Westwinds Waterfront Resort

The Westwinds Waterfront Resort was originally built in 1970, but the old Florida look of the property is neither dated nor rundown. The setting is beautiful, with brilliant green lawns and stone pathways extending right to the edge of the peaceful Intracoastal Waterway. The grounds are lush with tropical flowers, vibrant plants, and palm trees, and secluded seating areas can be found around the property. From there, guests can watch the bay wildlife, including herons, dolphins, and the occasional manatee. Although there is some noise from the nearby road, the general atmosphere around Westwinds is quiet and relaxing, which inspires plenty of repeat business. While well-suited to families and groups of friends, the property also draws couples seeking a laid-back, self-catered stay. The lobby is small and fairly plain, with tourism brochures and a pair of wicker chairs, though is not a gathering place. The waterfront pool is the social center of the resort, but the deck is narrow, and the lure of the beach and nearby theme parks mean the common areas are rarely crowded.

The Westwinds Waterfront Resort is located in a small beach village on Florida’s Treasure Island. The property sits on the Intracoastal Waterway, a few minutes' walk from a wide bay beach. The resort is surrounded by restaurants and shops, including a Publix supermarket just a few minutes away on foot. St. Petersburg is just a 10-minute drive, while Clearwater Beach is about 35 minutes by car. Major tourist attractions, such as the Dali Museum and the Tampa Bay Rays stadium, are within a 20-minute drive. Golf, tennis, and boat rentals can be found within a mile, including Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis. The Westwinds is also a good base for exploring area theme parks like Disney World and Busch Gardens, which are about 90 and 60 minutes away by car, respectively.

Units here consists of one- and two-bedroom condos in a variety of sizes and layouts. Waterfront condos are clean and spacious, with lovely views of the Intracoastal Waterway. All are individually decorated, but they all have attractive wood floors, cheerful tropical paint jobs, and Floridian accents, such as palm tree lamps and ocean-themed artwork. Overall the look is hardly high fashion, but it is comfortable and occasionally kitschy. Kitchens come with granite countertops, refrigerators (with icemakers and freezers), microwaves, toasters, coffeemakers, and a variety of cookware, utensils, and dishes. Other amenities include flat-screen TVs (with DVD players on request, if not attached) in living rooms and master bedrooms. Each unit has one modern bathroom with a tropical-themed shower curtain, and either a tiled shower stall or shower/tub combo.

The Westwinds Waterfront Resort has an outdoor pool perched on the bay with water views. The narrow pool deck is lined with white-and-blue plastic beach chairs and a few sunbeds. The beach, about a quarter-mile wide, is 20 yards from the resort; guests are welcome to borrow beach chairs and umbrellas for the day. There are community barbecue grills and picnic tables for guests who want to cook out. The laundry room is free and spotlessly clean. There are three docks from which guests can fish, look for local wildlife, or moor their boats. Guests also have access to facilities at the Club at Treasure Island, including a gym, tennis courts, and tiki bar, just a few minutes away by car. Wi-Fi is free.