Best Gulf Coast hotels/beaches

[oceanscape]

Hi, we want to spend part of our next trip on the Gulf Coast. Would like some recommendations for where to go - any tips? Priority is for a beautiful sandy beach and a stylish beach-front hotel. Would be good if there was shopping/restaurants in the local area, too. Travel time from Orlando isn't important as we will be staying there for a week.

Thanks!

 

[wayneg]

This is our experience of the Gulf coast: All week wished we were back in Orlando.
We stayed at Clearwater Hilton for a week. We love Clearwater for a day trip, went down last month for another day, but didn't enjoy at all for a week.
If you like beach holidays then go for it, we have no interest in them anymore, 2 hours at Castaway cay is enough for my yearly quota of beach.

 

[jeffn5631]

For the Gulf coast, my pick for the best beach and I don't think there is a close second is Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota. This beach has been featured on the Travel Channel and was rated 2nd best in all of Florida, of course, South Beach was put at number one. Why this beach stands out is for the sand, it is like baby powder and is so white that it reflects the Suns heat and the sand never gets hot. This beach is part of the State of Florida Park system and is very popular in the Tampa Bay area especially during the week ends, so parking is at a premium.

 

[katiec]

Sorry but I'm with Wayne on doing "beaches" on a "Florida" holiday.

We LOVED being at Clearwater for the day and then we drove down to Indian Rocks beach to Crabby Bills for dinner and will be doing the same our next trip - or maybe even go down for 2 separate days, but good beaches are good beaches wherever you go.

We had 2 weeks in Jamaica last year and it was really far far too much beach. We like "chilling out" as much as the next person but find that a day at typhoon lagoon mostly fulfils our need for sand while in Florida!!

It was really lovely to"escape" the Orlando madness for a day, but if we wanted to do a week at the beach we wouldn't do it on an Orlando holiday.

Im surer someone will be along soon to give you more positive advice

 

[orangetiggs]

we did st petes and was glad of the phone call on day two saying we were being evacuated back to orlando!! like wayne all we thought about was being in orlando!

We stayed in tradewinds island grand resort which has just opened a waterpark that floats on the gulf! interesting to see

 

[oceanscape]

Thanks guys! As much as we love Disney, we also love doing nothing and sitting on the beach all day with a good book, so I don't think I'm too worried about us wishing we were in Orlando.

We're currently thinking either Naples, Sarasota or St.Pete's. Will keep researching.

Appreciate the input so far!

 

[Hilary]

...Priority is for a beautiful sandy beach and a stylish beach-front hotel. Would be good if there was shopping/restaurants in the local area, too. .
...We're currently thinking either Naples, Sarasota or St.Pete's.Thanks!

I'd say Naples would be the best fit from those three options

 

[Callum]

Not for the first time, I am waving the flag for Treasure Island (just north of St Petersburg)

We were there for 3 days just a couple of weeks ago.

A very wide, white sandy beach and, compared to St Pete's and Clearwater, very quiet.

Our first stay here was in 1991 and try to spend a few days in TI whenever we are in Florida. This year we stayed in the Bilmar Beach Resort with a balcony room overlooking the beach. Not cheap at about $180 pn + tax but, in our opinion, worth it for a relaxing few days before heading back to Orlando. There are many other beach front hotels/motels/appartments at varying prices.

The Bilmar has a beach bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner and also a Sloppy Joes for lunch and dinner. A fair range of other eating places ranging from McDonalds to a few good quality restaurants - the Middle Ground for example.

TI is also within easy driving distance of Tampa, Busch Gardens, Clearwater, Sarasota, Bradenton and the many shopping malls dotted around that part of the Gulf Coast.

Give it a try

 

[Alex's Mummy]

Thanks guys! As much as we love Disney, we also love doing nothing and sitting on the beach all day with a good book, so I don't think I'm too worried about us wishing we were in Orlando.

We're currently thinking either Naples, Sarasota or St.Pete's. Will keep researching.

Appreciate the input so far!

We did a split stay in 2006 with a week in orlando and a week at the Don Cesar at St Pete's Beach. St Pete's was beautiful. If you like the beach, you will enjoy this- the warm water and lots of great places to eat between St Pete's and clearwater. It's also close to tampa if you want to go shopping etc. It get's a from me.

 

[rpbert1]

We have stayed at http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Don-CeSar-Beach-Resort for the last 2 years, beautiful hotel owned by Lowes, and right on the beach.
Not staying this year, as we are usually out and about ,and do not get the benefit of the resort, but a nice place with plenty of history to it.