Kawama Yacht Club Review: Beachfront Family Accommodation in Key Largo

If you're planning a stay at Kawama Yacht Club Key Largo, one of the biggest questions is whether it's actually a good fit for families.

In the Florida Keys, accommodation can make or break the experience. Space, location and access to the water matter far more than just how a property looks online, especially when you're travelling with children. That's exactly why we chose Kawama Yacht Club in Key Largo, and why it worked so well as a base for exploring the Florida Keys.

This guide is for families travelling through the Florida Keys who want a realistic view of what Kawama Yacht Club is actually like — and whether it’s the right fit for a multi-stop trip.

Quick Answer: Is Kawama Yacht Club Good for Families?

Yes — particularly if you want space, flexibility and a more relaxed base in Key Largo.

• apartment-style living gives you room to spread out

• kitchens make meals and snacks easy

• and the private beachfront cove is a standout feature

It’s not a luxury resort — but for families, the setup works extremely well.

Key Largo itself is a great starting point for the Florida Keys. It’s the first island in the chain, around two hours from Miami. Where helpful, we’ve included links to check availability and compare options — these may be affiliate links, but we only ever recommend places we’ve personally stayed or would choose again.

Kawama Yacht Club Beach

Kawama Yacht Club Pool

Is Key Largo a Good Place to Stay With Kids?

For us, Key Largo was the perfect family base in the Florida Keys. It's the first Key you reach after leaving Miami, meaning you can be settling into your accommodation in under an hour rather than spending half a day driving further south. After a long flight, that convenience alone is a huge advantage.

What we liked most was the balance it offered. Key Largo has enough activities to keep families busy for several days, but it still feels relaxed and far less hectic than somewhere like Key West. It also gives you the flexibility to explore the rest of the Keys without committing to staying at the very end of the island chain.

One of the biggest attractions is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which is home to some of the best snorkelling in the Florida Keys. Our snorkelling tour from Key Largo ended up being one of the highlights of the whole trip, and having easy access to those experiences was a major reason we chose to stay there.

Day-to-day life was easy too. There are plenty of restaurants, supermarkets and practical amenities nearby, plus family favourites like Something Sweet Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, which Joshua was always keen to revisit.

While Key West is definitely worth visiting, we personally preferred it as a day trip rather than a base. Key Largo felt less touristy, more relaxed and much better suited to the style of family holiday we were looking for.

Overall, if you're wondering whether the Florida Keys are worth visiting with kids, we'd say absolutely, and Key Largo is one of the best places to stay in the Florida Keys for families. It combines convenience, family-friendly accommodation, outdoor adventures and a slower pace that worked brilliantly for us.

For more on why we think the Keys make such a great family destination, see Are the Florida Keys Worth Visiting With Kids?

If you’re looking for a relaxed, family-friendly base in Key Largo, this is the type of setup that worked really well for us:

→ Check Kawama Yacht Club availability and prices

Kawama Yacht Club Rentals Overview

Unlike a traditional hotel, Kawama Yacht Club Key Largo is made up of privately owned condos, which we found worked far better for family travel than a standard hotel room.

Our rental was a two-bedroom condo, giving Joshua his own space and allowing us to relax in the evenings without everyone being squeezed into a single room. For a longer Florida Keys stay, that extra space made a huge difference.

The condo felt much more like a holiday home than a hotel. We had a fully equipped kitchen with a full-sized fridge, ice maker, toaster and coffee machine, making breakfasts and snacks easy. There was also a private BBQ with gas provided, which was a nice option on evenings when we didn't want to eat out.

For families staying more than a few days, the washing machine and tumble dryer were invaluable. Being able to wash beach towels, swimwear and clothes meant we packed much lighter than we normally would.

Inside, there was a comfortable living area, outdoor seating and plenty of storage. The layout also worked well for families, with two toilets, one upstairs and one downstairs. The only thing worth noting is that the bathrooms had showers rather than baths, so it probably suits school-aged children better than babies or toddlers.

The practical details were excellent too. Check-in was officially 4pm and check-out 10am, but our host was extremely responsive and helpful throughout the booking process. The property used keyless entry, making it easy to arrive and leave without worrying about collecting keys, and parking was simple, with space directly outside the condo.

One thing we particularly liked was the atmosphere. Kawama Yacht Club is a mix of permanent residents and holidaymakers, so it feels far more residential than a resort. Despite being busy during the day, it was noticeably quiet at night, which we really appreciated after long days exploring the Florida Keys.

Overall, we'd recommend Kawama Yacht Club rentals to families looking for space, privacy and home comforts, while still enjoying direct beach access and one of the best locations in Key Largo. For us, it offered the flexibility of a self-catering holiday with all the benefits of staying in a waterfront Florida Keys community.

It is worth noting each rental maybe slightly different, I have linked the exact one we stayed in here.

Private BBQ Area

Living Room Area

Kawama Yacht Club Beach, Pools and Facilities

One of the reasons we enjoyed Kawama Yacht Club Key Largo so much was that it felt like more than just somewhere to sleep. While the accommodation itself was great, it was the outdoor space and waterfront setting that really made the stay special.

The Beach and Swimming Lagoon

The standout feature for us was the private beach and swimming lagoon.

Our rental was positioned right by the beach, which meant we could walk outside and be on the sand within seconds. There was something really special about starting the morning with a coffee overlooking the water or wandering down to the beach whenever we felt like it without packing the car or planning a trip.

The lagoon itself is calm and sheltered, making it much more family-friendly than open water. Joshua loved having somewhere safe to paddle, swim and explore without strong waves or currents.

Canoes and Water Activities

One of our favourite discoveries was the collection of canoes and kayaks dotted around the beach area.

Technically many belonged to individual property owners, but during our stay guests seemed happy to share them with one another. This created a really friendly atmosphere and meant Joshua got the chance to try canoeing several times during the week.

For us, this ended up being one of the unexpected highlights of the trip. Rather than needing to book expensive excursions every day, we could simply head down to the waterfront and enjoy being on the water for an hour.

The Pool Area

Kawama Yacht Club has two small communal pools with sun loungers and a handful of parasols for shade.

It's definitely not a large resort-style pool complex, and if you're expecting waterslides and organised entertainment you'll be disappointed. However, we found it perfectly adequate for cooling off after a day of sightseeing or snorkelling.

The pool was rarely crowded during our stay, which added to the relaxed feel of the property.

For activities we recommend in the Florida Keys area, see: Fun Things to Do in the Florida Keys with Kids

Marina, Tennis Courts and Open Space

The marina gives the whole development a distinctly Florida Keys feel, with boats coming and going throughout the day and fantastic waterfront views around the property.

There are also tennis courts and plenty of open space to walk around, which helps the complex feel much larger than it actually is.

Safe and Relaxed for Families

As a gated community, Kawama Yacht Club felt very safe and family-friendly. We were comfortable letting Joshua move around a little more independently than we normally would, which helped the holiday feel more relaxed.

Our Honest Verdict on the Facilities

If you're looking for a large family resort packed with entertainment, Kawama Yacht Club probably isn't the right fit.

However, if you want beachfront accommodation, direct water access, a pool, space for children to explore and somewhere that feels authentically Florida Keys rather than a generic resort, we thought it was excellent.

The beach access alone made it worthwhile for us. Being able to step outside, watch the sunset with a drink and let Joshua play by the water was exactly the experience we'd hoped for when booking a stay in the Florida Keys.

Proximity to Beach Front

Secluded Beach Area

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Lots of space for families

• Kitchen and washing machine

• Gated and safe

• Great location for Key Largo

• Private BBQ area

• Perfect for relaxing a few days - the beach lagoon was amazing

Cons:

• Not a luxury resort

• A car is essential to get around

• Apartments vary as they’re privately owned

How Many Nights Do You Need in the Florida Keys?

For most families, I'd recommend spending 2 to 3 nights in the Florida Keys.

That gives you enough time to experience what makes the Keys special without feeling rushed. You can enjoy the famous Overseas Highway, explore Key Largo, spend time on the water, fit in a snorkelling trip and still have time to relax by the pool or beach.

If you're visiting as part of a wider South Florida adventure, the Keys work particularly well as a stop between Miami and the Everglades. That's exactly how we structured our trip, and it gave us a good balance of sightseeing, outdoor activities and downtime.

Two nights is enough if you mainly want to experience the highlights and take a day trip to Key West. However, we'd recommend three nights if possible, as it gives you flexibility for activities such as snorkelling, beach time and exploring at a much more relaxed pace.

We spent our time based in Key Largo and found it worked brilliantly. We had time for a snorkelling tour, exploring the local area and simply enjoying the waterfront without feeling like we needed to pack every hour with activities.

If you're planning a similar route, see our 5-Day Everglades, Florida Keys and Miami Itinerary for Families, where we break down exactly how we structured the trip, where we stayed and what we'd do differently next time.

View from Rental

Enjoying the Beach

Final Verdict – Is Kawama Yacht Club Good for Families?

Kawama Yacht Club is an excellent choice for families:

• Great for road trips along the Florida Keys (see our full road trip itinerary here).

• Not a luxury hotel, but the space, kitchen, and beachfront access make it perfect for families.

• Best for those looking for a relaxed Florida Keys stay with easy access to snorkelling, wildlife adventures, and local attractions.

This was one of the most relaxing parts of our Florida trip — especially after a few busy travel days — and somewhere we’d happily stay again:

→ Check Kawama Yacht Club availability

plan your South florida trip

If you’re planning your South Florida trip next, these guides will help you pull everything together:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.