Which is nicer for a family of 3.
Treasure Island, Lands End or St Pete Beach, Vistas on the Gulf?

These are two distinctly different locations, two distinctly different condos. So the choice should be easy for you depending on what you're looking for.

Lands End at TI is in an isolated spot at the very southern tip of TI's Sunset Beach. It is very beautiful and the grounds of Land End are very nice with lots of vegetation. The condos are no taller than 3 stories, I believe. You will need to hop in your car to go anywhere as there are no stores as there are no commercial buildings here -- but there is a pool (or two) even tennis courts, and a walking path as well around the tip of the island. You will drive down a private 2-lane road past a small commercial district with one popular seafood restaurant, one outdoor bar for music, and through a little residential neighborhood to get there.

The Vistas on the Gulf is a 5-story highrise newer building among a few other similar buildings in an area that has shops and amenities all within walking distance just across the street. With the amenites comes the traffic congestion but that will not bother you at all unless you need to get into it. Most of the time I'm assuming that you will be on the beach where all is heavenly. I don't know this condo but if you are looking for amenities like tennis courts then you need to do some research.

Another thing to consider is that because it's set back from the beach there is a short walk through the condos landscaped area to get to the beach at Lands End. Depending on where the particular condo is located, the further from the beach, then you could have a long walk to the beach. At the Vistas I would assume you ride the elevator down and then walk a short walk to the beach (that's what the photo looks like).

Thank you. I'm still undecided. I like the idea of having restruants in walking distance. They are both very comparable in price. The vista is 2 bedroom, which we don't need. I guess i'm concerned too, with the condition of the rooms. I would like something really nice.

I live very close to Lands End, and my brother rented one of their units, and it was very nice. And the pool and grounds are immaculate, and beautifully maintained, always a good sign. However, the units are individually owned and because of that, you won't know til you open the front door what you'll find. It appears that Vistas is a "condo hotel" which may mean that all units are furnished identically(?).

Vista is much newer - their website says 2003. Lands End has been around for a longer time - probably 15-20 years.

If you look at an aerial photo of Land's End, you will see several buildings facing the Intercoastal (rather than the Gulf). What you won't see is the four beach bars within spitting distance across the narrow channel - they come complete with loud music til 11 PM most nights. I like taking that walking path TGirl refers to, but I would not like a unit facing those bars - the sound really carries across the water. My husband however disagrees with me - says he likes that atmosphere, particularly if he's on vacation.

What month are you visiting?

March 2006. I'm leaning toward Vistas on the Gulf because Ilike the idea that I can have dinner and sites out my condo unit. Thnks.

Hey Joan...How was your husband's Birthday party on the boat? Did Red Tide cause you any problems?

LML, be sure to take the bar hop while you're down that way. There's a place called the Swigwam behind the Travel Lodge (no food but they will let you order food from next door Shells restaurant and pick it up and eat there). Then you can "hop" via the beach to the next place (can't remember the name) to check out the music, then finally to Ricky T's. The Swigman is an old shack-type place -- classic old Florida beach bar. Yummy chocolate-laced frozen drinks.

Hi cd! Hubby's party was fabulous! There was a slight red tide that day, and the thunder clouds threatened, but we didn't talk about it, we just jumped on that boat and started acting like Gilligan Islanders! Fun Fun Fun (especially when my girlfriends got ahold of him and carved a "50" into his back hairs - or is that too much information hee hee? :-& )

Tooooo funny! So glad you had a good time.