Best St. Pete Beach Suites Hotels

Resembling a great big birthday cake on the sand, the historic Don CeSar was built in 1928 to resemble a Mediterranean-style castle. The best rooms and suites at the hotel have private terraces and panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Rooms are elegantly decorated in tropical-tinged decor, with details like plantation-style shutters, crown molding, custom wrought-iron beds with triple sheeting, sky-blue ceilings, and bathrooms with granite vanities. All rooms include free Wi-Fi access and flat-screen TVs, but note that room rates are expectedly higher here than at neighboring resorts.

The family-friendly Plaza Beach Hotel Beachfront Resort is a 39-room mid-range hotel located on St. Pete Beach. Situated in a popular resort area, the hotel caters to vacationing friends and families with kids with a heated pool, free mini-golf, and a free daily happy hour at the beach bar. The hotel is kitschy and its rooms lack style (it goes without saying that Don CeSar's rooms are far nicer), but all have well-equipped kitchenettes and rates that are on par with similarly-rated hotels in the area (and about half the price of a room at the Don CeSar).

The 211-room Guy Harvey Outpost is a mid-range resort located directly on the sand in St. Pete Beach, offers a variety of family-friendly activities, and includes access to the TradeWinds Island Grand Hotel, located about a block away. Guests have access to free Wi-Fi in their suites, and flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels. Each room is stocked with a wet bar, including a mini-fridge or full-size refrigerator, coffeemaker, toaster, microwave, and dishware. Ground-floor rooms have outdoor patios separated from other guests with low shrubbery. Pet-friendly suites are also available. Rates are reasonable compared to other nearby hotels on St. Pete Beach, but all reservations come with a mandatory resort fee (Plaza Beach Hotel does not charge resort fees). 

With 584 rooms on a 20-acre beachfront property, TradeWinds Island Grand Resort is one of the largest hotels in St. Pete Beach. The resort offers more than three dozen different room types, from 250-square-feet standard hotel rooms to a three-bedroom penthouse with incredible views of the Gulf of Mexico. All units are decorated in British West Indies plantation-style, with citrus tones, floral patterns, and dark wood. Every room has at least one flat-screen HDTV, free Wi-Fi, and a kitchenette complete with refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, coffeemakers, and dishware. Be aware there are multiple complaints of annoying timeshare pitches at both TradeWinds properties.

This large beachy resort is a little more old-school than the two TradeWinds resorts, with 382 rooms that are a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to style. While there are a range of accommodations available, from Traditional Guestrooms to Suites with separate bedrooms and kitchenettes, all have a blend of dated and modern design elements that make them a bit underwhelming. All rooms have mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, telephones, desks, safes, irons, and free Wi-Fi. Studios and Suites have kitchenettes with microwaves, small dining areas, coffeemakers, dishes, and utensils. Some kitchenettes include burners, toasters, and full-size refrigerators. Suites also have separate living areas with couches (sofa beds in some rooms) and coffee tables; a few have bunk beds and hot tubs. Beachfront rooms are worth the extra money for the ocean views, as they have narrow balconies or patios that overlook the Gulf of Mexico. 

The 102-room Beachcomber Beach Resort & Hotel is a value hotel with landscaped grounds, two pools, a sports bar, and a lively beachfront bar with ample patio seating and daily live music. The pleasant but generic rooms have flat-screen TVs, microwaves, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges, and suites add four-burner stoves, utensils, and sinks. Like Sirata, some parts of the hotel are showing their age.

This 140-suite doesn't have much curb appeal, but it's a good option for families and long-term visitors seeking value. Each suite modest suite includes a living room area, four-person dining table, and full kitchen or kitchenette stocked with appliances, pots and pans, and dishes. Bedroom decor is comfortable but basic, with wood furniture (including full dressers) and tropical-themed bedspreads. While some guests complain of creaky mattresses and Wi-Fi not working in the rooms, others praise the housekeeping staff. Most suites have a private balcony, and poolside suites are considerably less expensive than those offering views of the Gulf of Mexico. Alden has a beachfront Cabana Bar that serves beer, wine, and frozen cocktails, but its scene isn't as lively as the one at Beachcomber's Jimmy’s Beach Bar.

This mid-range 133-room Howard Johnson Resort Hotel makes for an affordable beach vacation on the white sands of St. Pete Beach. Though interiors are dated and bland, the hotel has a bunch of amenities that will please kids and adults alike, including a heated outdoor pool, volleyball courts, a fun tiki bar, restaurant, and game room. No-frills rooms and suites have flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, fridges, and microwaves, and many have fully equipped kitchenettes. All rooms have balconies, but beachfront ones have the best views (though noise from the tiki bar can be an issue). Wi-Fi and parking are free