This 'Top Resort in Florida' is a Gem on the Gulf Coast
Clearwater, Florida, unexpectedly popped up on everyone’s radar last year when it landed the No. 1 spot in TripAdvisor Top 10 Travelers’ Choice awards for Beaches in the U.S. – beating out Maui and Oahu.
As it’s now one of the top beach destinations of the year (no passport required), we searched the area for the best places to stay. Among the many hotel high-rises to choose from, the Sandpearl Resort has been consistently named one of the top resorts in Florida by Conde Nast Traveler readers, and to no surprise, it's up for nomination once again.
It’s only fitting that we call attention to what put Clearwater, Florida, on the map -- the beach – and the Sandpearl Resort has one of the best private beachfront locations on the strip (700 feet to be exact).
The ocean views carry into the guest rooms, which feature furnished private balconies and bright, Floridian-inspired décor.
For families looking to splurge on more space, the resort offers a jaw-dropping two-story suite (more like a house) that overlooks the Gulf and opens up onto the manicured lawn.
There’s no shortage of restaurants in Clearwater -- from high-end fare to divey beach joints like Frenchy’s – but there’s only one AAA 4-Diamond restaurant, and that’s the Sandpearl’s Caretta on the Gulf.
Conde Nast Traveler named the spa at Sandpearl “One of the Top Spas in North America” and justifiably so, with 12,000 square feet impeccably designed to evoke a sense of calm and a spa menu that elevates the services with ocean-themed and organic treatments.
The beach may be the main draw; however, the resort’s pool area certainly holds its own, with a massive zero-entry pool, multiple hot tubs, tropical foliage and a full-service bar area that serves up a mean Miami Vice – I can personally attest to that.
This is one of the best resorts for families, thanks to its kids club, Camp Ridley. During the four-hour sessions (yes, parents have four hours to themselves), kids can take part in a host of activities from nature walks and lawn chess matches to yoga classes alongside the camp mascot, Ridley the Sea Turtle.
Once reunited, the beachfront fire pit serves as the perfect gathering place for families to cap the day and soak in the famous Gulf sunsets.
