The Port Hotel and Marina Crystal River Reviews

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Each winter, Cristina and I make our way down to Crystal River, Florida to swim with the manatees. And every twelvemonth we stay in the same place: The Port Hotel and Marina.

Port Hotel balustrade overlooking King Jump

It's not that the identify is especially squeamish. In fact, it'southward kind of a dump. The reason nosotros stay is that the price is right and the location is fantastic. It is perched on the edge of Kings Bay and information technology overlooks 1 of the prime manatee swimming hotspots: King Spring. (scout a timelapse of the sunrise over King Spring on our video page)

Map of Where To Swim With Manatees in Crystal River Florida

We ordinarily stay in the "A" building because of its superb views across King Bound and toward the lushly-forested Banana Island. We've never stayed in the other buildings just they all announced to have views overlooking the quaint marina.

An upstairs room will requite you more privacy and you can watch manatees surfacing while you prevarication in your bed. A downstairs room volition provide you lot with a patio which is a great place to stash your kayaks between outings. The marina does offer rental kayaks and snorkeling equipment so you don't actually accept to bring your own equipment. Merely if you stay for a week like we practise, yous'll certainly salve a lot of money by bringing your ain gear. Equally a hotel invitee you're allowed to use the marina to launch your kayaks but I occasionally put in right next to our room by the break wall.

You can of course accept a manatee snorkeling tour from the hotel but if you want to go really cheap, you can simply swim right out to King Spring from the hotel. Don't forget, yous must swim with a floating swoop flag and go along information technology nearly. It is both illegal and foolish not to; you are likely to get hit past a boat otherwise.

Osprey eating a fish at the Port Hotel in Crystal River

We've seen a lot of other keen wildlife while staying at the Port Hotel. Nosotros occasionally run across dolphins pond past in the mornings, followed past groups of hungry pelicans. There is a pair of osprey nesting in a tree next to the parking lot and i habitually eats its meals at the superlative of a pole in front of the Tiki Bar. Y'all tin climb the stairs to the deck on top of the bar for an first-class view and great photos of an osprey tearing the head off a fish. Cristina has seen an otter swim directly in front of the dock that borders the grounds and nosotros regularly spot families of raccoons foraging at low tide along the banks of the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge islands.

Although the hotel is in pretty rough shape physically, the decor is tacky and mismatched, and nothing seems to work quite right; the rooms are clean and the beds are decent. The shower is powerful and the staff is by and large quite friendly, especially the manager, Marge, who was always been incredibly sweet to us. There is a eating house on the grounds called The Ale Business firm which serves standard bar food for decent rates and offers cute dusk waterfront dining. I recommend the chicken quesadilla and the basket of chili cheese chips.

Published rates this yr (2012) were $59 per night but we are generally able to talk them down to $l per nighttime if we stay for a 5 days.

Raccoon foraging at low tide on Banana Island beyond from the Port Hotel

I admit, Cristina and I are a flake biased toward the Port Hotel because we take a sentimental zipper to information technology. Nosotros got married here last year. We rented two pontoon boats from the marina and took our friends and family out to Rex Spring where we had our anniversary surrounded past manatees. Then we motored over to The 3 Sisters Spring and everyone had a swim with our big flippered friends. It was a truly magical 24-hour interval. (Check out Cristina's Photograph of the Week of a manatee in The 3 Sisters Spring)

If you like a little more than luxury, there are two other lodging options straight on the bay. The All-time Western to the due north also has a marina and dive store. And if yous have big bucks you can stay at the beautiful Plantation Inn which is visible from the Port Hotel just to the due south.

[icon image="thumbs_up" marshal="left"]But if you're looking for a great bargain, a dandy location, and the opportunity to stay in a hotel where Elvis one time did, then look no further than the Port Hotel and Marina in Crystal River, Florida.

Visit their website at porthotelandmarina.com or phone them at 352-795-3111

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Source: https://www.travel4wildlife.com/60-second-review-the-port-hotel-in-crystal-river-florida/