Clearwater beach/Tampa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went to Clearwater Beach for part of spring break last year and loved it. Stayed at the Sandpearl, which was one of my favorite hotels ever. It was warm enough for the pool (this was March) and I think the kids splashed around in the gulf a bit too. Very walkable, some nicer restaurants and some more laid back/beachy. We did a boat tour and the aquarium, both of which were great.

Thank you. I think this is the hotel that I would choose. It felt safe for the kids walking around? I would definitely want to do a boat tour. Looks like almost all of them have great reviews. Was the Sand Pearl a good location island wise? I also looked at the Opal Sands and JW, but looks like they aren't actually on the Gulf of Mexico.

If this isn't a blatant marketing ad for Sandpearl I don't know what is.

Statistically, how is it possible that a question about an obscure hotel in a specific location has someone weigh in positively in less than an hour? And sells the OP on its desirability over other similar hotels?

Who are you kidding ...

Ha, I'm 9:51 and I promise I'm not a marketing person nor a sock puppet - just really liked the hotel and have told many people as much. (I'd like it much better if it was part of one of the big chains where we got points, though. And the mandatory valet parking was annoying.) FWIW, I learned about the hotel from DCUM research and recommendations. Clearwater was a bit of a random and blind choice for us to spend a couple of days in FL last spring break, and we were very pleasantly surprised on all accounts,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went to Clearwater Beach for part of spring break last year and loved it. Stayed at the Sandpearl, which was one of my favorite hotels ever. It was warm enough for the pool (this was March) and I think the kids splashed around in the gulf a bit too. Very walkable, some nicer restaurants and some more laid back/beachy. We did a boat tour and the aquarium, both of which were great.

Thank you. I think this is the hotel that I would choose. It felt safe for the kids walking around? I would definitely want to do a boat tour. Looks like almost all of them have great reviews. Was the Sand Pearl a good location island wise? I also looked at the Opal Sands and JW, but looks like they aren't actually on the Gulf of Mexico.

If this isn't a blatant marketing ad for Sandpearl I don't know what is.

Statistically, how is it possible that a question about an obscure hotel in a specific location has someone weigh in positively in less than an hour? And sells the OP on its desirability over other similar hotels?

Who are you kidding ...

Ha, I'm 9:51 and I promise I'm not a marketing person nor a sock puppet - just really liked the hotel and have told many people as much. (I'd like it much better if it was part of one of the big chains where we got points, though. And the mandatory valet parking was annoying.) FWIW, I learned about the hotel from DCUM research and recommendations. Clearwater was a bit of a random and blind choice for us to spend a couple of days in FL last spring break, and we were very pleasantly surprised on all accounts,

I appreciate your comments. I also know no one IRL who has ever been there. My friends are more like T&C, Ritz people for spring break and we are not like that. DH and I went to Clearwater about 20 years ago and liked it but I don’t remember much and it seems like it might be a good choice with kids since my preferred location of JW Marco gets insanely crowded at spring break and they can’t handle the crowds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went to Clearwater Beach for part of spring break last year and loved it. Stayed at the Sandpearl, which was one of my favorite hotels ever. It was warm enough for the pool (this was March) and I think the kids splashed around in the gulf a bit too. Very walkable, some nicer restaurants and some more laid back/beachy. We did a boat tour and the aquarium, both of which were great.

Thank you. I think this is the hotel that I would choose. It felt safe for the kids walking around? I would definitely want to do a boat tour. Looks like almost all of them have great reviews. Was the Sand Pearl a good location island wise? I also looked at the Opal Sands and JW, but looks like they aren't actually on the Gulf of Mexico.

And to your question, OP - yes safe, lots of foot traffic. Great location for the beach - it's right there. Some of the attractions and the marina etc. are farther south on the island or back across the bridge, so we drove or used hotel transportation. The pool was busy and at least one of the days we had trouble finding chairs (which is a pet peeve of mine) - but that wasn't a consistent problem and the kids loved the pool.

[Anonymous]

Middle class? The horror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went to Clearwater Beach for part of spring break last year and loved it. Stayed at the Sandpearl, which was one of my favorite hotels ever. It was warm enough for the pool (this was March) and I think the kids splashed around in the gulf a bit too. Very walkable, some nicer restaurants and some more laid back/beachy. We did a boat tour and the aquarium, both of which were great.

Thank you. I think this is the hotel that I would choose. It felt safe for the kids walking around? I would definitely want to do a boat tour. Looks like almost all of them have great reviews. Was the Sand Pearl a good location island wise? I also looked at the Opal Sands and JW, but looks like they aren't actually on the Gulf of Mexico.

And to your question, OP - yes safe, lots of foot traffic. Great location for the beach - it's right there. Some of the attractions and the marina etc. are farther south on the island or back across the bridge, so we drove or used hotel transportation. The pool was busy and at least one of the days we had trouble finding chairs (which is a pet peeve of mine) - but that wasn't a consistent problem and the kids loved the pool.

Do people save chairs or do you when to pay extra for front row chairs like JW does?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle class? The horror.

Many people on this board hate on ocean city. I actually like it there. It’s good for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beware of the scientologists trying to recruit you

You're in idiot, I've been there many times and never been approached by any scientologist. You "FLORIDA IS TERRIBLE" people are unhinged. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Lots of great AirBNBs on the beach there too, might want to look at those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split time between St Petersburg and Clearwater. Not much to do in Tampa.

Looks like the Don Cesar isn't opening back up until the end of March which makes me worried that St Pete isn't the best choice right now,

That's St Pete Beach - I live in St Pete the city and it is very much open

April should be beautiful weather, OP. I don't spend a lot of time in Clearwater, but if you're beach people you should have a good time. There is stuff to do for kids in Tampa - Busch Gardens, yes, also the zoo and the aquarium, among other things - if you want to go check things out. Only the aquarium is actually in downtown Tampa - it's in a fun little area where there are some restaurants and stuff.

There's the Clearwater aquarium, too - that's the one where Winter the dolphin lived. They suffered a lot of hurricane damage but they are open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beware of the scientologists trying to recruit you

You're in idiot, I've been there many times and never been approached by any scientologist. You "FLORIDA IS TERRIBLE" people are unhinged. Get help.

The Scientologists are in the city of Clearwater, just over the bridge from Clearwater beach. They won't try to recruit you but it is interesting. We went on a Scientology walking tour (more of an anti-Scientology walking tour) in Clearwater - the city, not the beach - a couple of years ago. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34141-d23126845-Reviews-Cult_City_Tours-Clearwater_Florida.html

They have some museums and stuff, too. And it's definitely a little unnerving seeing people walking around wearing Scientology uniforms - they look like retro futuristic flight attendants.

But, again, you won't see that at the beach - you'll see it in the city. If you know what you're looking for. No one will try to recruit you any more than they do in DC, where there is also a large Scientology presence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split time between St Petersburg and Clearwater. Not much to do in Tampa.

Looks like the Don Cesar isn't opening back up until the end of March which makes me worried that St Pete isn't the best choice right now,

That's St Pete Beach - I live in St Pete the city and it is very much open

April should be beautiful weather, OP. I don't spend a lot of time in Clearwater, but if you're beach people you should have a good time. There is stuff to do for kids in Tampa - Busch Gardens, yes, also the zoo and the aquarium, among other things - if you want to go check things out. Only the aquarium is actually in downtown Tampa - it's in a fun little area where there are some restaurants and stuff.

There's the Clearwater aquarium, too - that's the one where Winter the dolphin lived. They suffered a lot of hurricane damage but they are open.

Thank you. Sounds like plenty to do for a week. Might try to go to a Rays game too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beware of the scientologists trying to recruit you

You're in idiot, I've been there many times and never been approached by any scientologist. You "FLORIDA IS TERRIBLE" people are unhinged. Get help.

The Scientologists are in the city of Clearwater, just over the bridge from Clearwater beach. They won't try to recruit you but it is interesting. We went on a Scientology walking tour (more of an anti-Scientology walking tour) in Clearwater - the city, not the beach - a couple of years ago. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34141-d23126845-Reviews-Cult_City_Tours-Clearwater_Florida.html

They have some museums and stuff, too. And it's definitely a little unnerving seeing people walking around wearing Scientology uniforms - they look like retro futuristic flight attendants.

But, again, you won't see that at the beach - you'll see it in the city. If you know what you're looking for. No one will try to recruit you any more than they do in DC, where there is also a large Scientology presence.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I like the Sand Pearl more than Opal Sands. Both have access to the beach but Sand Pearl was more in the middle of things and seemed more kid-friendly. But both are great options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split time between St Petersburg and Clearwater. Not much to do in Tampa.

Looks like the Don Cesar isn't opening back up until the end of March which makes me worried that St Pete isn't the best choice right now,

That's St Pete Beach - I live in St Pete the city and it is very much open

April should be beautiful weather, OP. I don't spend a lot of time in Clearwater, but if you're beach people you should have a good time. There is stuff to do for kids in Tampa - Busch Gardens, yes, also the zoo and the aquarium, among other things - if you want to go check things out. Only the aquarium is actually in downtown Tampa - it's in a fun little area where there are some restaurants and stuff.

There's the Clearwater aquarium, too - that's the one where Winter the dolphin lived. They suffered a lot of hurricane damage but they are open.

Thank you. Sounds like plenty to do for a week. Might try to go to a Rays game too.

They won't be playing at Tropicana Field - that was destroyed in the hurricane. But I think they're going to be at one of the minor league stadiums, that's in the area.

Yeah you won't get bored - there's tons to do in this area and April is usually a beautiful time to be here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split time between St Petersburg and Clearwater. Not much to do in Tampa.

Looks like the Don Cesar isn't opening back up until the end of March which makes me worried that St Pete isn't the best choice right now,

That's St Pete Beach - I live in St Pete the city and it is very much open

April should be beautiful weather, OP. I don't spend a lot of time in Clearwater, but if you're beach people you should have a good time. There is stuff to do for kids in Tampa - Busch Gardens, yes, also the zoo and the aquarium, among other things - if you want to go check things out. Only the aquarium is actually in downtown Tampa - it's in a fun little area where there are some restaurants and stuff.

There's the Clearwater aquarium, too - that's the one where Winter the dolphin lived. They suffered a lot of hurricane damage but they are open.

Thank you. Sounds like plenty to do for a week. Might try to go to a Rays game too.

They won't be playing at Tropicana Field - that was destroyed in the hurricane. But I think they're going to be at one of the minor league stadiums, that's in the area.

Yeah you won't get bored - there's tons to do in this area and April is usually a beautiful time to be here.

Thank you. I remembered seeing on the news that the roof was torn off and was impressed when I saw that they were playing. Just figured it was at Tropicana. Thanks for the intel.