Help need with UK visitor to St. Augustine
 

OK... I've never been to St. Augustine and am going to meet a friend from UK there in November. Friend wants to spend less than $100 (probably much less) per night and must have a big breakfast. I want to stay in the historic district. Looks like Priceline will get me the Days Inn in that area, which might be OK but brekfast won't be good enough for the hearty eater. What is that Days Inn like and is there a place nearby to get a good breakfast? Other suggestions for good lodging prices in the historic district welcome.

Thanks so much for you help!!!!

Jayne, I suggest you take a look at some of the bed and breakfasts in the historic district. There are many choices and that is definitely not a busy time for the area. Have a wonderful time, great town.

As to the where to get a good breakfast, darned if I can remember the name but there is an excellent breakfast spot not far from the Casa Monica. If you face the Casa Monica walk left about two blocks then turn right down the side street. There is a small cafe (I think the name is Sunflowers or something like that) on your right which is very good and inexpensive.

One more post on this and then I will be quiet
www.staugustineinns.com

cmfong, :D
I only know Casa Monica and their bakery/cafe.
They are big on Breakfast here though so odds are there will be plenty of places available.
Days Inn on A1A?

Hi Scarlett, are you and the Yankee going to do one last trip to St. Augustine before you head to Portland? It is such a lovely spot. I have stayed at the Casa Monica several times and like it quite a bit. I found the coffee shop to be OK but a little expensive. The place I am talking about is around two blocks down the street and is relatively easy to spot. It is cute and the breakfast was very generous and good.

I don't remember noticing the Days Inn, but I would imagine in November there might be some deals to be had for a b and b in St. Augustine.

I hope the transition to your new life in Portland will be smooth for all three of you. Pup will doubtedless make lots of new friends. Put a vacation to the San Juans on your to do list once you get there (after Japan of course). You will love them.

The Days Inn in the historic district is at
2800 N Ponce De Leon Blvd. The UK visitor wants regular motel type accomodations -- no B&B's-- although it's a great suggestion.

One of the overall best deals can be had at the Monterey Inn, facing the bay and right in the historic district. A single room will probably go for about 50 dollars, and a double for around 60-75 dollars, unless there is a big college football game nearby in Jacksonville or Gainesville. That I can't predict. But there is also a wonderful little restaurant that is a part of the overall building where the Monterey Inn is located. It's called Mary's restaurant, and they serve a great breakfast for a decent price. The Monterey Inn's phone number is 904-824-4482. I've stayed there many times, and I can vouch for the fact that it is not fancy but clean and well managed by a second or third generation family. I believe your friend might also find this to be a better bargain than most of the B&B's.

However, don't be misled by some statements that the city will not be busy at that time of year. St. Augustine is pretty busy all year round, and its Florida location means that the weather in November might still be reasonably pleasant. Good luck to you and your friend.

I would also add that really the Days Inn is not directly in the main part of the historic district, whereas the Monterey Inn is. But the entire area is small enough that it might not matter where you stay as long as you have a car.

Thanks, Wayne. I remember you telling me about this before but then someone told me it was not in the historic district. I will check it out.

It's definitely in the historic district. In fact, if your room at the Monterey Inn had a back door, you could walk through the back door and be in the district. Good luck.

You know, for the sake of good relations between the UK and Florida LOL I might have to go check this out in person.
cmcfong, I was thinking of going out to St Aug this week anyway- I have a favorite shop where I like to buy candles and soap..
So while there, I will look for a good breakfast place around the Monterey and the Days Inn. Anything else I can look at?
It will be my pleasure as I need to see these places and the Atlantic Ocean as much as possible before saying goodbye

Wayne is right. He rattled my memory and I distinctly recall some of the best hashbrowns ever at Mary's. Great suggestion.
Have fun, Scarlett.
Jayne, enjoy the trip, it is a wonderful town.

Scarlett,

We could use any and all suggestions for great seafood. Also, do you know if the trolleys run at night? If we decided to have drinks and stay out late one night, I would like the option of not having to drive.

This week I will find out for you. I took notes :)
((F))

Well, that was easy-
The Old Town Trolly Tours are from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Jayne, Barbara Jean's for crabcakes, La Parisienne for a splurge, a very good, casual meal at the Cafe in the "swimming pool" at the Alcazar.
Lucky Scarlett, I won't be there again until October.

Oh, almost forgot-- where's a good place to go for afternoon tea? The Brits gotta have that, you know!

Can't help with the tea question, but for the nicest restaurant in St Augustine you should try the Raintree --a bit pricey, but wonderful food in a relaxed, casual atmosphere in an old house.

For good down-to-earth Florida seafood in a typical setting, there is a great restaurant with a take-out window or you can sit inside and eat. If you go across the Bridge of Lions to the beach, turn right (south), and drive about half a mile or so along highway A1A, it will be on your right. I can't remember the name of the restaurant, but I can always find it. If you provide these directions to your hotel clerk, they will tell you about it because it is a favorite among locals and the prices are good. They don't take reservations (always an indicator of quality) and you might have a wait.

There is another old-style seafood restaurant north of the old town just off A1A, and again I can't remember the name. The location is less than a mile north of the Monterey Inn.

For afternoon tea, try the cafe on the ground level of the Casa Monica. Their treats and coffee/tea should do the trick, plus they have outdoor seating for a little people watching.

Thanks, Wayne, for all the great information. We have decided on the Monterey for sure.

I am going to have seafood every night! Looking forward to your report, Scarlett.

cmcfong, I will definitely go to Casa Monica for tea. I wanted to see that hotel anyway -- heard so many good things about it.

Tandoori Girl posted some names of restaurants in St Aug a while back and that seafood place was one of them..with tables out by the water.
I will check tomorrow.
There used to be a real English tea parlor, a British man and his wife ran..scones and clotted cream and the works but they left.sigh.
A report will arrive tomorrow evening!
(what I do for Fodors :D)

Hi!
Just returned from a day in St Augustine.
The weather was perfect, ocean breeze and low 80's.
Not very crowded although there were school groups with young'uns wearing matching tee shirts and jostling and giggling, it was quite cheerful actually.
We wandered every back alley and side street, enjoying finding ourselves all alone among the old old old ! buildings and listening to the sound of many birds.
Flowers are spilling out of window boxes, trees are in full bloom, it is very nice to be there right now.

Here are some things I found that might be helpful..
Old Town Trolleys Ghost & Gravestone Tours at night, 7 nights a week, for 1 hour and 20 minutes..which can be great considering the heat and sun beating down on you during the day..904.826.3663 or www.ghostandgravestones.com
You must make reservations.
They say, "wear comfortable shoes , you don't want to become DEAD on your feet" LOL.
But most of it is on a Trolley of the Doomed :)

The Monterey Inn is where we would stay. Excellent location and looked much nicer than the chain hotels along A1A...there are small streets in the heart of Old Town with B&Bs that are lovely, but I cannot say that I know anything good or bad about any of them..just that they are pretty.

Go to the Lightner Museum.. www.lightnermuseum.org

former Hotel Alcazar, now a museum thanks to Otto Lightner, Chicago publisher .. the building was built in 1888 , it became a museum in 1948..it is very interesting and a relief to get in out of the sun.,

Casa Monica has a restaurant for lunches, sandwiches were arouind $10- and up..salads were more. It is very quiet and subdued and nice but perhaps not everyones cuppa tea ( it was not ours)
The cafe is nice for coffee and pastries early, when you can sit outside and people watch..
They do a Sunday Brunch that is supposed to be excellent!
And at night there is the Cobalt Lounge .

There is a restaurant called Scarlett O'Hara's, heard of her but never ate in the restaurant.
There is a seafood place right in town called Harrys (it might be a chain)
There is an excellent bistro called Bistro Hypolita on Hypolita St..I really recommend a meal there.
I did not see any restaurant that struck me as a Breakfast place. But there are pancake houses and that sort of place all along the road, so I think you will not have trouble finding a good place to start your day.


I hope this helps some. It was a beautiful day, I think a friend from the UK will be charmed..
S

Thanks so much for the nice report, Scarlett. I am going to copy it to my friend. So glad to hear the Monterey Inn looked nice. We made our reservations this morning! I'd love to do the ghost tour... we'll see how it goes. I would imagine you can find ghosts just about anywhere in St. Augustine.

I suppose the weather will also be nice in early November.

Thanks again -- your day sounds wonderful!

Hi Jayne, glad to help.
Ghosts in St Augustine? lol, yes, there seem to be a few, here is what they offer on the Ghost Tour..
The Old Drug Store
rests on an old Indian burial ground. The Spanish Military Hospital
Melancholy spirits, death beds and whispers..
The Old Jail, listed on the National Haunted Places register..who knew there was such a thing??? it is the sight of countless super natural occurences..
Have fun ... whoooooooo~