Clearwater/St Pete Beach

[Frances999]

Hi

We are considering taking one night out of Orlando to go to the coast this August. We have been to Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island before (beautiful) and would like to head back there this year.

As for a "base" for our hotel accommodation, can anybody recommend Clearwater or St Pete? They both seem to be about a 2 hour drive from Orlando. Considering we will be spending "day 2" of the detour-trip at Honeymoon/Caladesi, which beach is nicer out of Clearwater and St Petes for the day we arrive? Also, can anybody recommend any nice hotels?

Thank you so much!

 

[shellbell]

Hiya Frances999

Were doing a week on the gulf coast in june and were staying in Indian rocks which is between St Petes and Clearwater. The hotel were staying is http://www.hiharbourside.com/ Looks very nice.

Hope you find somewhere nice

Michelle

 

[alisonbestford]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn, Sunspree, ClearWater in February .
The hotel wasn't anything special but the Hilton, by Pier 60, looked nice and is pretty central.

 

[Lisa1976]

We stayed at the Hilton in Clearwater in December for 3 nights, was fantastic, right on the beach front. The only thing I would say about Clearwater is that if laying on the beach all day isn't you thing you may get a little bored, we found that we had to go out of Clearwater to do anything, mainly into Tampa.

Hope this helps.

 

[christi]

We stayed at the Tradewinds Grand Island on St Petes Beach in 2003. Good hotel in a fabulous location, only a few yards from the beach. Sitting with your Pina Colada watching the sun set over the miles of white sand was fanastic! As there was 5 of us we had a Tropical suite which was a reasonable size with a separate living area. Hotel is good but we felt is could have done with a lick of paint in quite a few areas. I gather they are refurbishing it though so perhaps this has already been done since we were there. Can't beat the location though.

 

[Ang1e]

Hi we were at the Tradetwinds Island Grand last October. As Christi mentioned is in a wonderful location - right on the beach. The rooms have recently been renovated and we loved ours - on the top floor overlooking the ocean. I wouldn't hesitate to go back again

The only thing we didn't like was the buffet breakfast on the Sunday morning - yuk! We did this because we were getting to the end of our stay there and DS 9 was feeling hard done to because we hadn't eaten in the hotel lol he is very strange, bless

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

I agree with the Tradewinds - nice hotel, excellent position. Also next door is their sister hotel the Sirata, shares all the ameneties of the Tradewinds and also we've stayed at the Holiday Inn & Suites, next to Sirata. All rooms at the HI (it's round) have wonderful water views Great revolving restaurant on the top floor to watch the sunsets.

Any of these hotels you shouldn't go wrong with, but if you want something a little bit more special, try the Don Cesar at the end of the beach. Fabulous

Not too keen on Clearwater beach itself, a little too commerically touristy for our liking, but Sand Key is nice, about 5 mins drive from Clearwater. The Sheraton Sand Key is nice, right on the beach.

 

[alisonbestford]

Not too keen on Clearwater beach itself, a little too commerically touristy for our liking,

Guess a lot of it depends on whether you have kids, and their ages
There are certainly things to keep the kids occupied at Clearwater.
You're only there for one night, right? so I, personally, wouldn't drive too far

 

[gilld]

I'm with Annie in that I didn't Clearwater at all but then we didn't like St Pete's much either. Yes, the beaches are lovely but as places we thought them far too "bucket and spade" like...ok maybe with young children but reminded me too much of the Costa's...and not for us now.

We had booked to stay at Tradewinds several years back but cancelled when we went for a quick visit. DH said both hotel and guests reminded him of Stepford!!! In fact we struggled to find a hotel we did like in the region and resorted to a condo. We wouldn't go to that area again but would go much further south...no good for a day though.

 

[Frances999]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I have changed my mind and after talking with DH we have decided to just stay in Orlando. It will be far too much hassle checking-out and then back in again upon returning to Orlando.

Instead, I think we will do a day trip to Honeymoon & Caladesi. Has anybody done a day trip to the Clearwater area from Orlando before?

Thanks again!

 

[alisonbestford]

We went for a few days but it's a straight hour and a half drive so perfectly 'doable' in a day.