Which Florida Beach Resort to Choose?!!!

[Debs Hill]

We would like to spend some time at the beach during our next hols and need some advice, have only been to Vero before!
Considering Clearwater/St Petes or Naples.....................would love to hear from anyone who has been, where did you stay? Good/bad things about the area?
Thanks!
Debsxxx

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Debs,

Have stayed at many beach resorts but unfortunatley not for a long time.

Naples is definitely the nicest place we have been to, quiet and refined but not a lot going on and 3 or 4 days would be enough.
We stayed at the Registry Resort hotel (not known by that name anymore) on our first visit and 'a Quality Inn' on our other stay there.
Beach is secluded and not too 'touristy'.

Clearwater overall is our favourite beach, though at present there is a lot of work going on there both on the beach itself - they are building what they call a 'Beach Walk' - and construction work with new hotels etc, north of Pier 60 (the main landmark) is quieter and parking easier.
It's also more popular with younger people and more crowded than the likes of Naples and Sarasota.

We have also stayed on the Atlantic coast at Boca Raton, Miami and Fort Lauderdale where there is a great hotel called Pelican Bay.
Much more to do down here for nightlife, shopping and places 'to be seen'.

The 2 nicest actual beaches I have been to are Siesta Key just outside Sarasota and Anna Maria Island near Bradenton are possibly THE nicest beaches in Florida but....as with Naples very quiet, not necessarily a bad thing?

This website is very good and he agrees with my choices!

http://www.beachhunter.net/index.html

I suppose ultimatley it's down to whether you want the best beach and a quiet relaxing week, or a nice beach but plenty going on.
If it's the former then Siesta Key, Anna Maria and Naples are ideal, the latter then probably Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach area perhaps?

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Ok - in a nutshell . . . .

St Pete/Clearwater area - great for Busch Gardens, boat rides and beaches.

Sarasota area (Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, Longboat Key etc) - as above! And more shopping.

Fort Myers - great beach, especially since loads of watersports available. Everglade are doable from here for an airboat ride.

Sanibel/Captiva - lovely beaches, very quiet.

Marco/Naples -beautiful beaches, boat rides, Everglades nearby.

Miami - not my fave place, but cool to be seen in

Keys - fab watersports, diving and snorkelling.

So much choice . . . any ideas yet

 

[tezza_init]

We would like to spend some time at the beach during our next hols and need some advice, have only been to Vero before!
Considering Clearwater/St Petes or Naples.....................would love to hear from anyone who has been, where did you stay? Good/bad things about the area?
Thanks!
Debsxxx

We've stayed at the Parker Manor on Clearwater Beach for the last two years. True there's some building work and the new beach prom is coming along well. Nice atmosphere around Pier 60 and great to park the car up for a week after all the driving around Orlando. We've never done the East Coast but also stayed at Treasure Island on the Gulf. That whole stretch is quite spread out and not a lot going on, hence Clearwater has been our first choice.

Some Clearwater photos...

 

[Young Pooh]

If you are considering Clearwater but are worried about building work, try the Sand Key area. This is the bottom end of Clearwater Beach and the beach itself is fantastic - it is part of Sand Key Park Nature Reserve.

We stayed at the Marriott which is all suites - not anymore expensive than a normal hotel - and had great facilities. All rooms overlook the bay and they have afree shuttle to drive you across the road to the beach. There is the Sand Key Boardwalk area next door with some really nice restaurants and shops.

 

[Booknut]

We liked St. Pete's but for us Anna Maria Island was paradise!

It is so ridiculously beautiful and the beaches were never crowded.