When I think about the Florida Keys, it conjures up quintessential beach vacation images in my head. What about you? I recently visited on a solo trip and it totally lived up to what I imagined. Here’s my full guide on solo female travel in Key Largo with everything you need to know to plan an awesome trip. I’ve also linked some other guides at the end which have even more tips for visiting Key Largo. Even if you’re not going solo, it’ll help you start planning for an awesome beach vacay. Let me know if you have any questions otherwise I hope you have a great time there!
Solo Female Travel In Key Largo + How To Plan An Awesome Trip
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
What makes it a good solo trip?
Key Largo is a fantastic solo trip for a beach vacation. Picture yourself eating lots of seafood, sipping on cocktails by the beach, and doing fun outdoor activities on the water.
What I like about it is that you can make it adventurous with outdoor activities, or just chill by the beach and hit the spa to relax. There’s enough variety that it suits just about any solo traveler. If you’re looking to test out solo traveling, this is a great beginner solo travel option too.
Which airport to fly to
There are a couple of options if you are flying.
Miami – a little over an hour away
Fort Lauderdale – just under 2 hours
Key West – a little over 2 hours
Miami or Fort Lauderdale are your best bet since they are closest to Key Largo.
Of course you can also drive in from mainland Florida if you will be driving there.
What is the best way to get to Key Largo from Miami airport
If you fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale, you have a few options to get to Key Largo.
The most convenient way but also most expensive way is to hire a driver. Twelve Transfers offer private cars, convenience, and riding in style. Uber is a cheaper option if you want a private car.
The cheapest option is taking a Greyhound or the Keys Shuttle.
You could also rent a car at the airport and drive to Key Largo.
Best time to go to Key Largo
November to March is the peak season for Key Largo so that is when it’ll be the most crowded and expensive.
On the shoulder of those would still allow you mild weather with fewer crowds.
June to November is the hurricane season so this is the time when you will be most impacted by the weather with potential boat tour cancellations or flights being impacted. I visited in August and there was a tropical storm watch on the first day and a few rainy patches. It was otherwise still gorgeous and there were hardly any crowds.
Exploring on a rainy day
Money
The United States Dollar (USD) is the currency in Key Largo. It is very easy to pay for things with card, even smaller purchases.
As with most places, it’s good to have some cash on you in small bills for tipping.
In the US, tipping is expected for most service roles – drivers, servers, spa staff, tour guides etc.
Where to stay
I recommend booking your stay at the Reefhouse Resort and Marina (formerly Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort.)
This is where I stayed and it was a fantastic experience. I love so many things about staying here.
It has a beach on site with an awesome bar – there are not many sandy beaches in the Keys so this is a big treat. There’s also a big range of activities you can do from the hotel like take snorkel tours, rent Watersport equipment, or visit the full spa. Having access to all that only a few steps from my room was so convenient and saved money on transportation too.
It was the ultimate in relaxation.
You can check out my full review here if you’d like more details.
I made a list of a few hotels before I decided what my style would be for this trip. The others I had in mind were Largo Resort or Playa Largo Resort & Spa on the higher end and Seafarer Key Largo Resort and Beach on the more budget end.
Either way, I recommend booking through Booking.com because it’s what I use to book my accommodation when I travel and can always have a good deal there.
Beach views at the Marriott
How to get around
If you don’t have a car, the best way to get around is by Uber. It was always easy to get a ride and I didn’t have to wait too long.
I walked some trips as well to save money and it was nice, but super hot as it’s open to the elements. Around the hotel that I recommended was ok but some areas had no footpath so I was just walking on the side of the highway.
Some hotels rent bicycles which you can use to get around on the walking and bicycling path in some areas of Key Largo.
Some areas had walking and bicycle paths on the side of the road, others were like this were you walk directly next to traffic
What to wear
For female travelers, there’s no specific dress code for Key Largo and you’re free to dress as you prefer.
It’s a laid back place and a casual dress code is standard at most places. I definitely recommend having a nice maxi dress to wear after you feast on all the great seafood there!
Lobster tail topped with crab cake = heaven!
Safety tips
I recommend the standard safety precautions you would use traveling anywhere. Just use your common sense and look out for yourself. This is my full guide of safety tips for solo female travelers which will help you prepare for your trip.
The main safety tips that I think are specific for Key Largo would be around the water. Make sure you stay hydrated, protect yourself from the heat, and if you’ll be doing things on the water by yourself (e.g. kayaking) then tell someone where you’re going.
Solo kayaking adventure
Packing essentials
You’re packing for the beach baby! Of course, you probably know how to pack your swimsuit and cover ups but here are a few extras I recommend.
- Energy gels are good to give you a boost after a big snorkel session. If you don’t get those, a Gatorade also works, just something combat the dehydration.
- This solid toiletries kit is really nice on the skin after spending all day in the sun and saltwater.
- A good underwater camera – this is the one I always use and I use it with this floaty selfie stick when I am in the water. I also take this compact selfie stick and tripod for selfies when I’m not in the water.
- Reef safe sunscreen.
- Lightweight towel to save you carrying around a bulky hotel towel if you go out kayaking or on another adventure.
Other guides you might enjoy:
- How To Prepare For A Snorkel Tour So That It’s An Epic Time
- A Complete Guide On How To See The Christ Of The Abyss Statue In Key Largo
- A Practical Guide On How To Pick The Best Camera For Traveling
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