Frequently Asked Questions

The Mermaid & The Alligator is located at 729 Truman Avenue, 3.5 blocks from Duval Street in the heart of Old Town. Duval Street is 14 blocks long and runs perpendicular to Truman, north to south, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. “Zero” Duval is on the north end of the street and block numbers increase as you travel south. Truman Avenue intersects Duval approximately nine blocks down from “Zero.”

Higgs Beach is the closest beach to us. It’s a neighborhood beach where you can rent Hobey Cats and beach chairs. Salute, a casual restaurant, serves lunch and dinner with no reservations needed. Next door is an antebellum brick fort, the West Martello Tower, with its beautiful tropical garden, a recently commemorated African Cemetery, and the Aids Memorial. South Beach at the south end of Duval is also a short walk from the inn.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park on the west side of the island has the best beach for swimming. You can rent snorkel equipment and explore the crevices around the stone jetties. Fort Zach is a bit of a hike on foot but is within 10 minutes on a bike.

Most guests who drive to Key West use our complimentary standard-size parking to leave their car and then walk or ride bikes everywhere. From our location, everything is within walking distance or a short bike ride. This includes Duval Street, beaches in Old Town, and top-rated attractions and activities. Key West is a bike-friendly town and a fun way to get around.

Parking is first come, first serve. Our Inn offers four regular parking spaces and one handicap space. There is free street parking also on a first come, first serve basis.

For your convenience, we offer onsite bike rental through an online service called Island Safari Rentals.

Key West International Airport is located across the island, a short 10-minute drive away. There are several cab companies that wait outside the arrival terminal. Uber/Lift typically arrives within 2-5 minutes.On a typical day, a cab/Uber/Lift ride from the airport to the hotel will cost anywhere between $16-$25.

By design, we have created a peaceful getaway atmosphere and do not have TVs in any of the guest rooms. There is a large flat-screen Xfinity TV in the living room with comfortable sofas available to our guests at any time.

All of our guest rooms offer Cubiotrio+ wireless charging with USB charging ports and Bluetooth Music Play.

No, we are not a clothing-optional hotel.

We provide pool and beach towels. We also have beach bags and sunscreen for you to use.

No. Our guest rooms have either a queen- or king-sized bed to accommodate up to two guests.

Yes, all our guest rooms have hair dryers.

Yes, all our rooms are air-conditioned. All upper-floor and cottage rooms have modern, quiet, split-type systems that you control. Ground-floor rooms in the mansion have central A/C. Also, all interior common spaces are air-conditioned.

Yes, we have a guest computer in the living room, which is connected to the printer in our office. We also have complimentary wireless internet available in the mansion, cottage, and gardens.

Generally, we have a three-night minimum stay for most of the year, and a four-night minimum stay during our winter months. Exceptions are during Fantasy Fest, Christmas, and New Year’s weeks when we require a six-night minimum stay. Shorter stays often occur between longer reservations, so we may be able to accommodate shorter stays. We encourage you to call us and inquire directly about your travel dates. August and September have two-night minimum stays during mid-week and three-night minimums on weekends.

To maintain the calming ambiance designed for romantic getaways and relaxation, we only accommodate children 16 years of age or older accompanied by their parents.

For the health and safety of our guests and the preservation of our historic homes, we are a smoke-free property. Smoking is not allowed on any balconies, porches, or outside garden areas. There is a $250 USD fee for any rooms that require cleaning from smoke.

Local and state health and fire codes limit the use of our kitchen and allow staff access only.

Although we love pets, our hotel is for human guests only.

Check-in is after 3 p.m.; however, if you let us know you’re arriving early, we’ll make every effort to have your room ready for you. If you arrive early and your room isn’t ready, we can store your luggage in our dining room, show you around the property, and direct you to the nearest places to have some lunch.

Checkout time is 11 a.m. We appreciate our guests adhering to this time, as housekeeping needs to clean and ready the room for the next guests. Those departing later may store their luggage in the dining room and continue to enjoy the property until the appointed departure time.

You are welcome to leave early; however, early departures are considered cancellations of nights reserved and are non-refundable. We highly recommend travel insurance to protect against last-minute emergencies.

You may purchase trip insurance at competitive rates when making your reservation, or use the site Insure My Trip to get quotes from several insurance providers. Either way, you will have coverage for delays or cancellations due to weather, peril, job loss, and medical crisis. The policies have added benefits for medical care while away, including medical evacuation.