Pros
- Lovely location directly on the sand on Clearwater Beach
- Near Pier 60, restaurants, and shopping on the waterfront
- Shephard's waterfront Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and a buffet-style dinner
- Popular nightclub located on-site features a DJ and dancing
- Live bands play at a beachfront venue that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico
- Newly renovated rooms; some have balconies and water views
- Outdoor pool with hot tub, lounge chairs, and tall palm trees
- Decent on-site fitness center
- Free Wi-Fi
Cons
- Resort fee required with all reservations
- Complaints about noise, especially from nightclub (music goes until 2 am)
- Beach itself is very slim (much more spacious a little farther north)
- Extra fee to use beach chairs
- Some guests tend to smoke by the pool
Bottom Line
Located on the southern end of Clearwater Beach, the 140-room Shephard’s Beach Resort is an upper-mid-range hotel located directly on the sand and famous for its entertainment and nightlife. This hotel is a good fit for travelers looking for a party scene on the beach and who love live music and bands that often play all day and into the night. It may not be the best fit for families -- loud music at the night club continues until the wee hours -- although children are welcome at the property. There is an outdoor pool with hot tub, slim beach, and fitness center on-site. Rooms are modern and colorful; some have balconies and gorgeous Gulf views. Prices are comparable to other upper-mid-range properties in the area, but those looking for a quieter property may consider the Sandpearl, located about a mile north.
Amenities
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
Oyster Awards
Scene
A party hotel on the beach
Shephard’s Beach Resort is famous for its party atmosphere. The resort has multiple bars, a live music venue right on the beach, and Wave nightclub. Some guests love the live bands that often play until two a.m., while the noise drives other guests crazy. After a renovation, the lobby is bright and airy with colorful furnishings. Jellyfish-themed accents include jellyfish-style light fixtures and a vibrant jellyfish wall mural behind the front desk. Bright colors add a creative touch to the property, which seems more focused on partying than relaxing.
Outside the pool deck is quite expansive and there’s an outdoor music venue where live bands play daily. The beach is tiny (there’s a bigger beach a few blocks north) and the hotel charges a fee to use the chairs on the sand.
Location
Located at the southern end of Clearwater Beach on a tiny part of the beach
Shephard’s Beach Resort is located on the southern end of Clearwater Beach about a mile from Pier 60, as well as the main waterfront shopping and dining district. The beach at the resort is quite slim, but if you head up north towards Pier 60, you’ll find a wide stretch of sandy beach with plenty of room to spread out. There are water sport rentals located on-site and nearby. Frenchy’s Original Cafe is about a six-minute car ride or a 20-minute walk away.
Rooms
Trendy, colorful rooms
After undergoing a renovation, Shephard’s rooms are much more colorful and appealing. In each room an accent wall is painted lime green and beds (either two queens or one king) feature throw pillows with pops of color. Many rooms have balconies and some overlook the Gulf of Mexico. Other amenities include a flat-screen TV, microwave, mini-fridge, and coffeemaker. Bathrooms feature a walk-in glass-encased shower and the bath products are in dispensers, rather than in mini bottles.
Features
Popular Wave nightclub features a DJ and dancing
There are plenty of dining options, including Ocean Flame, serving a nightly dinner buffet and Sunday brunch featuring seafood, sushi, a carving station, raw bar, and more. The 11,000 square-foot Tiki Beach Bar features a concert stage that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and offers light fare. Salt Tequila Bar features more than 100 varieties of tequila, plus craft beer. Food is also served at the poolside bar and there are grab-and-go options at Oasis. Also located at the resort, Wave nightclub features DJ, dancing, and a light show. There is a big outdoor pool with hot tub and a slim stretch of beach, but there is a pesky fee for chairs on the beach.
Related Hotels
Scene
A party hotel on the beach
Shephard’s Beach Resort is famous for its party atmosphere. The resort has multiple bars, a live music venue right on the beach, and Wave nightclub. Some guests love the live bands that often play until two a.m., while the noise drives other guests crazy. After a renovation, the lobby is bright and airy with colorful furnishings. Jellyfish-themed accents include jellyfish-style light fixtures and a vibrant jellyfish wall mural behind the front desk. Bright colors add a creative touch to the property, which seems more focused on partying than relaxing.
Outside the pool deck is quite expansive and there’s an outdoor music venue where live bands play daily. The beach is tiny (there’s a bigger beach a few blocks north) and the hotel charges a fee to use the chairs on the sand.
Location
Located at the southern end of Clearwater Beach on a tiny part of the beach
Shephard’s Beach Resort is located on the southern end of Clearwater Beach about a mile from Pier 60, as well as the main waterfront shopping and dining district. The beach at the resort is quite slim, but if you head up north towards Pier 60, you’ll find a wide stretch of sandy beach with plenty of room to spread out. There are water sport rentals located on-site and nearby. Frenchy’s Original Cafe is about a six-minute car ride or a 20-minute walk away.
Rooms
Trendy, colorful rooms
After undergoing a renovation, Shephard’s rooms are much more colorful and appealing. In each room an accent wall is painted lime green and beds (either two queens or one king) feature throw pillows with pops of color. Many rooms have balconies and some overlook the Gulf of Mexico. Other amenities include a flat-screen TV, microwave, mini-fridge, and coffeemaker. Bathrooms feature a walk-in glass-encased shower and the bath products are in dispensers, rather than in mini bottles.
Features
Popular Wave nightclub features a DJ and dancing
There are plenty of dining options, including Ocean Flame, serving a nightly dinner buffet and Sunday brunch featuring seafood, sushi, a carving station, raw bar, and more. The 11,000 square-foot Tiki Beach Bar features a concert stage that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and offers light fare. Salt Tequila Bar features more than 100 varieties of tequila, plus craft beer. Food is also served at the poolside bar and there are grab-and-go options at Oasis. Also located at the resort, Wave nightclub features DJ, dancing, and a light show. There is a big outdoor pool with hot tub and a slim stretch of beach, but there is a pesky fee for chairs on the beach.
Best Rates
Amenities
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Air Conditioner
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Balcony / Terrace / Patio
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Beach
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Business Center
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Concierge
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Dry Cleaning
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Fitness Center
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Free Breakfast
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Full Kitchen
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Internet
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Jacuzzi
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Laundry
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Meeting / Conference Rooms
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Pool
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Poolside Drink Service
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Room Service
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Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
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Swim-Up Bar
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Tennis Court
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
