Just back from Orlando & Tampa
Apr 29th, 2004, 12:28 PM
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Just back from Orlando & Tampa
Hi to all, Pls read on for info regarding accomodations / car rentals. I will try to make it short:
Car rental - Alamo for overall value - car for price and no drop off fee in Tempa. They do have the worst processing system in Orlando. If you use your 1 free day for every 5 coupon in the Entertainment book the cost for 10 days is $316 Cdn.
Orlando - After much research we settled on the Residence Inn Sea World. For $74 we had a large, nice room with small kitchen, eating area and TV area. It was all in one big room but the beds were in an alcove and after seeing the other rooms I felt that this was by far the best room and the best price. To receive the $74 you must get a coupon from their web page. Also these rooms occupy the ground floor which is another bonus. They have a nice pool, hot tub, BBQ's, playground, hot breakfast as part of the deal and evening pupu's. We did have a car which in my opinion is a must (if you plan on visiting the theme parks) no matter where you stay unless you are just going to the disney parks - then stay at the Disney resorts.
Tampa Bay - We stayed at the Tradewinds based on recommendation from this site. We were not pleased. Their quote started at $289 then to $229 then to $179 for a poor view room which we went for because they advised that they had a great kids program and 3 story water slide. Upon arrival we found that the water slide cost $50 per child per day (more than disneyland) and 90% of the kids programs were a la carte $15 to $30 per activity (ie. paint your own frame etc.) Our room looked out onto the roof vents. We complained and the manager reduced our rate to $129 per night which was acceptable. Although I didn't view the Alden, we did call and based on the description I would recommend this property. It sounded more like the Residence Inn to me.
I hope this helps someone.
Regards from Canada.
Car rental - Alamo for overall value - car for price and no drop off fee in Tempa. They do have the worst processing system in Orlando. If you use your 1 free day for every 5 coupon in the Entertainment book the cost for 10 days is $316 Cdn.
Orlando - After much research we settled on the Residence Inn Sea World. For $74 we had a large, nice room with small kitchen, eating area and TV area. It was all in one big room but the beds were in an alcove and after seeing the other rooms I felt that this was by far the best room and the best price. To receive the $74 you must get a coupon from their web page. Also these rooms occupy the ground floor which is another bonus. They have a nice pool, hot tub, BBQ's, playground, hot breakfast as part of the deal and evening pupu's. We did have a car which in my opinion is a must (if you plan on visiting the theme parks) no matter where you stay unless you are just going to the disney parks - then stay at the Disney resorts.
Tampa Bay - We stayed at the Tradewinds based on recommendation from this site. We were not pleased. Their quote started at $289 then to $229 then to $179 for a poor view room which we went for because they advised that they had a great kids program and 3 story water slide. Upon arrival we found that the water slide cost $50 per child per day (more than disneyland) and 90% of the kids programs were a la carte $15 to $30 per activity (ie. paint your own frame etc.) Our room looked out onto the roof vents. We complained and the manager reduced our rate to $129 per night which was acceptable. Although I didn't view the Alden, we did call and based on the description I would recommend this property. It sounded more like the Residence Inn to me.
I hope this helps someone.
Regards from Canada.
Apr 29th, 2004, 12:48 PM
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Sorry about your experience at the Tradewinds Shultzy. The unfortunate aspect of something like that is that it can make or break your impression of the entire area. Hope that wasn't the case. The Tradewinds gets very mixed reviews but I've read enough negative ones to be leery about recommending it, or any place I haven't stayed for that matter, no matter how it appears from the outside. Were you at the Island Grand or Sandpiper?
Positive or negative, feedback is always a good thing, so thanks for letting us know your experiences there and on your trip in general. Hope you'll come back and give our area another try.
Positive or negative, feedback is always a good thing, so thanks for letting us know your experiences there and on your trip in general. Hope you'll come back and give our area another try.
Apr 29th, 2004, 01:43 PM
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Hi Shultzy:
I'm very curios, because I've made a reservation at the Sandpiper for late May (no kids on trip though. Wanted a beach location with lots to do, so I figured Sandpiper was a good choice. Please, elaborate on your stay there. Thanks.
I'm very curios, because I've made a reservation at the Sandpiper for late May (no kids on trip though. Wanted a beach location with lots to do, so I figured Sandpiper was a good choice. Please, elaborate on your stay there. Thanks.
Apr 29th, 2004, 05:17 PM
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I've been to the Tradewinds and I recommended it to you, after recommending the Alden and the Bonaire, based on your request for a place for $150 or less. You don't say what size room you had but if you had a one-bedroom, the rate you paid sounds like a decent rate -- but alas, no view, what a drag. It's nice to have a view. I did not recommend their kids program because I didn't know anything about it, didn't even know they had one.
I've read elsewhere on this board about the slide, that it will cost quite a bit for repetitive trips. I thought I also read you need to buy a pass instead of book singles to do it as cheaply as possible.
Shultzy, I hope your kids had more fun than you. Nothing worse than a disappointing vacation.
I've read elsewhere on this board about the slide, that it will cost quite a bit for repetitive trips. I thought I also read you need to buy a pass instead of book singles to do it as cheaply as possible.
Shultzy, I hope your kids had more fun than you. Nothing worse than a disappointing vacation.
Apr 29th, 2004, 06:52 PM
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Nigelsmom, I think of the Tradewinds as more of a family place (although Shultzy didn't enjoy it so maybe it's not for every family). You say you picked the Sandpiper because of its activities -- what sort of activities are you hoping to find at the Sandpiper? Water activities, I presume? Or just a nice beach for sunning? Restaurants? What?
Apr 30th, 2004, 03:47 AM
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niglesmom, Go to www.tripadvisor.com and read the reviews--close to 20 of them from people who have stayed within the past year. The reviews are certainly a mixed bag, no raves and about half of them are quite negative. The location is good, and if you are going to stay there you can at least pick up hints from tripadvisor that might make your stay more pleasant--like getting a room away from the bar next door!
I generally don't put that much stake in reviews from such sites, but when one after another has the same specific negative comments, it's time to sit up and take notice.
I generally don't put that much stake in reviews from such sites, but when one after another has the same specific negative comments, it's time to sit up and take notice.
Apr 30th, 2004, 05:07 AM
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Shultzy complaints were that the hotel mislead him that they had a great kids program and a free water slide. These features, he discovered upon arrival, were extra. His complaint about the room was his bad view, but the hotel did accomodate him by reducing the price from an original quote of $229 to $129, so the hotel was VERY accomodating IMO. Other than those, he doesn't have other complaints. From what I've seen of it and other places in the area, inside and out, I like it. It has some unusual features (a moat that surrounds the hotel replete with real live swans) and the rooms are spacious for families.
BUT -- I don't know anything about their activities and that's what you want. Best to check it out with the hotel.
BUT -- I don't know anything about their activities and that's what you want. Best to check it out with the hotel.
Apr 30th, 2004, 07:14 AM
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The only place I can recommend without reservation, because it's the only place I've stayed on the beach, is the Don and we know that's darned nice, but even that gets complaints, primarily about room size though, never decor or noise issues. However, you'll never get it for the rate you'll get the Sandpiper, which can be obtained through PCLN, making it even more of a bargain providing you are willing to overlook its shortcomings. There are some scathing Tripadvisor reviews on the Sandpiper. If it were just one or two, I'd probably overlook them and chalk it up to a disgruntled guest, but there are more than one or two--probably half are quite negative. If someone reads them and goes into this with eyes open, knowing that they will spend little time in their room and are OK with less than stellar accommodations, and if they ensure that their room does not face that bar so when they are in it they can get some sleep, they'll be OK, especially if they get it at a PCLN rate.
Because I hate to steer anyone wrong, even unwittingly, unless I've seen the rooms myself, or have heard many reviews with few complaints, I am very hesitant about saying anything. We have an advantage in knowing locations and which are good and which aren't, but I, at least, am at a disadvantage as we rarely stay out there ourselves, and seldom have friends that do either. If they are in town, they stay with us. Even in the business you don't hear that much regarding the conditions of the beach resorts and rarely brush up against the operators, for whatever reason, in Hotel Motel Assn meetings and fund raisers.
I guess aside from the Don the only other place on the beach that I am relatively comfortable recommending would be the Sheraton Sand Key...and only because I've only rarely heard it raked over the coals, the location is nice, beach is great (if you don't mind the walk in the sand) but again, I have not been in any of the rooms so am reluctant to stick my neck out that far for them either. Possibly, and that's a big "possibly", the Hilton Clearwater Beach as well. The Grand gets better reviews than the Sandpiper and that may be where Shultzy was staying as that's where the slide is, but it's not clear from her review, which of the two it was.
We've stayed in some real dives in various travels. Some we knew in advance, such as Murmuring Surf in Destin in the early 70's--painted cinder block walls, concrete floors, no airconditioning, but it was immaculately clean, quiet, fabulous location nestled in the dunes, and personable on-property owner-operators. A true old FL Mom and Pop place...no pretentions, but despite all, a fabulous stay we returned to for several years. And some we didn't know in advance...Betws-y-Coed, Wales which had the tackiest decor I've ever seen, wiring such that you couldn't both run the hair dryer and have the TV on, but it was otherwise immaculate, the surroundings were beautiful and serene, it was charming despite the decor, and we were very forgiving because we were in the countryside in Wales. It may be all an issue of expectations. I wouldn't hesitate to reccommend either of these two "dives", but would certainly make sure anyone knew in adance what they were getting, so they could decide for themselves if it was for them, and that location, location, location was still all important considering the flaws.
Because I hate to steer anyone wrong, even unwittingly, unless I've seen the rooms myself, or have heard many reviews with few complaints, I am very hesitant about saying anything. We have an advantage in knowing locations and which are good and which aren't, but I, at least, am at a disadvantage as we rarely stay out there ourselves, and seldom have friends that do either. If they are in town, they stay with us. Even in the business you don't hear that much regarding the conditions of the beach resorts and rarely brush up against the operators, for whatever reason, in Hotel Motel Assn meetings and fund raisers.
I guess aside from the Don the only other place on the beach that I am relatively comfortable recommending would be the Sheraton Sand Key...and only because I've only rarely heard it raked over the coals, the location is nice, beach is great (if you don't mind the walk in the sand) but again, I have not been in any of the rooms so am reluctant to stick my neck out that far for them either. Possibly, and that's a big "possibly", the Hilton Clearwater Beach as well. The Grand gets better reviews than the Sandpiper and that may be where Shultzy was staying as that's where the slide is, but it's not clear from her review, which of the two it was.
We've stayed in some real dives in various travels. Some we knew in advance, such as Murmuring Surf in Destin in the early 70's--painted cinder block walls, concrete floors, no airconditioning, but it was immaculately clean, quiet, fabulous location nestled in the dunes, and personable on-property owner-operators. A true old FL Mom and Pop place...no pretentions, but despite all, a fabulous stay we returned to for several years. And some we didn't know in advance...Betws-y-Coed, Wales which had the tackiest decor I've ever seen, wiring such that you couldn't both run the hair dryer and have the TV on, but it was otherwise immaculate, the surroundings were beautiful and serene, it was charming despite the decor, and we were very forgiving because we were in the countryside in Wales. It may be all an issue of expectations. I wouldn't hesitate to reccommend either of these two "dives", but would certainly make sure anyone knew in adance what they were getting, so they could decide for themselves if it was for them, and that location, location, location was still all important considering the flaws.
Apr 30th, 2004, 08:38 AM
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nigelsmom, can you explain "lots to do" ... do you mean activities provided by where you stay, or nearby? If nearby, I can suggest three very nice upper-scale places offering attractivel large rooms right on the beach, and very well run, because we've checked them out personally for other people coming into the area, and there have been no complaints to date.
Apr 30th, 2004, 10:17 AM
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Hi Guys:
Well, opposites do attract and my boyfriend is the laid back type, pool, jazz and a nice clean room, w/a beach. He's into goooood restuarants or a greaaat shack! Me I like a little jet ski, a little pool, a little beach and a aka a "nice resort". I've stayed in everything from the Ritz to the Hampton Inn (which I used in Oct for a cruise out of Tampa), but decided to finally see what the famous "Gulf Coast" is really about. So with that said, can you rec a place that's nice/ w/beach & pool and maybe even a spa..Someplace adults can be adults...but don't get me wrong..families are cool too!
Well, opposites do attract and my boyfriend is the laid back type, pool, jazz and a nice clean room, w/a beach. He's into goooood restuarants or a greaaat shack! Me I like a little jet ski, a little pool, a little beach and a aka a "nice resort". I've stayed in everything from the Ritz to the Hampton Inn (which I used in Oct for a cruise out of Tampa), but decided to finally see what the famous "Gulf Coast" is really about. So with that said, can you rec a place that's nice/ w/beach & pool and maybe even a spa..Someplace adults can be adults...but don't get me wrong..families are cool too!
Apr 30th, 2004, 10:33 AM
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In reference to OliveOyl's possibilities, stayed at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Hotel last week and also the Adam's Mark Hotel about 0.5 mile away.
Both are
and have "a little pool, a little beach" but I would favor the Hilton over Adam's Mark because it has an extra pool and it's own large powdery soft, white sand beach, along with jet ski rentals and beach chair/umbrellas with 
cocktail/snack service.
Last weekend there was a
jazz festival in the park across from the Hilton. The only great restaurant I visited and would highly recommend was far away (Roy's in Tampa), though numerous modest restaurants including Frenchy's Saltwater Cafe, Frenchy's South Beach, & Crabby Bills are in walking distance of the Hotels. 
Both are
and have "a little pool, a little beach" but I would favor the Hilton over Adam's Mark because it has an extra pool and it's own large powdery soft, white sand beach, along with jet ski rentals and beach chair/umbrellas with cocktail/snack service. Last weekend there was a
jazz festival in the park across from the Hilton. The only great restaurant I visited and would highly recommend was far away (Roy's in Tampa), though numerous modest restaurants including Frenchy's Saltwater Cafe, Frenchy's South Beach, & Crabby Bills are in walking distance of the Hotels.
Apr 30th, 2004, 12:02 PM
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I love the Don and it would be great if you could get it for the price that you've booked the Tradewinds (or Sandpiper, whatever it is). But I doubt that.
I also love the Clearwater Beach Hotel, which is not the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort. The difference between the two hotels is about 90 years. But it is supposedly being torn down next year for some new resort -- and I'm sure they won't be upkeeping it if that's the case.
If you're still concerned about the hotel, then you might look into changing to a room at the Alden. I've heard they have balconies on all their rooms (of course who knows what you get to see...). It's next to the Tradewinds/Sandpiper. But Nigelsmom, neither will have jet ski rentals there. They rent on the bay side of the barrier islands, and I don't recall any on SP, but there are some on Treasure Island, which is the next island north of SP.
Be sure to go to the Hampton House of Jazz in downtown on Central. You'll enjoy it.
I also love the Clearwater Beach Hotel, which is not the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort. The difference between the two hotels is about 90 years. But it is supposedly being torn down next year for some new resort -- and I'm sure they won't be upkeeping it if that's the case.
If you're still concerned about the hotel, then you might look into changing to a room at the Alden. I've heard they have balconies on all their rooms (of course who knows what you get to see...). It's next to the Tradewinds/Sandpiper. But Nigelsmom, neither will have jet ski rentals there. They rent on the bay side of the barrier islands, and I don't recall any on SP, but there are some on Treasure Island, which is the next island north of SP.
Be sure to go to the Hampton House of Jazz in downtown on Central. You'll enjoy it.
