Stay & Play

Beach House Suites and the Don CeSar in St. Petersburg, Florida

by Mike Cohen

There is a unique opportunity for travelers to St. Petersburg, Florida seeking a hotel with both the comforts of home in an all-suite facility while enjoying life at a full-fledged resort. By staying at the Beach House Suites, you also get to enjoy full access and all of the perks with the iconic and posh Don CeSar just one-half mile down the road.

The Beach House Suites debuted its total room renovation in February 2016, introducing 70 brand-new all-suite accommodations. Perfect for extended stays, smaller groups and families, this hotel offers suites which include a separate living room with sofa bed, washers and dryers and a kitchenette with mini-refrigerator, dishwasher, Keurig coffeemaker, microwave, toaster and induction stove top. Special details such as spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico, private balconies and stellar service complement the new suites and make vacations at Beach House Suites that much more memorable. We absolutely loved this place.

Both hotels were properties of the Loews when we stayed there. Soon after we left, they were purchased by Host Hotels & Resorts and will now be managed by Davidson Hotels & Resorts.

Beach House Suites is a non-smoking property and welcomes pets ($45 per night pet fee applies). There is a daily resort fee of $25 per room. This entitles guests to all the amenities and activities at the Don CeSar Hotel. You can get to the latter by walking, via the shuttle or taking your own vehicle. We quickly discovered that lounging by the pool at the Beach House Suites was a solid option. For one thing, the pool area was never overly crowded. The pool attendants set up our chairs and umbrellas each day. We swam in the nicely heated pool and took advantage of the warm and soothing Jacuzzi. Nice music plays on the speaker system. You can play a game of ping pong, shuffleboard or check out the giant chessboard. There is a full bar where you can get some great smoothies and food items – the latter delivered within a half hour from the Don CeSar.

We did take advantage though of the full resort privileges at the Don CeSar, aka the Pink Palace, where room charging options are available. There are two beachfront heated pools. The poolside concierge provides everything from cucumber hydration to tropical smoothies. The Don CeSar Hotel partners with the award-winning Boucher Brothers Management to pamper guests during their day on the beautiful St. Pete Beach. We got to spend one day lounging in private daybeds. Lunch and drinks were available right at our chairs via the Beachcomber. We also took advantage of the Jet Ski rentals. This was a real “rush” for my family and an activity I would strongly recommend. You can book your choice experience right at the hotel or call in advance and ask to be connected to someone from the Boucher Brothers team.

It also turned out that one of the more outstanding restaurants in St. Pete was right at the Don CeSar. The Maritana Grille exudes fine dining. Our meal there was a true experience. The menu is accented with an extensive wine list, first-class service, and a stunning setting, graced by dazzling salt water aquariums. Try the fabulous seafood platter, the tuna sashimi,
Maine lobster, Chilean sea bass or the Anderson Ranch Lamb Rack.

www.doncesar.com