lol I don't have one! Hmmm...not sure how to get around this, are you? Click on both names for starters and see what you find.

well, i did that but couldn't quite figure it out. why they were no more.

geez. it's tuff 2B nu kid on blck.

I'll meet you at the Don, we'll discuss it over those yummy daquiris, OO. Don't you just love that place?!? Have you been to the Clearwater Beach Hotel, another old historic spot?

Now maybe that would be a good place for ugadog99...

Right, clicking on anyone's name gives a history of their posts. You can unregister your name however, and there is no longer anything that leads back to you...including anything that can lead Fodors back to you. You can immediately re-register with another name then, and post as someone else. Let's just say several of us were friends, something went amuck and the remainder now deal with the sniping..and it is always in this manner. A post, unregister, come back as a new person to agree with the former person, then unregister that name etc. This is the internet, the good, the bad, and the very ugly. Fortunately, his participation is very cyclical.

You'd think people would have better things to do...like us!

Back to the bar! Actually, your idea is a good one. If this weren't such a nasty weekend I'd take you up on it.

That is so unfortunate.

I'll chime in on the Don Csar. The first time I ever stayed there was in 1990 and I was 24 so that dispels the older crowd myth. It was lovely. It was the first time I had ever splurged with friends and stayed in an expensive hotel. We were treated so well and I was so impressed.

Fast forward to 2000 and it was as gorgeous as ever. I went with a good friend who is a big time meeting planner so they rolled out the red carpet for us.

Rooms were great, staff fantastic, everything was super.

The only weird thing was living on the east coast, laying out on the beach with my back to the ocean as opposed to facing the ocean.

I grew up on the east coast too so it took me some time to get used to it too, GoTravel. Away from the water here means heading east...an uncomfortable concept initially.

You need to come back. I believe their latest renovation has been since your last trip. It was beginning to look a bit down at the heels, especially the lobby area, but they did a great job--I've heard the cost, my husband may remember, but those figures don't stick with me. Whatever, they put a tremendous sum of money into it.

GoT, you should do what I do when I go to the east coast -- turn your chair around. Silly you.

The Sunday brunch is great at the Don. Last time I went it was $15. I'll bet it's double that now, or more. We booked a suite a couple of years ago on our anniversary - -my husband and I were both working and couldn't travel anywhere so we just lived it up for a night. Breakfast in bed. Had dinner at their wonderful restaurant.

I went to a sunset wedding there on the very top -- the bride and groom had rented out the 2-story penthouse suite with the winding staircase for the reception and for their honeymoon night. It was just gorgeous -- but the groom was a psycho. He had his best man introduced to play a saxophone solo like he was going to be some grand entertainer -- but when he played it was just awful -- on purpose! -- and it was an awful rendition of the theme from MASH ("suicide is painless). That marriage didn't last, needless to say. Later he tried to run her over on the front lawn of their Hyde Park home in his jeep. What a maniac. Her name was -- get this -- Bianca.

But glad I got to go to the wedding!

Actually, we just follow the sun and rotate our chairs.

If we end up facing away from the ocean, we've been on the beach too long! That means too many beers and too much sun because the sun is getting low in the sky!

OO, I swear our paths have crossed at some point!

Y'all I'm paying for that practice. The good Dr. Fenske has become my friend for life. sniff

Well, I have not only learned a lot about Don Cesar, but also about checking these doggone screen names to see the authenticity of someone's opinion before taking it to the bank. But as long as I'm invited to join in on the daquiris, I'll get over my naivete!

Hi OliveOyl! You're right on the money about the DonCesar, as are you, GoTravel. Some very good friends of ours bought a beach-front house last year, about 7-8 door south of the hotel. It's a typical '80s house, desperately in need of an update. They spent several weeks down there renovating, with the help of their four kids, ages 13-20. And what do you think the little devils did (before their mother got wind of it and put a kabosh on it) after they were done with painting & sanding each day? They walked down the beach, ate lunch at the DonCesar and then swam at the pool on the sly! They had a great time down there because there were plenty of interesting people at the pool--families, famous people, etc. So based on that little tidbit, I couldn't exactly say two 9 and 13 year old girls would be bored at the DonCesar.

We stayed with our friends in July and enjoyed the Sunday buffet. I wouldn't say it was 5* dining, but it was lots of fun and the food was good. Strolling musicians came around table to table and played whatever you requested. They were so sweet! So were the endless Mimosas we downed...more than four hours flew by without us realizing it! We noticed people of all ages in the dining room, too.

I believe they just passed a rule at the Don Cesar that children 9 and 13 are not allowed. And that you have to be a member of AARP to get a room. And fodorites get charged double.

OO, sorry to hear about you and the Doc. I can't tell you the many times I've wanted to tell people sunning themselves on the beach that they were ruining their precious skin -- and of course I did it too.

Ya'll take a listen now. Remember your sunscreen, your hats, your shirts. A little sun goes a long way.

Ok, if there are a few Tradewinds in the St. Pete area, how will I know it is the right one? Anyone have a website for Tradewinds? We are leaning toward Indian Shores. Can anyone recommend a condo/hotel in that area?

Thanks!

I don't know condos in Indian Shores at all -- but the Tides in Redington (next island south) is right around the corner. It is really fabulous. Check it out:

http://vacationrentaladvertising.com...age.asp?ID=242

there's probably another site for it, that's the first one I found. I thought it had a good description of its history before it turned high-rise condo. Some of the old parts are still there.

As for the Tradewinds:
www.tradewindsresort.com

I went to their website and looked up the floor plans. They did not have the huge 2-bdrm sketched out -- the one I saw where my friends were staying.

Indian Shores is nice. You'll enjoy it. You can walk the beach to the fishing pier at Redington -- and to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. Go during feeding time -- it's really funny to see those pelicans all diving in unison for their food. It almost looks orchestrated. Indian Rocks has good restaurants. Crabby Tom's is fun. My friends like Slammers, a crab place. And I think the Beach Bistro is around there, gourmet food. Guppies is good for either lunch or dinner. If you decide to treat yourself, head up to Clearwater to the Island Way Grill, a wonderful new EXP. restaurant.

Good luck.

ugadog, there's really only one Tradewinds Resort. It's comprised of several hotels in a row, all combined under one name. I imagine some are better (newer) than others. I think I've seen discussion about that here. You could do a search. Tradewinds is in a busy area though, smack in the middle of St. Pete Beach's main drag.

Also, I live on Treasure Island, and Land's End really is quite nice! They have a nice pool area, and it would have the quiet you're looking for, but with everything nearby. Be sure to ask for Gulf front, not just waterfront. Some of their units look east over the intracoastal, and there's some happy noisy beach bars just a stone's throw across the water. The gulf side has a beautiful beach there.

Have fun whatever you choose!

Hi Joan...but did you see it said that those happy noises are coming from a tough blue collar bar? Geez louise! Anyway, Lands End has a terrific location on the point and the beach is very, very pretty. Never stayed there...drawback to living in the area is we know the outside of lots of places, but haven't a clue as to what it's like inside.

Tradewinds at one point was comprised of The Grand, the Sandpiper, and the Sirata. The Sirata was sold, and of the two remaining, the Grand is the better. Ugadog (by the way, I know Uga and his owner in Savannah!) you might be interested in reading reviews of both hotels by people who have stayed there either on Trip Advisor of BiddingForTravel--its sort of a mixed bag.

And if Woody's isn't blue-collar enough you can surely hope for some holdovers from BeachNuts who'll be hanging out at the Ka'Tiki or Caddy's, revving up their Harleys.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmpphhhhh!