Best FL beach resort

[puppymommo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close puppymommo]

Hi, all. I live in the midwest now but used to live in CA and HI, so I am going through some serious beach withdrawl.

The only FL resort I have visited is Wyndham's Ocean Walk, twice. Once we had an ocean view, once a parking lot view. But I loved being able to walk out of the resort right onto the beach. It was also nice that there were ample restaurants within walking distance.

I am planning a FL trip sometime in 2012 and would like some recommendations for beachfront resorts. I don't need a lot of amenities as I mostly want to sit on the beach and listen to the waves! With my kindle!

Thanks in advance,

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

You will get various opinions, but even the NE folks who used to go to SE FL are now favoring the beautiful beaches and peaceful water of the gulf. We just saw tons of New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, etc. license plates.

I suggest Anna Maria Island on down. That's roughly North Sarasota.

There's a whole lot to talk about, and lots of different type of resorts. Some mega and some mom and pop. Some timeshare built and some motel conversions. Generally speaking, Florida beach resorts are much different than the typical resorts you see in Orlando, Williamsburg, Branson, etc. The feature is the location, the beach, rather than the resort itself, and space is limited, smaller.

There is beach info saved with a sticky on this board. We would be happy with Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Crescent Beach (Siesta Key, and one of the best of the best), Manasota Key (Englewood), Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach and Vanderbilt Beach. Marco Island beach resorts (HGVC) are very nice. All SW FL HGVC resorts are nice.

I have a ranking of SW FL beach resorts when you get to the picking out point. As I have mentioned a few times, you seldom see any in the top 25 available through RCI any more.

A very cute little resort is Little Gull on Longboat Key, which is an upscale location in the Sarasota area.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Any of the HGVC resorts on SW Florida are nice. Seawatch is nice and Fort Myers has lots of things to do in the little downtown area, Beach Club I is also nice with big units. Free wi-fi in both resorts and BBQ's available with free beach chairs.
Hilton Grand Vacations Club | Timeshare Resorts | Vacation Condos
Home

I like Golden Strand in Sunny Isles. It's in a busy area but you can walk to lots of restaurants and shops and the beach is nice. They nickel and dime you though with their resort fee $10 a day and parking fee $20 a week per car. They do have a little spa and restaurant onsite as well as a tiki bar. They also have an olympic pool but have the beach towel nazis manning the towel exchange so bring your own.
Hotel Resort Miami Beach Florida | Sunny Isles Beach FL Discount Hotels | Golden Strand

BG's Solara beach resort is on a nice beach in Surfside (Miami beach). They do charge $3 or $5 for parking and $5 for a beach chair after 2 free chairs, $10 for an umbrella. The wi-fi is $10 a day too. Lots of little annoying fees but a nice beach. The pool is ehhh. The staff very friendly though except for the guy who mans the beach chairs which is a subcontractor. They've got hammocks so you can take a siesta, BBQ's, volleyball courts, a game room for the kids and a hot tub. They've also got a concierge if you need any reservations. It has an upscale boutique feel to the resort.
Bluegreen Corporation

I also love Enchanted Isle but it's an old converted motel but it's got everything you need for a great vacation. Free wi-fi, free beach chairs, a pool, BBQ's and free parking. And if you get a unit in building #1 you walk right out onto the sand. It's definetely not a pretentious place but it is my favorite place to go back to every year. No fees for anything. The area is very safe, day or night and makes for great fishing from the shore at night.
Enchanted Isle Resort - Home

There are many older resorts in Pompano and Ft. Lauderdale/Delray/Deerfield beach area that make nice vacations. Lauderdale by the sea is a nice area.

Don't stay at La Costa in Pompano. That place is a dump and not worthy of an exchange but would be okay if you got it on a last call since it's not worth much more than that but is on a nice beach. Maybe it's gotten better in the last few years but I wouldn't risk an exchange just yet. They've got a long way to go. La Costa Beach Club Resort

Vero Beach Disney resort is real nice too if you can get it. The wi-fi is $10 a day and they do charge for beach chairs on the beach but they've got a nice pool and they have an activities director that does fun things with the kids at the pool. I really like this resort but it's near nothing. You've gotta have a car and drive like 10 miles to get to anything. That's good and that's not so good depending on what you're looking for. They do a character breakfast on Saturday mornings which is always nice with Goofy and Donald.
Disney Vacation Club Resorts - Discover Additional Resorts | Disney Vacation Club


LaHaina Inn is also a great resort. It's got a South Seas flavor to it. It's also an older converted motel but the units are decent size especially if you get the little house in front of the pool. You can park your car under the unit.
Just make sure you don't get a unit across the busy street.
Lahaina Inn Resort

Little Gull cottages is real nice too if you get one of the houses on the beach side because otherwise you've gotta cross a busy road and not too safe with little ones. Little Gull Cottages on Longboat Key

I probably would not stay at Ft. Laud beach resort or the Marriot beachplace if you want a beach centric trip as they are across a busy street from a very public beach. Sometimes there are alot of homeless roaming these beaches early in the day which gets annoying but if you want a little nightlife these resorts are close to lots of shops and restaurants.
Fort Lauderdale Florida Beach Resort Hotel
Marriott Vacation Club - Marriott's Beachplace Towers

Hope this helps you decide.

[puppymommo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close puppymommo]

I forgot to mention, I trade through RCI. I also own Wyndham points so I might do an internal exchange. But I have a lot of RCI deposits to use up. And I'll either be traveling by myself or with DH and/or 16 y.o. DD. No little ones.

Thanks for the responses!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

As long as you are going in "shoulder" and not peak season a lot of the ones Chris mentioned should be available for exchange through RCI. I post most of the southern gulf cost ones on RCI Exchange Opportunity board when I see them.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I forgot to mention, I trade through RCI. I also own Wyndham points so I might do an internal exchange. But I have a lot of RCI deposits to use up. And I'll either be traveling by myself or with DH and/or 16 y.o. DD. No little ones.

Thanks for the responses!

If you like Pompano then Royal Vista looks nice. I've not yet stayed there but has a nice location.

I believe all the other resorts that I mentioned trade thru RCI although you might have trouble getting Solara, Little Gull & the HGVC, Beach Club without an ongoing request. They're not very big resorts so not too much exchange activity in those little resorts.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Don't overlook the beaches near Tampa. Nothing fancy, but some nice gulf-front resorts.

Nancy

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

If you set the view of the Florida board to Beginning, you can see all the Florida discussions.

[FloridaGuy Member Find all posts View Profile Close FloridaGuy]

Marriot BeachPlace Towers is on Fort Lauderdale Beach, you actually just have to cross the street to get on the beach.

[DaveVelasco Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DaveVelasco]

I try to recommend you Lido Beach resort at the Florida's Gulf Coast. I think they have a private one offer for their visitors, which you can enjoy very well.