Where to stay on the Gulf coast

[carwel]

We might be going to Florida in the second part of October. We're a family of four (kids 4 and 8). We'd like to do Disney for a week and then rent a condo near a beach for a week. Where would you recommend we go? I was thinking of Clearwater area, but then pretty shocked at the rental prices on VRBO. (Orlando has such good deals!) Thanks for your input.

 

[annacali]

We added a weekend in Siesta Key onto our Disney week last month. We stayed at the Sea Spray resort which was nicely located...a quick walk to the beach and only a few minutes from all the restaurants in town. I felt like we barely touched the surface of all there was to do there, and that, if it had been a bit cooler (it was in the 100s) there would have been more to explore. I would recommend it!

 

[Mrs D]

We might be going to Florida in the second part of October. We're a family of four (kids 4 and 8). We'd like to do Disney for a week and then rent a condo near a beach for a week. Where would you recommend we go? I was thinking of Clearwater area, but then pretty shocked at the rental prices on VRBO. (Orlando has such good deals!) Thanks for your input.

We just did the same thing in June! After Disney we went to St. Pete Beach, specifically Treasure Island. We rented a 2 bdrm condo at Sunset Vistas. It's a condo/hotel, meaning it's self service but they provide some provisions & trash & towels housekeeping. You can read my review on tripadvisor here.
We rented it using airline miles through AAvacations, but you can also rent from travel sites and directly through them. I believe you can also rent some units directly from owners.

 

[3floridarays]

Take a look at Lido Key. There are quite a few hotel options and you can walk to all the restaurants and shops at St. Armand's Circle. If you like walking the beach in the mornings, Lido Key is a great place to look for really cool shells. Every time we stay there, I grab a cup of coffee and head out for an early morning stroll and collect shells.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

We spent a week in Clearwater before me moved to the Orlando area and we stayed at

http://clearwaterbeachholidayinn.com/guest-rooms-and-suites.aspx

in a family suite and it was perfect for us. Clean and close to everything and we got decent rates. We love that area and cant wait to return.

 

[cpbjgc]

We spent a week in Clearwater before me moved to the Orlando area and we stayed at

http://clearwaterbeachholidayinn.com/guest-rooms-and-suites.aspx

in a family suite and it was perfect for us. Clean and close to everything and we got decent rates. We love that area and cant wait to return.

We stayed here as well and it was FANTASTIC! Very close to the beach, great pool area and beautiful views of the Gulf. We stayed using a friends and family discount provided by Shelby to other DIS board users on this thread.

 

[carwel]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I invited my parents to join us down in Florida. Neither of them are theme park people, so I was trying to sell them the beach portion of the holiday. My mom has it in her head that she would like to go to Panama City area. I haven't yetchecked with DH if he would mind going there instead of Clearwater area, but I went ahead and checked on VRBO, and there are lots of condos for rent in that area. Have any of you stayed in Panama City area?

 

[annacali]

Is it part of a drive back towards home? B/C Panama City is about 6-7 hours from Orlando so doing it as an add on to Disney is a lot harder unless it just happens that you are driving and it is on your way back home anyway???

We looked at the Panama City/Destin areas for a separate vacation and also found several nice places, but then the BP oil spill happened and we didn't end up going that spring!

 

[mollyseven]

We stayed in Indian Shores at the Holiday inn clearwater south. It is 2 blocks from the beach but we could see the water from our bedroom. They have condo type units with bedrooms, full kitchens, living room/dining room and balconies. It was really well located and the beach was great. There is also an amazing coffee shop called Lighthouse donuts which has old fashioned homemade pastry, donuts and great coffee. It is right on the main street across from the beach and a block from the hotel.
The beaches from Clearwater to St. Petes are all like crushed shells but nice. There is a great condo to rent there in a great location called Gulf Beach Vacation Condo's and their number is 727 278 9116.
If you don't mind an extra hour drive the Siesta Key area is amazing.....the beaches are like baby powder and about 3 times as deep from the road to the water. It's like another world down there. The condo's we like there are called Crescent Royale and they are right across the street from the beach. nice......

 

[carwel]

Is it part of a drive back towards home? B/C Panama City is about 6-7 hours from Orlando so doing it as an add on to Disney is a lot harder unless it just happens that you are driving and it is on your way back home anyway???

We are driving down from Ontario. It was my mom who was interested in going to Panama City. We would have driven up to Panama City, and then gone straight home from there after the week. As it turns out, my dh wants to stick with Clearwater/St Pete's/all that area, so thanks for all the suggestions and keep them coming - I'm checking out all the leads!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I would have to recommend my home town place The Tortuga Inn on Bradenton Beach of Anna Maria Island.

They have everything from hotel rooms, all the way up to the Penthouse.

One side of the property is the intercoastal and the other side is their own private beach.

We <3 it there.

http://www.tortugainn.com/index.html

 

[Art 1]

We might be going to Florida in the second part of October. We're a family of four (kids 4 and 8). We'd like to do Disney for a week and then rent a condo near a beach for a week. Where would you recommend we go? I was thinking of Clearwater area, but then pretty shocked at the rental prices on VRBO. (Orlando has such good deals!) Thanks for your input.

Check out Longboat Key Club on Longboat Key, just north of Sarasota.