Is Three Waters Resort and Marina worth it? Pros and cons, honestly
Yes — Three Waters Resort and Marina is worth it for travelers who want easy access to waterfront activities, multiple on-site dining options, and both family-friendly and adults-only spaces. If you need a quiet, 21+ stay you must book inside The Cove; families and active groups will appreciate the pools, marina, and included activity rentals.
In this guide
Location & setting
Three Waters Resort and Marina sits at 84001 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL, on about 15 waterfront acres where the Atlantic, Florida Bay, and Gulf of Mexico meet. The property is at mile marker 84, which puts it in the middle-Upper Keys and close to local attractions like Theater of the Sea and Windley Key Fossil Reef.
Because this is the Florida Keys, you should plan on driving or arranging transfers to reach other islands; Miami International Airport (MIA) is the nearest major airport commonly used for arrival (roughly a 100–102 minute drive).
- On-property marina with 72 slips and the deepest channel in the Upper Keys
- Nearby highlights: Theater of the Sea, Windley Key Fossil Reef, History of Diving Museum
- Rum Runner water taxi connects Three Waters with two sister properties in the Islamorada Resort Collection
| Practical note | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| Nearest major airport | Miami International Airport (MIA), ~77 miles (about a 102-minute drive) |
| On-site marina | 72 slips including transient slips — good for fishing charters and private boats |
| Property size | Approximately 15 waterfront acres at mile marker 84 |
Rooms and who it suits
Three Waters offers a mix of 214 rooms, suites, and cottages across 25 room types. If you want an ocean view or suite layout, look for options such as Junior Suite, with Sofa bed, Oceanfront; Suite, with Sofa bed, Balcony, Oceanfront; or 1 Bedroom Suite, Ocean view, Sofabed, Balcony.
The property explicitly accommodates families, groups, and couples. The Cove is a separate adults-only (21+) enclave if you need a quieter, 21+ atmosphere; many room types are offered both inside and outside The Cove (for example, Room, Ocean View at The Cove (21) and Junior Suite, Ocean View at The Cove (21)).
- Room types range from Room (, Tub) to multi-bedroom suites such as 2 Bedroom Suite, 2 Kings, Sofabed, Balcony
- Families: The Village Room and Room, Ocean View options commonly include 2 Queen Beds
- Adults-only travelers: book rooms listed with “at The Cove (21)” to ensure access to The Cove pool and private beach
| Example room name (exact) | Bed setup |
|---|---|
| Room, Balcony, Ocean View | 1 King Bed |
| Room, Ocean View | 2 Queen Beds |
| Junior Suite, with Sofa bed, Oceanfront | 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed |
Pools, beach and marina — what you can actually use
There are three year-round pools on property: Kokomo Pool, Overseas Pool, and The Cove Pool (21+). Kokomo has the Keys’ swim-up pool bar, Kokomo Bar, open daily from 11:00 a.m. to sunset.
The Cove is a resort-within-a-resort: its pool and private walk-in beach are reserved for guests 21 and older. The wider property includes multiple beaches (the collection lists five beaches across the connected properties) and direct access to water activities via the marina.
- Kokomo Pool: swim-up bar (11:00 a.m.–sunset), available to guests of Three Waters and sister properties and day-pass guests (subject to availability)
- The Cove Pool: adults-only (21+) access
- Marina: full-service with 72 slips, year-round fishing charters available
| Amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pools | Three year-round pools; hours 8:00 a.m.–sunset |
| Beach access | Private beach access included; The Cove beach is adults-only |
| Water rentals included (resort fee) | Kayak/paddleboard and bike rentals included per resort-fee terms |
Dining and on-site services
The resort lists nine main culinary outlets ranging from a signature wood-fired restaurant to a rooftop bar and a swim-up pool bar. Kindler Wood-Fired Fare is the property's signature restaurant (breakfast, weekend brunch, dinner), Little Limón is the rooftop restaurant, Mercado Morada offers Central American–style street food, and Islamorada Pizza Co. serves pizza (hours vary by source).
Other easy options include Kokomo (swim-up pool bar), Tiki Bar (historic tiki spot with live music), Lucky Twist soft-serve window, and an on-site Starbucks. Kindler is open to non-resort guests and reservations are recommended for weekends and events.
- Kindler Wood-Fired Fare: breakfast/brunch and dinner service; reservations recommended
- Little Limón: rooftop dining with ocean views (hours vary; check concierge)
- Tiki Bar: live music Thurs–Sun per published schedule; historically known as the birthplace of the Rum Runner cocktail
| Venue | Typical offering / notes |
|---|---|
| Kindler Wood-Fired Fare | Wood-fired cooking; breakfast, brunch & dinner |
| Mercado Morada | Central American street-food style; live music |
| Islamorada Pizza Co. | House-made pizzas; slices before 3:00 PM (hours vary by listing) |
Practicalities, fees and policies
Three Waters charges a nightly resort fee (the property lists a fee that includes Wi‑Fi enhancements, self-parking, bike and kayak/paddleboard rentals, Rum Runner water taxi access, a welcome cocktail, and other inclusions). Confirm current inclusions and the nightly amount when booking because the fee appears as a separate line item.
Check-in is from 4:00 PM and check-out is by 11:00 AM. The main guest on the reservation must be at least 21 with a valid photo ID to check in; a credit card is required at arrival. The property accepts major credit cards; cash and debit cards may not be accepted for room charges.
- Check-in: 4:00 PM; check-out: 11:00 AM
- Minimum age to check in: 21 years with photo ID
- Pet policy: dogs allowed with a $150 non‑refundable pet fee (max two dogs per room); service dogs exempt
| Issue | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | Includes activity rentals, parking, shuttle and Rum Runner water taxi among other items; confirm amount at booking |
| Incidental authorization | Deposit equal to one night's rate plus one night's resort fee may be taken at booking (policy varies by source) |
| Accessibility | Some room types listed with mobility/hearing access and roll-in showers — request on booking |
Honest pros and cons — should you pick it?
Three Waters provides a clear set of strengths: a full marina with fishing and boat access, many on-site dining outlets, multiple pools including a swim-up bar, active water-sport options, and a separate adults-only enclave (The Cove) for quieter stays.
There are trade-offs: the nightly resort fee is an extra cost (it does include some useful perks but check details), the property is car-dependent to explore the wider Keys, and popular restaurants or bars may require reservations or fill up during peak times.
- Good fit if: you want on-site boating/fishing access, a variety of dining options, and family-friendly plus adults-only spaces on one property
- Not ideal if: you expect an all-inclusive rate (this is not all-inclusive), want a totally car-free vacation, or need a very small, quiet boutique hotel
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Large waterfront property with full-service marina and 3 pools | Nightly resort fee adds to the out-the-door cost |
| Wide range of dining options from casual pizza to a signature wood-fired restaurant | Some dining hours vary by source — double-check hours for specific venues |
| Adults-only option (The Cove) for quieter stays | Main guest must be 21+ to check in (families still welcome, but primary guest age rule applies) |
