Zota Beach Resort — Hotel in Longboat Key

First off, know that this spot is about 20 minutes from St Armands and 30 from downtown for convenience to Sarasota. And 30 minutes from Bradenton. So if you want to be closer to things, stay in one of those towns. The hotel in itself is setup fairly well with a really nice pool. The rooms are nice, I had a beach view which was wonderful. I also had a view of the construction to my left which I’ll get into. I also couldn’t spend any time on the balcony due to the construction.

The beach itself is nice.The food at Viento was ok. Not bad at all but not great. It was perfect and easy for some breakfast but there are so so many good options in the area for dinner, I personally chose to eat at other places.

It’s valet parking but because of covid and no staff members wear masks, I requested self parking which was no issue for December but not sure in the summer when the resort is full if that is an option they offer. But I appreciate that they did!!

If you’re in the building to the left facing the beach, you will be closest to construction of another hotel going up. And like all other customers at Zota, you will also have a private beach that will be accompanied by construction noise the entire time! (Except Sundays at least in my case) Be prepared to wake up to it at 8am daily and deal with it until sunset. Even AirPods could not block it all all but it sure helped! I was annoyed because the second day I asked to be sat away to the right of the construction on the beach and one of the staff members said he couldn’t put me on the right side. Even though there were several couples that he had set up to the right!? Regardless, I walked down that way and the noise wasn’t much better…I ended up leaving the resort daily for Whitney public beach down the road where no one was. Now, this was December of course, so it wasn’t crowded. Only downfall is you don’t get the chairs, towels, and umbrellas that you can have at the resort. Plus you’re essentially staying at Zota for the beach. So just consider this all when booking. Btw, umbrellas are $20 for December at the beach if you want them.

Now I completely understand that the hotel cannot control construction. However, every establishment I’ve chosen to stay in that had some construction that impacted your stay, was full on transparent about this upon booking. This is really important because it also tells the customer that they want to be honest and do what they can to make the stay a great one. So this didn’t happen and when I approached it to two different staff members, they would not address this point. Come up with something to respond with. They ended up waiving the resort fees. Other customers staying at the hotel mentioned they would be complaining as well. Apparently there is the Opal building that is farther away from the construction. I cannot state whether you can hear the noise or not from one of the rooms, but I noticed some people were in that building, so it might be best to inquire if you plan to stay. My guess is they charge more to stay in that one which is just wrong. They aren’t advertising it though and just charging people way too much to be stuck in the construction. The good side is if you are at the pool area there is no noise! The drinks at Cascade were really tasty. The only downside is it closes pretty early so could never enjoy a drink there at night.

I honestly don’t know if I’d stay again and that’s why I gave it a 3. I would likely do more research in the area. Overall it is a good option for the price and the area is remote, so if you want that then this is a great option without paying as much as it’s brother hotel a few miles south. Overall, it was OK and had some great perks, but the way they handle the construction and lack of openness for what you pay is my biggest complaint. Just...

My husband booked this hotel for my birthday celebration and the reason I rated it 3 stars is due to the list below of the pros & cons.

Pros: Beautiful hotel with a modern Mexico vibe. Feet rinse stations near the beach access which we loved. Great drinks, food at the resort was very flavorful and enjoyable as well. Restaurant was beautiful also. Our first check-in staff was so nice, waitstaff at the restaurant were very nice and friendly. The pool and onsite beach staff were also very nice! We booked an oceanfront corner view so there were zero complaints with that. It was gorgeous. The staff also provided the cutest white baby crib that was very comfortable. Hotel was very baby friendly and I felt very comfortable with how accommodating they were with kids. I really loved that so much. Another plus was that despite the sun going down, we were still able to use the pool. We put our baby to bed and had our nanny stay in the room while we enjoyed the hot tub and pool when we were not able to earlier. Really made our night special and enjoyable.

Cons: Short summary is a feel of chaos & noticeable lack of structured hotel leadership. Long Summary: Valet staff were slightly friendly (leaning more towards stand offish) but we heard them cursing up a storm in a playful context while unloading our bags. There were kids around and it just didn’t feel professional. Walking in the concierge corner had opened Amazon boxes piled everywhere with wrappers. It felt chaotic & unappealing. It was only 5pm and the complimentary water was empty and was not refilled for a few hours after. Walking in the pool area was also very hectic, pool area had trash everywhere. Granted a lot of people were there which I have no issues with as I love a good busy crowd but it seemed like there was no staff at the pool up-keeping and cleaning up the empty food trays and drinks. I was able to overlook it with how beautiful the design of the hotel was etc... husband not so much knowing he spent over $500++ for our night stay there. We got to our room, very cute. Style was a mix of beach and 70s retro. We did find a piece of our baseboard on the ground that was attempted to be recaulked (I have a crawler so I’m glad I caught it and put it away). Drawers in bedroom were impossible to open and would fall out/go out of place everytime you’d pull them. Night time front desk staff were not friendly and inviting. Next day, all coffee was out by 8am in the complimentary station and were not refilled til way later. My family went down to the beach and went we went to check in, we noticed the beach staff set up umbrellas at every chair then told us we had to pay additional to use the umbrella. We obviously were not going to ask them to remove the umbrellas so we paid extra. I do feel like umbrellas should be included and any additional added to be paid for…especially for the price we paid. When I went to get breakfast to bring down for my 9 month old (one scrambled egg and one croissant). I waited almost past 30 minutes due to a staff member putting in the room service orders was super flustered and forgot to place my order which I understand the frustration but she was very loud with it. They apologized for the wait which was kind. Aside of the little things here and there that made the hotel not feel like it was worth the price, it was beautiful and the stay was still able to be...

We recently had the pleasure of hosting our wedding at the exquisite Zota Beach Hotel, and we are beyond thrilled with the exceptional experience provided by Crystal, our event manager. From the moment we arrived until the final farewell, Zota’s unwavering dedication and attention to detail made our special day truly unforgettable. First and foremost, the venue itself is a paradise. Zota Beach Hotel offers a breathtaking setting with pristine white sand beaches and stunning ocean views. The elegant and contemporary design of the hotel created the perfect backdrop for our wedding celebration. The team at Zota Beach Hotel went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our wedding, from the ceremony to the reception, was flawlessly executed. Crystal, our event manager, was an absolute gem throughout the entire planning process. Her expertise, professionalism, and genuine enthusiasm made us feel at ease from the very beginning. Crystal listened attentively to our vision and brought it to life with precision and creativity. She meticulously coordinated every detail, working closely with us and our vendors to ensure a seamless experience. Her organization and timely communication truly alleviated any stress, allowing us to fully enjoy the journey leading up to our wedding day. On the day of our wedding, Crystal's presence was invaluable. She oversaw every aspect, ensuring that the timeline was adhered to and that everything ran smoothly. From coordinating with the vendors to managing last-minute changes, Crystal's calm and composed demeanor reassured us that we were in the best hands. Her warm and accommodating nature extended to our guests as well, making them feel welcome and attended to throughout the entire event. Additionally, we would like to express our gratitude to Dan, the concierge at Zota Beach Hotel. He consistently went above and beyond to make our stay and wedding experience exceptional. Dan's impeccable attention to detail and personalized service truly exceeded our expectations. From arranging transportation for our guests to recommending local attractions, his expertise and genuine care for our comfort and satisfaction were evident in every interaction. Dan's dedication and warmth added an extra layer of hospitality to our wedding weekend. The service provided by the entire staff at Zota Beach Hotel was remarkable. From the friendly front desk team to the attentive waitstaff at our reception, every staff member displayed a genuine commitment to ensuring our happiness. The quality of the food, the attention to detail in the decor, and the seamless execution of our event truly showcased the hotel's commitment to excellence. Our wedding at Zota Beach Hotel was a dream come true, thanks to the impeccable service and dedication of Crystal, our event manager, and Dan, the concierge. We wholeheartedly recommend Zota Beach Hotel to anyone seeking a stunning venue for their wedding or any special occasion. The breathtaking setting, combined with the outstanding team, will create memories that last a lifetime. Thank you, Crystal, Dan, and the entire Zota Beach Hotel staff, for making our wedding day...