Flying to Tampa for a long weekend in May, looking for advice on where to go and where to stay. Beach is most important consideration - we want to stay on the beach the entire time. Should we go to Siesta Key, or can you recommend places in Indian Rocks, Redington, Madeira, Clearwater or St. Pete? I never plan a trip without your input!

Look no further:

http://www.doncesar.com/

Though gekko's recommendation of the Don CeSar is quite commendable, I would add that the hotel is on the pricey side here in St Pete Beach. I know; I live a couple of stones' throws from the Don. There are lots of other hotels on St Pete Beach, and just as many as you travel north along the Gulf all the way to Clearwater Beach. Each contributor here probably has a favorite area, so here's mine:
-Stay right at the Gulf beach in the cozy community of Pass-a-Grille, about a mile and a half south of the Don CeSar. If you want luxury, you won't find it there; the hotels are mostly Mom & Pop types. There are a couple you could check on: The Keystone Motel, right in the center of Pass-a-Grille, and the Inn on the Beach, a few blocks farther north. Either of these is a good choice for decent rooms, beach view, and reasonable cost. Inn on the Beach has several rooms with kitchen facilities.

Every once in a while, another favorite has a vacancy but is usually occupied by repeat customers: Island's End Cottages, owned by Jonie and Millard Gamble. Try these first for a unique experience.

I love the community of Pass-a-Grille, but I believe most all of the motels are separated from the beach by a road. Who wants to cross a road to get to the beach?

If the Don is too pricey, the Sirata and Dolphin Beach Resort are both right on the beach (St. Pete).

In 2005 we stayed at Tradewinds Island Grand on St. Pete Beach. It is a few miles north of the Don Cesar. Very nice resort. When you call for rates ask them what their Entertainment Book discount is. I believe our room was under $200 a night.

If the beach is your most important consideration, then go to Siesta Key. I think that most of the condos will rent for less than a week at that time of year. There are no hotels on the beach, just condos. We just got back from a week at Siesta Dunes and it was a very nice property. Go to siestadunes.com. There are plenty of other places if that doesn't work out. Good luck.

Lest you get the wrong message from gekko about Pass-a-Grille, the "road" that separates the hotels from the beach is a two-lane, local street limited to 20 mph speed limit. And even with that, the beach is so close that it's a shorter distance to the water than from the back door of the Don CeSar. Very few people see this as a hindrance, and those who do are likely not the type to enjoy Pass-a-Grille anyway.

I must disagree. I love Pass-a-Grille, but I would not stay there because of the road that separates the motels from the beach.

Yes, it's a "local" road, but it's a busy local road with parking on its south side.

And why drive down to Siesta Key from TPA when other beaches are just as nice and much closer?

Pardon me, that should read "parking on its west side."

Gekko - I disagree that the beaches around Tampa are just as nice as Siesta Key. In my opinion the beach at Siesta Key is the nicest I've been to in Florida, although I have never been to the panhandle beaches. Siesta Key is very much worth the 75 minute drive from the Tampa airport.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but in the past 4 years I've stayed on the beach from Clearwater to Sanibel, with St. Pete/TI/AnnaMaria/Lido/Siesta/Longboat in between, and I'd suggest that the Gulf beach is comparable at all stops along the way (it is functionally the same beach, after all).

The OP is flying into Tampa for the weekend and in my opinion to waste even a few precious hours on the highway is a waste of time.

Gekko, you make a a very good point. Why drive an extra three hours or so overall when you only have a weekend? Really, I haven't been on a Florida beach area, from Clearwater to Sanibel, that I didn't love, except when one was afflicted with Red Tide. labradormomma, how much did you want to spend per night, BTW?

I agree that the tradewinds grand resort is a good deal for everything the resort has to offer and the beach is very nice. Siesta Key is also fine and a lot to do. If you really have the time, I would book a stay in the Captiva/Sanibel area. The beach on captiva is beautiful and the snorkeling/fishing is awesome. Great for kids too.

Number One for us...many, many return visits is the Diplomat Resort at Longboat Key

http://www/diplomatresort.net

ooops! URL typo corrected...

http://www.diplomatresort.net