Need Tampa/Clearwater resort reccs

[Disneytrip]

Considering visit Tampa next February. Would like to stay in a property on the shoreline that is a moderate priced hotel, clean, quiet, safe. Any recommendations? Would also like to visit Busch gardens. Do most hotels in this area provide shuttle service to Busch gardens? Thanks!

 

[sneadae]

In Treasure Island, we stayed at the Bilmar. It was a very nice resort, gulf front, and not too expensive. They have a website if you type in Bilmar Beach Resort into google.

It has a couple of little restaurants and walking distance to many shops and attractions.

 

[Markstudy]

Clearwater has a great beach, and plenty to do for the kids.... but lots of building going-on, as they change some streets to walking malls....so traffic is a big mess right now.

Sand Key is 2 miles south of Clearwater beach and very nice.... look it up if you're interested in Clearwater area but want something more quite....just lots of beach (nothing else)

Busch Gardens is 1 hour Drive from the beaches.

St Pete and Treasure Island have more small resorts and greater choice for rates and resorts, they are futher south and maybe just a bit further to drive (75 minutes)

 

[hgmom]

Try www.beachdirectory.com It lists many hotels in that area -- have fun!

 

[Pooh_Bear3]

We have stayed at the Coral Reef Beach Resort on St. Pete Beach and it was very clean, great maid/room service. Also had a microwave and full fridge and stove. It actually had a separate bedroom and the living area had a pull out sofa sleeper. I would highly recommend this place

 

[mtry]

Hi if you are looking for something right in clearwater, I stayed at gulfview hotel. it is waterfront but you cannot walk right out onto the beach. they have a bar, restaurant out there with nightly music, one man band type of thing. The beach is only a five to eight minute walk away with about a 15 minute walk to the pier. This hotel is newly renovated and clean. Right next door to Shephards....which is great for buffet dinners but nightly entertainment attracts young crowd, not suitable for families. Hilton is on the other side (north end) but may be pricey. If you do a search the Street names are Gulfview and Mandalay. Mandalay will be walk out to the beach from hotel. South end of Clearwater is a TERRIBLE mess due to construction. Good luck

 

[jtopicz1]

If you're interested in Clearwater Beach, don't bother!! It is just horrible. I have lived here all my life, and never believed they would let it get to be the mess it is now.

As of a few weeks ago they no longer clean the beach. My uncle came to visit last week and we went to the beach only to find trash, inches deep of seaweed, and several pairs of UNDERWEAR right on what used to be the busiest strip of the beach. It is an embarrasment.

My family owns a charter fishing business on Clearwater Beach, and have for over 40 years. We haven't had a customer in over two years who said they would actually come back to clearwater beach.

Traffic is horrible, all the old mom and pop hotels have been torn down and replaced by mega-condos that sit empty.

Clearwater now makes all their decisions to reflect the interests of the Church of Scientology, and they have no interest in the beach, only downtown. I have NO PROBLEM at all w/ the scientologists, I am open to any religion, and don't want to start that debate here, but the interest of the public, residents and tourists has been put on the back burner to accomodate them.

For beaches in Florida, I reccommend Longboat Key or Siesta Key on the West coast, Destin in the panhandle, or cocoa beach, or my all time favorie Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, FL. Check out Hammock beach club at hammockbeach.com. Beautiful units and a nice private beach and great pool complex. We stayed there on new years and LOVED the whole are.

Jim