If you could choose the gulf side at St. Pete or Daytona which would you do? This is coming from someone who has not been to Florida before.
Gulf side... hands down... no question!
Have not been to St. Pete/Clearwater beaches, but we like the Madiera Beach area. Stayed at Madiera Norte Condos- nothing spectacluar, but the price was good and we spent all our time at the beach anyway. Nice restaurants/shops just across the way at John's Pass. Now, this was several years ago so things may have changed.