Dolphin Beach Resort Reviews

After reading the reviews we were very worried about this hotel. I very nearly changed it before leaving UK but was extremely glad that I didn't. The location is fantastic with a good shopping centre across the road at the front of the hotel and the beautiful beach the other side of hotel. We paid the extra $12 per room per night but well worth it for the fantastic sunsets and the dolphins jumping in the sea!!! The rooms are spotlessly clean, very big with 2 queen size beds, full size fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Yes the corridors and rooms do small a little musty but what do you expect from a beachfront hotel? I am exceptionally fussy and will pick up on the least thing if it is not right but would not hesitate to recommend this hotel.

Best places to eat are Crabby Bills (if you like fresh seafood), Bennigans (across the road) Skidders and Durangos. I hope this review will help as I was extremely worried before hand but absolutely nothing to worry about as hotel and location are fab!!! enjoy!!

If you've been searching through reviews you will have found not many have good things to say about the dolphin.we wanted to add our review as we had such a great stay at the dolphin and were not disappointed (and we're not easily pleased!!!)

HOTEL-Its 3*,so doesn't have lots of plush extras.HOWEVER it is comfortable,friendly and right on the beach.A word to the unwise about St petes beach.All the main hotels face the gulf.So any standard room, doesn't matter if its a 5* or 1*hotel will face the car park and/or road behind the beach .Many entries i have read express disappointment that standard rooms don't have sea views.This just will not happen at the beach,also the road gets very little sunshine (hence the fabulous sunsets over the gulf)so standard rooms not only back onto the road but are limited in how much natural light they get.

THIS IS NOT JUST THE DOLPHIN BEACH RESORT IT HAPPENS TO.

We upgraded to a pool room for approx £12.50 per room per night(Inclusive of taxes)For this you get a very comfortable room,spotlessly clean and a stones throw away from the beach.

Some reviews i've read mention damp rooms.Florida is notorious for high humidity-all that moisture must at times be problamatic, so its perhaps understandible that its a battle for hotel owners.Our room was fine though,I don't know whether this was due to less humidity generally because of the time of year. We've been to st petes beach twice now so don't plan to go back as theres lots of other places we want to visit.If we were returning we would have NO HESITATION IN BOOKING THIS HOTEL AGAIN.It was so relaxing and enjoyable-please don't be put off by some review sites but we would recommend budgeting for an upgrade-its well worth it.

EATING OUT/EVENINGS

We think st petes attracts certain age groups.Great for young families and couples who don't want the 18-30 thing.If you do you may be disappointed.Bars are usually in restaurants although the beach bars of the howard johnson (Ricky t's) and the best western (jimmy b's) are great and full of atmosphere.Bennigans over the road from the dolphin is an ";irish"; bar that we visited a lot.Get a seat to eat or drink at the bar and the atmosphere is better than in the dining area.

RESTAURANTS-St petes is great for seafood at great prices.
SNAPPERS-on gulf boulevard opposite tradewinds hotel.Very much a restaurant as opposed to casual eating but not stuffy at all.Great food and service,wine a bit more expensive.They don't take bookings so fri and sat are busy and there is usually a queue, but well worth the wait.
CRABBY BILLS-very casual but fun,however seafood same price as snappers and we prefer snappers.
BENNIGANS-Very much a chain but doesn't suffer for it.Lovely food,nice atmosphere.Plus house wine is buy one glass get one free-every day of the week!!!!
GIGIS-nice casual genuine italian restaurant.Very reasonably priced

OUT and ABOUT-Fort De Soto park is a great place to visit.Its like a beach ";national park"; area.

Passe-a-grille-just along from the dolphin,but so peaceful and the beaches are almost deserted.

Tyrone mall-15 mins drive-good shops,a good place to get some bargains.

Ellenton outlets-an outlet village.Some brands we recognise but nostly non uk stuff-about 30mins drive.Still worth going.

BEACH STUFF-What can i say-loads to do,not badly priced watersports and if you're not the energetic type you can just sit and watch the sunset with a beer-fantastic!

All we can say is we had a fantastic time at the dolphin,and loved its atmosphere.

Easy to find this hotel on main road.A warm welcome from efficient staff.We had booked a standard room,but after seeing it we immediatly paid the difference to upgrade.The standard room was small and quite damp smelling and looked out on to the carpark and main road.

The upgrades were an extra $20 per night for a room with pool view and balcony,wich may be noisy, or a beach view with balcony for an extra $50 per night.We picked the beach view.
The room was a very standard hotel room with 2 doubles,T.V,micro,fridge,coffee etc,but the views more than made up for any faults.Where else do you see dolphins swim past your room.
The pool area was clean with plenty of sunbeds,with direct access to a good beach.
A good place to stay , but could do with a bit of an update.