Isla Bella Beach Resort

Mention the Florida Keys and you’re likely to imagine the bohemian romance of Key West and maybe Ernest Hemingway’s six-toed cats. But there’s a reason “keys” is plural. There are a multitude of islands here at the end of South Florida, and that means there are a multitude of travel experiences to be had. Typically that doesn’t mean a self-contained 24-acre luxury-resort experience, complete with five pools, a sandy beach, and nearly 200 suites. But that’s exactly the promise of Isla Bella Beach Resort, midway between Key Largo and Key West, near the east end of the Seven Mile Bridge.

It’s a brand-new, purpose-built resort, and while its style is contemporary, it’s not without a sense of place. Space is plentiful, the look is elegant, and the comforts are swanky — you’ll have an ocean view, a private outdoor living area, a spa-like modern bathroom, and, in some cases, a full kitchen.

There’s also a spa, in its own 4,000-square-foot building — 5,000 if you count the attached fitness center. And there’s no shortage of dining and drinking options, from the Neapolitan-style Il Postino and the beachfront Burger Palace to the Beach Bar and the Marketplace café. As for the activities, if it can be done by sea, it can be done here. That includes diving, kayaking, sunset cruises, and fishing trips — as well as plenty of dry-land diversions, from bocce and croquet to poolside movies and much more.