Looking for inexpensive motel in St. Petes/Clearwater??

[riu girl]

Are planning on going to WDW last two weeks in Dec. 2006. We did this Dec 2004 and stayed first week in WDW, second week in Daytona Beach. Would like to do a similar trip Dec 2006 and are looking for hotel recommdations for the St. Petes/Clearwater area for the last week of Dec 2006.

It would have to be something that is totally refundable since my father is ill and there is always a chance that we wolud have to cancel. This year (in Daytona) we only had to pay for one night prior and then paid the rest at check-in. So that was perfect for us.

We would prefer a hotel that is beach front and offers an outdoor heated pool. We would also prefer a hotel that offers a full kitchen (but we do NOT need a seperate bedroom). An indoor heated pool would also be nice.

I don't even know if this part of Florida would be the best suited for us. I am ideally looking for a resort town on the gulf of Mexico that is no more then a couple hours drive from Orlando.

Any tips/suggestions? I haven't been to this part of Florida in over 20 years so am totally clueless.

Thank you

Suzy V.

 

[cricket429]

I checked out tons of places on line in that area for us after Disney. We are staying at the Belleair Beach Resort Motel. They have a web site you can check out. Our efficiency is right on the beach and has a kitchen. Also, we only had to give a $75 deposit. Its a quiet area and supposed to be about an hour and a half drive from Disney and only 10 min from Clearwater.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks so much for the info. I will check out their web site.
It is so nice to be at Disney for a busy week and then have the chance to relax at the beach afterwards. Our second week at Daytona last month was a total different holiday then our first week at Disney, but so amazing. I don't think I could do a week at WDW and then come right home. The second (relaxing) week is just so great.

Again, thanks for the advice.

Anybody else have any hotel suggestions/tips?

Suzy V.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

I checked out tons of places on line in that area for us after Disney. We are staying at the Belleair Beach Resort Motel. They have a web site you can check out. Our efficiency is right on the beach and has a kitchen. Also, we only had to give a $75 deposit. Its a quiet area and supposed to be about an hour and a half drive from Disney and only 10 min from Clearwater.

Hi Cricket429! Glad you got that resort! Have a great trip!

 

[cricket429]

Thanks, we are sooo looking foward to going. I did show dh some other places in clearwater and madiera beach and he liked this one for the peace and quiet. He will probably need it the most after Disney because he is such a couch potato. He has no idea lol.

 

[summersfam4]

We were supposed to stay in St. Pete Beach last fall, but due to the hurricanes and flooding had to spend the entire vacation in Disney (which we liked better ) I researched on www.biddingfortravel.com and got a good deal on the Trade Winds Sandpiper (right on the beach) http://sandpiper.tradewindsresort.com/ for $59.00 per night when I did bid (I followed all of the instructions on the biddingfortravel website)! We have really wanted to stay in one of the Trade Winds resorts but their regular price wasn't what I wanted to pay. Just so you know though there is a $12.00 per day resort fee to stay there that covers parking, cabanas, local calls and other incidentals. I still think it was a great price, and from what we have seen in passing the resort, it's one of the one's we will try to stay at again one day.

Kelly

 

[Kaylee27]

Last year we stayed at the best western sanibal island. It wasnt a bad drive from Disney, good sized room with kitchen and fridge, and right on the beach. The pool wasnt the greatest, but the ocean was wonderful.

 

[kdudley3]

We stay at www.sunburstinn.com , it's in Indian Shores (a little south of Clearwater).

The room that we stay in fits 5. It's smack dab on the Gulf. We leave the windows open at night to hear the waves.

It's got a full kitchen. It's not the Taj Mahal, but for the price, we like it. We've been going there for years.

Sorry, no pool, but we manage fine without it. It took me some time to get used to salt water, but now I'd rather swim in the ocean.

Many times we've seen dolphins from the deck.

Alot of stuff to do there.

 

[Maddie's Nana]

Clearwater Beach is quite a distance from ST. Pete Beach and Clearwater is usually much more crowded, although the last two week in Dec. shouldn't be a problem. The Tradewinds is great but rather pricey, as is the Don Cesar (go there just to see it). There are a lot of hotels with pools on the beach in St. Pete or Treasure Island. There is a Day's Inn, a Howard Johnson, and several non-chain motels on St. Pete Beach. I would search Expedia or Travelocity, etc. and see what deals are out there.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks so much for the suggestions.

DH is set on a hotel/motel in that area (St Petes /Clearwater) that has an INDOOR pool. The place we stayed at last month in Daytona was fabulous (beachfront, balcony, kitchen, and an indoor pool).

I can't believe the value. We only paid $45/nt for it.

Can anyone recommend a hotel/motel inthe St. Petes/Clearwater area (general guideline , as we are willing to stay outside these areas), that offers an INDOOR POOL.
Wish we were there now. It is at least -20 C here today. YIKES!!! Too cold for me.

Thanks

Suzy V.

 

[NotUrsula]

The only indoor pools I know of in that area that are in hotels are at the Belleview Biltmore and at the Safety Harbor; both are EXTREMELY expensive 5-star resorts, and neither one is on the beach; both of them are on the bay side.

There are some rental houses in the area that have private indoor pools; some are only a block or two walk from the beach. Depending on the season, a house will usually run about $800-1600/wk.; it's hard to find anyone who will rent a house for less time than that.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for the info. We definately are not looking for a 5 star hotel (or the price that comes along with it). I guess we were just so lucky that we had such an amazing rate at the motel in Daytona (including an indoor pool). Its just with the weather being so iffy in Dec. we would prefer for the kids to have the option to swim inside.

Thanks again
Suzy V.