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Ready to book one of the best hotels in St Pete Beach?
You’ve come to the right place — because I’m a local, and I spend quite a bit of time in St Pete Beach.
We all need a relaxing beach vacation once in a while, so why not go to the #1 Beach in the US Ranked by TripAdvisor in 2021? Its know for its gorgeous white sand beaches and blue-green water.
St Pete Beach is located along the Gulf of Mexico and Boca Ciega Bay with water on each side.
This relaxed spot is less than 6 miles from Interstate 275, and 8 miles from Tropicana Field in downtown St Petersburg. It is easy to access from Tampa International Airport (TPA) or St Pete-Clearwater Airport (PIE).
🌴 Read Next: Upham Beach Park: St Pete Beach Best Kept Secret
If you’re planning a vacation to St Pete Beach and need help deciding where to stay, as a local who lives nearby, I got you covered.
Don’t have time to go through the entire article? Here are my top favorites for Best Hotels in St Pete Beach, separated by travel style:
- 💰 Luxury: The Don CeSar Hotel
- ❤️ Romantic: Inn on the Beach
- 🏝 Boutique: The Saint Hotel
- 👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly: Bellwether Beach Resort
- 🐶 Pet-Friendly: TradeWinds Island Grand Resort
- 🥳 Lively: The Post Card Inn on the Beach (PCI)
- 💲 Cheap: Plaza Beach Hotel
From luxury hotels to family friendly resorts, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here.
🌴 Read Next: 25 Exciting Things to Do in St Pete Beach, FL
Best Luxury Hotels in St Pete Beach
The Don CeSar Hotel
The Don CeSar, known as the “Pink Palace” is the ultimate luxury, 5-star hotel in St Pete Beach. While it is expensive, you are getting to see the best St Pete Beach resort experience.
This historic property has so many interesting stories from years past evening serving as a military hospital during World War II. Celebrities and politicians from F. Scott Fitzgerald and President Franklin D. Roosevelt all spent time at the Pink Palace.
Access to premium suites and memberships comes with luxurious amenities that you won’t find in other hotels in St Pete Beach. It also has one of the best spas in St Petersburg.
You won’t have to leave the resort since they offer everything you need on the property including multiple bars (even a 2-story pool bar), restaurants, shops, pools, spas, and the beach.
However, this luxurious experience doesn’t come cheap. If your booking dates are flexible, prices tend to drop during the summer months.
| Pros | Cons |
| World-Class Amenities | Additional fees (resort, parking, etc.) |
| Excellent location | Smaller rooms |
| Luxury Spa | |
🌴 Expert Tip: Enjoy drinks around their fire pit or at the beach. While The Don CeSar has several options for dinner, I personally prefer to eat offsite at 1200 Chophouse. It’s worth the wait.
Best Romantic Hotels in St Pete Beach
Inn on the Beach
The Inn on the Beach is perhaps the most romantic spot for you and your partner besides the luxurious Don CeSar. Located directly across from the beach, this hotel gives you access to all the best things to do in Pass-a-Grille Beach.
For newcomers, Pass-a-Grille is a small beach town on the furthest southern tip of St Pete Beach. It is the dream place to relax – close to everything but feels like a quaint seaside village.
The Inn on the Beach is a small boutique hotel with only 15 rooms. It has a beautiful and intimate interior with stunning Gulf of Mexico views and unfettered access to the gorgeous white sand beaches. Studios come fully equipped with kitchenettes, and suites have kitchens with full-size refrigerators, stovetops, and dishwashers.
This intimate hotel is the perfect place to enjoy a beach getaway and not be bothered by others. Just embrace the sound of the waves and time in paradise with someone you love.
Several of the amenities at the Inn on the Beach include:
- Beach chairs
- Umbrellas
- Coolers
- bicycles
- robes
With panoramic beach views, the Inn on the Beach is the perfect spot place to unwind and savor the serene horizon and catch the sun rising and setting, all with your partner by your side.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free parking, bike rentals, + other freebies | No pool |
| Excellent quiet location at the beach | |
| Attentive customer service | |
“Great location…Daybreak Room was cozy with small kitchen and private balcony. Friendly and helpful staff. Will be back!”
– Ann, (Inn on the Beach Reviews)
🌴 Expert Tip: If you love tranquil beach towns, you’ll fall in love with Pass-a-Grille Beach. Stroll to the end of the island for some of the best shelling and a fantastic view of Shell Key.
Best Boutique Hotels in St Pete Beach
The Saint Hotel
The Saint Hotel is the only hotel on this list that’s not directly on the water, but that doesn’t stop it from being awesome. It is conveniently located on a 15-minute drive from John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk and steps away from multiple excellent restaurants and bars in St Pete Beach!
There are a ton of activities nearby that you can do. The hotel is an ideal spot for couples to relax. The Saint Hotel has an amazing repeat visitor rate, speaking volumes about its service.
🌴 Expert Tip: The Saint Hotel’s restaurant 82 degrees has good drink specials such as discounted margaritas!
The Hotel Zamora
The Hotel Zamora is a Mediterranean-inspired resort on Boca Ciega Bay. It is one of the newest hotels in St Pete Beach built-in 2014.
The resort has spacious guest rooms with king-size or double queen-size beds and productive workspaces. With walk-in spas and royal terrycloth robes. Their premier room is the Waterview King Suite.
It’s minutes from St. Pete’s prime stretch of beach, just across the street. The Hotel Zamora offers high-quality services for all of its guests including a pool, whirlpool spa, bars, and a boat dock with 5 slips on Boca Ciega Bay. You have the option to rent fishing poles, kayaks, bikes, and paddleboards for an additional fee.
Castile is a Med-Latin inspired restaurant on the property. It has an extensive menu serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to appeal to a variety of tastebuds. You can also enjoy the stunning views of the beach from the 360 Rooftop Lounge. This is an ideal spot to watch the sunset while sipping on your favorite cocktail.
When I stayed there, I was impressed with the spacious room size. Depending on whether there is a party going on, the noise can affect the floor directly below. I also asked for a room not directly below the rooftop bar and has no issues. However, the wall insulation could be better as we could hear our neighbors at times just in a standard conversational tone.
| Pros | Cons |
| No resort fee | Wall insulation/room noise |
| Pool & Spa | Parking fee |
| Rooftop Lounge | |
🌴 Expert Tip: Ask for a room on a quiet floor for a better sleep experience. The Rooftop 360 Lounge is a perfect spot to sit at sunset.
Best Pet Friendly Hotels St Pete Beach
TradeWinds Island Grand Resort
Pet owners often face the challenge of finding a beachside hotel that accommodates their pets as nicely as it accommodates them!
The TradeWinds Island Grand is a dream come true for pet lovers. Here are some of the reasons you’ll want to book:
- 48 pet-friendly hotel rooms and suites.
- Secure Pet Play Area with doggie drinking stations, fire hydrants, grass, and shade.
- Dog walking zone near the beach sand dunes.
- Accessory Shop equipped with bowls, leashes, toys, etc.
- Rinse and drying station for pet baths.
Tropical drinks, breathtaking views, and the famous big blue slide make the TradeWinds Island Grand the perfect spot for a variety of reasons. This is also a family favorite resort with a big blue slide and plenty of fun things to do!
| Pros | Cons |
| Super pet friendly, reasonable pet fee | Property updates needed |
| Family-friendly | Resort Fee |
| Great location |
🌴 Expert Tip: Try their Grab and Go food items which are easy to carry and enjoy while you take your pet for a walk on the shore!
St Pete Beach Suites
A vacation isn’t a vacation without your travel companion. So if you’re looking for a clean, pet-friendly place to stay without absurd pet deposits and fees, St Pete Beach Suites may be the place for you. Open since 1948, this cute motel has been providing a home away from home for guests for decades.
Although this hotel charges a small pet fee, it is much lower than the fees charged by most places. However, make sure you read their pet policy as certain breeds are not allowed.
Some of the amenities include:
- Complimentary bicycles
- Beach chairs, shade umbrellas, & beach towels
- Barbeque grills
- Two pools with games
- In-room kitchenettes with cookware & eating utensils
St Pete Beach Suites provides a comfortable experience for all guests, furry and otherwise, with two outdoor pools, a terrace with a beautiful ocean view, and free wifi and parking.
| Pros | Cons |
| Low-cost pet fee per day | Not on the water |
| Free parking & wifi | Older-style motel |
| Pool, barbeque grills | |
Best Family Friendly Hotels in St Pete Beach
Bellwether Beach Resort
For all beach lovers, Bellwether Beach Resort offers alluring, comfortable, and spacious accommodations paired with magnificent views of St Pete Beach. It is one of the most kid friendly hotels in St Pete Beach.
The Bellwether is my #1 hotel choice for taking out-of-towners to see a spectacular view from Level 11 Rooftop Bar & Lounge.
Spend a day relaxing beneath a beach cabana and building sandcastles with your family.
The 3-star resort provides amenities including a private beach area, multiple bars, free parking, and wifi with the resort fee.
The Bellwether Beach Resort also offers:
- In-Room coffee and bottled waters
- Two beachfront lounge chairs & umbrella; one cabana daily for guests
- Pool and beach towels
- Beach yoga classes every Thursday and Saturday at the beach.
- Fitness center
| Pros | Cons |
| Multiple restaurants or bars | Resort Fee |
| Beachfront hotel | Older hotel |
| Panoramic views |
🌴 Expert Tip: Book a room with unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. For a unique dining experience, try Spinners Rooftop Grill with rotating 360 views of St Pete Beach.
Beach House Suites by The Don CeSar
These contemporary beach house suites by the Don CeSar provide all-in-one solutions for families and groups who intend to stay longer. The well-maintained and classic beachfront suites bring the comfort of home coupled with the mesmerizing views of the Gulf of Mexico.
What’s to love for families? You will get full access to the Don CeSar resort amenities (sister property) without paying the Don CeSar prices. They even provide free shuttle service.
These suites stand out from others as they offer amenities such as kitchenettes where you can prepare small meals and have the added facilities of washers and dryers. This can be particularly helpful while vacationing with children as it’s easier to clean up.
The hotel suites are equipped with:
- A sofa bed
- Washer and dryer
- Mini-refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Coffee maker
- Microwave
- Induction stovetop
These high-end suites are a must-stay for vacationers with kids or groups. And, it’s ideal that you can fully enjoy The Don CeSar too!
| Pros | Cons |
| Spacious Rooms, kid-friendly | Parking Fee |
| Excellent beachfront location | Resort Fee |
| The Don CeSar Amenities | Beach rental fees |
“Very nice hotel, excellent atmosphere All my family loves this place.”
– Martin, (Beach House Suites by The Don CeSar Reviews)
🌴 Expert Tip: Make full use of their additional services like the washers and kitchen items for cost savings. 🤑
Hilton Garden Inn St Pete Beach Hotel
The Hilton Garden Inn St Pete Beach is in an ideal location, right on the beach and within walking distance to Corey Avenue Shopping District, ice cream shops, and many other options for families.
With Hilton properties, I find that the experience tends to be consistent. While it doesn’t have as many amenities as the resorts on this list, Hilton provides a solid product.
Hilton Garden Inn St Pete Beach amenities include:
- Fitness center
- Pool
- Poolside bar
- Coconut Charlie’s restaurant on the premises
| Pros | Cons |
| Free Parking | Resort Fee |
| Ideal beachfront location | |
| No parking fee |
🌴 Pro Tip: Book a beachfront room. The evening sunset views are spectacular!
Best Cheap Hotels in St Pete Beach
Plaza Beach Hotel
The Plaza Beach Hotel has been family owned and operated since 1988. It is one of the best cheap hotels in St Pete Beach for a reason. While its quirky style (throwback to the 1950s vibe) is not for everyone, it has a lot to offer on the property to entertain couples or families on a limited budget.
Why choose this hotel? Spacious studio apartments come equipped with kitchenettes for those who like the comforts of home. There are plenty of activities on the property for all ages, and it’s located right on the beach.
Some of the perks include:
- 4-hole Mini-Golf
- Large scale Chess
- Shuffleboard
- BBQ grills
- Pool
- Laundry
- Fitness center
- Fishing from the private piers (just across the street)
| Pros | Cons |
| Spacious Rooms | Resort Fee |
| Excellent beachfront location | Older property |
| No parking fee | Retro vibe |
🌴 Expert Tip: Check out CocoAddiction just a short ride away from the hotel. This is my favorite place for coffee and chocolates in St Pete Beach.
Dolphin Beach Resort
The Dolphin Beach Resort is a budget-friendly hotel in a prime location sitting on 400 feet of pristine St Pete beach.
Across the street are grocery shopping, Chick-fil-A, and other restaurants. You’re in easy walking to some of the best locations, and it’s easy to pick up food to make in your room.
You can relax by the outdoor pool, play beach volleyball or shuffleboard, Boca Sands Grille restaurant, and Flipper’s Beach Bar.
Some noteworthy mentions include:
- No resort fee
- Onsite laundry
- Live entertainment, Friday through Sunday
- Kitchen appliances (microwave, fridge, & coffeemaker)
| Pros | Cons |
| Directly on the beach | Parking fee |
| Pools and extra amenities | Older motel feel |
| Excellent customer service | |
“This was our 3rd time staying at the dolphin. This was the first time we got a beach view balcony. It was worth every penny! The staff was very helpful.”
– Jodi, (Dolphin Beach Resort Reviews)
🌴 Expert Tip: Book a full waterfront beach view of the Gulf of Mexico for the ultimate vacation stay.
The Villas at St Pete Beach
The Villas at St Pete Beach are modern 1-bedroom rooms next to the lush sandy beach. The rooms have an aesthetic yet functional design that makes them perfect for a relaxed stay.
The Villas offer free parking and wifi to all guests. Plus, they include access to outdoor pools, barbeque grills, a terrace, and a garden. The kitchenettes also have a refrigerator, stove, and microwave to help save a few bucks on dining.
Although not directly on the water, this hotel is within walking distance from the beach, meaning that guests have easy access and can get the best out of their beach vacation.
Calming pools and hammocks are perfect outlets for people tired of their daily routine and want a slice of peace.
| Pros | Cons |
| Kitchenettes | Not directly on the beach |
| Pools and extra amenities | |
| Excellent customer service |
“This will be our go to spot from now on! We mostly walked everywhere….but also used the complimentary Freebee rides.”
– Carly, (The Villas at St Pete Beach Reviews)
🌴 Expert Tip: Make use of the “extras” such as bikes, wagons, chairs, and umbrellas for guests to utilize. One of the best ways to see Pass-a-Grille is on a beach cruiser bicycle.
Bon-Aire Resort
Featuring a 50’s-style design that draws all your tensions away, the Bon-Aire Resort on the Gulf of Mexico makes you feel like you’re going back in time at a mom-and-pop motel.
This well-maintained beachfront property offers a wide range of amenities at affordable rates so you can make the best out of your vacation without breaking your wallet.
The resort has two pools and a shuffleboard court to relax and have a great time.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sandbar Bill’s | Older motel atmosphere |
| Pools | |
| Great location on the beach |
“I’ve been going here with my family since I was younger and it is always the highlight of my year… Definitely recommend to anyone I talk to wanting to stay in the area!”
– Gabby, Bon-Aire Resort, Hotels in St Pete Beach Reviews
🌴 Expert Tip: When eating at Sandbar Bill’s Bar and Grille get a burger. It’s one of the best burgers in St Pete Beach.
Best Lively Hotels in St Pete Beach
Postcard Inn on the Beach (PCI)
If you’re coming to St Pete for party vibes, the Postcard Inn (or PCI to some of us) is just the place for you. While PCI is not known for its quality rooms, it’s ideal for those looking for plenty of fun on the property.
The Post Card Inn has a beach/surfer decor, a great pool, beaches, and nightlife, all within just steps of its doors. Expect the music to be playing at all hours which goes with their lively feel.
Guests at Postcard Inn On The Beach have access to onsite surfing, body boarding, and parasailing in addition to beach cabanas, beach umbrellas, and volleyball.
“Property and rooms were clean. It is a young crowd and the music, pool and bar is focused on the younger group. The facility is old but well kept and unique. We had a great time and enjoyed the beach.”
– Bill, (PCI, Hotels in St Pete Beach Reviews)
| Pros | Cons |
| Fun atmosphere | Resort Fees |
| Great location | Noise |
| Not ideal for families |
🌴 Expert Tip: If you’re not crazy about crowds, be sure to call the hotel to see if they are throwing any free parties for unpaid guests before you book.
Final Thoughts on Hotels in St Pete Beach
Having a beach vacation is a fantastic way to unwind and relax. Book your stay at any of these hotels in St Pete Beach to make the best of your vacation.
🍺 Read Next: A Local’s Guide: The 16 Best St Pete Beach Bars & Nightlife!
Did You Find This Post Helpful? Share It!
If so, I would love to hear about your St Pete Beach travel experiences! You can follow me on Instagram, tag your images to @erinstraveltips and hashtag #erinstraveltips. I look forward to seeing you there!
I love the grandeur of Don CeSar, but I love the prices of the St Pete Beach Suites. Really I’d spend all my time at the ocean, so any of these would work great!
LOVE the way this post is organized..great recs… the Bellswether is a great spot!! saving this post for future trips..
Such a great variety! I don’t even know how I’d choose. Probably the Tradewinds since my dog would probably love the beach!