Florida features nearly 1,200 miles of coastline and countless resorts that give you a front row view of white sandy beaches. As an east coast girl (like, literally on the east coast of Florida), I always love visiting the west coast of Florida to catch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. I’m a sucker for sunrise, but “golden hour” in the evening gives me so much happiness.
Lately, I’ve been so picky about where we stay. During our travels, if the hotel is not as great as my own home, it makes me really uncomfortable. I seriously love our little home (and bed) so much that it does make it trickier and trickier to find a resort that impresses us. However, when the opportunity came up to spend a few nights at Treasure Island Beach Resort on Treasure Island, I couldn’t pass it up.
What is a Boutique Hotel?
A boutique hotel is stated as “…a small hotel which typically has between 10 and 100 rooms in unique settings with upscale accommodations and individualized unique selling points” (Wikipedia says so). With 77 rooms, Treasure Island Beach Resort went above and beyond by creating big, beautiful rooms and suites with incredible features. Many of the suites have full kitchenettes and dining tables while all of the rooms have balconies, luxurious robes, and flat screen televisions. Most rooms overlook the Gulf of Mexico and the beachfront pool.
Under 100 miles from Disney World, Treasure Island Beach Resort is in the perfect location to add onto the end of your theme park trip. Wrap up your vacation with relaxation on the beach and fly out of the Tampa International Airport to head home!
Why Choose a Boutique Hotel?
Besides the fact that most boutique hotels have that extra “something” that makes it feel really special, the smaller hotels feel intimate and usually personalize your stay. For example, when we arrived at Treasure Island Beach Resort, we were greeted by the friendliest staff that referred to us by our names and genuinely took interest in our travels and comfort. The lobby area had inviting seating, some complimentary refreshments and snacks/drinks for purchase, too.
Edwin not only took our bags up to our suite, but he also took the time to show us around the one bedroom Gulf-front room and made sure to answer any and all questions. Immediately, we felt at home. Why didn’t I pack enough for 3 months instead of 3 nights?!
The smaller hotel makes everything within the hotel a short walk away. From poolside to the on-site restaurant, BRGR, we saw familiar faces among the staff every day we were there. I love that we can build relationships with everyone from the front desk to the bartenders and pool attendants. The comfortable amenities of Treasure Island Beach Resort made the trip that much more relaxing and enjoyable. From the pool attendant tending to us with towels or drinks to the spacious gym on the 6th level, we could do anything and everything we wanted. Plus, with fewer rooms, there are fewer people! Even on a beautiful Saturday, the pool wasn’t packed and we felt catered to at all times.
Treasure Island Beach Resort One-Bedroom Gulf Front Room
Our room is located on the top floor on the hotel and smack dab in the center (request room 611 if you can!). The tranquil and calm color tones match my personal style so I loved the vibes the moment I stepped in the room. As we were checking in my husband asked Edwin, “do you know if we happen to have a mini fridge in our room?”, and Edwin replied, “No you don’t…. Because you have a full sized refrigerator in the room”. Ha! We both got excited about that as we always bring our own refreshments for the room. 🍷
Our room had not one, but two full bathrooms! This was so convenient and would make it the perfect accommodation for families, too. The couch pulls out into a queen size sleeper sofa and there’s a table for four inside and outside on the balcony. The spacious bedroom had the most comfortable king size bed (and pillows!), and it’s own beautiful bathroom.
The huge balcony had two rocking chairs with a table in between and a dining set for four people. Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, it had spectacular views of the beach and sunsets. We had a couple of cloudy sunsets while we were there, but some of our favorite moments from relaxing vacations are during the quiet moments outside on the balcony. Check out my Instagram highlight story for Treasure Island to see the room tour!
BRGR
Treasure Island Beach Resort’s restaurant, BRGR, offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-room dining. The bright and modern décor makes it the perfect spot for happy hour drinks or late night bites at the bar. I love how businesses are catering to the Instagram craze with fun surprises like a giant “We Love Burgers” sign lit up. It makes the space memorable and oh-so-photo-worthy.
We had dinner here one night, drinks at the bar while it was raining one afternoon, and then breakfasts also came from BRGR. Every meal was so delicious and the staff was incredibly friendly. We highly suggest the French toast for breakfast, the Nooner burger for lunch or dinner, and the wings for a late night snack! All of the cocktails were on-point, too. Want a drink by the pool? They’ll bring it right to your chair.
Treasure Island, Florida
Just west of St. Petersburg, Treasure Island is a sweet little town being just over 5 square miles. With everything from fine dining seafood restaurants to a “hole in the wall” Mexican restaurant that’s packed on evenings and weekends, Treasure Island has a great variety of places to eat. They even have their own Publix which is the perfect place to shop for groceries and drinks before checking into your room at Treasure Island Beach Resort.
Treasure Island also has a lot of events throughout the year. The weekend we visited was their annual Seafood Festival. Located at John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, there were dozens of food trucks, live music, small shops, and a fun atmosphere. We loved digging into lobster poutine, drinking local beers, and supporting small businesses. Various festivals like Sanding Ovation, an event that features master sand sculptors and a music festival, occur throughout the year.
Treasure Island Beach Resort sponsored our stay but this post was not part of the contract. As always, all opinions are my own.
What do you think? Could you use a vacation at Treasure Island Beach Resort?!
