Just came back from the Florida Keys

[Donut Lord]

[Donatello.]

Awesome. How are the hotel rates, still crazy COVID-like rates? We wanted to go there this year, but pricing seems to still be nuts

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

Awesome. How are the hotel rates, still crazy COVID-like rates? We wanted to go there this year, but pricing seems to still be nuts

That I cannot comment on exactly as we stayed at a rental house. So idk about hotels, but $1500-2k on a really nice house for the week.

[chassis]

Good price for a house in a reasonable location near peak season.

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by chassis

Good price for a house in a reasonable location near peak season.

Agreed!

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by Donut Lord

Agreed!

We're in Florida for 3 months this year, maybe 4 next year. I wish the Keys weren't so expensive because I'd love to spend the winter there. St. Petes will have to do I guess.

[M-technik-3]

Sounds like you had a fantastic time. When my unit did lots of Reserve training we used to bring the Seal Team's and the MK 5 SBU to Key West and Roosevelt Roads on PR monthly. It was a good trip from San Diego or New Orleans to either place.

Stay on Duval Street and a great day off and head home on 4th day. Team's would get picked up 2 weeks later on reverse trip. Miss doing USAF some days as normal life is the same everyday.

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

We're in Florida for 3 months this year, maybe 4 next year. I wish the Keys weren't so expensive because I'd love to spend the winter there. St. Petes will have to do I guess.

One of my favorites in Florida is Sanibel Island, but they got destroyed a few years ago from a hurricane. Still rebuilding and those who reopened already are asking for like 2-3x the money from before to recoup lost income.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Donut Lord

One of my favorites in Florida is Sanibel Island, but they got destroyed a few years ago from a hurricane. Still rebuilding and those who reopened already are asking for like 2-3x the money from before to recoup lost income.

We spent three weeks on Sanibel back in '80 and enjoyed it tremendously. It's a shame how hard it got hit.

We thought about going back down this winter, but one look at the shape it's in made clear that it will be some time before the island is fully restored. I expect the prices will be even higher once reconstruction is complete.

[MADBMWX5MC]

That's a great price for the rental.

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by dradernh

We spent three weeks on Sanibel back in '80 and enjoyed it tremendously. It's a shame how hard it got hit.

We thought about going back down this winter, but one look at the shape it's in made clear that it will be some time before the island is fully restored. I expect the prices will be even higher once reconstruction is complete.

Yeah like the hurricane literally took the bridge out. Could only get to the island by boat. Amazed at how fast they can build a bridge when some disaster happens but when normal scheduled they take 3 years lol

like the one on I95 near Philly I want to say? Half the lanes collapsed, they did it in a week. If they actually did it normally would be years haha

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Donut Lord

Yeah like the hurricane literally took the bridge out. Could only get to the island by boat. Amazed at how fast they can build a bridge when some disaster happens but when normal scheduled they take 3 years lol

like the one on I95 near Philly I want to say? Half the lanes collapsed, they did it in a week. If they actually did it normally would be years haha

Yes, that the Philadelphia reconstruction could be effected in such a remarkably short period of time compared to decades of watching it take forever+ for regular work to be completed was instructive, wasn't it.

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The Philly drama reminded me of the I-580 Oakland CA Bay Bridge approach collapse of '07, when a gasoline tanker truck caught fire and dropped a section of freeway leading to the country's fifth most-trafficked rush hour bridge. In that case, it was fortunate it took place late at night and the driver survived.

The state's seemingly aggressive estimate for how soon the repair could be completed was 50 days. One of CA's true originals, C.C. Myers, said his construction company could do it in half the time. Due to his company's history of delivering on state contracts, the state took him up on his offer. The work was completed in 17 days.

IIRC, the incentive was $1 million for every day the contractor came in ahead of schedule. No doubt the state, county, and city dispensed with the usual b.s. in smoothing the way for a rapid return to normal.

Then, of course, everything returned to normal.

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Sounds like you had a fantastic time. When my unit did lots of Reserve training we used to bring the Seal Team's and the MK 5 SBU to Key West and Roosevelt Roads on PR monthly. It was a good trip from San Diego or New Orleans to either place.

Stay on Duval Street and a great day off and head home on 4th day. Team's would get picked up 2 weeks later on reverse trip. Miss doing USAF some days as normal life is the same everyday.

Thanks for sharing!

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by MADBMWX5MC

That's a great price for the rental.

Yep, it was pretty nice too.

As a renter doesn't matter, but the thing I dislike about the Keys if I was an owner is while the land is all the same price basically give or take, you can have a $10M house next to a $20k trailer next-door then next to that a $10M house.

Surprised I don't hear about too many squatter problems in those areas.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Donut Lord

As a renter doesn't matter, but the thing I dislike about the Keys if I was an owner is while the land is all the same price basically give or take, you can have a $10M house next to a $20k trailer next-door then next to that a $10M house.

The Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo is one place on the Keys to solve that problem. It's extremely expensive, though.

[floridaorange]

My Dad's closest friend is the Dr. for the residents at Ocean Reef Club. Cool gig

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by dradernh

The Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo is one place on the Keys to solve that problem. It's extremely expensive, though.

yeah but to me personally Key Largo doesn't count. Obviously the first key you hit, most commercialized, the most resorts/hotels. Honestly, it feels like Myrtle Beach Florida Edition.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Donut Lord

yeah but to me personally Key Largo doesn't count. Obviously the first key you hit, most commercialized, the most resorts/hotels. Honestly, it feels like Myrtle Beach Florida Edition.

I don't doubt it. I haven't been to the Keys since 1970; it would be unrecognizable to me after all this time.

[Donut Lord]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I don't doubt it. I haven't been to the Keys since 1970; it would be unrecognizable to me after all this time.

Nah I am sure Key West is the same except prob new random stores in New Town

[eliphil]

Originally Posted by dradernh

The Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo is one place on the Keys to solve that problem. It's extremely expensive, though.

My buddy from high school has a place there. It’s exclusive and self contained but pretty isolated. I did catch my first sail fish there. It was really incredible