Hotels in St. Pete Beach, Florida

St. Pete Beach Introduction

Not every beach resort can count a designated historic district and a museum of surrealist art among its attractions—but then, there’s more to St. Pete Beach than white sands and water sports. This sun-kissed barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast has been a vacation hot spot for the international jet set ever since Thomas Rowe opened his famous “Pink Palace” on the beach in 1928. St. Pete Beach hotels continue to welcome the rich and famous, and travelers on a tighter budget can enjoy casual dining, laid-back nightlife, and an unlimited supply of free sunshine.

Hotels in St. Pete Beach

From practical beachfront resorts equipped with family-friendly amenities to cozy inns with original features, hotels in St. Pete Beach are as varied as their guests. Whether you opt for an all-inclusive package in a popular chain or prefer the flexibility of self-catering in a vacation home or condo, you’ll find the best deals by shopping around. There can be seasonal variations in St. Pete Beach hotel rates, so book in advance to secure the accommodations that suit your taste and pocket, particularly at times of peak demand such as Thanksgiving and other holiday periods.

Where to stay

One thing is certain—wherever you stay in St. Pete Beach, you’ll never be more than a few minutes from the water. The island’s long strip of glistening white sand is accessed by 3 bridges that link it with Treasure Island to the north, and South Pasadena and St. Petersburg on the mainland. Downtown St. Pete Beach centers on Corey Avenue, and is popular with visitors for its many bars, restaurants, and stores. A little further south, you can check into a cozy boutique inn in the historic old town of Pass-a-Grille, or head across the bay to St. Petersburg for a change of scene and cheaper rates.

Things to see

Real-estate tycoon Thomas Rowe, heartbroken on hearing of the death of his first true love, moved to Florida in the hope that the Sunshine State would revive his spirits. Here, he built the Don CeSar to commemorate his lost sweetheart, and it soon became one of the most fashionable hotels in Florida. Book a table at the hotel’s storied restaurant and dine next to saltwater aquariums filled with indigenous marine life—you may even feel the ghostly presence of its original owner, said to haunt the hotel to this day. Afterward, wander through Pass-a-Grille Historic District to see St. Pete Beach through the eyes of previous guests such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Al Capone. Discover more about the unique ecosystem of Tampa Bay on a visit to the Shell Key Preserve, a pleasant 10-minute water-shuttle ride from St. Pete Beach, with the chance to spot dolphins and nesting shorebirds.

How to get to St. Pete Beach

Once you set eyes on this island’s picture-perfect beach, it’s hard to tear yourself away from the sands. But if you want to travel in St. Pete Beach, there are plenty of taxis ready and waiting to ferry you back and forth from your hotel to the downtown strip; the Suncoast Beach Trolley network also provides public transport around the island. The nearest major airport is St. Pete-Clearwater International, which provides scheduled regional connections and vacation charters. Tampa International Airport, around 30 miles away, offers a wider choice of global carriers. Both hubs are easily reached by taxi or shuttle.