
Amara Cay Resort
Best for families and active travelers who want direct ocean access, a zero-entry pool, and on-site water sports.
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Amara Cay Resort is a 4-star, family-friendly oceanfront resort in Islamorada with a zero-entry pool, private sunning beach, and a range of water activities — ideal for families and active travelers. Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club is an upscale beach-club–style resort in Marathon with strong guest ratings and a modern, eco-conscious amenity set — best for travelers who want a contemporary Keys beach-club feel.
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Best for families and active travelers who want direct ocean access, a zero-entry pool, and on-site water sports.

Best for travelers who prefer a modern beach-club vibe, strong guest reviews, and locally sourced food and eco-friendly operations.
When Amara Cay Resort wins: pick Amara Cay if you want a family-friendly oceanfront base in Islamorada with a zero-entry pool, private sunning beach, lots of organized water activities (snorkeling, kayaking, scuba), and access to sister-property restaurants via water taxi and shuttle.
When Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club wins: choose Grassy Flats for a smaller, more intimate Marathon property with a clear beach-club positioning, high guest ratings, two outdoor pools, an oceanfront steakhouse (The Rhum House), and a strong eco/locally sourced focus.
Bottom line: both are 4-star Florida Keys options; Amara Cay is the larger, activity-forward family resort on Islamorada’s Atlantic side, while Grassy Flats appeals to travelers seeking a modern Marathon beach-club experience and high guest scores.
| Category | Amara Cay Resort | Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Family-friendly oceanfront resort with activity program and event spaces | Upscale beach-club–style resort with contemporary amenities and local sourcing |
| Location | Islamorada, Mile Marker 80 — Atlantic/oceanfront (sunrise side) | Marathon — oceanfront, steps from Coco Plum Beach |
| Size (guest rooms) | 110 rooms across 4 floors | 38 guestrooms |
| Ages | All ages; primary guest must be 21+ to check in | Not strictly adults-only overall (some room types listed ‘Adults Only’); supplier listing shows family suites too |
| Pools | Zero-entry oceanfront pool (in-pool loungers); pool hours listed 8 am–sunset | Two outdoor pools, poolside bar, pool hoist and wheelchair-accessible pool |
| Restaurants & bars | ReelCatch (seafood breakfast & dinner), Tiki Bar (poolside lunch/dinner), Coastal Cup & Lounge | The Rhum House (steakhouse with ocean view), 1 restaurant and 1 poolside bar |
| Spa & wellness | Ooh la la at The Collection provides massages, yoga on the beach, facials and salon services | Not published |
| Known for | Direct oceanfront site with private sunning beach, Rum Runner water taxi to sister properties, family events/weddings | Beach-club atmosphere, locally sourced/organic food, strong guest ratings (9.4) |
| Beach access | Private elevated sunning beach (Lighthouse Beach) with stairway for snorkeling; not a traditional sand swimming beach | Oceanfront and steps from Coco Plum Beach |
| Water activities | On-site snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, paddleboards, fishing access and guided ecotours | Kayaking, paddleboards, canoeing, paddleboard on site; water-sports equipment and personal motor watercraft nearby |
| Accessibility & family features | Wheelchair-accessible rooms, elevators, family suites and many event spaces | Wheelchair-accessible facilities (accessible parking, accessible path to elevator, pool hoist), some ADA room types listed |
Amara Cay Resort sits on Islamorada’s Atlantic side at Mile Marker 80 with direct oceanfront placement and reef views.
Pick Amara Cay if you want an Atlantic-side Islamorada address with easy access to local dive shops and island activities.
Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club is an upscale Marathon property located on Grassy Key, steps from Coco Plum Beach.
Choose Grassy Flats for a Marathon base that reads like a contemporary beach club with quick access to local parks and marinas.
Amara Cay has 110 rooms across four floors with a mix of oceanfront rooms, lanai suites, and family suites.
Amara Cay is the larger property with more room-type variety, including multiple family and oceanfront suite options.
Grassy Flats offers 38 guestrooms that mix oceanfront rooms and family suites plus several 'Adults Only' room listings.
Grassy Flats is smaller and more intimate; it lists some room types marketed 'Adults Only' while still offering family suites.
Amara Cay runs multiple on-site outlets focused on seafood and casual Keys fare.
Amara Cay is a good pick for families and groups who want multiple on-site dining options and casual poolside service.
Grassy Flats features a single restaurant and poolside bar with an emphasis on local and organic ingredients.
Grassy Flats suits travelers who prefer a smaller set of focused dining venues and an emphasis on local sourcing.
Amara Cay centers around a zero-entry oceanfront pool and a private elevated sunning beach.
Amara Cay emphasizes accessible, family-friendly pool and beach spaces with reef viewing and snorkeling access.
Grassy Flats presents a beach-club experience with two outdoor pools and direct oceanfront access.
Grassy Flats is a compact beach-club–style place where pools and the small beach area are focal points of the stay.
Amara Cay offers on-site wellness experiences and family-friendly evening entertainment.
Amara Cay blends spa and fitness offerings with family-oriented live-music nights.
Grassy Flats includes wellness and leisure amenities on-site and a quieter evening environment typical of a small beach club.
Grassy Flats leans toward low-key wellness (sauna, hot tub) and relaxed evenings rather than large-nightlife programming.

Amara Cay — more rooms and family suites, activity program, zero-entry pool, and a private sunning beach.

Grassy Flats — compact beach-club layout, strong guest scores, locally sourced food and focused pool/beach spaces.

Amara Cay — stairway from the private sunning beach gives direct water access for snorkeling and diving.

Grassy Flats — promotes locally-sourced and organic food (listed as an amenity feature).
Amara Cay — it explicitly welcomes children of all ages, has family suites, organized water activities, and a zero-entry pool suited to kids.
Grassy Flats appeals to travelers seeking an upscale beach-club vibe and generally quieter, smaller property feel; note some room types are listed 'Adults Only' but the supplier-level adults-only status is not uniformly published.
Yes. Amara Cay and Grassy Flats both list kayaking, paddleboarding and other nonmotorized water-sport options; Grassy Flats also lists canoeing and personal motor watercraft nearby.
Amara Cay: spa services are available through Ooh la la at The Collection (massages, facials, yoga). Grassy Flats: the supplier listing does not publish a named spa service; spa details are not published.
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