Swanky Retreats

A SWANKY ROAD TRIP THE FLORIDA KEYS

Driving thru Homestead, Florida I pass on the last chance for gas in the continental US and smooth the pedal heading south on US 1, The Overseas Highway. The All-American Road transports vehicles along the Lawton Chiles Trail, it’s a tongue of asphalt that will take me through the largest of the 1,700 islands that are the Florida Keys. In a few days, I’ll finish 130 miles later having threaded the third largest barrier reef in the world and ending in their best known spot, Key West.

I watch for the roadside distance markers that count down my progress, the first stop is in Key Largo, yes, that Key Largo, as in Bogey and Bacall. I drive about 45 minutes through the last bit of Everglades marshland, checking the timeless, natural beauty of Florida’s unique ecosystem and head for Mile Marker 101 where Dolphin Point Villas will be the home base for a couple of days and nights of Upper Keys exploration.

Dolphin Point Villas’ philosophy, “Get Lost in Paradise, not in a Crowd” is the Siren Song that pulls me to that luxury getaway. Designed for those who want a vacation where family and close friends can get together in tropical bliss while in Key Largo, the heart of the Upper Keys, THE Borguss family’s plan is to operate a resort hotel with the feel of an estate property, surprisingly, with no hidden or extra “resort fees” and that means the kayaks and paddleboards are free for guests. Let’s go!

Upon check in, I ask a few questions to finish off what I’d learned on the Villas’ website and decide whether I want a house or a hotel suite. Dolphin Point is the place for me, as my options are among six standalone structures, four of which can be divided via a lockable pass-through door, making one side a

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