Lodging in and around Everglades-Royal Palm

[Brian P Bower CamraScapes]

The purpose of my trip to the Everglades is bird photography.

I'd appreciate any recommendations for lodging close to the Homestead

entrance of the Everglades. I want to visit the Inhinga Trail at

Royal Palm and also Flamingo in the middle of February.

Any experiences at Flamingo's lodging would be most appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help. Brian P. Bower

[marcus_erne]

Hi Brian,

 

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I 've been twice in the area. The first time I stayed at the Howard Johnson Lodge in Homestead. Good price (approx. $ 45 in December '97), clean and it takes about 15 minutes by car to the park entrance.

The 2nd time I stayed on Key Largo, close to other nice OPS as well and from there it takes you at least 45 minutes, but you have the beach (depending on your Hotel) near by.

 

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I can't commend on the Flamingo Lodge, but it is located damn close to Ecco Pond (and the hungry 'glades-mosquitos).

[larry_hensley]

The Flamingo Lodge has very basic rooms but an above average restaurant. The mosquitoes can be brutal before the first cold temperatures arrive.

[al_menk]

I've stayed twice at the Hampton Inn and would reccommend to anyone

visiting the Everglades at Homestead / Florida City entrance. It is

the closest acceptable lodging outside of the park, has an excellant

complmentry breakfast and is easy access to the park and also

the Keys. About 10 miles to the Anhinga Trial. Florida City and

Homestead are high crime areas and signs are posted the protect your

valuables. The Hampton has a security guard. The road to the park

takes you by the Dade County prison. Flamingo has cabins as well as a

hotel style lodging.

[don_baccus]

The Flamingo is expensive, around $100/night. It is damned close to

Eco Pond. So is the $4/night walk-in campground within walking

distance of the Flamingo's restuarant.

[wesley_ebisuzaki]

There are many motels on Route 1. Stayed at EconoLodge and Ramada in

Florida City. Both were up to EconoLodge/Ramada standards. As for

crime, "high crime rate" is a relative term. BTW look for the

motel-coupon booklets.

 

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You can camp in the park; however, the insects can be brutal.

 

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From Florida City, you drive through the Keys. Got some nice photos

of egrets and hurons at Anne's Beach.

[steve_fletcher]

I recommend the Flamingo lodge for aesthetic reasons. I've done the other route, wherein you stay as close to but outside of the park as possible (Homestead, et al.). It works, but the difference for me was how wonderfully isolated and therefore quiet and relaxing the Flamingo was. The rooms were comfortable, and everything is screened against insects. The problem with Florida is it is about the most crassly commercialized state in the union, which means if you try to save money by going to a budget hotel chain you end up in a nasty place, a major truck throughfare, what have you. Didn't seem important to me intitally, but after my last stay at the Flamingo I don't plan to do it any other way. Sometimes we forget, I think, that these photo vacations, although lots of work, are STILL VACATIONS!! Have to remind myself of that from time to time. Anyway, my two cents.