Gulf beach visit after Orlando...Where to stay?

After 8 nights at disney my bank book is going to be majorly strapped lol. I wanted to give my son his first ever beach experience. We plan on staying in the St Pete area of 5 additional nights to mainly chill and unwind after Orlando.

I%26#39;ve done some research, mainly on trip advisor. I noted that alot of places were kind of dumpy on the beach, or a bit dumpy and really expensive!

We found JC Resort condos, most aptly the RAM SEA condo%26#39;s. The seem to have great reviews, but i dont always trust the reviews.

Anyone stay there? Its only 135.00 for a 3bdrm condo and 2-3 bathrooms, a nice pace for family of 4 after a small room at disney!

I would rather pay a bit more to go somewhere else if this place isnt good. Ive never heard of North redington beach...is it close to st pete? Close enough to get to the restaurants and activities?

Thanks, Love this board!

Gulf beach visit after Orlando...Where to stay?

libbyswin,

I agree with you. The condition and maintenance of many hotels at St. Pete%26#39;s beach area, concretely Gulf Blvd., is very poor. Many, also, are old hotels. Even the beach itself is not that great and because that circumstance I always stay either in Tampa or Clearwater and go to St. Pete%26#39;s (Fort de Soto) for the day.

In any event, here are some hotels separated by category:

1) Don Cesar or The Don as is commonly known would be the best and the most expensive.

2) Tradewinds and The Dolphin come next.

3) The Sirata has received many good reviews.

4) Holiday Inn, Best Western and Howard Johnson all maintain a presence there but a very poor one indeed.

I have personally used the Sheraton at Clearwater Beach which is fine hotel on the beach and have a very nice pool area as well. The rate was $190.00 p/night.

PELUCH

Gulf beach visit after Orlando...Where to stay?

Have you thought of staying in the Sarasota area instead? We%26#39;ve stayed at the Tradewinds in St. Pete, but like the beaches better in Sarasota. You can get a condo on Siesta Key for a fairly reasonable price and Siesta has an awesome beach!

I%26#39;ll check into that beach. Is it as close as St Pete? Is North Redington beach far away? Im so confused. Its hard to get past the good reviews and awsome prices at the Ram Sea.

Anyone actually stay at the Ram?

I haven%26#39;t been to North Reddington, but I believe it%26#39;s close to Clearwater and St. Pete.

Sarasota is a 2 hour drive from Disney and is a bit south of St%26#39; Pete. One year, we were in Sarasota, went to the Tradewinds in St. Pete, and actually checked out and went back to Sarasota because we liked the area better. Sarasota has 3 keys-Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Siesta Key. They run north to south in the order I listed them. All have nice beaches. wE usually stayed in a condo on Longboat-it%26#39;s the most expensive if the three and not a lot of restaurants nearby. Lido has condos and hotels. The Lido Beach Resort is newly remodeled and gets good reviews. Shopping and restaurants nearby. Siesta Key probably has the best beach with powdery white sand. Restaurants and shopping nearby. Not too many hotels, but tons of condos. Do a search for Sarasota or condos on Siesta Key to get you started.

Try VRBO.com. I liked the Palm Bay club, Crescent Arms, Our House at the Beach, and Jamaica Royale. Check out #80017 on VRBO. Only $800/week in summer.

North Redington Beach is almost exactly centered between Clearwater Beach to the north and St. Pete Beach to the south. It%26#39;s more of a residential/tourist combination, and it%26#39;s quieter and more laid back than the more well known areas. I%26#39;ve stayed at the Doubletree there several times. There aren%26#39;t a lot of restaurants or shops within walking distance, but if you don%26#39;t have a car, there is a trolley that goes up and down the beach from St. Pete to Clearwater. I prefer to stay in Sand Key, which is the first area south of Clearwater Beach. Someone mentioned the Sheraton, which is right on the beach, but I prefer the Marriott Suites across the street. There is also a large county park there, so it%26#39;s not as built up as some of the other areas.

I have never stayed at the Ram Sea. It%26#39;s been there for many years, but it always appears to be well maintained and it always appears to be busy.

Fla4fun~~We have always wanted to try Sand Key, but always ended up in Sarasota. Why do you prefer the Marriott to the Sheraton?

I%26#39;m partial to Island%26#39;s End Resort on St. Pete%26#39;s Beach. Lovely little private cottages, owned by a lovely couple who take great pride in the property. Very short walk to the beach and to the Merry Pier for a fishing trip or a shelling trip or a sunset trip, etc.....

Im quite similar. Im staying 9 nights in the Staybridge Suites in Orlando and 5 nights in the Tradewinds Island Grand. It is quite reasonably priced.

The reviews are not soo bad. Somebody said the railings in the balcony were too wide and a child could fall through. I have no children so no problem and other than the room needed to be cleaned again there was nothing else, nothing that could not be fixed by maintenance or housekeeping.

I would have love to have stayed at the ';Pink Palace'; in one of their beachfront cabana type things but being normal and not rich I opted for the average yet no so average Tradewinds Island Grand.

For me, pasty Irish skin, its on the beach, good enough for me.

One more vote for Siesta Key. Many lovely places to stay and phenomenal white quartz sand beach. Gulf front at Siesta Dunes or Midnight Cove would be my favorites (they also have garden / bayside units so be sure you are gulf front if you stay with either of these.

I like to stay in St. Pete because it%26#39;s in the center of everything. Sarasota, Clearwater, Fort Desoto, and Tampa. Then I can spend some time at each of them without going too far out of my way. I think it took us 10 minutes to drive to North Reddington from our hotel in St. Pete last year.