2 Day Beach resort...St.Pete or Clearwater?

[firstcruiserDB]

Just beginning the research for our cruise next June. We will need to fly into PIE two days prior to our cruise, and we'd like to start our vacation right!

 

We are looking for a beautiful beach front resort. We will rent a car at the airport. We'd love an ocean view room with a balcony, a great pool area, good restaurants around, and a beautiful beach to walk on.

 

Can you offer any suggestions for resorts for me to check out??

 

Thanks, in advance, for your help!!

[FlaGrl4Evr]

OP, It's just our opinion, but we really love St Pete Bch as opposed to Clwt Bch. SPB is less crowded, people and traffic wise, and just seems to be a better beach. We have stayed at the Alden Beach Resort on St Pete Bch many times. All of the rooms are suites and this makes it nice to have a separate living and dining area and also nice to make a quick breakfast and enjoy it on the balcony. They do have some beautiful beach front rooms with a patio (for ground floor) or a private balcony for higer floors. The hotel has it's own beach cabana bar and lots of the fun beach toy rentals. They offer 2 pools, tennis courts, a work- out room, game room, etc... Here is the link if you want to check out rates. www.aldenbeachresort.com They have a private gated- covered parking garage and there is lots to do within walking distance so that makes it nice too.

 

Here are 2 of our favorite beach restaurants to walk to for dinner. The Compass Pointe Grille http://www.sirata.com/media/docs/CompassGrilleMenus/compass_grille_lunch_dinner.pdf

 

and Silas Dents http://store6.geomerx.com/silas/index.cfm?fuseaction=category&categoryID=2 This is advertised as a steakhouse but they have great seafood too and a nice water view.

 

For Italian, try Gigis. They do delivery to the hotel or sit down at the restaurant. They make all of their own sauce, dough and Italian sausage. It is a great little place. http://www.gigisitalianrestaurant.com/

 

I hope that this helps you out some. There is a lot to do in the area if you have a rental or you can just park the car and enjoy being on the beach. Have a great time.

[firstcruiserDB]

Thanks so much for the St. Pete info!! We are certainly considering that area.

 

We'd also like to know some info about the Clearwater area? What are some of the favorite beach front resorts there?

 

Thanks so much for your help!

[weneedavacationasap]

We love St Pete Beach. The Don Cesar is a gorgeous property there that you may want to check out :)

[firstcruiserDB]

I appreciate your posts. I will check out both St. Pete's Beach and Clearwater. Thanks!

 

Anyone else with a recommendation??

[Linda/Ohio]

We are considering something similar this November. Will you rent and return car to PIE? I was trying to determine if a Tampa car drop.off made sense.

[firstcruiserDB]

We will rent a car at PIE and return it to the port, I'm hoping. I haven't begun that research as yet!!

 

Still wondering if anyone has a favorite beach resort in the area of PIE airport and the cruise terminal. Thanks!

[Linda/Ohio]

The port doesn't have car rental although i did have someone mention there is a Hertz two blocks away.

[DavidA23]

Since I live in Clearwater, let me chime in. First, welcome, we are glad to have you visit us. All of the beaches from Clearwater on down thru Madeira Beach and on to St Pete are truly great. I find Clwtr to be a bit younger and more lively compared to St pete Beach. There are many little mom and pop type places on the beaches in between. My cousins stay at Mad beach or Indian Rocks when they come down. A little cozier and cheaper. The Don Cesar is indeed a wonderful place to stay, but pricey.

 

Enjoy your stay. PIE is a small airport and easy to navigate. If the rental car turns out to be too expensive, there are private buses available that run thru Clearwater and St Pete and go right to the ports - Tampa, Miami, and FLL. Not the best option, but used by many.

 

Dave

[Linda/Ohio]

We opted for Tradewinds Sandpiper for our two days. Not bothering with a rental car.

[Kentucky60]

OP, It's just our opinion, but we really love St Pete Bch as opposed to Clwt Bch. SPB is less crowded, people and traffic wise, and just seems to be a better beach. We have stayed at the Alden Beach Resort on St Pete Bch many times. All of the rooms are suites and this makes it nice to have a separate living and dining area and also nice to make a quick breakfast and enjoy it on the balcony. They do have some beautiful beach front rooms with a patio (for ground floor) or a private balcony for higer floors. The hotel has it's own beach cabana bar and lots of the fun beach toy rentals. They offer 2 pools, tennis courts, a work- out room, game room, etc... Here is the link if you want to check out rates. www.aldenbeachresort.com They have a private gated- covered parking garage and there is lots to do within walking distance so that makes it nice too.

 

Here are 2 of our favorite beach restaurants to walk to for dinner. The Compass Pointe Grille http://www.sirata.com/media/docs/CompassGrilleMenus/compass_grille_lunch_dinner.pdf

 

and Silas Dents http://store6.geomerx.com/silas/index.cfm?fuseaction=category&categoryID=2 This is advertised as a steakhouse but they have great seafood too and a nice water view.

 

For Italian, try Gigis. They do delivery to the hotel or sit down at the restaurant. They make all of their own sauce, dough and Italian sausage. It is a great little place. http://www.gigisitalianrestaurant.com/

 

I hope that this helps you out some. There is a lot to do in the area if you have a rental or you can just park the car and enjoy being on the beach. Have a great time.

 

Does the Alden have chair and umbrella rentals out in front?

[FlaGrl4Evr]

Does the Alden have chair and umbrella rentals out in front?

 

Yes they do. They have a small rental hut out on the beach for the clam shell loungers, unbrellas and also the beach toys, floats, wave runners... This is also the place to pick up the volleyballs to play on the beach. They also have a beach side cabana bar so it is easy to grab a drink without having to walk all the way into the hotel area. We checked out many, many beach front hotels and this one fit our needs the best. The rooms are all suites so that saved us some $$ as we just went over to the Publix supermarket and picked up breakfast and lunch items. The hotel also has really good customer service. The hotel manager is visable and always walking around asking the guests how they are enjoying their stay and if there is anything extra that they can do for you. It is just a nice, clean hotel with a great beach front at a good rate.

 

What ever you may select, have a great time. :)

[Eng23]

The port doesn't have car rental although i did have someone mention there is a Hertz two blocks away.

Most of the car rental agencies have locations in the Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach area. Hertz is the closest to the port in the parking lot of the Marriott Residence Inn. The others are a few more miles down A1A in Cocoa Beach, all you have to do is turn in your car and they will have shuttles that go to the ship and drop you off. If you will do the same in reverse just reserve your car for the return trip when you drop the first car off and advise them of what time you want to be picked up at the ship when you return.

[Linda/Ohio]

Cocoa Beach is bit of a hike from St. Pete and Clearwater. Our ship leaves from Tampa.