Beds were very uncomfortable (hard, and one sunk in the middle). I literally felt pain in my…read moretailbone. Something in the AC made us catch the sniffles/triggered allergies. There was a long black hair in the breakfast omelette. Pool area is beautiful. Plentiful and comfortable loungers. Lovely waterfall features. Love the coffee/gelato spot in the lobby. Bikes available for use (although not sure exactly where one would ride to?). Seek out the pool elevator to avoid walking through the lobby. Fitness room was good. The staff were all very kind and attentive. The beach in this area unfortunately is inferior to Pass-a-Grille /St. Pete Beach/Clearwater's soft white sands and aqua waters. The sand here is hard, larger grains, gray, and the water is a greenish hue, warm and a bit still. So I would not come here for a beach vacation, you will end up sticking to the pool. But there are plenty of fish in the water and we saw a dolphin.

We spent Mother's Day brunch at The St. Regis on Longboat Key, and it was more than a meal, it was…read morea full experience. The setting alone is stunning, with beautiful views and a gorgeous property that immediately feels special. The brunch in the ballroom was incredible, with outdoor grilling and an over-the-top selection with dishes like lamb chops, giant prawns, charcuterie, plus complimentary Prosecco. Add in live music and ballet dancers, and the whole atmosphere felt elevated and memorable. If you're celebrating something special, this is easily one of the best spots in the area. Salute!

Sunseeker Resort Punta Gorda - Cruise-Like Luxury on the Water…read more Sunseeker is a beautiful, modern resort that truly feels like you're on a cruise ship without ever leaving the dock. The buildings are new, the grounds are immaculate, and the harbor views are stunning. What We Loved * The bellmen and golf cart drivers were outstanding--friendly, welcoming, and always helpful. * The infinity pool is beautiful and offers amazing views of Charlotte Harbor. * We stayed in a spacious, modern villa that was stocked with complimentary snacks, coffee, and sodas. * Stretto Italian Steakhouse was excellent. It's pricey, but the food, atmosphere, and live piano player made it worth the splurge. * The pool food was good, and the service throughout the resort was consistently excellent. Things to Know Before You Go * Entering the pool area felt a bit like going through TSA. Bags are searched, and I even had to remove a banana from my bag, which seemed excessive for a resort. * Outside drinks are not permitted in the pool area. * The Buy One, Get One (B1G1) drink promotion is a bit misleading. It only applies at certain locations and is limited to beer, wine, and well liquor. * Reserved lounge chairs on the 8th-floor pool deck cost $25 each. * During the summer, not all restaurants and shops are open every day. Some restaurants don't reopen until Wednesday, and the ice cream shop closed at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, so it's worth checking seasonal hours in advance. * We ate at The Tiki at Half Cracked and ordered the crawfish shrimp & grits. It came in a tomato-based broth, which was unexpected and made the dish more acidic than we expected. It wasn't our favorite. * Several amenities and entertainment ended earlier than advertised. A number of venues closed early, and one evening the live band finished before its posted end time, which was disappointing. Overall Experience One unexpected bonus of visiting during the week was how peaceful the resort felt. There were plenty of open lounge chairs, the pools weren't crowded, and it was easy to relax. By the weekend, however, the resort became much busier. We couldn't find a pool chair by 12:30 p.m. Overall, Sunseeker is a beautiful destination with a luxury, cruise-like atmosphere, excellent staff, and comfortable accommodations. While some policies, extra fees, seasonal hours, and early closures took away from the experience, we'd still return and would recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing waterfront getaway.

We stayed at Sunseeker Resort over the July 4th weekend, so we fully expected it to be busier than…read morenormal. Overall, we had a wonderful vacation, but there were definitely some highs and lows. Let's start with check in. When we arrived, the lobby looked like the entire state of Florida had decided to check in at the exact same time. The line was LONG, but to their credit, it only took about 25 minutes. Before our stay, I specifically called the resort because my husband has severe allergies and asthma triggered by pet dander. I was assured we'd be placed on a non pet floor. At check in, we reminded the staff again, but unfortunately, we were assigned a room that had very clearly just had a pet in it. Within five seconds of walking inside, my husband's allergies went into overdrive. Thankfully, the front desk was very understanding and immediately moved us to another room, and inside that room he had no issues. However, there were at least six dogs on our floor during our stay, so every walk to and from our room caused his allergies and asthma to flare up. What was really disappointing was finding out at check out that there is actually a pet free tower specifically for guests with allergies. Had we been placed there from the beginning, it likely would have made a huge difference for my husband. Now for the MVP of our trip, Lauren Hill. She is the manager at level blue & she completely turned our experience around. When we booked our hotel stay, I was able to reserve lounge chairs for July 5. At the time, I was told that July 4 would be first come, first served and that reservations would not be accepted because of the holiday. However, when we arrived on July 3, we were told that all of the lounge chairs for July 4 had actually been reserved and were completely sold out. Needless to say, I was frustrated. While ordering drinks at the adult pool, I noticed Lauren helping one of the servers and asked if she was a manager because she was dressed a little differently. Thank goodness I did! She listened, genuinely cared, and somehow worked her magic to secure five lounge chairs for us on July 4. She also told us about the rooftop fire pit reservations for the fireworks, and we were able to book one of those too. Lauren did not just solve problems. She made us feel like valued guests. She is the definition of outstanding customer service, and honestly, if it were not for her, this review would look very different. Sunseeker is incredibly lucky to have her. She deserves every bit of recognition for the way she takes care of guests. The rooftop fireworks experience was a lot of fun. Watching both the fireworks from the adult rooftop should have been the perfect experience. Unfortunately, several people who had not paid for reserved seating decided to stand directly in front of us, completely blocking our view of the county fireworks. It would have been nice if staff had stepped in since many guests had paid for those premium seats. Thankfully, once the resort's own fireworks began, we had an incredible view. The resort absolutely knocked their fireworks show out of the park. It was beautiful! Now...the food. Unfortunately, the food was the biggest disappointment of the trip. I ordered the tuna poke bowl, and the tuna was a grayish brown color that did not exactly inspire confidence. But the real surprise was the two scoops of white rice, which were completely frozen solid. I honestly did not know frozen rice was a thing, but apparently it is. The pizza downstairs was ok. We enjoyed the BBQ Chicken pizza, which was our favorite. The family pool was beautiful and had a great atmosphere. One thing that caught us off guard was the towel policy. The lounge chairs had noticeable mold and mildew stains on them, so I asked for extra towels, . I was told the policy was strictly 1 towel per person. I'm sorry this is luxury Hilton Curio Collection resort, not a holiday inn.. Buy more towels so you can accommodate your guests, or have chair covers like do they upstairs at level blue. Now for the best part. The resort itself is absolutely stunning. The adult only rooftop pool and bar are incredible, the family pool is beautiful, and the rooms are gorgeous with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Charlotte Harbor. Waking up to those water views every morning was pure bliss. Despite a few frustrating moments, we genuinely enjoyed our stay. The beautiful property, amazing pools, incredible fireworks, and exceptional staff made for a memorable Fourth of July weekend. If there is one area Sunseeker could really improve, it is the quality of the food. The resort itself feels like a five star destination, but the dining simply did not match the caliber of the property. Elevating the food experience would take this resort from great to truly exceptional. And one last time, Lauren Hill deserves every bit of recognition she can get. She did not just improve our stay. She saved it!

Such a beautiful setting! If you're looking for a hotel that will leave you in awe this will be…read moreyour place. The setting on the inlet is gorgeous. Perfect for a photo opportunities. We came for dinner and cocktails. Sitting outside at Rufa was very pretty. I wish the cocktails had a better pour of alcohol though, but they were certainly beautiful and unique. We had dinner at Jack Dusty's which was more than average, but the setting again, was just absolutely beautiful. I had the pan seared grouper, my husband had cioppino and another in our party had the filet. (No photos of our dinners since we wanted to be present for the whole experience) The sunset was nice, the service was fabulous and top-notch as you would expect a Ritz Carlton to be. Prices are also in line with what you would expect to pay. Don't expect two or three star service and prices. However, if you're trying to leave an impression on someone, this is definitely the place!

The Ritz-Carlton Name Without Ritz-Carlton Standards…read more The Ritz-Carlton Name Without Ritz-Carlton Standards This property is tired, poorly maintained and nowhere close to what anyone should expect from a Ritz-Carlton. The wallpaper was literally separating from the walls, the carpets were dirty and badly worn, and the room had a persistent musty smell. Even the telephone did not work. The condition of the room was bad enough, but the complete lack of responsiveness made the experience worse. When the air-conditioning stopped working, it was extremely difficult to get anyone to take ownership and resolve the problem. The managers appeared indifferent, and every attempt to speak with one was met with the same explanation: they were "in a meeting." The general manager was never available. Luxury hospitality is not simply a recognizable name on the building. It requires well-maintained rooms, responsive management and people who genuinely care when something goes wrong. This hotel failed on all three. The physical condition is unacceptable, the service recovery is practically nonexistent, and management seems either unwilling or unable to address legitimate guest concerns. At Ritz-Carlton prices, guests should not have to chase management for functioning air-conditioning, a working telephone or a room that does not smell musty and look neglected. This property needs a major renovation and, just as importantly, a management team that understands accountability. Until both happen, I cannot recommend staying here.

We come here every year with the fam! Its such a great memorable experience - the staff is great…read moreand the rooms are lux and reliable. Can't stand the no see ums. And I wish the hotel was more accommodating about swimming late at night! Also the beach club staff are hit or miss in terms of how accommodating they are - esp if you are not a condo owner. But we always manage to get the VIP treatment nonetheless!

Beach? Pampering? This is the place. We brought guests and got lounge chairs, umbrellas and food…read moreplus drink. Only caveat, you must be a member or hotel guest to utilize facilities.

Terri and Dale greeted us when we arrived and were wonderful hosts from the start. Terri even…read morecarried my bag upstairs to our room. The location is easy walking distance to restaurants and shops. Room 9 was spacious and comfortable. It was an upgrade from the queen room we booked, which was very nice. I uploaded several photos, as the website didn't capture how large and eclectic it was. We would definitely return to this adorable, funky hotel.

We loved staying here and the location can't be beat. You're easily walkable to all the fun…read morerestaurants, bars, Happy Hours, and cute little shops in downtown Sarasota. You're also a short drive to the beaches. The innkeeper and everyone working there couldn't be more welcoming and helpful. The hotel itself is older and has the feel of a New England Bed & Breakfast (without the breakfast part). It also has an eclectic mix of antique, Art Deco and modern all meshed in. Our king room was very spacious with a large sitting area, kitchenette, dressing room & small bath. The TV was very undersized for the space & as a result we never turned it on. Outside they have their own parking lot. We absolutely would stay here again. The convenience is perfect.

We love the Seafarer Beach Resort! We've been coming here for 10 years. They've done a good job…read morecoming back from back to back hurricane hits. Right on the beach and the quiet end of Manasota Key. The room was clean and just remodeled. The ladies who manage the hotel are helpful and responsive.

A great place for a relaxing vacation!! Beautiful beaches!! Fabulous sunsets! Heated pool!! Highly…read morerecommend it!!

Venice is a great place to visit if you enjoy natural gulf beaches, wonderful little restaurants…read moreand beautiful sunsets. And Venice Beach Villas is the perfect place to stay when you're here. My wife and I have vacationed in Venice for the last three years and we have stayed at "VBV" each time. It feels like 'being at home while on vacation'! The rooms are quaint, comfortable and CLEAN! The owners and staff are very friendly, the amenities are wonderful and the location is perfect. One block East is downtown where you can shop, eat & drink and 3 blocks West is the public beach. What more do you need ?!?

My boyfriend booked us here for my birthday trip in July. It was so adorable! Full size fridge…read more Comfortable bed. Very cozy! The staff were so nice and welcoming. It's a straight shot, maybe 10 min walk if that to the beach. Walk the other way, you're minutes from the restaurants and shops. We were able to go Caspersen Beach and Blind Pass at Manasota Key easily. Short drives. We drove an hour to Sanibel too. We will definitely stay there again. They had beach sifters for shark teeth, all kinds of beach things you can borrow. Chairs, umbrellas, even bicycles. We love the location and how quaint it is.

I cannot believe this place has no reviews! That just proves it truly is a hidden gem. 2014 I met…read moresome friends here for the day but this year my family and I got our own room for a few nights. You cannot get a better deal! These are basically condos.We had a full kitchen, 2 bedroom and living room. It is just the place to escape for a long weekend. I walk out my door to the beautiful beach. I spent hours on my Paddle Board just enjoying the peace and beauty of Gods creation. Such a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Thank you Island House for a great time with family and friends.

My husband and I needed a last minute weekend getaway. So we chose Island House which is only an…read morehour from us. I chose this hotel for the price and the proximity to the ocean. I read some negative reviews but decided to give it a chance. We were quite surprised of how quaint and clean this property was. It isn't anything fancy which is perfect for a beach getaway in a charming fishing town. We're definitely going back. Marilyn, the manager was a sweetheart too!!!