Clearwater Hotels

[Sweeney Todd]

We've decided we are staying one night in Clearwater, possibly a Tues after doing Busch, but there are so many hotels to choose from and such a range of prices.
We require two rooms for me, DW, my bro & partner and 3 kids (under 12yrs) between us.
Me & DW just want somewhere cheapish to crash but my bro wants to be on the beach. The cheapest hotels appear to be around Highway 19 and for the hotels on the beach the average premium on top is $60/80 (& a further $15/$30 on top of that for Gulf view)

Anyone with any experience of the hotels in Clearwater please give me an idea of what they are like.
Is the premium for beach hotels worth it?
What are the budget hotels actually like?
Do the savings of a budget hotel over a beach hotel outweigh the extra journey to the beach area and lack of Gulf view?

Thanks in advance for your replies.


Sweeney <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_112.gif' border=0></a>

 

[ca859093]

What time of the year are you visiting? Also I would think if you are coming over to Clearwater, you should stay on the beach, since you could just stay in Tampa. I would avoid 19 hotels. The ones that are decent are surronded by construction right now. They are some nice "mom and pop" motels down on the beach that are pretty inexpensive. Price really depends on the time of the year though. Let me know and maybe I can give you some hotel ideas on the beach.

 

[cyndibelle]

the only hotel we have stayed at is the adams mark and it was great..and totally worth it...i agree as far as staying away from highway 19 hotels....

 

[VWL'sownBeastn'Belle]

Clearwater is my home town. The US 19 hotels are not that nice. They are OK if you are on business and working close by. They are not resorts by any strech. Holidy Inn Sunspree at Clearwater beach is nice. Adam's Mark is very nice. I think it is worth it to stay on the beach. Clearwater beach is very nice.

Beast

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Thanks for the replies so far folks.
We are likely to be staying Tues 17th Feb - hoping it would have quietened down after President's weekend.

When I've done searches online with booking agencies and the hotels the main hotels near the beach that come back again and again are:
the Hilton, the two Best Westerns, the Adams Mark and a couple of others that I cannot remember just now.
All only allow me to search on a 2+2 occupancy for each room. Do any of tese hotels do suites suitable for our party of 7 (5xAd, 3xCh)?

Any further advice greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Sweeney <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_112.gif' border=0></a>