Beach Vacation

[toandjo]

Looking for any advise on where to stay, best beach, for 4 days to 1 week before Disney. Would prefer 2hrs max driving. 2 adults and 2 teens. Would like to have 2 bedrooms and a kitchen for under $150/night. Is this possible? Also we have been to both Cocoa Beach and Clearwater just for a day trip each, and kids really like the waves, are there ever any waves on the Gulf side? We are looking at going early July. TIA

 

[toandjo]

New Smyrna Beach looks beautiful but when I do a search all that comes up is about SHARKS!!! Is it really that bad there compared to say Cocoa Beach? My daughter is already scared of sea creatures.

 

[StuckInKS]

We love St. Pete beach, just south of Clearwater. Not sure when you're going, but here are some prices from our week:

Sunset Vistas 2 bedroom $143/night (LOVE this place! The rooms are very nice)
Sirata Beach Resort 1 bedroom suite $100/night (A little run down, but it is cheaper)
Alden Suites $90/night (never stayed here)

Good luck!!

 

[Ametista]

Looking for any advise on where to stay, best beach, for 4 days to 1 week before Disney. Would prefer 2hrs max driving. 2 adults and 2 teens. Would like to have 2 bedrooms and a kitchen for under $150/night. Is this possible? Also we have been to both Cocoa Beach and Clearwater just for a day trip each, and kids really like the waves, are there ever any waves on the Gulf side? We are looking at going early July. TIA

The gulf has nicer beaches regarding sand and water temp. If you want waves you should go back to Cocoa or try Indian Rocks Beach which has a lot more waves than most gulf beaches. It is a 10 min drive from Clearwater.

 

[toandjo]

Anyone have any reviews about this area?

 

[Ametista]

Anyone have any reviews about this area?

My neighbors have a condo at New Smyrna beach and all they joke about is sharks. Honestly if your daughter is afraid of sea creatures I would take her somewhere else, because she will likely overhear people discussing sharks and then be terrified of the water. There are sharks at Cocoa Beach too. Maybe the clear water on the gulf is better for her so she can see what is in the water with her. Clearwater and St Pete beaches both have really clear water.

 

[JimMIA]

You're talking about Florida.

On land, you have bugs, lizards, frogs, and SNAKES!!!

In the ocean, on either coast, you have sharks and barracuda. They are always there, but sharks are usually not seen unless you're diving an offshore reef. I've lived in Florida most of my life and I have NEVER gone diving or snorkling anywhere without seeing a barracuda...usually close enough to reach out and touch.

But truthfully, jellyfish, Portuguese Man-O-War, and rip currents are much more of a problem -- as are other fish like bluefish and king mackerel when they are running. They actually hurt people; sharks rarely do, and barracuda almost never do.

Yes there are shark sightings, and don't ever take your daughter for a helicopter/airplane ride along the beaches, because she'll never set foot in the ocean again.

But tens of millions of bathers enter Florida waters every year with almost no incidents. You are MUCH safer in the ocean than on the highway.

And if you want waves, go to the Atlantic Coast.

 

[toandjo]

ok, thanks for the information, I get that there are sharks everywhere it's just that New Smyrna really had a lot of hits about sharks. My daughter will prob only go in water up to her waist anyways so not sure what a big deal it will be. Son loves the waves and I love the beauty of the golf waters and sand. So, I guess my next question is can you go where there is the beauty of the golf with the waves of the Atlantic or are we stuck picking one or the other?

 

[Ametista]

Indian Rocks Beach is the only Gulf coast beach I know of with waves big enough to boogey board.

 

[toandjo]

Ok, so we have decided on the Atlantic side for the waves, my question now is where? As I said we have been to Cocoa beach but we are thinking we need to see something different this time. Would like to have a resort feel without the cost? Don't know if that is possible. What is a nice beach on the Atlantic side other than Cocoa? TIA