Opal Sol Clearwater, FL

[Anonymous]

Looking for reiews of this place when it opens. Is the public beach an issue with homeless or townies? Can you walk to a lot of bars and restaurants?

[Anonymous]

It opens in Feb 2025 so, around now. Your best bet is to watch the Google reviews. DCUM is only a small portion of the potential guests.

[Anonymous]

I’ll be there a week from now and will report back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll be there a week from now and will report back!

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It opens in Feb 2025 so, around now. Your best bet is to watch the Google reviews. DCUM is only a small portion of the potential guests.

Never knew you could watch google reviews. Good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll be there a week from now and will report back!

How was it PP? I see a few reviews on Tripadvisor. The pools look very small and you have to cross a busy road to get to the beach? Is that right? It is about $3000 cheaper for a week than the sand pearl. We will have kids with us though, and I am not sure if the pools are too adult for them.

[Anonymous]

I have mixed feelings on it. Granted it had only been open a week, there were a lot of finishing touches missing, including a functioning hot tub. There were two medium sized pools right next to each other with plenty of seats and an abundance of service staff, but the pools weren’t heated (and it was COLD out). The spa was also not open yet.

We had a slight issue where the room we received was not what we expected - seems like limited or changing info on their site pre-opening was the culprit, but they did upgrade us to the space we expected for free. The room was very nice and size wise could work well for a family trip with kids.

It was a very easy walk across the street to the public beach (not that busy of a road), and didn’t seem any different than the Opal Sands access. Would I want to do it with small children and all of their stuff? Probably not. But that leads me to the appeal of this type of hotel and Clearwater in general. I was expecting Ritz/St Regis caliber for some reason and while it might have had that in decor, it did not in amenities and resort feel. Only one sit down restaurant and one coffee shop open right now at least. Even Westin and Marriott resorts I’ve been to have felt like a significantly better total package. This was my first trip to Clearwater and I left very confused by it. There is no Main Street or shopping to be done, and not a large number of restaurants outside of hotels. It feels like it’s designed for a resort, on-property experience—so there was a disconnect for me.

All in all, it was a good trip since we had access to the Opal Sands amenities (e.g., hot tub, more happening bars) but I’d seek out other destinations for future trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have mixed feelings on it. Granted it had only been open a week, there were a lot of finishing touches missing, including a functioning hot tub. There were two medium sized pools right next to each other with plenty of seats and an abundance of service staff, but the pools weren’t heated (and it was COLD out). The spa was also not open yet.

We had a slight issue where the room we received was not what we expected - seems like limited or changing info on their site pre-opening was the culprit, but they did upgrade us to the space we expected for free. The room was very nice and size wise could work well for a family trip with kids.

It was a very easy walk across the street to the public beach (not that busy of a road), and didn’t seem any different than the Opal Sands access. Would I want to do it with small children and all of their stuff? Probably not. But that leads me to the appeal of this type of hotel and Clearwater in general. I was expecting Ritz/St Regis caliber for some reason and while it might have had that in decor, it did not in amenities and resort feel. Only one sit down restaurant and one coffee shop open right now at least. Even Westin and Marriott resorts I’ve been to have felt like a significantly better total package. This was my first trip to Clearwater and I left very confused by it. There is no Main Street or shopping to be done, and not a large number of restaurants outside of hotels. It feels like it’s designed for a resort, on-property experience—so there was a disconnect for me.

All in all, it was a good trip since we had access to the Opal Sands amenities (e.g., hot tub, more happening bars) but I’d seek out other destinations for future trips.

Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply. I will look elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Here now. Not ready yet. Pools and hot tubs are not yet heated so everyone is squeezed in amenities at the Sands. I wouldn’t return. Lots and unfinished items. Beach is nice and clean. Lots to walk to. But there is a JW, Wyndham, Residence Inn or Hyatt is the same area where you will have a better stay.