Inexpensive FL beach vacation in the summer???

[My2CrazyGirls]

Hi! I was always told that Florida hotel prices drop in the summer. But I am looking and prices seem to be high all over the state. Even the condos on VRBO seem to be just about the same price as high season.

Is an inexpensive summer FL beach vacation possible? Please share your experience! We would love to stay on the gulf coast.

 

[FQLover]

I rented a condo at Siesta Dunes last summer on Siesta Key. You can get slightly better prices if you go through VRBO than through the management company. In most cases, "high" season" was Christmas through May, and "lower" season was June through November. It was a difference of about $200 per week, maybe, and the security deposit was $400 less (crazy spring breakers).

We loved the property; their private beachfront on Crescent beach was lovely, as was the pool and the beautifully landscaped grounds. It was quiet (we were there in late July) and just a quick and easy drive to restaurants, shopping and groceries. We ate in most of the time, spent all day on the beach, and didn't do any entertainment or excursion kind of things. We were beach babies the whole week and found it to be a very affordable vacation in a gorgeous place.

 

[NinaBella]

What price range are you looking at?

What type of hotel do you want? On the beach? Large resort? Small boutique hotel? Within a short drive of the beach?

In St. Pete, I like the area of these resorts:
Tradewinds Resort
Sirata Resort
Alden Suites
Postcard Inn


Clearwater:
Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Beach View Inn

Palm Harbor:
We stayed at Innisbrook Golf Resort for a birthday party one (birthday girl family were members). Perhaps a place close to the beach but not on the beach like this would be something you would consider?
https://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/

A lot of my friends like Fred Howard Park. I haven't been yet, so not sure what hotels are nearby.

When we camped a lot we loved Ft. DeSoto Park. There are hotels within a very short drive for Ft. DeSoto.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I rented a condo at Siesta Dunes last summer on Siesta Key. You can get slightly better prices if you go through VRBO than through the management company. In most cases, "high" season" was Christmas through May, and "lower" season was June through November. It was a difference of about $200 per week, maybe, and the security deposit was $400 less (crazy spring breakers).

We loved the property; their private beachfront on Crescent beach was lovely, as was the pool and the beautifully landscaped grounds. It was quiet (we were there in late July) and just a quick and easy drive to restaurants, shopping and groceries. We ate in most of the time, spent all day on the beach, and didn't do any entertainment or excursion kind of things. We were beach babies the whole week and found it to be a very affordable vacation in a gorgeous place.

Thank you for the info. On the Siesta Dunes website the least expensive option was 1700 for the week. Is that on par with last years rates? It looks nice.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

What price range are you looking at?

What type of hotel do you want? On the beach? Large resort? Small boutique hotel? Within a short drive of the beach?

Flexible on the type of condo/hotel/resort.
Pool a must
Either beachfront, on the beach (side view of ocean type thing), or 1 block away
$800 - $1200/wk

There are 4 of us so we can get away with a 1 bedroom with pull out sofa. Of course 2 bedrooms is ideal but since I am looking for inexpensive get away I am realistic

 

[NinaBella]

Flexible on the type of condo/hotel/resort.
Pool a must
Either beachfront, on the beach (side view of ocean type thing), or 1 block away
$800 - $1200/wk

There are 4 of us so we can get away with a 1 bedroom with pull out sofa. Of course 2 bedrooms is ideal but since I am looking for inexpensive get away I am realistic

Postcard Inn boast the largest pool for that area. My kids love their pool. I like that it is a smaller boutique hotel right on the beach. You can walk to Tradewinds and rent jet skis, pay for their inflatable water slides and water island, etc. Downside to Postcard Inn is no kitchen. Innisbrook is more like a small two bedroom apartment with full kitchen. It might be farther away than what you want but their pool is fabulous. Tradewinds has some rooms that have a kitchen and has multiple smaller pools, dive-in movie night, paddle boats, hair braiding stands, very Disney touristy-like place. Staying 5 days, you would save a lot on food expenses by having a kitchen.


https://postcardinn.com/

https://www.tradewindsresort.com

https://www.sheratonsandkey.com/

 

[NinaBella]

Live WebCam

http://gobefore.me/cams/trade_winds_resort/

 

[richkaryn]

We usually go to Ormond Beach.....not on the gulf side and is quiet....but close to Daytona for more things to do. It is also significantly cheaper. We have stayed at Coral Sands and also rented a house through VRBO-- price for house was only about $100 more for the week than a room at Coral Sands.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Thanks for info on the St. Pete Beach places. Tradewinds is pretty pricey. I know the Sheraton is pricey because we are SPG members and I have looked before.

We definitely want gulf side. What are the big differences between the beaches closer to Naples, Fort Meyers, St. Pete? We are not interested in Clearwater, looking for something more laid back than that.

 

[FQLover]

I think that we paid $1450.00 for a week at a very nice 2 BR condo (not counting the Security Deposit which we got back promptly as they said we would). I went through VRBO and they are a little cheaper than going through the Siesta Dunes management company itself. The owner cuts a deal with you but it is all laid out there; you don't barter or anything.

Laid back, lovely, quiet, our kitchen was very modern and fully equipped. Not a resort. These are people's homes. The place is managed very well and the office is very responsive. There are kayacks and other boats and cabanas to rent on the beach at very reasonable prices. Short walk past the pool area to the private beach.

 

[minnie1012]

Maybe it's just the gulf coast that is expensive? I'm looking into going to Delray or Deerfield in July and the prices don't seem to be that bad. The Wyndam in Deerfield I think was $179 and the Marriott in Delray was $219?

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Maybe it's just the gulf coast that is expensive? I'm looking into going to Delray or Deerfield in July and the prices don't seem to be that bad. The Wyndam in Deerfield I think was $179 and the Marriott in Delray was $219?

Marriott Delrey 1 week in June is 2,000 and thats for 2 double beds and AAA discount.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I think that we paid $1450.00 for a week at a very nice 2 BR condo (not counting the Security Deposit which we got back promptly as they said we would). I went through VRBO and they are a little cheaper than going through the Siesta Dunes management company itself. The owner cuts a deal with you but it is all laid out there; you don't barter or anything.

Laid back, lovely, quiet, our kitchen was very modern and fully equipped. Not a resort. These are people's homes. The place is managed very well and the office is very responsive. There are kayacks and other boats and cabanas to rent on the beach at very reasonable prices. Short walk past the pool area to the private beach.

Thanks! That sounds reasonable. I always hear people saying they get great deals on condos in the summer at Marco Island and other beaches (right on beach or 1 block off) for like 800 for a week. I can't find that.

 

[minnie1012]

Marriott Delrey 1 week in June is 2,000 and thats for 2 double beds and AAA discount.

Wow I'm glad I'm going in July not in June!

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Wow I'm glad I'm going in July not in June!

Picked a random 7 nights in July and it's 1700 at Delrey Beach Marriott. So east coast not necessarily less that gulf side. Hope you got a good deal

 

[FQLover]

I did a lot of research on finding a great Florida beach condo/hotel/resort etc. last January and February--looking for our third week of July 2017 vacation. I never saw anything remotely like $800.00, although I was looking for a 2BR all along.

 

[NinaBella]

I just looked at Postcard Inn for the week of June 11th and its $134-$149 a night. We use to book it for $99-110 a night with military discount. This was our family's favorite weekend beach hotel (since we are more locals) until new ownership and new rates. A couple weeks ago we looked at spring break rates and it was $280ish for the same rooms. We almost always walk from Postcard Inn to Tradewinds along the edge of the water on every trip just to enjoy a nice beach walk.

We had a house rented for the week AFTER 4th of July on Anna Maria Island through AirBnB but our relatives can no longer join us so we canx. I booked in in like September and had a great rate. It wasn't on the beach but about 4 houses down from a public beach access. Property had it's own private pool.

 

[hertamaniac]

When you say Gulf coast, are you considering the panhandle? There are some very nice beaches there and, in my opinion, can be more laid back than the greater Clearwater area.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

When you say Gulf coast, are you considering the panhandle? There are some very nice beaches there and, in my opinion, can be more laid back than the greater Clearwater area.

Has to be within 2 or 3 hours from Orlando or Fort Lauderdale...where we can get inexpensive flights. Destin would be great but flights too extensive.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Has to be within 2 or 3 hours from Orlando or Fort Lauderdale...where we can get inexpensive flights. Destin would be great but flights too extensive.

We often fly into ECP or PNS and both are quite inexpensive, but we are hopping down from BNA. Did you look at both of those airports?
We stay at the Hilton Sandestin but I wouldn't say it is very budget friendly. We are lucky to stay on points from DH traveling for business, so for us it is a free beach week a couple times a year.
I will say the area is wonderful and worth visiting.