A Promising Getaway: Casey Key Resorts Mainland Our stay at Casey Key Resorts Mainland was a mixed experience, marked by notable positives and areas needing improvement. Despite some criticisms, the positives significantly outweighed the negatives, and we will definitely return. Upon arrival, we encountered a few service hiccups. The day bartender lacked professionalism and proper attire, struggling with simple drink requests, which indicated he was not a true mixologist. Additionally, the absence of a poolside waiter was disappointing. However, Amy at the front desk provided excellent, helpful, and friendly service during check-in and check-out. The shuttle driver, John, was accommodating, offering cold water and providing chairs at the beach. His friendly demeanor and local insights added a positive touch to our stay.
Breakfast was included, which was a plus, but the service was poor. The full review for the restaurant is included elsewhere.
The room experience had its highs and lows. The shower heads lacked proper water spread, which was disappointing after a long day in the sun. The bright red numbers of the alarm clock and large windows with only blinds caused light pollution; adding curtains would improve comfort. Additionally, the bathroom lock did not work and needed addressing. The pricing seemed too low, attracting some riff-raff; slightly higher prices might help maintain a more exclusive atmosphere. On the positive side, the beds were semi-hard, which I liked. The double queen room included a chair; however, a couch would have been a nice addition. The pathway from the back building to the pool needs to be more appealing to enhance the guest experience.
The pool, with a depth ranging from 4 ft to 8 ft, could be problematic for families with small children. However, it was heated at night and refreshing during the day, providing a pleasant swimming experience.
The property itself is an old hotel/motel that has been revamped with a modern twist, but quirks need ironing out. Cleanliness was generally fine, but some bugs got in due to the outside-to-inside room setup, which is expected in Florida. The fitness room had a big bay window overlooking the pool, sufficient equipment, and a TV, making it a decent space for a workout.
The beachfront location with bungalows via shuttle was a highlight. The private beach with set-up chairs and umbrellas was excellent, providing a relaxing and enjoyable experience. The van service was efficient, with hourly trips providing convenience. The beach was not crowded, making for a perfect day.
The Wi-Fi was available and speedy with no issues. The LG TVs allowed us to log into streaming apps, providing an at-home viewing experience, which was greatly appreciated by my family.
Our stay at Casey Key Resorts Mainland had its ups and downs, but the overall experience was positive. With a few improvements, particularly in service and minor room adjustments, this resort could become a top choice for vacationers seeking a blend of modern amenities and classic charm. We look forward to seeing these changes on our next visit.
Suggestions for Improvement: All Staff should dress appropriately. Implement poolside waiter service. Add curtains to block out morning light & change alarm clocks to green LEDs. Upgrade shower heads. Improve breakfast service, possibly switching to a buffet on busy days. Ensure room amenities, like bathroom locks, are functional. Consider slightly increasing prices to maintain a more exclusive atmosphere. Offer a wider selection of non-alcoholic beers at the tiki bar.
Final Thoughts: Despite some negatives, Casey Key Resorts Mainland has a lot of potential and offers fantastic experiences, especially with its access to beachfront amenities and attentive beach service via shuttle. With improvements, it could become an even more attractive destination. We look forward to returning and hope to see some of these suggestions implemented. The standout service from Amy & John, combined with the excellent beach setup, were...
Read moreMy wife and I planned a trip to visit friends in Osprey. They suggested that we consider staying at Casey Key. We visited the hotel website and decided to splurge a bit and go upscale. We rented the "Presidential Suite" for five nights. That was a mistake. We found the hotel not to be upscale . . . just expensive. Here's a quick list of some of the things we found disappointing: The hotel is located on a very busy road, two lanes in each direction, 55 mph. Entering and exiting the hotel property was sometimes hair raising. The lobby appears makeshift, complete with portable furnishings. The lobby bar is grungy and the drinks expensive. Margaritas, for example, cost $13.00! Even worse, they tasted lousy. The rim of my glass was coated by a combination of sugar and salt. The "Tiki Bar" is a joke. It resembles a snack bar at a kids ball field. The “Presidential Suite” has a view of the parking lot. Furniture in our suite had sort of a "Retro" appearance, i.e., ‘50’s or '60's vintage, cheap, old fashioned, and rickety. The TV in the living room is perched atop a couple long dressers. There are 32 drawers under the TV for those who pack a lot of clothing, compared to the six drawers in the upstairs bedroom. There's also a large white sofa and ottoman in the living room. It's wearing; however, worse, in the interest of personal hygiene, I was reluctant to expose my skin to the leather appearing surface of the piece. Also clustered in the living room, each feature within a couple steps of the others, is a Foosball table (ridiculous), the "Kitchenette," and a bathroom. I thought a dining table might be preferable to the Foosball table until I realized that the wall-mounted AC unit blasts powerfully across the spot. The "Kitchenette" consists of a small vanity with a tiny sink, cabinets, a small refrigerator, a small microwave oven and a Keurig unit. The kitchenette is similar to what one might find in a travel trailer. When we arrived, we found that a slat was missing from the array of ceiling-height vertical blinds downstairs. That left a 3-4" gap through which an intruder could peer inside the unit. Maintenance engineered a remedy the next day consisting of two pieces of slat joined together by zip ties. Upstairs, we found the king bed to be reasonably comfortable. What was uncomfortable was stubbing my toe on the oversize bed frame that protrudes beyond the edges of the mattress. Nightstands were rounded pieces of glass-type material mounted to the wall on each side of the bed. Surfaces were large enough for a couple water bottles and a cell phone. All of that, combined with a lamp cord stretched across the wall, burned out light bulbs, and a cheap armless leatherette chair, gave the bedroom area a particularly seedy feel. The upstairs bathroom was spacious; however, the sink had virtually no flat surface upon which to place toiletries. Perhaps our most disturbing experience occurred at about 10:00 PM one evening when we saw a young man sitting on the lawn, with his bicycle, adjacent to the front parking lot. He shamelessly torched his crack pipe for the whole world to see. We occasionally saw others wandering around the premises on foot and on bicycles. It was not comforting, to say the least. I could go on, but suffice it to say that we found the ambiance at Casey Key to be depressing. We will never return to the hotel. Casey Key needs a...
Read moreI stayed here with my mother while visiting my grandmother in the area in February. We chose this hotel instead of our usual stay for a change of pace. We booked over the phone instead of online, as there was a promotion to save $5 on your stay if you did so. I never received an email confirmation of my booking, despite providing my email address and confirming it. Upon calling the hotel, it turns out the staff member never entered my email. Staff quickly rectified this and I received a forwarded copy of my booking. After checking the email, I noticed my booking was wrong, so I called the hotel a third time to correct that there were 2 guests, not 1 and to confirm I had 2 beds. Checking in went smoothly and staff were pleasant. There is only one slow elevator for the building. Most of the convenient room entrances are accessed via stairs in un-air-conditioned hallways. Some of the doors stick with the humidity, so you might need to give it a shove to get in or out. There was an industrial fan running in the hallway upon arrival; not sure why though I assume a spill or leak. The room was small and quaint; beds were clean. Though recently redone, the color scheme of dark paints, tiles, and "wood" is very dark in a small space and makes the room feel smaller. The renovators seemed to overlook some things as well, like making sure the electrical plate covers the hole in the wall (picture), making sure the closet door opens easily, and the ceiling above the shower needed work. The shower was redone, but the tile was slippery and the glass wasn't to the floor, so water leaked all over the bathroom floor from under the glass. This led to pink mold buildup on the tile and grout. Great water pressure from the shower. The bathroom had a cute nook behind the door for the extra towels (picture) as well as a towel bar. Nook near the sink was oddly placed. Bathroom door stuck once and I couldn't get out for several minutes. I reported this to the front desk; hopefully they resolved. This is the first hotel I have ever stayed in that had verticals on the windows instead of some kind of curtain. No sleeping in here! Bright sun will wake you up nice and early. The breakfast buffet was excellent, though plates should be placed in a more prominent location instead of between the toasters. Plenty of selection though, including hot options. Small pool was on site and a bar and two restaurants. Service in the restaurants was good overall, though we weren't acknowledged for almost 15 minutes in the indoor restaurant; food was delicious at a reasonable price. Signage for the hours for the restaurant was incorrect which turned out to be good for us since they were open later. It was a nice stay but we expected a little more than we...
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