We will visit relatives after Christmas near St Pete beach. Want to splurge on a nice resort for a family of 4. Like tennis and beach. Nice atmosphere. Any ideas?

Sure. Check out the Don Cesar on St. Pete Beach. You might check out the Vinoy in downtown St. Pete, but it doesn't really seem like a family place.

If you have a car and are willing to drive, try The Resort at Longboat Key or The Colony (Colony gets my vote for the best tennis). Longboat Key is in Sarasota County, so it may be too far. But the beach is great.

In Clearwater, though not on the beach, is the Belleair Biltmore.

Have fun.

Try the Alden.
St. Pete Beach w/ great accomodations and beachfront rooms.

don cesar is way over priced,stuffy,and not a family hotel..i suggest any motel,or b& b in pass a grill.pass a grill is a charming old florida resort town just south of st pete beach..i recommend lunch,or dinner at the hurrican,it has the best conch chowder.enjoy

Hands Down - Don Cesar is the place for you to go.

The Don and the Alden are both good choices, as well as the Tradewinds. Depends on your budget. Don CeSar is a cut above the rest. Jam Max, when was the last time you were in the area? - Pass A Grille has become known as a gay beach, and the food and service at the Hurricane has gone way downhill - although sunset drinks without the kids would be good there.

The Don CeSar is the best of the hotels on the beach. It is expensive, but I don't know about stuffy! It's a lovely 20's era renovated hotel, vry nice pool area and pretty beach. Rooms however are on the small side and bathrooms tiny. After all, it was built in the 20's, an era when bathrooms were considered very secondary to what's important in a hotel stay!! OL 2nd choice would be Tradewinds.

Hurricane has been a has-been food-wise for as long as we've lived here. I don't know about Pass-a-Grille being a gay beach! Guess I haven't been paying any attention when we've been there....

Don Cesar and Tradewinds are the only 2 real resorts on St. Pete Beach. Lots of dated hotels that look much better on their websites than they do in person. We were just down on St. Pete Beach for a week in October and I really researched and found a condo was better for our family. If cost is not a factor, the Don Cesar has a new strip of suites that are really nice and you can use the main hotels facilities but have the full kitchen and such features. The Vinoy is downtown but is a gorgeous hotel and not on the beach but the bay but that time of year can be too cold for the beach. We ended up at Gulf Beach Resort which was a small condo complex right on the Gulf and was nice a spacious and modern.

I'm planning on visiting the St. Pete area after the holidays. Has anyone stayed at the Beach House Suites that is the sister property of the Donsecar?

Would be interestd in hearing about it.

Thanks