Island House

Located on Fleming Street in historic Key West, Island House is a boutique exclusively for gay men. There are no large, colorful signs at the hotel’s entrance and the exterior is modest and quaint with a small Island House sign, cream-colored siding, white edging, and a white picket fence. The interior of the property is sheltered from the view of the outside community and the property is clothing optional, with the exception of the gym (shorts and shoes required). The comfortable, renovated lobby has an ATM, souvenir tee-shirts for sale, and a water cooler. There’s a sitting area with suede chaise lounge, small desk area with computer, and decorative red bamboo shoots. The lobby, hallways, and rooms are decorated with photographs of guests enjoying the property’s amenities (many in the nude) and abstract male art.

Island House is located on Fleming Street in historic Key West. Several restaurants are within three to four blocks of the hotel and the shopping, dining, and nightlife attractions on Duval Street are about ten blocks away. Companies offering guided tours of historic Victorian homes are about also about ten blocks away, while the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum is a bit beyond walking distance (one mile), but easily reached by bicycle or scooter. For those wishing to take an excursion, Island Hotel offers gay nude sailing trips to nearby reefs, gay snorkeling outings, and trips to secluded beaches. Despite the hotel’s proximity to popular attractions, many guests enjoy the privacy of the resort and choose to enjoy the on-site amenities, including a pool, sauna, gym, and restaurant.

The rooms at Island House are small, but the rates are reasonable for the comfortable furnishings and central location. Rooms vary in shape and size (economy, deluxe, or superior). Some smaller rooms share bathrooms. A few of the larger rooms have a mini-fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker, and may have a balcony. Offering little counter space, the bathrooms have a white pedestal sink and a walk-in shower. All rooms have beds with high-quality linens, flat-screen TVs, iPod/iPad docks, and nude male artwork on the walls. Poolside rooms have good views of the tropical landscaping, but are located near the poolside bar, which can be noisy in the evenings. Some rooms have walk-in showers with multiple shower heads.

The Island House has a medium-sized, outdoor pool with lush foliage, hot tub, and plenty of outdoor seating. Clothing is optional. The property's café is open 24 hours a day and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night snacks. The on-site bar is open to 4 a.m. and is a popular meeting area for nightlife and socializing, but may also be a source of noise for guests in poolside rooms. The sauna and gym are popular amenities, and the gym is large with cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, and a locker room with a large, multi-head, walk-in shower. There is a free erotic video lounge. Parking is limited. For a fee, Island House will arrange for bicycle and scooter rentals and provides storage areas. For guests looking to explore, the hotel offers gay nude sailing trips to nearby reefs, gay snorkeling outings, and trips to secluded beaches. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.