Rainbow Bend Resort, Marathon

I just had to let everyone know what a wonderful stay we had at the Rainbow Bend Inn! The cottage was lovely and we had no problem with the housekeeping there! The use of the boat and the free breakfast menat that we did not have to travel elsewhere to have our needs met. Gretchen who arrranged our reservations and check in was lovely and I felt as if I had met a new friend. We plan to visit again next year and will definitely being staying there. Boo to all those fussy people who gave it a bad review. They should stick to the Hilton!

My favorite part of this sweet little gem has to be the complimentary Boston Whalers!! But of course, that is just the icing on the delicious cake. It is a charming treat, and I am already looking forward to my next visit. Rainbow Bend is a relaxing, fun, clean place to plan your next adventure. The service is great, the boating is fabulous, and the location is wonderful...right on the ocean! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

This is the perfect spot to relax in the Keys. Far enough from the mainland to count; close enough to Key West for nights out. Accomodation is comfortable. Two times I've been to the Keys. Two times I've stayed at Rainbow Bend. I can't wait to go back.

I have known of Rainbow Bend for years as I am a frequent visitor to Grassy Key. In the past I stayed in a cottage owned by relatives who reside on Grassy. Since they sold their business which included the cottages I decided to try Rainbow Bend. Eventhough we experienced serious wind and rain during our first stay in October, 2008, we were able to enjoy our few days getaway. Only ten minutes to Marathon for shopping and a variety of eateries. Key West is one hour away with many places to visit along the way. While we didn't get weather to use the boats and other watersports amenities, we did enjoy the spa and pool during a few breaks in the weather. My bride to be and I stayed in unit #6. We found it to be very clean, comfortable and bug free, which is somewhat not the norm in many motels in the Keys. Our next trip to Grassy in April, 2009, found us staying at Rainbow Bend again. The purpose this time was to decide on a destination for our honeymoon. Since the weather this trip was much more compatable with water sports we took a Whaler over to Duck Key where I caught snapper, jacks, and grouper while my better half enjoyed sunbathing. I should mention my fishing would not have been possible since I left my fishing pole on the dock, but dockhand Karl tracked us down in another boat and delivered it to me. That's what I call service! Later that afternoon we jumped in a pedal boat and cruised the grass flats around the resort which was most enjoyable. The complimentary breakfasts in the on site Hideaway Cafe were quite good and there was no reason to dine elsewhere. We looked at several other resorts on Grassy Key, some more expensive and some a little less in cost and Rainbow Bend was our choice. I have seen some reviews from several years ago that were not very encouraging. There may have been different management at that time, but at this point, I see no reason whatsoever to not recommend staying there. Rainbow Bend Resort is not a center of night life as it is more a comfortable and casual facility for couples or a family.

My husband and I stayed there a few weeks ago and we had a blast! Our vacation started off crappy so we thought it may continue when we got the marathon but thank god it didn't! Yes, the resort is older and it does not have the fancy ammenities that a higher end place may have like door greeters, pool side servers, and 500,000 guests. And that is exactly what we were looking for!!! It is quiet you can lay back and relax and the staff is friendly and helpful with any questions... all but the breakfast staff who i believe just hates mornings all together. We did not get a chance to use the boat every day due to the weather but the wonderful ladies in the office told us about plenty of other stuff to due in the area! All in all great in you don't need all the hustle and bustle of a 5 star resort! WE WILL BE BACK!!!

Ok, so this was our first trip to the Keys. We went with Florida friends eager to introduce us New Yorkers to Old World Keys. Overall, our week was a success. Our room, the second floor Octogon, was clean and had an amazing view. Spacious with everything in working order, it was quite the hangout for the nine of us. As for housekeeping, they do not make the beds, and be sure ALL your things are off the floor every day if you want the floor swept and mopped. The staff will not move your stuff at all. Towels were abundant and are ok to use at the...ummm... beach? Here's the first bad: this is in no way, shape or form a swimmable beach. The owner may take pride in the fact that the grass flats (at high tide 18-24", at low there is no water) provide some of the best bone fishing in the world, but for someone who was only going by their website pics, but to someone going by their website pics, well... I felt deceived. Speaking of the beach, the lookout tower that adorns the beach online does not exist....again... misleading, though the lack of it provided for a better ocean view from the room, so let's call that one a wash. The dock staff... probably the nicest bunch of guys you ever want to meet. Helpful, cheery, accomodating, funny, friendly. Even when you run into one of them in the parking lot, they always have a friendly word, a smile or a joke. Thanks guys, my son may not have caught any keepers, but he had a blast on his fishing ventures because of your guidance and instruction. Nice to see big burly guys care like that - you're the best! One bad thing about the boats that is not the dockhand's fault.... they are NOT free, as advertised. You pay a minimum of $12 plus all the usual FL fees for fuel every time you go out. Still a gooddeal, but again, misleading on management'spart. In contrast to the wonderful dock staff, there is the wait staff at the Hideaway Cafe where you get your overrated free breakfast. The morning crew hates being there. They hate waiting on you. They don't smile. They don't talk. You wait forever for eggs sunny side up. It's not only ridiculous, it's appalling. Why these people are in the service industry is beyond me. The last two days of our weeklong stay we said screw the "free" and went down to mile marker 50 to Leigh Ann's Coffee House for a real cozy hometown meal. Fantastic breakfast and even better coffee, and all with a smile. When we told our waiter where we were staying, we saw a smirk that said it all. The Hideaway morning staff has a rep across the Keys! The grounds at Rainbow Bend are fair to good. The beach is well maintained, the swings are in good shape and wonderful for watching the sunrise. The beach chess area was swept daily. The pool was immaculate with plenty of lounge chairs, and the jacuzzi next to the pool was divine. If you like the Keys and are into fishing and not swimming, this is a good hotel for you. It's away from the hustle bustle, yet convenient to many attractions. Just be sure to get your breakfast somewhere else - it's worth it to lose that $5.95 "value"........

The office staff and the boat dock staff were very helpfull. The staff at the restaurant were slow and not much concerned. Just remember that the resort is tacking about $25 to $30 a day to your room rent for "tips". The room we were in was comfortable and clean. Remember this is the "old keys". The "free" breakfast was pretty good but there could be no substitutions or you pay. The boats were rode hard but were in OK condition. They did not have compasses. The crusing area was somewhat limited. The pool and spa were good but had little shade. Overall it was as advertised and a good value.

My wife and I have been to Rainbow Bend on three seperate occassions and we are returning this weekend. We love it! Rainbow Bend is not the Carlton-Ritz, but that is why we like it. Yes, it is a bit of a hole-in-the-wall. But it is remote, the accomodations are decent and the overall experience is wonderful. The pool, jacuzzi and grounds are clean. The atmosphere provides a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of life. If you want a doorman to great you as you arrive and carry your luggage to your room this is not your type of place. If you want a place to relax and enjoy the true Keys....this is the place!

First of all my hubby travels often for work and we have been blessed in the past that several times his company has alowed him to reserve his own room for long stays where he feels more comfortable. So anyway, I know the drill of reserving rooms. I reserved 2 rooms at this location and what a HORRID experience! However, after then comming here to report this and reading others experiance I am rather glad we are NOT staying. Anyway, we are heading down to the keys for an extended stay on a Wish vacation for our son concluded by dolphin therapy in the Keys. When we got our confermation of our stay in Orlando it never hit us this was spring break week. I spent days trying to find a hotel room we could afford and feel acrossed their site. By this time mind you after checking several other hotel sites and seeing their average rates one thing and then checking to reserve finding the price double I went straight to the reserve area and found an outstanding deal for a 1 bedroom. We were estatic and held the room for 2 nights. Later that day we got a call that the room reservation hold was NOT going to be held due to OUR mistake! WHAT I have never heard of such a thing how in the heck can it be our mistake? Anyway, anyone that wants to check go into their site and start to reserve a room for 3 adults and 2 children or better yet later I found out 3 adults and 1 child. Here their computer throws off the same bogus price everytime and dare you reserve the rooms you get a nasty phone call that you owe them a LARGE sum of money or the room will be canceled. Now I am just on edge knowing I gave them our credit card number etc and praying they didn't charge us anyway and then put the rooms back up for rent again. GEEEEZZZ.

I stayed at Rainbow Bend Resort in Jan 07. My room was clean and very quiet even though it was located near the road. The staff was helpful and considerate. The boat was fun and the breakfast was good. My room was cleaned every day and I had new towels every day. The only bad thing that happened was that there were some rude people staying there at the time, but this wasn't the fault of the resort. I'll be returning to Rainbow Bend Resort again this January. I already have my reservation!