The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort — Hotel in Longboat Key

Just completed a 5-night stay at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and I was thoroughly impressed from day 1 to day 5. I'm not usually the biggest FL fan, but this resort has changed my mind. I traveled with my husband and our new baby, and it was our first time traveling with an infant. We were also celebrating an anniversary. We booked on Marriott points (4 nights, get 1 free) and have Platinum status. We did not rent a car and did not plan to leave the resort because of the baby, so we Uber'd to the resort and stayed there the entire time (easy to do when there's 4 different restaurants on-site). The resort was definitely not at full-capacity (early Oct); I don't think I waited for an elevator for more than 3 seconds ever (what a treat!).||Here's a few of the pros/cons (hint, very few of those, and super nitpicky). Overall, we had a great time and I already can't wait to save up those points again for another stay! Major win for Marriott and St. Regis brand IMO.||Pros:|1. Amazing photo concierge team experience! About a week before our arrival, I learned that the resort offers professional photo services. I had already been wanting to get new baby photos back home and just hadn't gotten around to it, so I figured this was the perfect opportunity because A) it would be way more scenic and B) I didn't have to do any photographer/logistical research like I would've had to do back home. Karen spoke with me on the phone and answered all my questions and connected me with our photographer, Jenna, so I could get in touch if I needed to (I just had a specific request about bringing a blanket for the beach, which she did)! They sent several reminder emails/texts leading up to the day of the shoot and made sure to plan it early enough during the trip where, if impacted by weather, we'd be able to reshoot another day (luckily not necessary). They were flexible on timing but we decided on 7:45a so baby would be wide awake, we'd have good morning light, and it would be before many people were out and about in our shots. Jenna was ready and waiting for us right on time, and she was awesome to work with--super patient with a baby who wasn't cooperating, and didn't mind us doing a few outfit changes (she also went over our allotted 45 minutes and didn't seem to mind/rush us at all). Also, back home I probably would've had to wait 3-6 weeks to receive our photos--here, I got them the NEXT DAY. They were so efficient and, despite baby being in a cranky mood, the photos turned out great. I had a few touchup requests (flyaway hairs and baby face scratch etc) and Jenna took care of those right away, not at all delaying our receiving the photos. And, as an added bonus, she made us a little slideshow/video (not part of our package), which was super sweet of her. Overall, they were great to work with. It's definitely not cheap (it's a St. Regis after all!), but prices are on par with what I would've paid a photographer at home, and this was so easy and way prettier. Highly recommend for anyone celebrating a special occasion or just wanting new baby/family photos for the holiday cards!||2. Overall service: As expected at the St. Regis, service was top-notch all around. All the staff was so friendly and welcoming no matter where in the resort they were located, from bellhops to servers to pool attendants. There were so many staff members no matter where you were, it really felt like such a great ratio of guest:staff and you didn't have to look hard to find someone if you needed something. They greeted us by name and were super polite 24/7. I complimented one of the pool attendants on her St. Regis branded sunglasses, and she went and grabbed me (and baby) a pair each--so kind. We were at dinner at CW Prime about to get dessert and baby was getting fussy, and server asked if we wanted them to send the dessert up to our room so we could leave sooner and get baby to sleep (similarly, server at Riva packed our dessert to go so we could leave sooner). We got 2 complimentary desserts (CW Prime and Riva) because I'd noted we were celebrating a special occasion. We also got a welcome amenity (cake and a fancy fruit platter) both the day we arrived and the next day (not sure if that was on purpose or accident but loved it either way). We also got an AMAZING complimentary room upgrade; not sure if it's due to the Platinum status or because of the special occasion or because we had a baby with us or because the resort was half empty, but either way, we got upgraded from a standard room to a suite (over $2k per night, I looked it up of course), which was SO helpful because with all the baby stuff, we definitely took advantage of the extra space (and with 5 nights, we could actually unpack and make ourselves at home for a bit). We were granted a late checkout (1pm) upon check-in, which was really nice to already have that figured out so we didn't have to bug anyone the evening before leaving. At one point I noticed 1 of the 2 ellipticals in the gym wasn't working, so I let someone know and an hour later I happened to walk by and saw him and another person going to check it out. You do not have to lift a finger when it comes to pool/beach chair setup; there are so many pool/beach attendants at the ready to set up your chair for you with towels and bring you a cooler with water and make sure your umbrella is open/shut to your liking. They have an attendant going around each afternoon with complimentary juice shots and frozen mochi (and the one day they were out of mochi, the guy walked around offering to clean peoples sunglasses instead! so nice. I literally saw him walk into the pool to deliver a mochi to people in the pool so they didn't have to exit!). Each chair also had buttons for food/drink service and concierge, so you don't have to worry about awkwardly flagging someone down, and the servers don't need to constantly be walking around asking you for orders. The outdoor spaces were supplied with several sunscreen/aloe options which was awesome too. Also special shoutout to the concierge who were super responsive to all my emails/questions/requests in the months/weeks/days leading up to the trip. This is probably specific to our timing and it not being a peak travel time, but there were plenty of pool/beach chairs available and we never felt like we needed to rush down to the pool at 6am to reserve a seat (hate resorts where that's a thing). Also, the pool chairs were really nicely padded ones (so much comfier than the plastic ones without cushions) and umbrellas were sturdy and effective. Loved the little mini coolers they gave out instead of ice buckets.||3. Kid/baby-friendly: It was our first time traveling with a baby and we were anxious about it, especially because at a 5-star hotel like this, you don't necessarily expect people to be super chill about crying babies/loud kids. However, it was clear very quickly that this hotel was designed to be family-friendly and we made the right choice going there as our first new baby vacation. I had emailed the concierge ahead of time requesting a crib and mini fridge (for formula). They also were able to bring a diaper genie which was awesome. Inside the crib, they had put a little baby robe (adorable!), baby towel (the hooded kind), baby slippers, and a set of baby-friendly soap/shampoo/lotion--so beyond what I'd expected! The mini fridge and diaper genie weren't in the room when we first arrived, but they were quickly brought up after a quick reminder text to the butler team. Overall, the resort is very stroller/wheelchair friendly (elevators and ramps etc), as well, and felt super safe (needed key card access frequently around the resort. They had a ton of programming, most of which seemed catered to kids, and they have a kids club that was staffed and super cute. The lady who works at the kids club was SO sweet and kind, I would've hired her to babysit for a night so we could go out to dinner without baby! Bathrooms around the hotel were all spacious and clean and had changing tables/large handicap stalls that fit strollers easily. The on-site tortoises are fun for kids (and adults) too. The bartenders made awesome smoke(?) bubbles for kids during the champagne sabering which was adorable (I wanted one!).||4. Actual hotel space/design/layout: you can tell this is a very new resort, and you cannot tell that it's already weathered some hurricanes. They do a great job keeping everything clean and tidy and well-manicured and overall the place is pretty spotless. There was the tiniest bit of wear and tear on one of our bathroom mirrors, but I think that was the only spot the entire 5 days where I noticed something not looking 100% perfect/new. The suite we were upgraded to had a huge bathroom (tub and shower), walk-in closet, double balcony with chairs and loungers, full dining table and bar set up, living room/TV set up, bedroom with TV and chairs/table. It also had an extra half bathroom! Gym was really nice and set up with a ton of great machines (including 2 peloton bikes). The lagoon is really unique and, although I thought the lagoon experience was overpriced ($150ish), it was cool to get so up close and personal with rays and get to feed them and learn all about the different species in there (I actually had a private session when I did it, nobody else was signed up!). The lazy river pool was super fun and relaxing to float around in (tubes provided!), and it was nice having 2 hot tubs (lookout for the "press for champagne" button in the "cave". There's also an adult-only pool (didn't realize this at first) for those who don't want to hear all the kiddos. The beach itself is lovely and there were barely any people on it (most people were sticking by the pool). Small but important detail--really appreciated how well-labeled the light switches in the rooms were; it's always annoying getting into a hotel room and wanting to go to bed, and then it taking like 5 minutes to figure out which switch does what! These were super clear. Rooms had super comfy robes and slippers and quality of towels was top-notch. Beds were also very comfy. Great products provided. Also, the building was very quiet; I didn't hear any of our neighbors (and hopefully they didn't hear us/crying baby), which can often be a pain at hotels!||5. Spa was perfection. Garden rose service was fabulous, and the facility itself is beautiful and peaceful, with a hot tub, cold plunge, fancy aromatherapy showers, sauna, steam room, relaxation room, private pool with jets, etc. I wish I'd gotten to spend more time in there! Not cheap but such a treat! The view from the spa pool is great--it's as close to the ocean as it gets and I actually saw dolphins when I was there for a few minutes! Also appreciated the light snacks in the spa (macarons were great). ||6. Food: I didn't have the highest of expectations because generally I don't think hotel food is the best, but overall we thought the food was excellent, both in quality and diversity. We didn't leave the resort for any meals. We had (almost) free breakfast every morning thanks to the $100 breakfast credit we got as Platinum members, and the breakfast buffet was awesome (though I will say-after 5 mornings of the same-I think it would be nice if they switched up some of the breakfast buffet offerings a bit). I asked for my juice/coffee in to-go cups so I could take it back to the room/pool with me and they obliged. We never ordered lunch at the pool/beach because breakfast filled us up! The only near-miss we had was at Aura, which we didn't realize closed early (6:30) and we just barely made it one night but the server was kind and let us order at last call (6:15) and served us as the only people there. Oshen was great for those who like sushi (with a Peruvian twist); I do wish they had some more standard/basic maki rolls (a smallish menu with $$$ complex rolls) but I get it. Really appreciated the free snacks/drinks at Oshen for Marriott elite two nights/week (we could only attend once). The drinks (mocktails) were delish and so was the sushi, all with a lovely view! (The concierge told me this is sort of their version of a lounge since they don't have a traditional one there). We don't drink, but the lobby bar was super fun and lively and the daily 6pm champagne is a fun St. Regis tradition. Also--don't sleep on the high tea experience! The food was excellent, the lobby is lovely to sit in, and the presentation was top-notch (just wait till you see the desert tea portion). ||Cons:|1. Housekeeping/turndown service was a bit hit or miss--they did a great job of course (delicious chocolates at night), but we didn't have great timing with them for some reason. They do have the convenient buttons to indicate when you want service/privacy, but they missed us a couple times (despite us specifically saying when we'd be leaving for dinner). Super nitpicky but they probably could've done a better job communicating with us when would be convenient since they knew we had a baby and probably understand we were working around nap schedules etc. In any case, when we requested new towels we got them, same with aloe and refills on baby soap etc. ||2. No bellhop service upon exit: not a huge deal at all, but I was surprised that prior to checkout, nobody got in touch with us to ask about sending someone to help with our bags. We had a lot of luggage because of the baby, and my husband had to do 2 trips down to the lobby when our Uber was arriving for departure. Not a dealbreaker, but considering how many butlers there are and how clear we were about our checkout time, I think I expected them to be more proactive.||3. The case of the missing beach bags: this is a very dumb and silly thing to mention, but I was confused about the beach bag situation. We didn't have one in our room when we arrived, but I saw various guests around the resort with these branded St. Regis Longboat Key beach bags so I assumed they just forgot to put one in our room. We texted the butler to inquire and they told us they were out of them. Had a bit of a back and forth convo in which they offered to send us another gift instead, but the gift they sent us was wine glasses and we don't drink (which they should've known because I'd mentioned it in my early emails). Appreciate the gesture of course, but just would've preferred the bag (I want to add it to my St. Regis collection)! At one point they offered to waive the resort fee for us, but then that was taken back (probably when they realized we were staying 5 nights haha) and they agreed to just mail it to us when the bags arrived, which we agreed to graciously (sure, we would've preferred to have it when we were there, but better late than never). As the days went by, I continued to see other people with these bags and it was confusing because I'd been told they didn't have them...anyway, on our last day, we went to the Marriott 'happy hour' type of event at Oshen (silver and above status) and we were chatting with a wonderful concierge member. I mentioned this beach bag situation to him and, low and behold, an hour later when I got back to our room, a bag was waiting by our door. Super kind and appreciate him going out of his way to get that to us...but also bizarre to have been told something else by the butler team and not get it until our last day. ||4. No on-site water sports: besides the lagoon experience, there aren't really any water sports or water experiences available directly on site (at least I don't think so), which is a bit surprising because they do have their own little pier...but I think it must just be a photo-opp sort of pier and not really a functional one meant for boats/fishing/activities. I didn't mind this, but it could be a nice addition down the line for them if feasible. They certainly have the space for it. I'm sure the concierge can make that happen through outside vendors if you're looking for it.||5. Not a big deal at all but the butler(?)/front desk person who checked us in forgot to ask us about breakfast vs 1000 points. Luckily we knew to mention it later and make sure it was noted, but not a detail I'd expect to be forgotten at a St. Regis. He was relatively new (as he had told us) so perhaps still learning! ||6. Parking expensive: we ended up just Ubering because we didn't want to pay for parking for 5 nights...I wish we could've had a car because I would've felt more comfortable driving ourselves with the baby probably (and maybe we would've then ventured out for dinner one night), but ultimately decided to Uber. The hotel did offer to help arrange private transfers, but it was $$$ so we just went the Uber route. It would be nice if they waived parking for those with higher Marriott status IMO.||7. No fitness classes during the week? Overall the programming/schedule was really robust (though definitely geared more toward kids). The handful of fitness classes presumably geared toward adults (I think there were only 2?) were only offered on Sat/Sun which was a bummer because those were the 2 days we weren't there. They have an awesome gym and plenty of shallow pools and green spaces outside; it really would be nice if they added more fitness class options to the schedule so those staying M-F could also take advantage (perhaps something in the pool would be fun) and feel like you're getting more out of that annoying daily resort fee!||Alright I think I braindumped most of what I can remember...overall a really fantastic stay and I wouldn't hesitate to return--I think it could be even more enjoyable when baby is a bit older and can take advantage of all the fun programming they have for kiddos! I would definitely try to return again when it's not a peak time; I'm sure a place like this knows how to handle crowds, but it was EXTRA nice being so...

If you know Florida, you likely already know the beaches on the gulf coast can rival many Caribbean islands: Warm shallow waters, white sand, shells (please leave them be), and mostly sunny skies. ||Most hotels along these beaches are “beach spots” - cheaper, roadside motels dating from the 60s and 70s or some newer group lodgings but on the economy tiers like Courtyards and Hampton Inns. ||Now the St. Regis on Longboat Key - one of the beaches of Sarasota - can provide something superior. ||Longboat Key is primarily a residential island — condos and mid size buildings dot the white sand - which means sparsely populated beaches even during high season. The only public beach access here is a 30 min walk north of the hotel. ||The St. Regis is a residence hotel - two of the 3 buildings are condominiums. The hotel sits adjacent in a L shaped building with the pools and restaurants in the center. ||There are two pools - the main one with an adjoining “lazy river” where you can grab a pool float and be whisked around a winding path, under a water fall, with drink in hand little effort required. There are chairs scattered poolside and throughout the green river area which makes it feel less dense than it actually is. There are premium cabanas for rent, with the 4 best ones sitting on an “island” in the river. Note though, they aren’t private - everyone floats right by you and kids occasionally run through, but they can accommodate families, have a television and multiple seating options. The other pool cabanas offer room with reserved loungers, but are often situated on public paths and are not exactly private. Might want to check them out before renting, but they do provide space without wranging for seats if you're more than 2 people.||The smaller “adult” pool is actually ocean front but oddly, oriented away from the beach. The 20 or so chairs face the pool and the building with your back to the beach. It is quieter though if you seek a no kid zone, with chill vibe music and a water feature the only sounds you’ll hear. ||There is attended, full service on the white sandy beach. Plenty of lounge chairs with umbrellas and daybed cabanas here too, along with the same food and drink you can have poolside. It seems most folks during my stay were at the pool so I often had the beach mostly to myself. Service is quick and friendly out there too. Pro tip - the beach cabanas are less expensive than the pool and provide exceptional shade and interrupted ocean views. ||When you do go inside the hotel, standard rooms are normally sized, but completely comfortable, quiet and very well appointed as you’d expect from a brand new St Regis. The beds are supremely luxurious, bathrooms full of marble and spa like amenities, with ample closet space. Oceanview rooms face the outside of the resort offering a more private and quiet angled view of the ocean and adjacent condos. Grand Oceanviews offer larger balconies and expansive views across the pools and residence building to the beach and ocean beyond. Note that you’re up above these amenities along with the outdoor bars and while not exactly ever loud, you can hear things and be seen when sitting on your terrace. ||The premium suites here have commanding views of the water and property and are huge. Many sit on the building edge right over the beach and include a full dining table, sectional sofas and expansive balconies. If you want an indulgent splurge get one. ||Multiple restaurants (Steak, Italian, Latin American/Mexican and a bar with limited Sushi) as well as a beachfront and lobby bar means you don’t have to leave. The food is exceptionally good here. If you do, you’re a quick 10 minute drive to shops and restaurants on the island, or 20 minutes into all Sarasota has to offer. The lobby hosts the usual St. Regis Champagne Ritual along with some piano music and livelier entertainment on weekends. ||The spa on site is top notch. Every amenity and treatment you can imagine (including even a snow shower) and the massage I received was one of the best hotel spa treatments I’ve had. ||All this is really great but what really makes this hotel shine is the staff. Uniformly across the week I visited, beach attendants to waiters and valets, front desk, managers and all in between were warm, friendly and extremely and uniformly helpful. That is incredibly difficult to achieve at a resort of this size in a smaller town — testament to the management and dedication to the core St Regis ethos. ||If you don’t mind a quick and easy drive to anything off property, and want something refined and fun for a gulf coast getaway, it’s most definitely worth a look. When we left, my twenty-something son said "Oh I would definitely come back here." ||If the Astors could see this St. Regis, I think they’d be...

We just spent an enjoyable two-night stay at this property. Overall, we’d give it two thumbs up and four stars, and would certainly return—especially on points or if someone else was paying! Here are some pieces of wisdom you might find useful.||1. Location. The St. Regis is about two miles up on the southern end of Longboat Key (it’s an 11-mile long island). With regular traffic, that’s about 25 minutes from Sarasota (SRQ) airport or 85 minutes from Tampa (TPA).||2. Location. But – in season (say, from Feb 1st until April 15th / Easter), the traffic can be horrendous. If you plan to leave the island in the afternoon or early evening to get to a dinner reservation or event downtown, allow an extra 30 minutes.||3. Check-in. Check-in is nominally at 4 pm (our room was 45 mins late), and one of the famous St. Regis butlers will offer a property tour. Take the tour and discover the layout of the pools, restaurants, and other facilities (including the sea life pool). ||4. Check-in. If you are an elite Marriott member, you’ll get certain benefits. I discovered that you must ask/negotiate for them. For example, late checkout (up to 4 pm, a rebate on the resort fee (more on that atrocity later), and a $100 food/breakfast credit. ||5. Rooms. The standard non-mega suite rooms cost between $1200 and $2000 a night in season and only slightly less out of season. Our room was a King, Ocean View, Balcony. We had a nice view of the resort and the Gulf Of Mexico. The bed was comfy, with plenty of extras (gowns, slippers, coffee machine etc.) and a beautiful bathroom. The bathtub was deep and could fit two – although, engineering note, the plug/drain and tap/faucet were in a weird location for a single occupant. I loved the flannel bag filled with herbs.||6. Money. The daily resort fee is $62.15. It covers Wi-Fi, two chairs and an umbrella, two hours of bike rental (the island is flat—get out there!), and an admittedly very lovely, bespoke beach bag. It bothers me that you pay over $1,000 a night for a room and still get hit with this. However – the Marriott T&Cs state that if a resort fee includes a service that a member would get for free, it must be replaced by something of equal value and utility. I asked for a Wi-Fi credit and received $30 back. Enough to pay for a drink and a half at the bar – it’s the principle of the thing!||7. Money. There is also a $58.85 per day parking fee if you bring a vehicle. It feels like the parking garage, which was highly controversial when under construction, is being run as a for-profit venture. The high rates, resort fee, and parking charge ultimately drove a four-star review instead of five. ||8. Ambience. The property oozes the expected St. Regis charm, service, and understated decadence. That said, this is a resort location, so don’t expect a quiet, romantic stay. The pool is active, and you’ll encounter plenty of families in the restaurants. If you seek peace and quiet, I recommend the beach instead of the pool.||9. Food. There are multiple restaurants on-site. They range from a high-end CW Prime steakhouse (call out to Maxwell and Rob at the bar) to Riva, a nice Italian restaurant, and Oshen, a sushi restaurant with a superb sunset view. You’ll also discover Aura and the beachside Monkey Bar, which supplies lunch and the food/drinks for the pool and beach. Riva also doubles as the breakfast location and serves a nice buffet, complete with an omelet station- even though they ran out of ham and cheddar cheese! There is also Carolines – a coffee and pastry shop that opens at 7 am each morning. ||10. Sealife. The centerpiece of the hotel is the Sea Lagoon. This holds all kinds of fish and rays. There is a sunken glass observation area, and you can sign up for a snorkel experience in the lagoon. 20% off for Marriott Bonvoy members.||Overall, we enjoyed our stay and felt we maximized our experience. The one thing you have to adjust to is that you have a bunch of fairly entitled folks spending a lot of money each night who want things to be exactly right and done exactly their way. That means most of the screaming hissy fits come from adults rather than the accompanying children, even though the St Regis staff pride themselves on never saying “no.”||As noted above, the room rates and fees and some inconsistent service around check-in and check-out led to a 4-star review.||Please "like" if this...