Please help a DC area bumpie :)

Useonfire

Ladies, DH and I are heading to Miami 2 weeks from today for my DH's cousin's wedding.  We're planning to spend 3 or 4 nights afterward at the beach somewhere else and we're torn about where to go (yep, 2 weeks out and we've not planned it or bought plane tix!)

I narrowed it down to 2 places for us to stay.  Both are on the beach, kid friendly, and the hotels/condos have full kitchens and two rooms (DS will get his own room with a crib) and are fairly affordable for what it is - around $150/nt.  However, they're in 2 totally different locations.  One is in Ft. Myers (which I've never been) but the oil spill could affect the location 2 weeks from now (says my MIL, repeatedly). However, this place gets RAVE reviews  And the other is in Key Largo - we've always wanted to go to the Keys.  The place gets mostly great reviews and is actually slightly cheaper than the Ft. Myers place. It'll come down to what to do around each place I think.  So if any of you have input you'd be willing to share, I'd be really grateful  Here are the 2 places:

Kay Largo - https://www.opsuites.com/

Ft. Myers - https://www.pointeestero.com

cocojack10

Not familiar w/ either hotel, but the beach at Ft Myers is a lot better / family friendly than Key Largo (not much of a beach).  Just keep in mind, Ft Myers is about 2.5 hrs from Miami; Key Largo is about 1 hr South - so for both locations, a car will be needed (not sure if considered).

Personally, I'd go w/ Ft Myers.  Dh and I will be a bit further north than FM in 2 wks, and aren't overly concerned right now about the oil spill, FWIW.  : )

Useonfire

We def. will be renting a car.  Just have to decide where we'll be flying home from - Ft. Myers or Miami.  Of course the resort in Ft. Myers is a stone's throw from the airport which is nice! But I wonder how to get MIL off my back about the oil spill.

cocojack10

Not sure if you have priced out flights out of Ft Myers, but I'm guess it is a smaller airport.  It may be more economical to drive to Tampa, Orlando, or back to MIA to go back home.  Just check the different options.  Besides, maybe you go to Tampa or Orlando a day before, and can enjoy a park. : )

As for MIL, reassure her you would never put DS in danger, and if anything comes up shore, you will not enter the ocean, just enjoy the pool.

GL

Useonfire

Yeah there are cheap direct flights from Ft Myers to DC so that is helpful. Also, I told MIL the exact thing you said and of course her response is "why even chance it?"  Can you tell she's the type of person to step on someone's last nerve? Fortunately, I told what you said to DH this morning and he's like Cool, let's go to Ft. Myers and MIL will just have to deal.  So that is nice.

allison8878

You don't live too far from me :-) I work in Ashburn but live on the MD/VA border off of Rt. 15. I'm a SoFl transplant.
Anyway, I second the Ft Myers recommendation. It is definitely family friendly and the Southwest Regional Airport (I think that's the official name of it) is brand new with great rates from DCA, IAD, and even BWI.

MrsLeanna

Ditto what Jackie said - Key largo is nice, but there's not a LOT to do for families.  I would also go with Ft Myers.  Also look into Marco Island, it's right next to Ft Myers but I think it's a little more of a vacation spot.  As for the oil spill, if there is any danger, officials will close the beach, there won't be any guess work.  If that happens, I'm sure they have a pool

kanaud

I was going to suggest Marco Island as well, pretty close to Naples, nice beaches, great hotels and kid friendly.  Marco is probably about 2 hour drive from Miami, depending on where you are in Miami.

cocojack10

kanaud:

I was going to suggest Marco Island as well, pretty close to Naples, nice beaches, great hotels and kid friendly.  Marco is probably about 2 hour drive from Miami, depending on where you are in Miami.

About 1hr 15 min from airport area, if that helps.