Bay Palms Waterfront Resort – Hotel and Marina

Bay Palms Waterfront Resort is one of three family-owned and run properties along central St. Pete Beach's main road. Opened in the 1950s, the resort was built facing the beachfront. Growing development over the decades has caused structures to be built up across the street from the hotel, resulting in the loss of the direct beach view. However, the hotel is against the waterfront of the McPherson Bayou, so the back-facing rooms have a view of the water and boat slips. Renovations in 2016 brought in a lot of updates, from the windows to the beds, and included installing the fastest Wi-Fi available, a new roof, and AC system. 

Guests at Bay Palms are required to wear a wristband for security reasons and cameras are placed throughout all three sister properties. The wristbands also help staff identify guests staying within the family of resorts since all three have reciprocal access. It's important to note that there is no reception at this location, instead guests check in at sister property Plaza Beach Hotel. Free shuttles can transport guests between each hotel. 

Bay Palms Waterfront Resort has a central location in St. Pete Beach. It's just across the main road, Gulf Boulevard, from the beach, though due to development over the decades, newer hotels and businesses obstruct beach views. There are several restaurants within walking distance, including chains, fast food, and local establishments. Otherwise, it's a 15-minute drive to the Dali Museum and downtown St. Petersburg, a 12-minute drive to Treasure Island, and a 20-minute drive to the lovely, natural beachfront of Fort DeSoto. Tampa International Airport is a 30-minute drive north, without traffic. 

In 2016, Bay Palms' rooms got upgrades that included new paint, cabinetry, windows, tile flooring, and Simmons Beautyrest beds, but some elements are still dated, including colorful motel-style linens and painted wicker chairs. Full kitchens provide guests with the basic essentials, including ceramic glass cooktops, full-sized fridges, and microwaves, but no ovens. There are granite high-top seating and small dining sets in the living rooms. Sofa beds and older-looking flat-screen TVs are also in these areas. The bedrooms have high beds, sliding mirror-fronted closet doors, and bed runners with colorful beach prints. Straightforward bathrooms have older shower/tub combos, eco-friendly pump toiletries, and the possibility of a sewage smell. 

Studios can sleep up to four, while one-bedroom units hold up to six no matter which layout and configuration you get. Outside window screens are covered in colorful graphics for added privacy and decor. Since the hotel was built before major development along the beach, some rooms have balconies that face what is now a blocked beach view, while others have views of the bay, but no balcony. 

Thanks to its position on the bay, Bay Palms has a handful of features for guests that arrive by boat. The hotel has seven slips out back where boaters can dock for a daily fee. This fee includes hookups to water, cable TV, and electricity. For an extra fee, boaters can choose to sleep in their births with full access to all the features of the hotel, plus those available at the sister properties, Plaza Beach Hotel and Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resort. A free shuttle travels between properties. 

During the 2016 renovations, the hotel added a large back deck with palapa-covered picnic tables, two charcoal grills, and fishing lights off the sides. It may look like a small body of water, but the saltwater fishing is good enough to be featured on a fishing show. Fishermen can catch trout, redfish, yellow jack, mullet, snook, and more off the dock, while all guests frequently spot dolphins and manatees in the waters. The hotel's year-round pool is surrounded by a low gate and has a handful of loungers on the deck. It's small, heated, and overlooks the bay. 

Freebies include parking (if you've got a trailer, you'll have to pay a little extra and park down the road), Wi-Fi, and a daily social happy hour with free beer and wine. Coin-operated laundry machines are also a plus for longer stays. Dogs are allowed for a fee with a two-pet limit per room. 

Bay Palms is a member of the Green Lodging of Florida, and has eco-friendly features like aerated water in the guest rooms, low-flow toilets, reusable shopping bags standard in guest rooms, and implemented recycling. This is the only hotel on the beach with Tesla car charging stations, in addition to regular electric vehicle stations.