.
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