It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and for all the havoc that hurricane Irma wreaked on the Florida Keys in September 2017, there was indeed a silver lining at Parrot Key Hotel in Key West.

At the resort, extensive flooding and damage prompted a full studs-up $25 million makeover, and the result is a newly skinned boutique hotel full of tropical vibes and laid back elegance that’s scooping up travel awards by the beach bucketful.

Parrot Key Hotel is perched (pun intended) on the waterfront of the Gulf of Mexico, just outside the main hustle and bustle of old town Key West. First impressions are that the renovation has conjured up all the classic Keys elements you’ve come for — pure blue sky, sparkling sea and waving palm trees providing a backdrop for whitewashed, beachy Key West villas with indigo accents, all surrounded by jungle-like foliage.

While there’s no actual beach, there is a sandy area overlooking the Gulf, where you’ll find lazy-day hammocks and Adirondacks perfect for sunset watching. The result is a barefoot yet upscale, lush resort that screams romance.

It’s not just nature’s bounty that gives Parrot Key its eye candy, either. As part of the hurricane rebuilding effort, the town required that local art be incorporated into all hotel designs, an insightful move that makes sure the flavor of this eclectic southernmost city is sewn into the resort. As a result, quirky art installations mingle with partially hidden sculptures and carved Indonesian-style doorways leading into the pool area, giving it a whimsical fancy reflective of Key West’s vibrant art scene.

Guests at Parrot Key have a choice of 148 spacious rooms and one- or two-bedroom suites and villas built in classic Key West style. Interiors feature midcentury modern furniture, clean lines, pale colors and beach wood tones. All rooms have porches or balconies, so honeymooners have the perfect private outdoor space for a champagne toast or two.

If you’re choosing Key West as a destination wedding and will have guests staying, you’ll find plenty of flexibility in the accommodation. Thoughtful layouts offer sitting areas and master suites that can be expanded by joining lower and upper floor units.

If you want a one stop shop, the resort can also accommodate smaller wedding ceremonies on site (up to 75 guests) at their waterfront dock and beach area.

For honeymooners, the waterfront villas are a must. We enjoyed not just the view but the little extra goodies that come with the territory, such as beach bags and yoga mats. Plus, walking straight out onto the sand or your balcony overlooking the glittering sea helps you instantly decompress.

The four pools are the place to be to soak up the sun with a cold one (they’re heated in winter, cooled during the summer) that are lined up in the interior of the property. They each have their own niche, starting at the secluded lower pool for peace and r&r, working up to the larger top pool, where you’ll find a patio containing the Grove Kitchen and Bar. All-day al fresco dining here features a Cuban- and island-inspired menu — try the Key West pizza (pink shrimp, feta, tomatoes, fresh herbs) followed up with the local favorite dessert — Kermit’s key lime pie on a stick.

Onsite, you can pick from a range of water sports like paddle boarding, jet skiing and kayaking through the mangroves. If you want the full beach treatment for some snorkeling or parasailing, a shuttle service runs to Smathers Beach, 2.7 miles away, with beach towels and chairs provided.

The fun and funk of old town Key West is also right at your doorstep, and again, a shuttle busis on hand to take you the 3.6 miles to iconic downtown bars such as the Green Parrot on Whitehead Street, or Sloppy Joe’s on Duval.

In the wee hours, escape the party and get an Uber to whisk you back to the romance and serenity of Parrot Key, where you can watch the sun come up and enjoy the salty breezes coming off the calming sea.

Room rates start at $249 in low season, plus tax and $30 daily resort fee.

The writer was a guest of the hotel.

Key West is an eclectic playground where just about anything goes, so you can have pretty much any kind of wedding you want in these 2.74 square miles.

As a public beach, there’s no charge to use this half-mile long stretch of sand for a wedding. Local wedding planner Daniel Kolbe, owner of Southernmost Weddings, runs a package that includes the officiant and a photographer for 15 minutes for $260. Add an arch, aisle, lanterns and chairs from $2,500. Kolbe doesn’t advise having a reception here. “The logistics involved with catering are not cost effective,” says Kolbe. “Plus, Key West has so many wonderful restaurants.”

If you want to get hitched in style, Papa’s house is the place. Weddings here are in the gardens on the 1-acre property, overlooked by the house Hemingway lived in from 1931 to 1939. The Spanish colonial is now a museum, but after it closes at 5 p.m., the grounds can be booked for up to 100 guests.

“Typically, weddings take place in our ceremony garden,” says Anna Rodenbeck, director of events at the museum. “Cocktail hour will then take place in the back of the property by the pool, and receptions are out on the main lawn with the picture-perfect backdrop of the Hemingway Home.” Cost is $500 per hour with a four hour minimum; $750 per hour for Fridays and Saturdays.

Civil War history buffs might want to consider this 54-acre park, a National Historic Landmark that began construction in 1845. The location offers a scenic, sandy beach featuring tropical vegetation. Five spots along here can be reserved for sunset weddings, after the park closes. Tables and tiki torches can be set up, and a fire pit adds ambience. Rates for up to six people start at $50.

Anyone looking for a vintage “Mad Men” wedding should pack their kitten heels and head to this naval-station command headquarters that President Truman used as a winter hideaway through the 40s and 50s. Outside weddings are on the three manicured lawns, where presidents including John F. Kennedy have trodden. Rates start at $3,000 for event hire only.