My husband and I have just found out we have a five day window for a trip to Florida at the end of this month. Has anyone any good suggestions of where to visit? We would really like somewhere close to a beach, as we would like some sun, and that has restaurants etc close to the hotels as we will be flying in from Toronto and don't particularly want to rent a car. We aren't party animals and just want some R and R. Budget-wise we would like to keep around $1500 mark for flight and accommodation. Help??

$1500 for both of you? At the end of February it's hard to find decent accomodations for less than $300 a night near a good beach in Florida, so that leaves nothing for the flight from Toronto. I hope you meant per person?

Shows how much I know!! I guess I was hoping WAY too much. However, if we need to spend more to get a decent place then so be it!!

Here in the national historic district of Pass-a-Grille, which is at the south tip of St Pete Beach, you can find plenty of neat little hotels and some small condos for rent for a lot less than the $300 per night quoted to you by Neo Patrick, and they are right on the beach. Try one of these: www.innonbeach.com or www.sabalpalms.com. There are several others including some cottages right at the tip of the land called Lands End. You will benefit from weekly rates; some of them won't rent for a day.

Wayne, you are right. You've given some places that might be available for around $600 to $750 for the week (including taxes) which leaves up to $ 450 each for two round trip tickets from Toronto.
I keep forgetting that northern and central Florida are that much cheaper than here in Naples.

Try here www.tween-waters.com we have been many times and love it...price includes breakfast too!

First, if by end of this month you mean week of 2/18 - forget it. That is school vacation week in many parts of eastern US - everything is very expensive or very booked.

If you mean the week after, then I think you might be able to do this.

Second, at this time of year, only Southern Florida is beach weather - and locals do not even consider it beach weather then. So if you want beach, you have to go on east coast West Palm Beach or further south (West Palm, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami) or on west coast Ft. Myers/Sanibel. In general, I think east coast may have better bargains.

I would reconsider the car part. Good values can be had in Florida in places that are a 15 minute drive to beach. We stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn in Boca Raton last winter for about $200/night. Quiet, but right off Interstate 95, car definitely necessary, and drive to beach. Hotels like this are usually non-special chains but clean and functional for a less expensive trip.

Annabel, Tween Waters is indeed a lovely place, but that's one of those $300 a night places (minimum in Feb. including taxes) I was referring to. Meanwhile it's a minor point since Tween Waters seems to be pretty much fully booked for the end of February.