Clearwater Beach Hotel

The Clearwater Beach Hotel was originally two hotels that have now been combined, so the property is split across two buildings. One is a low-rise motel-style building, while the other is slightly newer tower and each has its own pool, making this a popular choice with families and budget travelers. Quirky additions adorn both buildings, like large statues of a dolphin, a fireman, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis, and there are large hand-painted murals throughout. The lobby isn't the most contemporary, with dated furniture (a theme at this hotel), tiled floors, a TV, stands of tourist information leaflets, and a computer station. There are plenty of benches and picnic areas throughout the hotel’s grounds for guests to sit and relax, including grilling areas that are available for guest use, as well as a classic ice cream shop. 

The hotel is located on the southern end of Clearwater Beach, on a very busy road overlooking Clearwater Harbor. It’s a good spot for tourists wanting to explore what the area has to offer, though it's not a beachfront property. The beach is a five-minute walk from the hotel and there are plenty of other things to see nearby too. It's a five-minute walk to the area's shops, restaurants, and activities like boat tours, parasailing, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, bike rentals, and mini golf. It's also a 10-minute walk to Pier 60 -- a lively area packed with performers, music, shops, and vendors -- and a five-minute drive to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is around 25-minutes away by car.

The basic rooms here are spacious and have a neutral color scheme, with shades of cream, brown, and maroon throughout. Decor is dated and rooms have tan tiled floors and dark wooden furniture, much of which shows wear-and-tear. They are mostly clean, though details like exposed ironing boards hanging on walls and non-working in-room safes leave room for improvement. Bathrooms are the same -- plain, basic, and dated -- with bathtub/shower combos, large vanities, and generic toiletries. Sinks share space with the microwaves and mini-fridges in most rooms, which is an odd design choice. A range of rooms are available, from Standard Rooms to One-Bedroom Suites, which have spacious seating and kitchen areas. It’s a non-smoking property, though the policy isn't enforced on the exterior walkways outside of guest rooms, and all rooms also have a coffee maker, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and old clock radios. It’s worth noting that the rooms don’t have balconies or patio furniture set up outside of the exterior-facing doors, which is a shame as there are some great harbor views from the windows. Additionally, the walls are thin and noise from neighboring rooms, guests outside of exterior-facing doors, and the road can be an issue. 

Each of the hotel's two buildings has its own heated, outdoor pool, with plenty of lounge chairs and great views of the harbor and sunsets. One of the most useful features of the hotel is that it offers free parking (one space per room), which is a real bonus in this area, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel (though there is a computer station in the lobby as well). There are nice outdoor spaces throughout the property, including a courtyard with tropical plants and a large patio area with grills and picnic tables. There’s no restaurant here and no breakfast buffet, but there is a fantastic traditional ice cream parlor on-site that also serves milkshakes and smoothies. The hotel also has a small laundry room for guest use, a solid feature for guests with families, and cribs are free for guests with small children.