We first heard of The Castle Hotel during our last visit from one of the bartenders at Hurricane so we decided we'd check it out one day. Well that was in September 2018 and we decided on a last-minute trip to stay here for the last weekend of March 2019. First off, Bob, the owner is such a nice guy. Genuinely warm and friendly, not cold or rehearsed like some folks one might encounter at large, high-priced hotels. He was more like that uncle you really liked as a kid. He shared a couple of stories with us about some of the paintings along the staircase, to include his mother, a former Miss America. Too cool! Now, I will say that if you're really into luxurious, modern, hip places, don't stay here. However, if you're into historical, old, eclectic comfy places with really old furniture and fixtures tied with a room that has no microwave or TV, then this is it! Oh, and did I mention that the hotel is allegedly haunted? Yes, haunted! We stayed in room 13 and I will admit, we heard creaking footsteps above the room (I assume the attic since the entry to get up there is blocked off) during our stay but it wasn't threatening... More like someone's spirit just walking. The story in the link below speaks on who the 'guest(s)' may actually be. Wicked awesome! The room was nice. It had everything we needed and nothing we didn't (although my wife did wish there was a coffee maker). Old wood floors, distressed antique furniture, mini-fridge, clean bathroom and a very comfortable bed. Like I said before, no TV and no microwave which was perfect for unplugging for a weekend. I think what struck me as odd is the size of the building from the outside, versus the size from inside. It looked really small outside but once you hit the top of the steps to the upstairs hall, it suddenly appeared to be the size of the hall where those creepy little girls from 'The Shining' were standing in. It just seemed so long and it seemed like it got longer with every step. I guess the punchline for us is that we really, really enjoyed our stay here. It's in a super-quiet area and it situated near the end of Pass-A-Grill but still offered the beach across the street and a short walk to shops and restaurants so you don't even need a car; but if you do, you can always use the free taxi service that's available, while at the same time allowing the free taxi drivers to learn that this hotel exists (we had 2 different drivers that had no idea the Castle Hotel was there!) We had an awesome time and can't wait to get back later this year!
http://www.thebeachesvisitorsguide.com/haunted-st-pete-beach/ read more