Rich History
Key West was once home to literary genius, Ernest Hemmingway. Take a tour of his beautiful home and stop at the Little White House too.
Sitting on the southernmost tip of the United States of America, the atmosphere of Key West is all tropical Caribbean beaches, fascinating history and good times. Key West is the last island of the Florida Keys and has almost 30,000 residents. Popular attractions include the house of Ernest Hemmingway, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and Duval Street.
Pack in your camera, your swimsuit and your good humour because cheap flights to Key West are now available for a limited period of time. Key West is home to Key West International Airport (EYW), located on a 5-minute drive from the city centre. Key West International Airport serves a multitude of airlines, including Delta Airlines, Silver Airways and American Airlines. Popular connecting flights depart from Johannesburg and Cape Town and the flight duration is 20 hours and 15 minutes.
Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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Key West was once home to literary genius, Ernest Hemmingway. Take a tour of his beautiful home and stop at the Little White House too.
Whatever you do, make sure to pack in your swimsuit as Key West is a great location for water activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, kite boarding, scuba diving and more.
Good times seem to never leave the island and whether it’s a massive Caribbean festival or just pizza and margaritas with friends – you’re always having a great time.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
Country | United States of America |
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Currency | United States Dollar (USD) |
Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 0.08 USD |
Language | English |
Hub Airport | Key West International Airport (EYW) |
Time Zone | GMT -6 |
Travel Adaptor | Type A / B |
With perfect weather all year long, it might be difficult to decide when to visit this tropical location. Winter is the most popular time to visit (December to February) as the weather is not sweltering and there is very little rain. Summer time is humid and rainy. The best time to visit is between March and May when the crowds have thinned out and the weather is warm but not too hot.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall levels (mm) per month
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low °C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 22°C | 22°C | 26°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 24°C | 22°C | 20°C |
High °C | 23°C | 24°C | 26°C | 28°C | 30°C | 28°C | 32°C | 31°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 25°C |
Rainfall (mm) | 40 | 110 | 60 | 70 | 110 | 100 | 90 | 120 | 150 | 130 | 80 | 50 |
There’s no place in the USA quite like Key West. With its tropical Cuban influences and perfect beaches, it still manages to hold onto and maintain a distinctive American feel. Literary mastermind Ernest Hemmingway fell in love with the island and after just three weeks on it, he and his wife decided to call it home. Visitors can wander through his home and tour the gardens and 60ft swimming pool. For a look into the island’s history, visit the Little White House which has been decorated exactly as it was back then has served as a presidential retreat since 1880. It was built in WWII.
Oddly enough, one of the island’s top attractions is its cemetery. Well-looked after and beautifully decorated, the place may seem a tad bit morbid until you start reading many of the quirky messages on the gravestones. Grab a brochure for a great tour!
Head over to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory for something magical and enjoy the flutters of delicate butterfly feathers in the air around you.
And of course, there is always a party or festival happening on the island. Pizza and margaritas while overlooking the ocean are a good way to end of a great day! Oh, and don’t forget to pick up some memorabilia and sarong or two at shopping central, Duval Street.
Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Key West online at Travelstart!
South Africans who wish to visit Key West, Florida in the USA will need a visa to do so. The process has been known to take a long time, so it’s best to start as early as possible. You will need to complete your application and submit numerous documents, as well as schedule an appointment with the US Embassy in your city.
For more information, please contact the Embassy of the United States of America, in Pretoria:
877 Pretorius St,
Arcadia,
Pretoria,
0083
Tel: 012 431 4000
Key West is a popular holiday destination and though quite safe, it is best to be alert and aware of your surroundings. Put your personal items in the hotel safe and don’t walk around with large sums of money in public spaces.
Currently, there has been an outbreak of Zika in the state of Florida and pregnant women are not recommended to travel there. Zika is spread via mosquito bites and unprotected sexual encounters. There are no vaccines required for your trip to the USA, but it is always important to go for your routine check-ups and to speak to your doctor before any international travelling.
Item | Johannesburg | Cape Town | Key West |
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Meal (inexpensive restaurant) | R 90.00 | R 100.00 | R 197.66 |
Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 22.00 | R 20.00 | R 52.71 |
Cappuccino (Regular) | R 19.00 | R 20.00 | R 49.42 |
Taxi 1km (Normal tariff) | R 10.00 | R 12.00 | R 20.47 |
Pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 35.00 | R 35.00 | R 92.24 |
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