Florida Gulf Coast Beach Recommendations

[ugadog99]

We are considering spending 5 nights on the Gulf in June before heading over to WDW for 5 nights. Our favorite beach is Siesta Key, but the only condos there rent for one week minimum. So, we would like recommendations for Gulf area beaches to try before our Disney time. We don't want more than about a 2 hour drive to WDW from wherever we are. So, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Melanie

 

[jajuan]

I went to Clearwater Beach over Christmas. It was a lot of fun. Every night, they have a sunset "party" with jump houses and such for the kids and vendors for shopping. We also went to Tarpon Springs...a 20 minute drive...to the sponge docks. They had dolphin watching tours for cheap. My family of 6 went on a boat for 1.5 hours and it only cost 35.00 for all of us. It was really a great time. I am used to cruise ship prices...so I thought that was really cheap. Lots of shopping there too...some junk and some good stuff. For a beach town, things seemed pretty cheap as well. I live in the Dallas area and the drive to WDW was a breeze. I felt like I was just going to the opposite end of town...lol. I don't have any information on condos Good luck and have fun.

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks. I'm looking at Clearwater. Where did you stay?

 

[FINFAN]

Longboat Key...do a search for a resort/hotel style you prefer, we stayed at the Holiday Inn/dome/atrium a few years back and it was beautiful, but I think it has been torn down. The Hilton Inn is nice and Turtle Crawl has kitchen rooms available....but like I said, it has been a few years. Loved the beaches tho.


Pam

 

[lillygator]

Siesta is AWESOME!! And who are you looking renting through? There are many that rent by the day....are you going through a company or through individuals?

I love Clearwater as well but it is much more a party atmosphere than Siesta.

 

[jajuan]

I got lucky...my mom just moved there a few months ago

 

[Galahad]

Siesta Key and Longboat Key are our favorites. We go to Longboat every year. Try the Colony resort on Longboat key. Very relaxing, things for the kids, great beach!

 

[ugadog99]

At Siesta, I've just been looking online at some places. We have stayed at Siesta Breakers, Crystal Sands, and Crescent Arms. All of these have at least one week minimums. I really want to stay only 5 nights so we can move over to WDW for another 5 or 6. Any recommendations on places that we could stay less than a week. I would LOVE to stay at Siesta or Longboat if possible.

 

[debbiedoo]

have you looked at this web site?? some owners rent by the day/week

http://vrbo.com

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks so much. I'll give it a try.

 

[ugadog99]

Just giving a bump to see if anyone has any other recommendations/ideas. I found a few condos at Indian Shores that rent for less than a week. Has anyone been there? Although we thought about St. Augustine, we really, really prefer the Gulf.

 

[Pembo]

We are renting on Anna Maria Island again this summer. There are definitely some condos that rent for less than a week. Email the chamber with your dates, etc and they can check things out for you. AMI

Also try Palm Tree

AMI is right outside of Bradenton. The most gorgeous beach I've ever been on. There isn't a lot to do there but that was quite welcome after a week of rushing around Disney.

I love it there.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I went to Clearwater Beach over Christmas. It was a lot of fun. Every night, they have a sunset "party" with jump houses and such for the kids and vendors for shopping. We also went to Tarpon Springs...a 20 minute drive...to the sponge docks. They had dolphin watching tours for cheap. My family of 6 went on a boat for 1.5 hours and it only cost 35.00 for all of us. It was really a great time. I am used to cruise ship prices...so I thought that was really cheap. Lots of shopping there too...some junk and some good stuff. For a beach town, things seemed pretty cheap as well. I live in the Dallas area and the drive to WDW was a breeze. I felt like I was just going to the opposite end of town...lol. I don't have any information on condos Good luck and have fun.

Yes, Clearwater Beach is a beautiful beach. And Tarpon Springs is my town!

When we want to get away for a beach vacation (on this side of Fl.)ourselves we go to Longboat Key. There is a Holiday Inn there called the Hollidome and it is an entirely enclosed Holiday Inn. It is directly on the beach and you can walk out the back door and be on sand. It has three pools - one adult outside, one family outside and one family inside. We thought that was a neat feature. They had those huge bicycles with the giant floating tires to rent and ride around on the water. We had a good time there.

 

[Bucs Fan]

have you looked for anything on pass a grille?

 

[ugadog99]

Bucs Fan, I haven't tried it but I will.

 

[Bucs Fan]

if you can bear a little farther south of SK, I'd also suggest Boca Grande. but that's as fas south as I would recommend. keep fighting for SK rentals, they do open up, even in June.

 

[ugadog99]

We are continuing to hope for Siesta, but have any of you tried Turtle Crawl Inn at Longboat? They rent for $160 a night and do not have to rent for a week minimum. The internet photos look great, but I was wondering if anyone had ever stayed there?

 

[nucpharm29]

Have you tried Jamaica Royale or The Banyan Tree in Siesta Key? We love Siesta Key--wish it were us going! The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce website lets you do searches of Lodging by how long you are staying! Good luck!

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

 

[Susie]

We are renting on Anna Maria Island again this summer. There are definitely some condos that rent for less than a week. Email the chamber with your dates, etc and they can check things out for you. AMI

Also try Palm Tree

AMI is right outside of Bradenton. The most gorgeous beach I've ever been on. There isn't a lot to do there but that was quite welcome after a week of rushing around Disney.

I love it there.

We stayed at the Palm Tree Villas in Anna Maria Island in October and the villas and AMI are both fantastic. I can't wait to go back.