Florida, Gulf Coast. Where's the best place to stay

poodle puff

Hello,

I'm planning a trip to Florida next year and plan to spend a week in Orlando, but we would also like to spend a week or 2 on the Gulf coast.

We are going around this time next year (hopefully avoiding spring break) and are looking into renting a villa, as there will be grandparents and children, (oldest being 3 & a half).

Where is the best place to stay on the Gulf Coast, e.g. nice beaches, laid back, but not dead.

Also, any other advice would be greatly appreciated…

Thanks...Poodle

badinfleunce

Marco island is fabulous. Upmarket but reasonable. Nice restaurants, hotels and beautiful beach. We were there last year. Marriott hotel is located on beach with lots of facilities restaurants and bars. I recommend stay in a beach hotel or in a timeshare apartment. We rented a timeshare apartment on the beach which was next door to the marriott. It had lots of facilities and we also used the bars and the restaurants of the Marriott next door and the hiltonm on the otherside. Included 2 huge beds with ensuite living room, dining room, large kitchen and balcony overlooking the Gulf. The complex is called Eagles Rest.You can find it on google. Worth a look.

Naked Lepper

theres a place called Indian Shores / Indian Rocks - located between st. petes and clearwater

we stayed there few years back in the beach cottages - timeshare condos afaik

nice and quiet but still very built up and only a stones throw from petersburg or clearwater beach which are both a bit more lively...