AN OUTSTANDING & AFFORDABLE PRIVATE ROOM IN KEY WEST AT SILVIA'S -- part 10

Air B&B Host Delivers Quiet & Clean Room for Slightly More than $100 in High Season

I'm not sure if she has a car, but if she does, I think she would have raced me to the ferry dock if my car had been towed...or maybe she would have ridden me there on the back of her bicycle...or arranged a magic carpet ride to the docks -- she's that kind, efficient and accommodating.

To make time, I didn't go back to Silvia's (but knew I could return for that promised shower and change of clothes to ease my trip up the Overseas Highway).

Candidly, I also don't think I wanted to show my humiliated face to the poor airbnb host who I scared the wits out of when I couldn't find my auto!

Bottom line, Silvia's private room in Key West is perfect for every type of traveler.

I can't wait to go back with my wife and we've even invited Silvia out to a meal at one of our quirky haunts in Miami for the next time she ventures north to the big city.

AN OUTSTANDING & AFFORDABLE PRIVATE ROOM IN KEY WEST AT SILVIA'S -- part 9

Air B&B Host Delivers Quiet & Clean Room for Slightly More than $100 in High Season

Poor Silvia rushed back to her complex and was worried to death about me -- even though all I was, was 40-something old dude who got twisted around in the dark and didn't find his trusty Toyota till he hit the panic button and the beeping Corolla's horn guided me back to me sedan in time to drive to the ferry boat dock.

Poor Silvia even called me a couple times as I was boarding the ferry to the Tortugas and kept checking on my wellbeing while salving my embarrassment by telling me her condo complex is large and that people do tend to get twisted around on where they park.

I share this final story only to show what an amazing "innkeeper" Silvia is.

AN OUTSTANDING & AFFORDABLE PRIVATE ROOM IN KEY WEST AT SILVIA'S -- part 8

Air B&B Host Delivers Quiet & Clean Room for Slightly More than $100 in High Season

Turns out I slept as well as I do at home. I went to bed early, thinking maybe more time would help me get at least some quality shut eye. As it turned out, I drifted right off and zonked out for nearly 8 hours of REM sleep before my big journey the next day.

I woke, dressed and quietly left.

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but Silvia's condo complex is very large and in the pre-dawn hours, I got twisted around and feared my car was towed by her homeowners association.

I thought I'd circled the entire complex, come up with no car and phoned her (turns out Silvia had left for her morning run so quietly that I didn't know her condo was unoccupied when I tiptoed out, thinking she was sleeping in her master suite) in a bit of a panic.

It turns out that I had stupidly gotten twisted around in the darkness and on my second sweep of the complex, realized I'd parked by the west wing when I thought I was at the south wing.

AN OUTSTANDING & AFFORDABLE PRIVATE ROOM IN KEY WEST AT SILVIA'S -- part 7

Air B&B Host Delivers Quiet & Clean Room for Slightly More than $100 in High Season

I liked Silvia so much, I even looked her up at the restaurant where she works -- cutting back through to say howdy and to share the details of my roaming.

I knew I'd go directly to bed when I got back to her place and I would leave early in the morning, so I went out of my way to bond with my hostess -- I liked her that much.
When I did get back around 9, Silvia had already gotten home and she again offered snacks, use of all common areas and a healthy stocking up of her bottled water for my daylong ferry journey to a little spit of land 70 miles off Key West.

The shower was clean and the warm water was endless.

The best part was the bed.

I should have asked her what kind of mattress was in my room.

I'm a stickler for comfort and have a pretty expensive bed set in my historic Miami home....but Silvia's guest room bed was dreamy comfortable.

I'm usually one of those people who toss in turn the first night in a strange place.

I could be restless in the presidential suite of the Mexico City St. Regis, so I wondered about how well I'd rest at Silvia's -- no reflection of her, just of who I am when I'm on the road the first night.

AN OUTSTANDING & AFFORDABLE PRIVATE ROOM IN KEY WEST AT SILVIA'S -- part 6

Air B&B Host Delivers Quiet & Clean Room for Slightly More than $100 in High Season

I told her didn't have the heart to drink up her prized stash of gourmet chocolate, but her kind offer showed what kind of super star host she is.

I left my bag of clothes and toiletries in the condo (my room could not be locked from the outside) having zero concerns for safety or security of my belongings.

We chit chatted more about off the beaten path things in Key West (I'm an aficionado of great fish shacks, architecture and taverns not visited by the cruise ship and weekend warrior masses.)

Silvia gave me a key to her entire condo and basically said I could hang out on the balcony, use the kitchen....do just about anything aside from hanging out in her master bedroom instead of napping in my appointed guest room (one of two in her cozy apartment).

When I mentioned that my wife is a wheelchair user who requires a separate bed from mine, Silvia showed me the second guest bedroom and said we should come back down together.

Usually, unique apartments do not serve disabled travelers, but with plenty of disabled-reserved parking at her condo complex, more than one elevator to serve access needs and our simple packing of a portable bath bench for low-sided tub shower, I truly think we could turn Silvia's place into a wheelchair accessible getaway for half to one third the price of a similar-sized hotel room.

AN OUTSTANDING & AFFORDABLE PRIVATE ROOM IN KEY WEST AT SILVIA'S -- part 5

Air B&B Host Delivers Quiet & Clean Room for Slightly More than $100 in High Season


It also had extra linens and a nice TV set.

The full bath was right next door to my room and had a lock for privacy.

The living room in the common area had a huge flat screen with tons of cable channels. Silvia welcomed me to watch the tube at any hour, saying she could sleep through house guest noises.

She also welcomed me to free bottled water and other goodies in her fridge. It really was the my house is your house kind of old European welcome.

Right off the bat, Silvia even said she could let me back into her place on Friday -- many hours after my official check out -- to shower.

Many folks on the ferry like to snorkel in the Tortugas and she knew showering off the salt water and changing clothes would be good for my comfort before my final dinner in the Keys and northward drive back to Miami.

When I joked that I make as good a cup of Spanish hot chocolate as any hillbilly anglo who ever ventured to espana, Silvia opened her cupboard and offered a package of premium chocolate from mother Spain for my stovetop handiwork.

AN OUTSTANDING & AFFORDABLE PRIVATE ROOM IN KEY WEST AT SILVIA'S -- part 4

Air B&B Host Delivers Quiet & Clean Room for Slightly More than $100 in High Season

In very short notice, in very high season for Keys travel, I had a clean and safe room booked at a price point that didn't make me feel guilty for burning the budget on solo, soul-soothing travel.


I emailed Silvia for more details and mentioned I'd like to check in early if possible. She said no problem and also gave me very easy directions to her condo community.

The next morning, I made great time driving from Miami and arrived at the edge of Key West about 10:30 a.m.

I phoned and Silvia was ready to help.

She showed me both the stairs and elevator and welcomed me into her spacious 3rd floor condo.

The place, including common areas, was immaculately clean and featured smart, simple decor.

It turned out Silvia is from Spain, my favorite place on earth, and we shared stories about espana and my so-so ability to speak Spanish (gringos don't worry -- Silvia speaks perfectly English, with just hint of charming Valencia accent.)]

She showed my small, but efficient room.

I could lock the door from the inside for privacy when napping or sleeping and it had enough storage space for 10 times the amount of light luggage that I packed.