Trip Report-Panama City Beach and Sheraton Sand Key-long

[floridafam]

Returned on Sunday.

Stayed at the Hampton Inn on Thomas Dr in Panama City Beach. Unbelievable. They went above and beyond in almost everything they did. They have a beautiful facility, friendly staff and they did a lot of special things for us.

After my DH finished the triathlon on Sat.-he got overheated in the run but managed to finish. We were waiting for him and when he didn't show we got worried. A triathlon volunteer was very nice to me and my two children and found out that my DH was in the medical tent and he drove us down there on a golf cart. He was dehydrated even though he was refueling properly and had to get an IV and stay there until he felt better. The volunteers at the race from Panama City Beach were awesome.

Anyway, that night we were down in the hotel lobby checking the race results on the computer and I casually mentioned that all my DH wanted to eat was a peanut butter sandwich. One of the front desk personnel came around front and unlocked the room where they keep all of the food for breakfast and brought me some bread and peanut butter. How nice!!

The next day we left for the Sheraton Sand Key in Clearwater Beach. There was a plate of choc. covered strawberries and bottled water waiting for us in our room when we checked in. We have stayed a few times and were married at the hotel.

It felt magical being back there for the first 2 days. The sunsets are amazing. The rooms have been redone. The beach is great.

We like the area very much and hardly left the hotel. We enjoy walking over to the Dunkin Donuts across the street and having our breakfast outside on the boardwalk.

We spent every day at the beach or pool-usually alternating.

On Tuesday we took the kids to Clearwater Marine Aquarium. We always love this place. They were able to see 2 dolphins and pet the sting rays in the sting ray tank-they have been de-spined or whatever it is that makes it so they can't sting.

My DH was in the Gulf about 20 ft. out on Wednesday and a pod of 6 dolpin swam near him and he could hear them under the water talking to eachother. Neat! I love Dolpins. A single one came very close to shore on another day-we saw a shadow and stayed away until we could see that it wasn't a shark or something. The tide was high and there were a lot of little fish swimming around so something must have brought him in close to shore.

It's sad to say that I don't think we will be going back to the Sheraton. DH and I are not smokers and we requested a non-smoking room, which we received. That is where the non-smoking part of the hotel ended this time. Every day all of the tables around the pool were being smoked at, the tables at the snack bar were and the rooms on each side of us were being occupied by smokers even though we were in a non-smoking wing. They said it was okay to smoke on your balcony or patio in a non-smoking room. This doesn't make any sense to me. We had to go inside our room 3 nights because we just couldn't take it anymore. I really wasn't happy about this. I didn't fault the smokers because all of this was within hotel policy but I was a little upset for them not having a different policy.

I'm the type of person who let's things go, doesn't really let much bother me but this started getting to me after a few days. I think the main reason we encountered so much of this is because there were several large conventions at the hotel so it was more adult oriented this time than family centered like Vero Beach where we never really encounter this problem.

Oh well, we had a wonderful time but will probably go back to VB or somewhere where this doesn't seem to be an issue.

Also went to Busch Gardens while we were there. It was nice but I really realized that I don't like theme parks all that much-crazy isn't it. So, this helped me adjust our October vacation somewhat. We will be in Orlando for 9 days for another race and I think the only park we are going to go to is MK for MNSSHP and will try to squeeze in a few days at the beach somewhere

If you have any questions on Panama City Beach or the Sheraton Sand Key feel free to ask. I know there were a couple of posters on this board looking for info on the Sheraton before we left.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Thanks for the report and welcome back!!
We can't tolerate smoke either ! Would we be better off at the Hilton? What were the standard view rooms like(is that what they are called? Been on the resort board too long Saw you over there too-we are looking at AKL also)
Thanks for your help!

 

[floridafam]

I have pictures but they are not digital or able to be sent over the internet. We didn't take our digital camera or digital video camera out of their bags the whole vacation.

I did get some pictures of the Radisson.

We walked through the Radisson twice on our way back from Dunkin Donuts.

Considering the problem we had with the smoke I would say maybe try the Radisson, Hilton, Clearwater Beach hotel.

I like the Sheraton and Radisson because they are on Sand Key and it is much quieter than Clearwater Beach proper.

The Radisson has exterior corridors from what I could tell. I'm not a big fan of this. I don't know why, I just like interior hallways.

It takes a lot for me to say we probably won't go back to the Sheraton because we were married there and it is a very special place for us. But, we probably won't unless they change their smoking policy.

I'd be glad to mail you the pictures of the Radisson and the Sheraton if you want them.

We fell in love with the town of Indian Rocks Beach while on vacation. They have a lot of smaller hotels that look very cute.

The pool at the Radisson looked great and had a waterfall. They had a nice place to eat out by the pool and a cute gift shop in the lobby. Everything looked very clean and well maintained. The rooms aren't new like the Sheraton but I don't think it matters much. It did look like the Radisson may have been a better place for kids this trip. Yes, you have to walk a ways to the beach but if you don't go to the beach everyday then I wouldn't worry.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We HAVE to stay on the beach when we go to the beach(just like we have to stay at WDW when we go there ).
Did you see the Hilton? My AAA book says the rooms were just renovated, which is a plus. This is an add on short trip after WDW and we are leaving soon, so I must decide! Thanks for your help! I truly don't think anything can top Don Cesar IMHO, but we have to be in the Clearwater area for the meeting DH must attend.
Thanks again!

 

[ttfn3]

We stayed at the Radisson on Sand Key in May of 2002 after a week at Disney. We had a great time. The resort isn't a 4 star hotel but it was clean and comfortable. We enjoyed having a 1 BR suite with an actual door between the living/bedroom area. The view out the front and back is breath taking. We enjoyed sitting on our balcony and watched the manatees, dolphins, stingrays and various other sea creatures. We also liked having a fridge/microwave/sink. We had a N/S room and didn't notice any problems anywhere with smoke.

The kids program is really good for the kids. I can't say enough good things about the people there. We tried to sign my DS up for the evening program and he was the only child to attend - so they cancelled it. The hotel offered FREE in-room service (which we declined) - and they gave my son a HUGE sand bucket filled with all sorts of beach/sand toys. There is a resident parrot - Lisa - which we enjoyed chatting with.

True the resort isn't directly beachfront but it's a short walk across the street and they do have a beach "shuttle" (it's a glorified golf cart.) We had a car so we just drove to Clearwater Beach when we wanted to. I really liked staying on Sand Key since it was much quieter. The Radisson also is at the end of a boardwalk which has a bunch of little shops and a few restaurants. The pool is great. The hotel does have outdoor corridors but we actually liked the view.

We checked out the Hilton Clearwater Beach and my DH actually stayed there in February (Priceline bid). The location is nice - however, I would disagree with the rooms being newly renovated. He moved twice and both rooms were just okay. Plus, the hotel is located in a very busy area. If you don't have direct beachfront room - beware of the a/c unit and noisy front street. Plus, the resort charged a resort fee of about $10 per day.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[floridafam]

Have you looked at the Clearwater Beach Hotel?

I would say the Radisson would probably be a good bet. It did look very clean when we walked through and the pool looked great. I do remember seeing the golf cart taking people over to the beach.

If we go to the area again we will probably stay at one of the smaller places in Indian Rocks Beach. Who knows, maybe we'll even try the Radisson someday.

The quietness of Sand Key is definately a plus.

Clearwater Beach is so busy. I have not stayed at the Hilton in Clearwater Beach. We have driven by there often but can't really give you an opinion on it.

Let us know where you end up staying.