Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony (Gulf View)

This suite has a private balcony facing the Gulf of Mexico. The Don CeSar sits directly on the Gulf and overlooks the white sand dunes of St Pete Beach, so you wake up to open water and sunrise-to-sunset sky views from your own outdoor space.

You can choose 1 king bed or 2 double beds, each with a pillowtop mattress and premium bedding. The suite sleeps up to 6 guests. A free rollaway/extra bed and a free crib are also available, which helps families spread out.

The private bathroom has a shower and bathtub combination. It is stocked with complimentary toiletries, towels, bathrobes, slippers and a hair dryer, so you can settle in without packing extras.

It works well for all three. The Don CeSar is a family-friendly beachfront resort with kids' and teens' activity programs, and this suite offers a separate bedroom, a free crib and a free rollaway bed. Couples get the Gulf-facing balcony and a quiet retreat, and the desk, daily housekeeping, iron and ironing board and free local calls suit longer stays. Connecting rooms are available if your group needs more space. The guest checking in must be at least 21.

The beach is about a 5-minute walk, with the private beach within roughly 400 feet of the hotel. The resort has two outdoor heated pools with Gulf views. A poolside team serves food and drinks and runs games through the day. The resort fee includes daily rental of up to 3 beach loungers and an umbrella.

There are plenty of options on property. Society Table serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus Sunday brunch. Rowe Bar is a beachfront bar known for burgers and wings. Beacon Pool Bar & Lookout serves poolside food from 11am to 5pm. Uncle Andy's Market is a 1950s-style ice cream parlor open daily from 6:30am. The Lobby Bar has live jazz in the evenings. For a special dinner, Maritana is an AAA Four-Diamond restaurant open Wednesday to Sunday evenings with a resort casual dress code. Room service is also available from the suite.

The hotel's resort fee is $40 plus tax per room per day. It includes premium Wi-Fi, bicycle rentals, up to 3 beach loungers and an umbrella, fitness center access, daily yoga and aerobic classes, morning non-motorized watersport rentals, bottled water, in-room coffee and free local and domestic long-distance calls. Parking is not free, with self-parking around $31.64 and valet around $42.94 per night according to booking sites. The hotel is cashless, so bring a credit card, along with photo ID, at check-in.

Check-in is from 4:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM. Tampa International Airport is the usual choice, about 25-28 miles and a 30-40 minute drive via I-275 South. A taxi or rideshare takes roughly 34 minutes. The SunRunner and trolley services stop near Dolphin Village rather than at the hotel itself. A car or rideshare is needed for outlying spots such as Fort De Soto Park, about a 15-20 minute drive away.

March through May is widely cited as the sweet spot, with comfortable temperatures and manageable humidity. Late October through April is also dry and pleasant, and November is the quietest month. Summer is hot, with highs above 85°F. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with September carrying the highest statistical risk.