Packing Tips
We pack light- carry-ons only. Checked luggage takes FOREVER to retrieve at the KW airport- sometimes up to an hour. But, do what works for you :-) Most items you may need are already at our home. Check out the "Amenities" tab on the website.
We spend most days in swimsuits and cover ups/shorts and flip flops. Don't pack more than 2 pairs of shoes.
There's a bluetooth speaker at the house. We use them on the scooter, outdoor patio, etc. You can also just say "Alexa play country music" and hear music that way too.
There's a CVS and a Walgreens close by. We normally stop there once we arrive to grab sunscreen, snacks, Motrin and Pedialyte for the week. :)
If you're bringing a "beach bag"/backpack, keep it small so it fits easily into the seat or basket of your scooter.
Transportation
There are cabs waiting outside the airport towards the left and there's an easy pickup spot for Uber/Lyft towards the right. You will want to go straight to the house to drop off luggage.
If the Uber/Lyft driver is confused, Hutchinson Lane is in Bahama Village off of Olivia St.
Scooter, Golf Cart & Bike Rental: (We are The Key West Scooter Gang!!)
We suggest and use Minty's at 601Truman Ave. We suggest that you make a reservation for a "double scooter with a basket"- unless you each want a "single" scooter. Stephen and I always ride together :-) Scooter parking is pretty much everywhere and it's free. Minty's also rents Golf Carts.
Pro Tip- Keep a towel in the seat of your scooter to sit on for when the seat gets hot :-)
Bikes-there are multiple bike rental places that will deliver bikes to the house, just Google one. Please lock up your bike, bike theft is the #1 crime in KW.
If you do drive a car, you can park it in any spot that doesn't say "Resident" or you can park at the free parking lot at the old fort at the end of Olivia St.
Parking At The Rooster Nest
There is no dedicated parking designated to our address on Hutchinson Lane. As you know, Key West is a TINY island so there isn't a lot of real estate allocated for "car parking'' whether you're a resident or not... There IS, however, plenty of free parking at the free lot at the end of Olivia St. It's an easy walk to the house, about a block. Also, you can park your scooter or bike at the free scooter parking areas located at the corner of Olivia and Thomas, also about a block away.
IMPORTANT NOTE: the "path" that leads up to our house is an easement and cannot be used for anything other than walking to and from our house. (no bicycles, no scooters, no parking/hanging out, smoking and joking, etc). Our neighbors are finicky about it.
Miscellaneous
- The house door codes during your stay will be the last 4 numbers of the person's phone number that booked the reservation.
- There is a hot tub on the back porch. You're welcome to use it, we have it cleaned weekly.
- Pets are not allowed at The Rooster Nest. Sorry
- There are a couple of Alexa Echos in the house and on the porch so you can easily say "Alexa play Yacht Rock" and have your music inside and/or out. We just have to keep the noise down during quiet hours of 10pm-7am.
- Wi-Fi access and other misc. info. is located on the fridge.
- The remote for the porch string lights is attached to the side of the fridge.
- There's a Ring camera on the couch side table in the living room near the lamp. You should unplug it when you arrive for privacy, we just ask that you plug it back in before you leave.
- There are wine, sunset, dolphin and snorkel tours available if you're interested. They're a very nice and a very cool Key West experience. (Our friend is a boat captain for Fury so if you want to do any of this let me know and I'll try to get you a discount). We also recommend their jet ski island tour.
- The concrete wall that's in front of our house is NOT ours. It is actually on the neighbor's property so please don't put anything on the wall (towels, drinks, etc)......Our neighbors are not the most friendly people so please be mindful and make sure you stay on public property and our property.
- Our neighbors have Ring cameras so be mindful of what you say and do once you walk out of or up to our front door...
- Communal snacks and condiments are in the cabinet/fridge and Instacart will deliver food, beer and liquor from Publix. The driver will need to see someone's ID at delivery. The closest liquor store is KWest Liquors at 705 Duval Street, if there's anything you need to make your own drinks at the house. Cheers!!
- Please bag all trash and put it in one of the cans in the rear of the house.