Clearwater beach or St Pete Beach hotel

[firstwdw]

Any suggestions for a hotel/resort on the beach for a few days post Disney trip? Stayed at Tradewinds 10 years ago and loved it but the rates are too high. Looking for something less than $200 per night- preferably 150-170.

 

[NinaBella]

Check for Groupon and Living Social deals. I see St. Pete and Clearwater hotels on there often. Lots of smaller hotels around Tradewinds. Are you looking for kid friendly hotels?



If it's adults only, I just saw a Groupon for a boutique hotel near Pier 60. The groupon stated it was only for two. for $66 a night.

http://www.thepierhotel.com/

http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-bk-...76195_ap*1t1&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google


My family (to include kids) like Postcard Inn. However, we have never been there on a college party weekend, only a couple weddings in the courtyard which was a lot of fun. There is a new public beach access adjacent to that is bringing in more folks who have been noted as leaving trash on the beach. It's four resorts down from Tradewinds so we always walk to Tradewinds anyways. Postcard Inn has groupons often as well. The local radio station also throws parties here (college crowd). So if you are looking for a quiet place, this may not be it depending on the weekend. We have had great luck so far with nice stays but I have heard others stayed during huge college parties and were not happy.
http://postcardinn.com/

 

[firstwdw]

Thanks. I should have clarified that yes family/ kid friendly is what we are looking for. Doesn't need to be Clearwater or St Pete's- could be a neighboring beach town. Just not familiar with the area. We want to do Caladesi Island- I think that's what it's called. We frequent the beaches in Maine. Kids want to swim in warm waters. Are there shells on the gulf coast?!

 

[vikster1]

I've stayed both places. The gulf is so much nicer.

St Pete beach is on the gulf. Clear and nice. I stayed at the Beachcomber. The Howard Jonhsons was next door and not bad looking at all. We went to the beach bar there. Food and drinks were good. Less than beachcomber.

 

[emsstacey]

We stayed at Tradewinds this summer with a code I found online. It might pay off to search the Internet. We stayed for under $140/night. Any place close to tradewinds should be nice. We loved it there!!

 

[Ametista]

This is my personal favorite. Its a 2 bedroom condo in Indian Rocks Beach, with view of water but its set back one building so its not technically waterfront. But you dont have to cross a street to get to the beach.

http://www.vacationrentals.com/listing/p7007074

Indian Rocks is just a couple miles from Clearwater and a few more to St Pete, but its a family beach with lots of walkable restaurants. We have stayed there many times. I can't tell you how many times we have watched dolphins play and seen schools of mantas, etc. It is just the coolest beach, and such a quick drive to other beaches too.

 

[kathy884]

I love Sea Captain's resort right across the street from the main part of Clearwater beach next to the marina and right near the pier. I would definitely stay there again. They get tons of repeat visitors and after staying there I see why. We had a suite with two queens, a little kitchenette, and LV area with couch pull out. There isn't a private balcony, but there is a big balcony area with lots of tables and chairs for sitting out right outside of rooms for all guests. Meant we visited with others too, ate pizza out there. Just loved sitting out too.

Here are some tripadvisor reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ain_Resort_on_the_Bay-Clearwater_Florida.html

 

[vikster1]

This is my personal favorite. Its a 2 bedroom condo in Indian Rocks Beach, with view of water but its set back one building so its not technically waterfront. But you dont have to cross a street to get to the beach.

http://www.vacationrentals.com/listing/p7007074

Indian Rocks is just a couple miles from Clearwater and a few more to St Pete, but its a family beach with lots of walkable restaurants. We have stayed there many times. I can't tell you how many times we have watched dolphins play and seen schools of mantas, etc. It is just the coolest beach, and such a quick drive to other beaches too.

Indian Rocks beach is also a very nice desination. We stayed at the Holiday Inn a few years ago. Its not your typical HI. It has a key west touch.

 

[ssei7802]

We stayed at Tradewinds for many years then switched to the Alden Beach Resort when the Tradwinds and Guy Harvey rates became higher than we were willing to pay.

 

[firstwdw]

Thank you everyone! Great suggestions!!! Also looking at the Grand Plaza on St Pete's Beach if anyone has any experience there. And how was Beachcomber to the person who stayed there??

 

[vikster1]

We loved the Beachcomber. We stayed in 2012 and 2013. We go at Easter time so it is very pricey.

The grounds are beautiful with lots of flowers and greenery. Basically all the rooms face the courtyard except a few that face the Gulf. That's where we were both times. We had a front door and a sliding door. We had a table and umbrella right outside the room. It was great to get takeout and eat there. 7/11 is right across the street and many walkable other places. The decor and bathroom were a little dated but everything was clean and comfortable.

 

[Megali]

I can also give a personal thumbs up to the Postcard Inn in St. Pete.

Another location, just south of there in Pass-a-Grille, that we like is Coconut Inn. The owners have 3 different properties, but we've only stayed at the Coconut Inn. http://www.pagbeachinns.com/site/ Other than the peak Spring Break season, you can always find at least one category of room under $200 a night.

 

[vikster1]

The Beachcomber is in between the Postcard Inn and Howard Johnson. The postcard Inn had a nice outdoor bar, beach volleyball, a ring on the hook game and live music. The pool was very large and they had pool towels. The rooms were unique looking inside. I peeked when walking by. Most has little lawns with a hammock and flowers and stuff.

 

[firstwdw]

Thanks everyone!! Still deciding between gulf coast and atlantic. DS wants to visit the space center and see the cruise ships so as much as I love the idea of the gulf coast, the Atlantic might win. I'm torn though. We live in a beach town in the Northeast so we do Atlantic beaches all summer. However our water is freezing so I'd think FL Atlantic waters would be a bit warmer even in April thAn the waters in Maine during the summer.

 

[Megali]

No Space Center, but if you visit the FL Aquarium in Tampa, the outdoor bar and restaurant overlooks not only the kid splash zone, but the cruise ships, if you time your visit right. That way you still get to visit the Gulf beaches.