Below average experience, not friendly - the only thing saving the place currently is great view and location First off, we don't normally take time to write negative reviews, and generally only write positive to help the staff and workers, etc, get props they deserve, whether it's a hotel, show, boat trp, park, etc. But in this case, it was just too bad to not say anything.
This hotel is in a great location if you love Islamorada (which we do, and go multiple times per year). We are always looking to try new locations, and since this is near all the spots we love and was available, we decided to try it out. Also, it is right next to the Drop Anchor hotel, which is actually excellent, has a similar aesthetic (but much nicer grounds, since they put some energy into it) - but the Drop Anchor is sooooo much better (but was fully booked at the time).
The staff is the number one issue with this location. The attitude problems are endless - they clearly don't get customer service/hospitality. We are not uppity people, and are very basic, with little needs for people going out of their way to make us feel welcome. However, when people are rude on the phone when we are simply asking some basic questions about check in, and we are even being extra polite to them because we can hear their misery, but yet they still can't muster basic professionalism of answering nicely, and completely, let alone making rude comments, and sighing because they are lazy and tired of talking on the phone to guests; simply unacceptable. Same with arrival and getting the key, signing in, and asking about amenities, etc. These people are not happy with their desk job, and simply need to work elsewhere, doing something they enjoy, or realizing it's a job, and needs to be done at least somewhat well, especially in this business.
When asking for an extra bottle of conditioner (they had only supplied one bottle for the two nights we stayed, but two of everything else, and my wife has long hair and wanted an extra bottle) the front desk supplied it, but again, acted like the task was a tough one.
To be fair, one of the front desk attendants was a bit nicer/less negative/bored/disinterested than the other, but they were all sort of staring at their computer while talking to you, and not very interested or making any effort to make you feel welcome, let alone being friendly in any way. It was dead pan the entire conversation, even when trying to make them smile by being extra polite or friendly/enthusiastic, just to see if they could muster a positive reaction.
It's even worse when the maid comes to your door in the middle of the day, knocks, you open it, and say "Hi, how are you?" and they say just grunt and say "You need service?", and you say, "nah, we are good today, but thank you", and they say "well then put the do not disturb sign on your door so we know next time". Seriously? I need to accommodate you and know your preferences when staying here? Yikes.
Hot water – we were on the third floor, which I am guessing was the issue, but the water had to be run for a good ten minutes before it started getting warm.
Our friends stayed in another room, and saw a very large palmetto bug/roach running through their room on morning 2. Luckily we didn’t have any visitors in our room. It’s the Keys, sliding doors to patios, lots of foliage around, so not hard to see bugs, so not a major negative, but worth the mention.
Then; the property is nice and has wonderful potential, with a great morning view of the ocean and sunrise (amazing) - but the beach sand area, which is quite large, has zero shading, and not many chairs (which no one will sit in, unless they are looking to get cooked, because there's zero shade). The property right next door, the Drop Anchor, spent some money to put in some nice palms trees to create shaded areas on the beach, and tables with umbrellas, as well as some great hammocks. Fisher Inn, in contrast, is just bare. Even the swimming pool, which is decent, has zero shade, or anything you could move to shade yourself if you want.
I do not understand why the owners don't seem to care about guest satisfaction, and the massive potential their property has to be amazing (with a perfect example next door at Drop Anchor), but clearly they either don't want to spend a little extra money on some palms, tables and umbrellas, hammocks, tiki torches, or anything else that might finish off the experience, or they just don't care. I am guessing it's the latter, because the staff usually reflects the disconnect of the owner's, so maybe it's corporate owned, or the owners just don't take a vested interest in the guest experience.
The two table tennis setups are nice enough, but there are only 3 kayaks and two paddle boards, and they are not terrible, but it would seem having more would be better. They have around 8 bikes, I think, which looked decent enough. But it would seem having some more equipment, considering the hotel was full, would make more sense, and I am guessing people were not accommodated often, when other people wanted to use the equipment.
For the price per night, this was not a great place to stay, compared to so many others that are cheaper, or simply have a more friendly "Keys feel", or nicer rooms, and amenities. Definitely any Air BnB we have stayed at, and a number of hotels in the area, have all been as nice or nicer, with better amenities and most importantly, much friendlier staffs/owners who communicate in friendly/professional ways.
Not a terrible place, by far, but simply put, there are so many better choices until they change the staff attitude and fix the place up a bit.