Stayed at this Best Western December 27/28th, 2006. We found it a nice little gem on the outskirts of what seems to be a semi- dumpy area. The hotel looked pleasant when we pulled in, grounds and parking lot clean and pretty. Lobby decorated for Christmas holiday and staff was attentive and pleasant. Check in was swift. We'd reserved a second floor (only 2 floors) overlooking the pool area and got a great AAA discount. Room was very clean and was kept clean for the two days we stayed. Pool area was soooo pretty. Tons of palm trees swaying in the wind. When I laid in bed, the big window was filled with tops of palm trees. Pool was clean, although the water a bit too cool for me (kids loved it), and there were lots of chaise lounges and tables with chairs and umbrellas, which was a nice place to eat the complimentary contental breakfast in the mornings if you have time. Also a nice big hot tub. All rooms have outside entries which I don't like, but the place felt very safe. All rooms have mini friges and microwave ovens. Our particular room had two beds, a desk area with chair, armoire with tv and a wetbar area with mini frige and microwave oven. Lots of lights in the room with appropriate wattage bulbs (can't say that for all hotels). Continental breakfast was free and was typical for a chain hotel and offered a few different things each day.
We visit The Everglades and The Keys for a few days every Christmas and we'll definitely rebook at this hotel. If you book there, BE SURE SURE SURE to book a room overlooking the pool area. Even if you don't swim, it's a nice view. We were room 246, it was second room in from the open stairway, close to the parking lot and just far enough from the breakfast room that you didn't have lots of foot traffic by your window.

Let me say too, for anyone who's looking to book in this area to tour The Everglades or The Keys .... there are other hotels in the area. There's a Hampton Inn but we won't stay there again because it's outdated, and the rooms and the pool face the busy intersection it sits on. I'm talking right on the road. Lots of traffic. Also there's a Comfort Inn. Looks newer and has indoor corridor entry but we just never stayed there. Holiday Inn Express is also just around the corner and sits back a little from the road so less noise. We stayed there Dec. 2005, three months after it opened. Place was full of construction snafu's (wood trim that didn't match up, dried paint drips, carpet pulling up, bad caulking in the bathroom etc.) Clean, but not worth the money.
I highly recommend Best Western, Gateway to the Keys for an affordable, clean, safe place to stay. Also, be sure to check out Biscayne National Park (free) and The Everglades National Park, John Pennecamp National Park (Key Largo) and Robbie's Marina (mm 82?) where you can hand feed the giant tarpons!
I tried to post my pics of the place but my files were too large!