This past week saw me take my second visit to the Island House resort in Key West, Florida, USA. Long term readers of Gay Times may be thinking the name Island House sounds familiar – they have advertised in the magazine for years!
Island House is a gay men’s clothing optional resort based in Key West – the southernmost point of the Florida Keys and USA. It first opened in 1976 and now has 36 rooms with loads of facilities:
- Heated pool
- 24-hour bar and café (though no alcohol between 4 – 7am)
- The best happy hour!
- Two hot tubs (one indoor, one outdoor)
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Onsite gym
- Adult cinema, cruise area
- Large sun deck (smoking area)
- Onsite massage therapist
We booked Island House because they had advertised in GT for so long, and also the online reviews and pictures. Though I have to say I think the website could do with being updated – the mobile version is much better.
This past week has been my 2nd visit, and talking to many of the guys here that is quite common … People come back. And if it didn’t take so long to get there I would happily go a couple of times a year.
Located at the end of Fleming Street the hotel is about a 10 – 15minute walk from Duval Street, there is a great little bakery around the corner (Old Town Bakery). The fantastic Michael’s restaurant a few minutes’ stroll away, and I highly recommend a visit for dinner!
With over 30 rooms to choose from and rates from $99 to $649 a night (depending on time of year and room type) you will be able to find a room to fit your budget. Or if you want to stay elsewhere you can also visit as a day guest, lockers available and full access to the facilities (and boys).
The rooms are lovely, I stayed in the same poolside room both visits, and I’m sure will book the same one again next time. Daily housekeeping visits, quality Aveda toiletries supplied and coffee maker (with decent supply of coffee), large fridge, and Xfinity cable. Though I have to say if you can find most channels without giving up you are doing better than me! They seem to be absolutely no order to them.
The main resort area surrounds the good sized heated outdoor pool. Even here in Key West it needs to be heated, it makes a real treat as you step in … No shudder as you feel the chill of the water touch your balls. And of course means that at night it’s still warm to float around in.
Overlooking the pool is the café and bar. Food is available 24hours a day (menus on the website) and its excellent quality! I love the selection available, it’s not just the typical “American” sandwiches and fries selection. And of course they are so helpful on making meals that suit your tastes and preferences. And the chocolate cake is to die for!
When you stay here your room also includes the free poolside happy hour daily from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. This is a complimentary open-bar of all premium brand spirits, craft beer, and champagne!
As good as the resort is, they need to have good staff. And here the staff are awesome! Super friendly, flirty and excellent at their jobs. America understands and appreciates the service industry, and these guys do it very well. So many of the staff we recognised from our stay a year ago, and I suspect many have been here for quite a few years.
Island House attracts a great mix of friendly sociable guests, of all ages and sizes! There is also a nice mix of residents and day guests, many of the locals use Island House as their local “Club”, spending the day here enjoying the facilities on offer.
Sunday afternoons are Naked Pool Party, these can get very busy at peak times of year with the pool and bar full of naked men! You won’t know where to look first! And of course Wednesday, being Hump Day, has a pool party too (5pm – 8pm) which has an extended Happy Hour.
If you want a few days, a week or even a few weeks leave from the world I would highly recommend Island House.
If you want to relax with cocktails by the pool, you can. If you want to relax with a cigar naked under the stars, you can. If you want to get a blowjob in the sauna or cinema, you can. If you want to have breakfast at the bar naked, you can. If you want to sit in shorts and t-shirt by the pool watching the world go by, you can. If you want to visit somewhere to relax, enjoy the company of other guys, chat and enjoy good food and drinks without the pressure to have sex, you can.
It has a really relaxed vibe about it, and you can enjoy the time to unwind and chill as you want. I’m sure some guys turn up for a few days in nothing but the clothes they are wearing and toothbrush, and then leave in the same clothes having not worn anything their entire stay,
I’m already planning a return visit.