FAO Claire L & anoyone else:) Tradewinds

[Ang1e]

Hello Claire

I noticed on another thread that you'd been to Tradewinds. It's a long way off for us, I know, but we're booked there for next year and I was wondering what you thought of it and would you recommend it?

Many thanks

Angie

 

[Claire L]

Ang1e,
I have staat the Tradewinds Island Grand twice once in 1993 and again in 2001. In 1993 I stayed in a one bedroomed suite with an internal view over the inland waterways and was with my mum and her sister. We found this room to be of a good standard and the location of the resort very good so much so I booked it for my honeymoon in 2001. In 2001 as Virgin made a mess up with our first hotel ie no honeymoon special the reps at Tradewinds got us upgraded form a delue room to a one bedroomed Gulf view suite which had just an amazing view over the beach and the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel itself is split into two main buildings one has a classier restaurant and the other a more reasonable restaurant plus bar and a Pizza Hut. There ae three outdoor pools and one small indoor pool. The main pool has a lovely beach type bar overlooking it call The Flying Bridge and is a nice place to drink and eat whilst watching the sunset. The other main pool on the beach side is adults only which is really nice if you don't have kids as it is more peaceful than the others! As for location it is in the middleish of St Pete Beach and there is a shopping center nearby to stock up on all the essentials and a short drie south across the Sunshine Skyway bridge takes you to Bradenton and a large factory outlet and a little bit north of St Pete is Tyrone Square mall a nice local shopping mall for regular shops etc.
I would definitely recommend the Tradewinds Gran to anyone thinking of staying in St Pete Beach and we are planning on going back there in a couple of years.
Hope this was of help, any qustions please ask and I shall try to answer them.
Claire

 

[Ang1e]

Thanks for the reply Claire - I really appreciate it, so looking forward to it! We have a pool view suite booked, it sounds like it'll be pretty good wherever though.

Ang

 

[christi]

Thanks Claire, great info, we are off there in November and have a pool /waterway suite booked. Any tips on how to get an upgrade? It's our anniversary whilst we are there, is it worth mentioning or does it have to be a honeymoon or the like?
What about facilities for kids? How near will we be to the beach? Are there any eating places nearby?
Sorry for all the questions I have lots!
Thanks
Christi

 

[Claire L]

Christi,
Firstly the hotel is beachfront and no room is more than a few minutes walk. As for kids I think they are pretty well catered for but as we don't have any we have never needed to find out. As for upgrade it is worth mentioning it to whoever you booked it with be it through an agent or direct with the hotel as they may upgrade if rooms/suites are available. As for food its America and there are plenty of places to eat nearby. As I said in my earlier post Tyrone Square mall is a short drive north and has a lovely restaurant called Ruby Tuesdays serving general food with all you can eat salad bar for about $1.99 added onto the entree price. Another good one if you fancy a bit of self catering is Publix supermarket at Dolphin Square (?) just a few minutes drive south of the hotel towards the Don Cesar and near the Holiday Inn and it makes a change from restaurant food. As for the hotel the restaurant by Pizza Hut is good as is Pizza Hut which is take away, nice for an evening by the pool. A restaurant nearby highly recommended but we never actually got to is Silas Dents which I believe is mainly seafood based.
I think thats all I can remember at the moment.
Claire