Hurricane Ike Update

Well we sure dodged a bullet.  Hurricane Ike passed through the Florida Keys as a Tropical Storm.  I was out on the water today and took some photos of Little Palm Island and a local neighborhood that show we faired well.

 

There was a mandatory evacuation of our Tourists on Friday, September 5th and of residents on Saturday September 6th.  Some guests in the Keys wonder why we do this……well we’ll tell ya.

On Friday, the track of Ike showed the possibility of the center of the storm over the 7 mile bridge as a category 4 storm possibly hitting as soon as Sunday.  That would have been devastating.  Not only do we want to ensure the safety of our visitors, let’s be honest, we need you off the road when we need to get out! 

In all seriousness, the Florida Keys and Key West have been dealing with Hurricanes for many years.  Our Tourist Development Counsil is one of the best and has put together a great plan to keep everyone safe and informed.  You can find answers to frequently asked questions and more information here.

Again, we feel lucky that the storm stayed to the West of us and our thoughts and prayers are with those in Texas and the surrounding states that had a more devastating hit.

SUMMER TRAVEL TIPS

TIPS IF YOU ARE FLYING

CHECK THE AIRLINES BAGGAGE RULES
Some airlines are compensating for the high fuel prices by charging for oversized bags.  Check your airlines restrictions and measure your bag before your go.  Most require a linear measurement which is length + width + height.

WEIGH YOUR BAG BEFORE YOU GO
Airlines are also offsetting high fuel costs by charging very high prices for overweight bags.  Check your airlines website for weight restrictions before you pack.

BRING A JACKET
Many pilots overcompensate for the heat in the summer by cranking up the air.  It may be 90 outside but feel like the arctic on the plane.

TIPS IF YOU ARE DRIVING

CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE
According to statistics provided by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration, the Possible savings of avoiding under inflated tires is between $100.00 to $200.00 per year depending upon how much you drive and how under inflated your tires may be.

IF YOU’RE DRIVING WITH CHILDREN CHECK OUT PLACES TO STOP ALONG THE WAY
Long trips can be especially tough for children.  Taking breaks along the way can help.  Check out our Fl Keys driving guide for places to stop along the way.

KEEP A STEADY PACE
Sticking to the speed limit is not only safe but generally more fuel efficient.  Set your cruise control.  Slowing and speeding up takes more fuel that driving at a steady pace.

TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE
Guess what, you have no choice.  The route to the Keys is the scenic route.  Take your time – stop and smell the sea air.  Take some photos and have some fun!

Testimonials

Fish on Travel,

     Thank you for all the help and quick responses you gave me and my boyfriend. We throughly enjoyed our trip!! Duval Gardens was the PERFECT place for us…we loved the porch and being able to sit out there every night. The staff was also very helpful.  Getting to stay on the quiet end of Duval Street but being close enough to walk to everything was a great idea. Snorkeling with Segebo was the highlight of our trip…everyone was so friendly and the water was crystal clear!! Thank you again for all of your help!!

      Rachel

Just got back from Key West a few days ago. Wanted to say “Thanks!” for all of your assistance. We had a great time!  Beachside Resort was a great place to stay. Top notch! It was very spacious and the staff was courtious and friendly. The one-bedroom suite was perfect for 2-people.  We could have stayed there all summer!
 
Thanks again for everything. I will be booking future trips with you for sure!
 
Troy

 ”Dear Tamara and the entire Fish-on staff,

I just wanted to thank you for your quick responses to my always last minute requests.  You have always been on top of my reservations and able to get me in all the right places even with little or no notice.  I appreciate all the help, and I look forward to continued business in the future.”

Chris Esper
Miami, FL

“Imagine my surprise to get a phone call on a holiday from an on line merchant!!  I appreciate your attention.  If you’re the boss, then kudos for running such a tight ship, if an employee, please let the boss know I think you’re doing a great job!!  …….Thanks again, looking forward to doing more business with you.”

Sandy from North Carolina

“Our few days were outstanding, thank you! We will contact you next
January.”
Jim

“Dear Maggie,

I can not thank you enough for planning the perfect vacation for us.  Your attention to detail was second to none!  The room was perfect, the sunset sail was beautiful, and our day deep sea fishing was the best ever.   We’ll definately call you when planning our next trip to the Florida Keys!”

Roger and Mary Kay Wilkie

Memories of Dad

 I have fond memories of fishing with my Dad up north on the lake catching bluegills.   What a pleasure it was to be able to take my Dad fishing in the Florida Keys and have him catch a monster dolphin!

 

  Happy Father’s Day Dad.

 

 

Good News for You, Exciting News for Us

You’ve sure been keeping us busy and we’re glad we can help. Travel to the Florida Keys and Key West has never been more popular and we’re loving that we can advise so many of you on where to stay, where to go, and what to do.

That being said, we want to make sure that we provide you with the best service that we can offer. Because we’re so busy with the travel aspect of our company, we have decided to close the doors of the store. For now that is.

This is good news for you though. We’re offering our clothing line to you at wholesale prices so check it out. Everything must go so get it while you can.

We’ll be offering our sandals, belts, and wallets at great prices next month too. Look out for the email and shop for Father’s Day.

Thanks so much to all of you who recommend us. There is no better advertising than a happy client.

Travel Advice and Quotations

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.

Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” — Susan Heller

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” — Lao Tzu

“Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings.” –- Hodding Carter

“He who would travel happily must travel light.” — Antoine de St. Exupery

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” — James Michener

“Let your memory be your travel bag.” — Alexander Solzhenitsyn

“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.” — Fitzhugh Mullan

Why Use a Travel Agent

We recently read what we think is a great article on Tripology.com. We liked it so much, we thought we’d share it with you.

Why Consumer Travelers Should use a Travel Agent

These days with the Internet being so omnipresent (and you’re obviously using the Internet to read this!) some people think travel agents have become obsolete and old fashioned.

While it is true the Internet can be a useful resource and even a good way to book some travel arrangements directly, the Internet can also be deceptively helpful. There’s too much information out there, and much of it is not quality controlled. Just because a website looks good doesn’t mean its information is valuable, accurate or unbiased….. Worse still, if you have a problem with a booking…you might find there’s no-one available to help you when you most need it….

A good travel agent will provide you with a broader and more complete range of services than can be found on the Internet. And the ability to conveniently speak with a real person can make all the difference when you have a problem, or need some special advice or assistance.

…A good travel agent first gets to know you and learns about you, your approach to travel, what you like to see and do and how you like to do these things. They can then act as sounding boards…. and help ensure you get to see and do the things that are best for you and your preferred style of travel.

They can suggest extra places for you to visit that you hadn’t thought of….Travel agents scan and also volunteer other information such as how a slight change to your travel dates you might save on hotel or air fare costs, or how you might avoid a peak travel period.

A travel agent is there for you to talk to; to answer your questions, and to help you ‘get it right’ when you plan your travels. No web application can do this the same way a person does.

>> Continued: Read more about how travel agents can help you

You can now reach us at two locations.
Visit Fishon-Flkeys.com or FishonTravel.com!

Dinner Fish On Style

Now our favorite dinner as you can imagine is one that includes fresh fish caught in the Waters off of Key West. Many eateries will cook your fresh catch and some of our favorites for this are A&B Lobster House, Turtle Kraals, & Half Shell Raw Bar. Your captain might have a favorite too, make sure to ask him or her what their favorites restaurants are for cook your catch!

As we noted earlier, we are again bringing up Blue Heaven restaurant as a favorite eatery. Not only is it great for breakfast, but dinner is a favorite too. They have several fresh fish dishes that will make your mouth water but our all time favorite is the Caribbean Shrimp. On the weekends they also have live music that is performed on a stage that is nestled high up in a banyan tree over the bar. Now there’s a twist on a tree house!

Another favorite is the Rooftop cafe which is nestled above the treetops on front street across from Mallory Square. The tuna is of a special grade called Hawaiian tuna and will truly melt in your mouth. The crab and shrimp cake might be one of the best we’ve ever tried as well.

A few blocks over on Duval street is a charming restaurant called Bagatelle where you can sit on one of the wrap around balconies and dine while watching the commotion of Duval Street. Try the pecan crusted Dolphin or the cracked conch steak.

We hope you try out some of our favorites and if you’re here right now for New Years, don’t miss out on one of our three “drops” for New Years Eve. We’ve got the Pirate Wench drop at Schooner Wharf Bar, the Conch Shell drop at Sloppy Joes, and the infamous Red Shoe Drop from the Bourbon Street pub! Key West truly has something for everyone!

Happy New Years!

Lunch and Happy Hour Fish On Style

Well the journey continues on in the Southernmost city of Key West, and as promised, we’ll talk about our favorite lunch and happy hour spots. One of our favorites is Camille’s which is on Simonton street in the 800 block. It’s just a little bit off the beaten path but a great local favorite. By the way, Duval and Simonton run parallel to one another and the Gulf of Mexico starts the 100 block. That being said, Camille’s being in the 800 block would mean it’s 8 blocks from the Gulf. Anyway, the chicken salad sandwich is a Fish On favorite and Camille’s always have the best and most original homemade soup of the day.
Move on down to the Gulf and you have many choices for lunch in Key West right on the water. Alonzo’s oyster bar is another favorite. Try the open faced dolphin BLT with sun dried tomato pesto and homemade chips. Just a few steps around the Key West Bight and also on the water is Turtle Kraals where you can get great peel and eat shrimp or mangoe crab cakes amongst other tasty treats. They also have a tower bar that has a wonderful view of the Bight and is only opened during happy hour. We recommend one of the beers on special along with the spicy jalapeno poppers.
If you go for an early lunch at either Alonzo’s or Turtle Kraals, we suggest jumping on a nearby catamaran and going for an afternoon snorkel trip. It’s the perfect way to relax after a meal in Key West.
Catamarans are also great for happy hour. There are several catamarans and tall sailing ships that provide happy hour on the water with a great view of the sunset. Combining happy hour with a sunset sail is a great way to get the most for your money, something we at Fish On always encourage.
If you are really up for an adventure, take a taxi over to Hurricane Hole Marina on Stock Island. It’s the first island just east of Key West and it won’t take you more than five to seven minutes to get there from any where in Key West. It is a real locals favorite for happy hour. Oh, I might mention that you should be a pet lover as everyone brings their dogs to happy hour at Hurricane Hole too. Drinks are two for one and if you have a sense of humor, take a minute to read the Hurricane hole drinking rules posted on the piling.

Now, here’s where the adventure comes in (and we can make arrangements for you for any of these adventures on the water so no need to get out your pen). Just finish your drink, grab your camera, and head on over to one of the local boats for a full speed ride across the Gulf. They’ll take their time in a few spots to let you take photos and have a chance to spot a stingray or barracuda, but then hold on, these boats cruise up to 55 miles per hour!

Stay tuned, we’ll finish the Fish On Style posts next time with our favorite places for dinner!

Breakfast in Key West Fish On Style

Thanks for tuning back in to The Florida Keys Fish On Style. In this post we will share a few of our favorite restaurants for breakfast and favorite dishes served there.

One of our favorites is a hidden little gem called Blue Heaven. If you weren’t looking for it you probably would walk right by without even knowing that nestled back in the banyan trees is one of the best eateries in town. Feast on banana pancakes with walnut syrup or fresh seafood omelets at a hand painted picnic table and enjoy true Key West ambiance. Even though Blue Heaven is a wonderful place for Breakfast, we will have to mention that the Caribbean Shrimp on the dinner menu is probably the best shrimp we’ve ever tasted.

Another breakfast favorite with true Key West flair is Pepes Cafe. After a night with a few too many cocktails on Duval Street, this is the perfect spot to cure what ails you. At breakfast time they serve everything from traditional breakfast and build your own omelets, to pancakes to creamed chipped beef. They use real butter, jumbo eggs, and Hormel bacon. To add to our list of really yummy big breakfasts that won’t break the bank, make sure to stop by Two Friends Patio Restaurant. You can have a morning meal for as little as $4.00 or spend just a few dollars more and get a huge omelet filled with fresh seafood. Be sure to wash it down with an Absolute Peppar Bloody Mary, another cure for too long a night on Duval Street.

If a bistro setting is more your style, try out Croissants de France. It is considered one of the best Bakery, Pastry and Chocolaterie of the lower Keys. Their crepes and gallettes are some of the best and most unique in the world in our optinion.Where else would you find a crepe filled with Green Salad, Goat Cheese, Nuts, Raisins, Hearts of Palm, or another favorite with big chunks of fresh Mahi Mahi in our special Seafood Béchamel. Yum!

Stay tuned, next week we’ll cover lunch and happy hour!