8 Hotels for a Vacation in Clearwater Beach and Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay metropolitan area shows a different side of Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico's coast. Tampa is the ‘real' Florida, without the ethnic mix and wild parties of Miami, but more like a big city at the cultural edge of the South mingling with Florida's immense wealth. The Gulf beaches, especially Clearwater and St. Pete Beach, turn into vibrant spring break havens. These are lovely white sand beaches with lots of nearby tourist facilities.
So before you rush to find a flight to Tampa Bay, do you want to get to know Florida's perfect vacation destination a bit better?
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Resorts for Vacation in Clearwater Beach
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach
The Wyndham Grand is one of the most popular resorts in Tampa Bay. It's one of the largest along Clearwater Beach, in the resort area of Clearwater Island, right south of the legendary Pier 60. This is a four-star resort with all the fun vacation options and, most importantly, immediate access to the whitest and widest beach in Florida. The resort features a large, inviting pool, a huge lobby, excellent culinary offerings, and plenty of options for entertainment and fun for kids, besides the pool and the beach.
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Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
The Hyatt Regency is the representative of the giant chain from Chicago and is located next to the Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach. It's a four-star luxury resort with all the perks you might want, on one of the best beaches in the USA. The resort features a large pool, standard but very good rooms, excellent culinary standards, a small supermarket, and a huge lobby. It's a great vacation hotel for families with children and a perfect solution for mixing leisure with a trip to Tampa Bay.
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JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
The representation of the hospitality giant Marriott from Maryland in Clearwater Beach is located in the south of the island, adjacent to a beach with a breakwater capturing the white sand. It's a four-star resort offering a quieter and higher-quality vacation compared to the northern tourist giants on the island. The resort features a not-so-large pool, modern and excellent rooms, a large lobby, high-quality culinary standards, and of course, a fantastic adjacent beach.
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Opal Sands Resort
Opal Sands is one of the top resorts in Tampa Bay. It's located at the southern tip of the vast Clearwater Beach, with pools right at the water's edge (where there's no sand build-up), so the pools are just next to the Gulf of Mexico. The organized beach is just a half-minute walk from the resort. The resort features modern and very spacious rooms, excellent and above culinary standards, a huge pool bar, especially fun pools, a large lobby, and plenty of public spaces.
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Hotels in Tampa and St. Petersburg
The Tampa EDITION
The most luxurious hotel in downtown Tampa is the EDITION (in capital letters). It sits right next to Amalie Arena, home to the Florida hockey empire, the Tampa Bay Lightning. This five-star hotel is very well-appointed and high-quality, with large and lavish rooms, a massive rooftop pool with views of downtown, high culinary standards, and plenty of other treats. The EDITION is one of the best accommodation options in Tampa Bay, especially for those who want to combine a pool and high hotel standards with a tour of central Tampa.
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JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Marriott's presence in downtown Tampa is located on the opposite side of Amalie Arena, next to the Garrison Channel. Unlike its lavish neighbor, the EDITION, Marriott's downtown hotel offers a huge pool, though not on the roof, but adjacent to the hotel. The hotel has large and very comfortable rooms, a good restaurant, and a variety of additional hotel indulgences, with a more urban character than its luxurious neighbor.
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Hyatt House Tampa Downtown
The Chicago hotel giant's representation in downtown Tampa offers a unique stay experience right by the Riverwalk. This is a fantastic three-star hotel offering a great deal of everything brand new but at a very tempting price. The hotel features small rooms but with plenty of glass and windows offering stunning views of downtown. A small lobby, excellent breakfast, and a few additional facilities such as a gym are available for guests. The hotel isn't luxurious but is very convenient for staying right in the heart of Tampa.
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Hollander Hotel – Downtown St. Petersburg
The Hollander is a fantastic three-star hotel just north of downtown St. Petersburg, offering a delightful blend of city hotel, motel, and a touch of resort vibe. The hotel provides convenient parking for guests and is a five-minute walk from Central Avenue, the bustling heart of St. Petersburg. It also features a relatively large pool, complementing its spring break atmosphere. The hotel boasts spacious and comfortable rooms, a young crowd, and a lobby with a bar (flowing into the pool area) perfect for mingling.
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4 Tips from Guy for the Perfect Stay in Tampa Bay
Tampa and St. Petersburg are the main cities in the Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater metropolitan area. This area is known as Tampa Bay, named after the deep bay they encircle.
This is the second largest urban area in Florida, after the giant Miami Metropolitan Area, but more than that, it is the largest urban area on the Gulf Coast of the western Florida. Tampa Bay is filled with excellent museums, entertainment and recreation areas, and stunning sandy beaches that are very popular with American domestic tourists.
- Downtown Tampa Hotels – The hotels in Downtown Tampa are large urban institutions rated four and five stars. In the heart of the city, you'll find glamorous giant hotels like Hilton, Hyatt, Le Méridien, and more. Slightly outside the city center, there are three-star urban hotels.
- Downtown St. Petersburg Hotels – The Downtown St. Petersburg hotels are similar in nature to those in Tampa. They are generally large, modern hotels run by major American chains like Marriott, Hilton, and the like.
- Beachfront Resorts from Clearwater to St. Pete Beach – Fantastic beachfront resorts at various levels located along the wide sandy beaches of the barrier island. Accommodations include all major American brands such as Marriott, Hilton, and IHG brands (Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, and more). The largest cluster of beachfront hotels is at the stunning Isle Of Palms and St. Pete Beach.
- Tampa International Airport Hotels – The hotels around Tampa International Airport are mostly high-standard motels. The location is great, right in the middle between Tampa, the beaches, and St. Petersburg.
- The Season – The weather conditions around Tampa Bay are quite similar to the climate throughout Florida. In every season except summer, the stay in the bay area is very pleasant and comfortable. The weather allows for sunny and enjoyable trips even in the middle of winter. Unlike the pleasant winter, the summer in Tampa Bay is quite harsh. Summer temperatures are high and the humidity is simply atrocious. Summer is the vacation season, and most of the stay in Tampa Bay is along the beaches.
Where to Stay in Tampa Bay?
- The city of Tampa is the largest urban area of the bay region. In the photogenic downtown, you'll find a wealth of museums and interesting sites. Tampa's neighborhoods are also attractive, with great dining and entertainment areas. The city offers plenty of walking options, sites, and attractions including the popular Busch Gardens amusement park.
- Nearby, the city of St. Petersburg is one of the most pleasant cities to tour in Florida. The city's center is adjacent to Tampa Bay to the west and is connected to Tampa and Sarasota by an array of stunning bridges, with the unique Sunshine Skyway Bridge leading the way. The city center features a series of important museums, foremost among them being The Dalí Museum, dedicated entirely to the works of the Spanish surrealist artist.
- The third vertex in the triangle of Tampa and the larger St. Petersburg is the coastal city of Clearwater. Clearwater is the main resort destination of the metropolitan area, located in its northwest part. The beaches of Clearwater repeatedly rank first among the most ‘worthwhile' beaches in the USA, and not without reason, as they are magical, especially broad white sand beaches.
Map of recommended accommodation areas in Tampa Bay
