This Is Florida's Most Expensive Vacation Destination — Here's How to Plan a Luxurious Stay
A new analysis named Duck Key the most expensive destination in Florida.
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Scenic view of beautiful water way on Duck Key, FloridaReady to live in the lap of Floridian luxury? We know just where you should go.
In August, the vacation rental marketplace FloridaRentals.com released its analysis showing which of Florida’s most popular vacation destinations are the most expensive. It named Duck Key the most expensive destination in Florida.
To come to this conclusion, it reviewed 25 of the most popular tourist destinations in the state, looking at the average cost of a double-occupancy accommodation for all budgets, sourced from Kayak, along with the average price of local transport for a day using prices from a variety of popular local transport options, including taxis, local buses, and subways, along with the average spend on meals, which were calculated based on all budget restaurants for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. It also tallied the average cost of alcoholic drinks bought in a day. It then computed the total cost for each destination and ranked them from the cheapest to the most expensive.
"The island, in the Florida Keys, has been named the most expensive of Florida’s popular vacation destinations, with one night per person costing a total of $716," the team stated. "The average cost for one night in a double-occupancy room is $560, which is the highest price of all the destinations. The average cost of a day’s meals is $45." There was one bright spot in these numbers: the average alcohol cost for a day in Duck Key will cost you $12, which the team noted is "the cheapest in the ranking."
Duck Key, tucked between Islamorada and Marathon Key, is home to fewer than 1,000 full-time residents, giving it a truly exclusive feel. And while its small size means you won't find a ton to do, the island does punch far above its weight in terms of the number of fine dining restaurants and luxury hotels. Guests can also find plenty to do at those hotels, including spots like Hawks Cay Resort, which offers fishing charters, scuba experiences, and spa days for those who want to unwind. There are also a lot of adorable Airbnbs available on the island, like this townhouse looking out on the water, or this sleek condo, or an entire home right on the sand.
Following Duck Key on the list of most expensive spots is Destin, which comes with a total cost of a one-night stay at $594 per person. "The average cost for one night in a double-occupancy room is $403, which is the second-highest price in the ranking," the team found. "The average cost of breakfast, lunch, and dinner is $51, and the average cost of local transport for a day is $50."
Rounding out the top five are Orlando, Big Pine Key, and Key West. But really, doesn't a getaway surrounded by sun, surf, and warm sand sound priceless anyway?
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