No one likes a 4 a.m. wake-up call. But when you’re about to take a sunrise drive down the Overseas Highway to Key West, no one likes a complainer either.

This year, we cruised to the Conch Republic in a convertible. And while a top-down ride isn’t the only way to reach the island, for a restful vacation, a bed and breakfast is the only way to stay.

The Key West Bed and Breakfast and The Mermaid & the Alligator top our list of island inns. Both are adult-only (16+), so please, sleep in.

Key West Bed and Breakfast

Built in 1898 by Bahamian shipbuilders, this quaint 10-room inn has high ceilings and native Dade Pine walls covered in local art. A palm-shaded garden boasts wild orchids and a dipping pool for afternoon cool-downs.

For affordable luxury, consider a room with a shared bath. Rooms with private baths include the King Room, with four-post mahogany bed, and third-floor rooms with private decks and views of Old Town.

A breakfast buffet offers tropical fruits and house-baked confections. Our favorites were the cinnamon pear pound cake and apple walnut sticky buns. Take your plate to the garden to dine al fresco.

Owner Jody Carlson is a Massachusetts native and has run the B&B for 30 years. Her doors open to a quiet street just a short walk from Mallory Square, where Key West sunsets can be savored from shore.

Key West Bed and Breakfast 415 William Street, Key West, Fla.; 800-438-6155; rates start at $89 a night, including breakfast; www.keywestbandb.com

The Mermaid & the Alligator

If all you know of Key West is Duval Street, you owe yourselves a stay at The Mermaid & the Alligator. Owners Paul Hayes and Dean Carlson (no relation to Jody) have created the epitome of B&B luxury in their 1904 Victorian home.

Nine rooms offer a range of upscale coziness, from the Treetop Suite’s cathedral ceilings and Roman tub to the Conch Cottage’s homey, tropical décor.

But the inn’s best feature is the exquisitely landscaped tropical garden, where guests are served homemade breakfasts. The spinach mushroom quiche and banana pancakes are standouts.

In the evenings, the heated dipping pool and cabana are bathed in ambient light. Pour a complementary glass of wine and unwind.

The Mermaid & the Alligator 729 Truman Ave., Key West, Fla.; 800-773-1894; rates start at $198 a night, including breakfast; www.kwmermaid.com

Lorne Bell can be reached at lorneabell@hotmail.com.