Amara Cay Resort Islamorada: A Luxury Island Oasis in the Florida Keys

I am always searching for a fabulous staycation spot in my home state of Florida. I recently experienced the beautiful Amara Cay Resort which is nestled in the lovely and laid-back Islamorada. The Sport Fishing Capital of the World, Islamorada is located in the Florida Keys – hallway between Key West and Miami! This is an ideal destination for families with its clear and calm waters, towering palm trees, sandy beaches, and breathtaking sunsets. It’s an equally appealing spot for divers and snorkelers, thanks to a colorful variety of shallow coral reefs and shipwrecks! It’s safe to say, you won’t get bored here.

I was easily drawn into the lobby with its bright interiors, wood features, and large hanging chairs that are so Instagrammable! There is a daily resort fee of $30 which is incredible value considering all that comes with it: fast WiFi, unlimited use of beach chairs and pool towels, access to the fitness center, bicycles, kayaks, paddle-boards, lawn games, and a Mercedes van to shuttle guests within a 4 mile radius. After a few moments, I was easily checked into my Oceanfront Deluxe One Bedroom Suite.

Accommodations at Amara Cay Resort

Upon entering our stunning Oceanfront Deluxe One Bedroom suite, we were greeted with a delicious welcome tray of cheese, crackers, fruit, and sparkling water. I love thoughtful touches like these and Amara Cay Resort did not disappoint!  Our spacious home-away-from-home was stylishly furnished and offered a generous workspace, living area, and two comfortable queen beds with premium bedding and triple sheeting. All suites have a queen size sleeper sofa as well. I was also happy to learn that Amara Cay is pet-friendly, I’ll certainly keep this in mind for next time so I can bring my two pups along!

This suite would be ideal for families as there’s a very nice kitchenette area incase you want to make breakfast in the room or enjoy an evening snack without having to always go out. What I enjoyed the most about the room was the ocean views and our private, furnished balcony. We enjoyed waking up to the ocean and seeing the bright moon shine over it at night.

Dining Options at Amara Cay Resort

We had worked up an appetite from the drive over and decided to dine at Reel Burger which is Amara Cay’s restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can enjoy views of the pool, ocean, and palm trees, or even grab some food and cocktails at their Reel Burger Tiki Bar which is poolside. We chose to eat inside in their comfortable contemporary interiors for a delicious lunch. I enjoyed the Sonoma Chicken Bowl, a healthy and colorful option while my friend had their duo mini signature sliders with melted cheese. Their milkshakes are absolutely fabulous as well. We loved our experience here so much that we visited for breakfast the next day and feasted on French toast and fresh fruit. 

In the evening, we boarded their complimentary Mercedes shuttle and drove a few miles away to Amara Cay’s sister property: Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina. Here we dined at Ciao Hound Italian Kitchen & Bar for a scrumptious dinner. This restaurant can be fun and family friendly during the day but it has plenty of style in the evening for romantic dinners and date nights. I chose to start with their baked spinach artichoke fondue with creamy ricotta, fontina sauce, tomato jam and crostini. My main course was the eggplant parmigiana, baked with parmesan panko crumbs, a homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Both were so filling that I didn’t even have room for dessert but I was more than satisfied! 

Beach and Pool Area at Amara Cay

I absolutely loved Amara Cay’s private beach where you can choose to relax in beach chairs, hammocks, or under one of their thatched huts. There’s even a pier and seaside dock to walk along which is a great photo spot, especially around sunset time. If you’re more of a pool person, like me, you can enjoy their zero entry pool surrounded by palm trees that will keep you shaded. It was the perfect spot to enjoy a great summer book!

If you are adventurous you can take out kayaks, paddle boards, or one of the bikes they have available to guest of the resort to use. I was also blown away with the amount of indoor activities at Amara Cay Resort. They provide indoor ping pong and fuse ball tables. This is especially ideal if there’s a rainy day and the kids need to be entertained!

Amara Cay Resort perfectly combines comfort and elegance. Their neutral interior tones and tropical surroundings are incredibly calming and enjoyable for any type of vacation. I would visit again in a heartbeat and I recommend you do so as well! 

Disclosure:  I was a guest of Amara Cay Resort, and all opinions here are my own.