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Kona Kai is a magical hideaway, teeming with the natural beauty of old Key Largo and hand-polished into one of the most exclusive resorts known to the Florida Keys. Our resort is private, very intimate, and adult-only (14 or older). The thirteen (13) charming guest rooms and suites are as refreshing, unique, and fanciful as their tropical fruit namesakes. Washed with natural light, 100% cotton fabrics, and original art, the overall feeling is one of elegant simplicity and perfection. You instantly feel at home, carefree and comfortable.
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Kona Kai Resort is celebrated by guests for its serene location on the waterfront, complemented by the tranquility of its tropical gardens and scenic views. The resort's atmosphere and cleanliness receive high marks, creating a paradise-like experience.
Reviewers also applaud the unique and well-appointed rooms, like the Breadfruit cottage, which, along with the resort's amenities and exceptional staff service, contribute to its perceived great value. The comprehensive amenities, including water sports and opportunities to witness stunning sunsets, further enhance guest stays.
Location
Secluded
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Our stay at Kona Kai was truly spectacular. We rented the Pineapple Suite for 4 nights and wish we could've stayed twice as long. We arrived well after dark, so the surprise the next morning of opening the 12 ft of shutters to a gorgeous view just knocked our socks off! The suite was large with a very comfortable bed, full pullout comfy sofa bed, plush towels, and a fully-stocked kitchen including breakfast and snack items in the fridge (coffee included). The AC and ceiling fans worked very well, and the water pressure was perfect. We spent most of our time outside in the many idyllic spots at Kona Kai including the tiki hut tables on the dock, the many hammocks and chaise lounges in the beach area, and the pool. There were always shade options throughout the day. The outdoor furniture is top-quality Tropitone loungers and chairs which are so much nicer and more comfortable than what we saw at neighboring properties. This was one of the many touches that set Kona Kai well above other resorts. Another is the very handy filtered water and crushed ice dispenser that we used frequently. They also have kayaks, paddle boards, and a pedal boat for guest use. We paddled with a family of manatees in front of the dock on two mornings and saw dolphins one evening. One of our favorite experiences was watching the sunset each night from the Kona Kai dock. You will not find a better spot in all of the Keys for this gorgeous nightly event, so just bring your camera, cocktails, or dinner and enjoy the bliss without dealing with crowds or driving.
All the staff treated us like family from our initial booking conversation to offering recommendations and inquiring about our daily adventures. Some of the staff has even worked at Kona Kai for over 20 years. They take the utmost care of the property which is a lush tropical oasis. Pictures just don't do justice to the natural beauty and tranquil surroundings. You must experience them for yourself, and rest assured, you will start planning your return before you even leave!
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Date of stay: June 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The Pineapple Suite has a direct and gorgeous view of the bay and is very spacious...perfect if...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were blessed to spend 5 glorious nights in the papaya room at this spectacular paradise resort. We were greeted by Zee in the parking lot ( Covid -19 new normal) she showed us around the resort , we were in complete awwwww, the pictures are nice but being there in person felt like we were in a Hawaiian tropical paradise . Due to Covid the housekeeping and daily breakfast were not available , however , they gave us a complimentary bottle of Prosecco and anything we needed was readily available via phone call or text. The room was amazing!! We were so happy with the amount of shelves and storage areas we had, props to the designer 👋👋 The pool was so relaxing and to have the fresh water and ice cooler there was a brilliant idea. We kayaked three times , 2 morning adventures and my personal favorite was a champagne sunset sail in the evening. We floated in the bay on our rafts and snorkeled right off the pier area:) Deedee helped us locate a rare find in the keys , we were looking for a beach with white sandy bottom and blue green calm waters, her recommendation of secret beach nailed it! As for food, Kathryn was our go to girl !!! When she said she was a foodie , I knew we had to try her suggestions. The square grouper restaurant was amazing and our cravings for excellent crab legs were met with her pointing to Ballyhoo’s walking distance across from the resort. The day we left we asked where can we get a great Cuban sandwich? She had no problem directing us to the perfect spot heading toward leaving the area in the Publix shopping center. The entire staff was amazing!!!! We hated to leave , but god willing we are planning to hopefully return later this year. If you are looking for a relaxing resort filled with gorgeous plush landscaping, relaxing views of the bay and quiet complimentary water activities, look no further, you have arrived🏖🍹☀️
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Date of stay: June 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The hubby and I spent 3 nights at Kona Kai for our anniversary. We prefer adults only boutique hotels when we can find them, and Kona Kai fit the bill. With Covid, I wouldn't call this place a bed and breakfast, but the proprietors were kind enough to stock our kitchenette with a couple of microwavable biscuits, some granola bars, a few pieces of fruit, and some instant oatmeal. Dee Dee offered us a warm welcome upon arrival and gave us a quick tour of the property. When we shared that we were looking for somewhere good to eat, she provided us with several nearby options. She was also quick to bring us missing bath towels as well as a couple of beach towels for use at the pool. Our room, the Banana Suite, was large and clean. We liked having a separate bedroom, sitting area, and kitchenette. A nearby Walgreens supplied us with beverages for the fridge and snacks for our stay. The air conditioning worked well, and the bathroom was large enough for one person at a time to get ready comfortably. By far the highlight of Kona Kai was the outdoors. The grounds are absolutely beautiful with lush landscaping and plenty of chairs, hammocks, tables, and loungers. Sunsets were beautiful, and we were treated one evening to the natural fireworks of a faraway storm. One afternoon I had the lovely pool all to myself. If one wanted to kayak, there were boats and life vests available. To be situated on a main road, Kona Kai was fairly quiet. The only car noises we heard were from neighboring resorts. Real estate is limited, so it appeared that most resorts are situated quite close to each other and are compact. Our fellow guests were pleasant and everyone kept to themselves for the most part. If we needed something, we called the front desk because the office remained locked for the majority of the time. A helpful envelope of information had been provided in our room, but we were unsure about check out procedures other than time. We've stayed at more luxurious inns and been pampered to greater degrees, but the beauty of the surroundings was undeniable and top notch.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:I would definitely choose a suite if staying longer than one night.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you ever want to write a review, but you also want to keep the most magical places to yourself? The Kona Kai Resort is that place. If it isn’t in your future travel plans, it most definitely should be. From the first phone interaction to the departure, every single thing was as charming, if not more amazing than described online. With only 13 guest rooms, you feel as though you are on your own tropical key. The cottage style rooms are exquisite, the landscaping is flawless, and the amenities are endless. The furnishings are quaint and the bed was divine. I had one of the best nights sleep ever! The pool and jacuzzi were wonderful and the ice and water were right there on deck at your finger tips. The stand up paddle boards were so much fun as we explored the clear waters. The hammock was waiting upon arrival, which they have many hanging around the resort. The location can’t be beat as there are numerous eateries within a quick drive. This stay was one of the most tranquil I’ve had. The resort is so peaceful, you may even forget where you are. Relaxation is what we wanted this weekend and relaxation is just what we got. When you’re sitting around planning your next visit at the same place, you know it’s a winner. Thank you Kona Kai Resort Family for making this stay truly amazing. We will be back soon! Enjoy!
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We found our “home away from home!” We were immediately welcomed upon arrival by Kathryn. She took us on a tour of the beautiful grounds and showed us to our room. She and all staff were so friendly and helpful.
Our room was spotless, and every detail did not go unnoticed. Snacks, fresh fruit and a bottle of wine were left for us. A filtered water / ice station is available for all guests as well.
Botanical gardens lined pathways throughout the resort. The beach areas were continually raked and clean. We were very excited to have the use of paddle boards, kayaks, ping pong table, and hammocks.
The sunset view each day was spectacular!
This resort comes highly recommended, and we will DEFINITELY be back!
Cathy and Mike Haverhill, MA
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kona Kai is lovely! We stayed in the Breadfruit suite and had a magical view of the bay. The grounds are kept pristine daily and the beach and dock area are perfect for relaxing and watching the sunset. Even though most rooms were occupied we never felt it was at all crowded and appreciated the adults only atmosphere. I have to say it is a bit pricey considering there is currently no breakfast or housekeeping provided, but everything in the Keys is pricey. We were very comfortable and highly recommend Kona Kai!
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The resort was very beautiful and grounds were well maintained! The staff were so friendly and always helping us find new restaurants to try out! I loved going out to the beach/pier at night. They have free kayaks and paddle boards you can put in right at their beach! We paddle boarded out a few properties down from the resort at sunset and saw 3 manatees swimming around! We also saw a pod of dolphins when we first got to the resort. We stayed in the Kiwi room which is one of the smaller rooms and it was very clean and towels were delivered at our door just about everyday of our 7 day stay! Would definitely like to go back!
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is truly Paradise! We spent 3 nights in the Passion fruit suite, everything was impeccable, clean and sanitized. Bed was super comfy and cozy. The resort in general is extremely well maintain and it is full of beautiful plants, flowers and art everywhere you go. If you want a perfect romantic spot, this is the place! We enjoyed the most beautiful sunsets and wish we could have stayed longer. Kathryn was unbelievable amazing since the first time I called to make the reservation and she made sure we had the best experience! I can't wait to go back to Paradise!!
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Date of stay: July 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Romantic spot!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dee Dee and Kathryn were the consummate hosts and provided so many ideas about activities as well as great restaurant recommendations that made our sisters birthday trip so special. If only the weather cooperated so that we could have used the stand up paddle boards more than the morning of our last day! Dee Dee even let us know about the back road to help alleviate the traffic issues associated with the Nautical Flea Market. Hope to come back to do more exploring and if we are doing another "kid free" trip, would stay here again without hesitation! Beautiful grounds and the best private pier on the bay side of Key Largo.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The moment you arrive your blood pressure simply drops, There is a serenity here that cannot be described in words. We have stayed here many times and find it the perfect couples getaway. The grounds are impeccably maintained and each cottage is different and VERY CLEAN. We have visited twice during the pandemic and found the cottage cleaned to perfection. The owner is onsite and takes every precaution to ensure the covid virus is not present at this resort.
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Date of stay: December 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:all cottages provide privacy
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I saw a guest in a kayak fishing, but not sure of the exact rules or pets...didn't see any. I suggest you reach out to Kathryn, one of the managers, and ask her. She is fantastic! If you need a pet friendly place, Casa Morada is also an amazing place. They have several cats who live there and I saw many guests who brought their dogs.
There are more places to choose from in the Key Largo area.
PRICE RANGE
HK$1,804 - HK$3,429 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
kona kai resort & gallery hotel key largo, kona kai resort and gallery
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaFlorida KeysKey Largo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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