Islander Resort in Islamorada is back, reinvigorated and ready for guests, following its closure from damage sustained from Hurricane Irma.
Unveiling its reimagined, luxury oceanside experience, the resort — built from the ground up — features 114 rooms on roughly 24 acres. Eric Carlson, resort manager, said in a recent sit-down with the Weekly that the resort maintains the Keys feeling all while bringing new amenities and technologies that rival other resorts.
“We have a better product than we ever had on this property,” he said. “We’re excited to show off some of our new features. The resort is brand new from top to bottom.”
One of the “wow” factors coming from guests, according to Carlson, is the landscaping throughout the resort. Trees and plants give the Islander a true tropical resort feel. Carlson said ownership handled that project personally and did a phenomenal job.
“There’s more color and more privacy here,” he said. “Guests are going to find enhanced landscaping offers much more privacy than they had in the past. And every corner you turn there’s a hammock or a seat waiting. There are plenty of areas to find your own space.”
Carlson says what separates the Islander Resort from the rest is its service, which includes transportation around the property 24 hours a day, poolside and beach-side service, new cabanas that’ll soon be available as well as massage tables under tiki huts.
There are activities for children to enjoy throughout the day so parents can get some time to themselves. Along with a full-time concierge, guests have the ability to text to the front desk or to the restaurant with requests wherever they are on resort grounds, through a service called Kipsu.
Within the next couple weeks, Carlson said, the resort will offer off-property transportation for guests using vehicles similar to FreeBee. The ride service moves guests around Upper Matecumbe.
As to the reception the resort’s getting, Carlson said it’s all been positive.
“People from both our hotel guests and local residents visiting the property and using the restaurants really seem to enjoy the changes,” he said. “It’s nice when people walk in and they’re wowed and can appreciate it more.”
While the best features of the property are the grounds and service, the resort also features two pools and a jacuzzi tub and a restaurant that’ll soon open. The resort also has a pier and an expansive beach where guests can enjoy water sports, yoga and relaxation.
“There is as much or as little to find here to do,” Carlson said. “We could’ve had 10 times the rooms. We offer our guests a unique experience to have for themselves. Every inch of this property has been touched, manicured, updated. We’re really excited to show off our new product here.”
More information on the resort is at www.islanderfloridakeys.com.
