Sanibel, St Petes or Clearwater?

[akdeputydog]

Hi all -
I need some help picking a beach for 3 days and other than the Panhandle have no experience with Gulf side beaches.... We will be travelling in late April. DH, myself and DD 5 who loves to collect shells. My original plan was Sanibel but I've read some good things about Clearwater.

We'd like to stay on the beach at a place that has a good swimming beach and also a pool. Just want to kick back, swim, sun, relax and eat at low-key not fussy preferable local places (not chains). Don't want or need to go "see" sights or take excursions.

Any suggestions, thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[bookwormde]

Sanibel is very low-key with no gulf front high rises. It is definitely a little pricey. It has shell beaches so not as good for swimming as other beaches but if you have interest in shelling it is the best place.

bookwormde

 

[srwarden1928]

St. Pete Beach is my favorite beach in Florida. I have been to several over the years. I have been to St. Pete off an on for my entire life. We are going again in nine days. We stay at a wonderful place called the Plaza Beach Hotel. It is right on the beach and very reasonable. There is a nice heated pool between the motel and the beach.

 

[dioxide45]

Don't rule out Siesta Key. Truely a great beach. The sand doesn't even get hot.

 

[iloveokw]

Our daughter was 5 when we went to Sanibel (May starts lower prices) and we founded many, many interesting shells.

 

[kathie859]

Sanibel has the 3rd best shelling in the WORLD...yes, that's in the WORLD

It is simply incredible. On the beach between Sanibel and Captiva, shells literally pile up several inches. I've been visiting Sanibel/Captiva for over 30 years now and still remain amazed at the beach. I was last there the second week in September and stayed in a two bedroom condo (2 adult couples) and it was <$1,000 for the week. There are bargains to be had if you search for them.

Clearwater is pleasant, too. It's just not in the same league with Sanibel.

Have fun planning

 

[Misty89]

Hi
I cannot help to much (our first visit to the beaches)
we have day trips planned to visit Cocoa beach one day and
the other day Clearwater / St Pete.
we could not decide so we picked both.

do you have enough time to visit both sides?

 

[ilike2decor8]

I would also like to know if there is shelling in the St.Petes /Clearwater area?

We have been to Sanibel this past March and yes, the shelling is AMAZING.You can find every sort of sea creature on the beach. But, it is a few hours away and we don't have enough time to travel this trip.

We can make it to St. Petes though. Where's the best beaches to go for the day with possible shells?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

St. Pete Beach is my favorite beach in Florida. I have been to several over the years. I have been to St. Pete off an on for my entire life. We are going again in nine days. We stay at a wonderful place called the Plaza Beach Hotel. It is right on the beach and very reasonable. There is a nice heated pool between the motel and the beach.

I'm not the OP but I've been searching for a new hotel to stay at on St. Pete Beach or Clearwater Beach.

I checked out their website - www.plazabeach.com and kind of liked the look of the place.

But what are the buildings on each side of the hotel? Are they condos? Other Resorts? Is there a loud party bar located with them?

We try to stay away from hotels with loud bars nearby after our latest Clearwater Beach hotel fiasco.
We stayed at Quality Inn on Clearwater Beach and just a couple of doors down was a resort with a huge bar that had bikini contests every friday and saturday. Folks anchored their boats at the Quality Inn beach so we couldn't play in the water on Friday and Saturday nights. It was the first time we encountered that problem after 5 stays at that hotel. The manager at Quality Inn said it was a problem but they couldn't do anything because it was a public waterway. It was awful and I won't stay there anymore because of it.

 

[CPM]

Sanibel is an amazing one of a kind place. If you go to the right beach, it's excellent for swimming! Bowmens Beach has beautiful deep water, you can watch the Dolphins swim by and find teh most beautiful shells. The sunset's are amazing too.
It really is a nice family vacation.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I would also like to know if there is shelling in the St.Petes /Clearwater area?

We have been to Sanibel this past March and yes, the shelling is AMAZING.You can find every sort of sea creature on the beach. But, it is a few hours away and we don't have enough time to travel this trip.

We can make it to St. Petes though. Where's the best beaches to go for the day with possible shells?

Tons of shells in the Clearwater Beach area. I love looking for the best of the best. There's a Shell Island tour that leaves from from the Clearwater Beach Marina that I really want to do someday.
The main beach which is called Clearwater Beach is great. I've found tons of shells there.

 

[jdvm]

Our favorites are Longboat Key, Siesta Key and Anna Maria. We LOVE the West coast of Florida.
John