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4.0
#1 of 4 motels in Marathon
Location
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Value
Finding an ideal quaint motel in Marathon does not have to be difficult. Welcome to Rainbow Bend Fishing Resort, a nice option for travellers like you.
Rainbow Bend Fishing Resort offers guests an array of room amenities including a flat screen TV, a refrigerator, and a kitchenette, and getting online is possible, as free internet access is available.
The motel offers a sun terrace, shops, and a gift shop, to make your visit even more pleasant. The property also features a pool and free breakfast. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking.
Best of all, Rainbow Bend Fishing Resort makes it easy to experience some great Marathon attractions like Shelter Bay Marine, which is a popular marina.
Rainbow Bend Fishing Resort puts the best of Marathon at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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Nestled in a prime location, Rainbow Bend Resort has earned accolades from guests for its friendly staff and picturesque surroundings that often exceed expectations. While the rooms are appreciated for their size and views, opinions on maintenance and cleanliness vary, with some highlighting the need for improvement.
The resort's amenities, which include a private beach and comfortable beds, are popular, though there are mixed feelings about the overall value considering the occasional lack of amenities and maintenance issues. Reviewers warn that service can be slow, particularly during breakfast times.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Unkempt
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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I’ve stayed here four times now and each time has been better than the last because the service is outstanding. I decided to write a review this time because they really deserve it.
The rooms are really clean and have been renovated with wood tile floors, super comfy beds, and mini splits that are nice and quiet:) I’ve also always had a microwave, stove, and fridge but I’m not sure if all rooms have that.
One of my favorite things is that the property is right on the ocean, a really long beautiful stretch, which is surprisingly hard to find in this area when you consider the other features and especially the price! No added “resort fees” here! They have chairs so you can sit by the water and watch the sunset which is honestly key;) They also have a pool and a hot tub.
Please keep in mind that the property WAS damaged in the hurricane (Irma) but over time I’ve seen with my own eyes the repairs and improvements they’ve made, and I assume will continue to do. Don’t let this deter you from staying here or casting it in an unfair light.
P.S. there’s also a restaurant here called the hideaway cafe, upstairs in the back. I just tried it for the first time last night and was definitely not disappointed, it was honestly the best meal I’ve had in the area (or period, in a while) and I felt well taken care of. It’s like a fancy upscale restaurant but very welcoming and unassuming.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from KeysBound0316, Front Office Manager at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 24 Jun 2020
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We aim to provide the best service and accommodations in the hospitality industry and are pleased we met our goal! We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and thank you for highly recommending our hotel. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon! Best wishes!
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Wow ! Just Wow ! A truly delightful experience. We were looking for a budget friendly hotel to stay at but wanted a safe and enjoyable stay ! Rainbow bend did not disappoint! I had booked a nearby hotel but something told me to cancel and book this . I trusted my instinct and got a true Keys experience. As most hotels in the keys ( I lived in Ft Lauderdale for 18 years and came to the Keys often , so I have stayed in 50 or 60 of them ) have a little weathered look on the outside . It doesn’t bother me as I am not going to stand outside and watch the walls . I have stayed in many places for twice the price and probably never will again as I have found my happy place here . The views are spectacular! The staff were all incredibly friendly , helpful and smiles everywhere ! Many said good morning and mentioned my name , it made us feel special and valued as they took the time to remember it .
We had a private patio under a pergola that allowed us to sit back and soak up the sun while watching the gorgeous colors of the ocean change and merge in front of us. The warm sea breezes relax you and remind you that you are blessed. There are palm trees and tropical plants to admire as well as several places to enter the ocean on the property , so be sure to bring your water shoes as all the Keys have coral rocks and coquina.
Our King Suite had an apartment size fridge, 4 burner stove , huge microwave, toaster and 4 cup coffeemaker . Almost all of the furniture seemed new and if they weren’t , they were exceptionally cared for . Ceiling fans were both whisper quiet and everything worked ! The bedroom had a door that locked . We felt extremely safe and comfortable here . The king size bed was great , not to hard not to soft and not that squishy memory foam stuff ! We both slept like babies ! I didn’t want to get out of bed but couldn’t miss the breakfast upstairs . It was was very good and cooked to order from a limited menu, for resort guest only . You may wait a bit but the complimentary breakfast is complimentary be patient and kind as they work their buts off to get you something hot not a cellophane wrapped muffin .
The property was quiet and beautiful . We didn’t stay near the kitchen .
Hideaway Cafe is on property , upstairs from the office. This adds another reason to stay here . Get a reservation as many locals know about it and people fly into the nearby Marathon airport just to eat there . We didn’t have dinner there we had an Experience there !!! Chef Freda is talented and prepared us a culinary delight of Hogfish with scallops and shrimp . None of which was overlooked as so many places do . We started with a shrimp bisque . Everything was absolutely perfect . Can’t wait to eat there again .
All in all don’t look anywhere else, we can’t wait to come back . They truly do everything they can to make your stay exceptional and we are grateful and happy we found this place ! Thank you to the entire staff . The pride in your establishment and work shows .
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christena Gilbert, Other at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 15 Mar 2021
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you soon!
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A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
There are not enough words to describe how wonderful the Rainbow Bend Resort is. It's impossible to even list all the incredible experiences my beloved and I have had during our two stays there, but I can try!
First off the property itself is older, but incredibly charming! All of the rooms appear to have been recently redone, and are immaculate. The cleaning staff does an amazing job, as the rooms are spotless.
We have stayed in both a studio and a one bedroom room. Both were awesome, but something about cooking dinner and eating it with a view of the beach is just charming.
The beach on property is equipped with chairs, hammocks, and lots of clean sand. You can rent kayaks or paddle boards for a small fee.
The staff, Laura and Cathy are incredibly accommodating, even texting us during our stay to see if we needed anything! I even called before my stay and was offered the opportunity to upgrade my room! It was so great that I stayed an extra night!
The included breakfast in the morning at the Hideaway Cafe is great, and while I have't eaten there for dinner, I heard it is great! For sure next time!
Overall, the Rainbow Bend Resort has earned it's place as my go to hotel for my trips to the Keys!
See you soon!!
Nico
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Date of stay: May 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christena Gilbert, Other at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 24 May 2021
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and thank you for highly recommending our hotel. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon!
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This is the most peaceful perfect spot in the keys to just sit and sunbathe and catch up or just read a good book and relax! We came here after loosing our son to try and clear our minds and find peace and solidarity and we have left feeling like a weight somehow has been lifted. The rooms were clean nicely decorated and cold plenty of hot water and if you want to just stay at the resort you can go get groceries and prepare your own meals. Breakfast every morning and a restaurant on site for dinner in the evening, the evenings were just mesmerizing especially with a full moon. I will definitely be back to this little piece of heaven in the keys, not a high end resort but a well kept and well ran nostalgic place in the keys that will make you feel welcome and you have stepped back in time for a moment. Thank you to Jayden for the talks and comforting us in our time of sorrow you really touched our hearts and we will never forget your kindness.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christena Gilbert, Other at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 2 Jun 2022
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and thank you for highly recommending our hotel. We are happy to be here for you during your time of grief and our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon!
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Ok where to start. We came here for my sons birthday and was expecting to have a nice relaxing vacation. Instead we got a disaster. The resort was very dirty and stinky! The smell of rotten fish was outside and inside it was horrible! When we arrived they gave me 5 standard turn keys not cards and said go pick out your room. We had already day booked the room we wanted so I was a little confused, turns out the descriptions on the website were lies! All the rooms were dirty, when we picked the one we wanted she said go have fun, I explained to the general manager Laura that the room was very smelt and ditty. She had the nerve to hand me a bottle of air freshman’s got upset when I explained the room was dirty. There was flies all over the floor, mold on the bed sheets, glass bottle broken outside in front of gate and trash can had trash in it. We left and made sure they cleaned it and came back to find it the same. Made a phone call to the office and they were closed! They have nobody there manning the office in the afternoon or night. Nobody to call in an emergency and believe me we had them. There cleaning lady actually lived in the room next to us and loved to party all night long. After no sleep all night we called and complained and the lady was moved: then here comes a man with a German Shepard dog that would bark all night long, the walls were very paper thin. After getting no sleep pretty much the whole trip they offered a free night to make up for our horrible experience. We accepted then found a new $250 charge they refused to take off so no free night! She said we don’t do that here and that she didn’t care if we made a bad review or not. After talking to people at the pool and finding out they were only renting their room for a couple of hours and almost all cars were locals I now understand what type of motel this is. If you are looking for a quick bang location this is for you. Families not so much!!
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christena Gilbert, Other at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 10 Aug 2020
Thank you for staying with us. We appreciate your feedback. We are truly sorry for any inconveniences you have experienced during your stay. I do however want to have the opportunity to also share how this went wrong. In an effort to try give you the best experience, we provided you with a free upgrade to celebrate your son's birthday. Which is why we gave you the opportunity to choose from different rooms. When you showed up it was earlier than expected and rooms hadn't all been walked through. You were delighted that we were flexible to give an early check in and provide options. After choosing the two bedroom and going to the office, the manager cleaned the flies and refreshed the room. Upon arrival back to the hotel you did mention the smell of fish was still in the air and asked if we would give you air freshener. An offer was made to change rooms but you insisted that was the best for you and your family. Our office does close and operation hours are posted on our website and our front door. We took every single one of your complaints seriously and moved the painting ladies from the room next to you. We did have to open that room to the public and didn't receive any complaints from any other neighbor of a dog barking all night, or of the ladies either for that matter. We even extended your stay an extra day when you asked, and requested it would be in the same room because you did not want to move. That was the second $250 charge on your bill. You still stayed an additional night and refused to pay even though management told you we did not give out free nights. You not only threatened with a bad review but also with a law suit for charging your card for the extra night you stayed because you did not sign the paperwork. We have made note of all of the details provided and are addressing them immediately so something like this doesn't happen again. Just to clarify we do not have hourly rates, so if someone came for a few hours they paid a full days stay. We do hope you enjoyed your time in our salt water pool. Warm Regards, Rainbow Bend Resort
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What originally drew me to this place was the fact that it is dog friendly. It’s hard to find nice hotels that allow big dogs. This is the perfect place to bring your four legged best friend. Well, that is just the tip of the iceberg. From the moment we arrived we had an amazing experience. The manager Laura is so nice, helpful, and professional. She made sure we had everything we needed to be comfortable and happy, including texting us several times to ask us how our room was, how our stay was going, and to see if we needed anything. Nice touch! Our room was fresh, clean and newly renovated. Love the fresh paint colors and modern decor. We stayed in a 2nd floor ocean view room. We had our own private balcony which was perfect for early morning tea, enjoying the view and star gazing at night. We loved this place so much we didn’t venture to any other beach. The private beach just steps outside our door was perfect. Lounge chairs and everything you need right there waiting for you. They offer kayaks and paddle boards which we did not utilize but saw lots of other families enjoying, maybe next time we will take one out for a spin. The water is calm, clear, and picturesque. We enjoyed the free, made to order breakfast each morning. Next time we will have to try the cafe for dinner as we heard great things but didn’t have the chance to check out. This was our first time in the keys and we feel lucky to have found this place. Even without a dog, I’d be back in a heart beat! This is a slice of heaven!!
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christena Gilbert, Other at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 7 Jun 2021
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and thank you for highly recommending our hotel. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon! Best wishes!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We came here for our honeymoon and stayed six nights. Upon driving up, we were not 100% sure from the looks of the outside, but we were fully satisfied, and don’t be quick to judge your initial view of the place. The maintenance staff Laura and Loretta responded to all of our needs and took care of us during our stay. The staff at Hideaway took care of us daily for breakfast (order the peppered sausage and biscuits) and we had a dinner there on Sunday evening and it was superb.
Things to know: 1. You will get texts daily for the maids. Some might find this annoying, but please know the maids never enter your room because of Covid, so the texts are to make sure all your needs are met (I.e towels, toilet paper, trash bags, and anything else you typically need at a hotel.) 2. You can’t swim in the beach water daily. I included pictures of the water at various stages. There is a mini library under the restaurant which added a sweet touch. 3. The pool and jacuzzi are cleaned daily. They appear older, but very clean and sanitized.
This was such a peaceful and romantic getaway for us. It was good for the soul. We will definitely be back, and we would choose it again.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christena Gilbert, Other at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 28 Jun 2021
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It pains me to write a negative review. This place has lost everything in the hurricane, and was likely completely submerged in water. I happily support the comeback of businesses after Irma or even Our present pandemic. But ...
I can’t support the value of the amount of money We paid to stay there. For $700 you would expect a great deal more. The place is somewhat renovated and they are still working on it. The docks were washed away, there is no available restaurant for breakfast or lunch and the restaurant the Hideaway, only available for dinner, was definitely overrated and far from what we hoped for. On a positive note they are pet friendly, however the room smelled like urine and the rug was a major trip hazard. Unfortunately, I can’t say it was clean.
It is however located on the Atlantic which is beautiful, but swimming from the hotel can be a bit off putting due to grass, seaweed and smelly water.
We rented the king Oceanfront room. The windows were not properly placed so the wind coming through is quite loud. The views from this room are great !
Stay at a larger key. Grassy Key is a smaller part of Marathon and was hit pretty hard.
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Date of stay: June 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from KeysBound0316, Front Office Manager at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 24 Jun 2020
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We appreciate your feedback and your comments have been addressed with the Team in hopes to prevent any future disappointment. Again, thank you for your review and we hope to serve you again. Best Wishes!
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Reasonable rates, well provisioned and roomy suite (we stayed in #10), wonderful service from the front desk AND from the on-site restaurant. Many breakfast items are included for paying guests, and you cannot beat the lovely view. The resort has a nice, quiet beachfront with fishing right off shore. It is very handy to several great local activities (only a mile to the Dolphin Research Center, for example). We loved star-gazing from our beach chairs and made some new friends in the hot tub! We will be back.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from KeysBound0316, Front Office Manager at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 24 Jun 2020
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and thank you for highly recommending our hotel. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon! Best wishes!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is our second time staying at Rainbow Bend. Last time we were here it was very windy and we didn't get to enjoy as much. The complimentary breakfast is very good and wished the Hideaway cafe was open Tuesday's for dinner as they have great reviews. The weather was great this time for us. We fished out back and snorkled. We caught many different species of fish- snappers, barracuda, pin fish..there were a few manatee just few feet away splashing around the water. The place looks a little run down on the outside but the rooms are nice and the beach area is nice and tropical. The water isn't that clear in some spots dues to the seagrass but if you snorkel when the sun is out at high tide you can see an array of different sealife in the grass. Also the resort is dog friendly which is a plus.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christena Gilbert, Other at Rainbow Bend Resort
Responded 14 Oct 2021
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and with others. We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and thank you for highly recommending our hotel. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Marathon area.
PRICE RANGE
$251 - $392 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
rainbow bend fishing hotel marathon
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaFlorida KeysMarathon
NUMBER OF ROOMS
23
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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