Surf Beach Resort

Opened in 2005, the Surf Beach Resort is popular with budget-minded families, but also attracts traveling couples who want self-catering facilities, a sandy beach locale, and an on-site pool. The salmon-painted hotel features six floors and a ground-floor covered parking lot below the building's main entrance. There's not much of a lobby, save for a front desk and a rack of brochures with local area attractions, but there's plenty of outdoor common space, including a barbecue patio and a small pool. 

The hotel is located overlooking the Gulf of Mexico on Florida's Treasure Island, southwest of Tampa. There's a trolly stop right by the hotel and the sister property, South Beach Condo Hotel, is a four-minute walk away. There’s a McDonald’s one minute away on foot, a Waffle House three minutes away, and a Walgreens six minutes away on foot. Dolphin Marine Rentals across the street offers water sports rentals and are next to ice cream and shaved ice shops. The Walt'z Fish Shak serves seafood and is a five-minute drive away. The Tampa Airport is a 40-minute drive away and Busch Gardens takes around 45 minutes to reach by car. 

Condominiums are decorated in tropical textiles, with beach paintings, blue-stained furniture, brown wood dining tables, and blue walls. Each two-bedroom condo comes with two modern bathrooms with shower/tub combos, a living room, a kitchen, and stunning Gulf of Mexico views from a casually furnished balcony. All condos have cleaning supplies, DVD players, washer/dryer combos, and irons. Bedrooms and living rooms have flat-screen TVs. Kitchens feature modern appliances, including huge refrigerators, stoves, ovens, coffeemakers, dishwashers, toasters, and microwaves. Wi-Fi is free but expect to pay for daily housekeeping.

A white fence and palm trees surround the rear of the hotel, where there’s a heated, outdoor pool with a wheelchair lift as well as a hot tub and lounge chairs with beach views. A pathway from the hotel leads to the sandy shore, but it's a bit of walk to the water. A beachside walking and bicycle path also runs along the rear of the hotel. Guests have access to a lovely beach-facing barbecue patio furnished with a couple of picnic tables along with gas and charcoal grills. There are also some picnic tables right on the beach and cabanas with lounge chairs are available for a fee. The hotel also offers a beach volleyball court.