Turtle Beach Resort — Hotel in Siesta Key

Oh Boy! I don't even know where to start, or if this text box will provide me with enough room! First and Foremost, let me just say... "Hands Down, Exceptional!!!" This little gem is so hard to write a review for because, they deserve all the praise for the phenomenal experience they provide their guests; however, you don't want the secret to get out! I just pray, the next time we go to book our stay, we are not dealing with a waiting list! With that said, my husband and I cannot wait to get back here one day! This little Inn, has it all! From the amenities, which we took full advantage of, to the most peaceful and serene atmosphere, to the top notch staff available 24 hours! They are there; but they are not. It's almost seamless how it is operated. You feel you have the entire place to yourself, no matter who is leisurely roaming about, or dutifully stocking up and cleaning up behind you. You almost never notice the staff about, unless you need them and then... boom they are tentatively right there! If you need something related to the Inn, or to inquire about things (the best, and must things!) to see/do on the island, where to eat, or shop or to find the best swimming hole via the Inn's Kayaks, bikes, or even the trolly that stops almost right outside the Inn! They have got the skinny on it all! Their recommendations were right on point, and you could feel the love and admiration they held in their hearts for the island. The family that runs the Inn lives right down the street, so they know exactly what they are talking about, and they are nothing short of excited to share all the best kept secrets with their guests. When we left the Inn, my husband and I agreed this was by far the best vacation we've shared together since our honeymoon, and a lot was all because of where we stayed! If the family decides to one day do timeshares, we are in like Flynn! We highly recommend this place to all out there looking for a cozy, quaint, spot, just far enough from the action only to feel like your take a serene time out for a moment till rest up for your next venture! And believe me... there is plenty of adventure right outside...

We are looking forward to going back to Turtle Beach Resort! It had everything we needed to make this a wonderful trip. The location, accommodations, and amenities fit our desire for a more quiet location than the downtown / north side of the island, with great Bay views, wildlife, and outdoor activities. We stayed at the Country Cottage, and our main deck was OVER Little Sarasota Bay - perfect for catching every sunrise over the water, and watching the birds, manatees, jumping fish, and boaters. On the other deck, the hot tub and hammock gave us additional relaxing ways to enjoy the view. The pool was steps away, and a perfect temperature. We spent hours on the kayaks exploring the Bay, inlet, and Jim Neville Marine Preserve, and also kayaked to the Palmer Point Park then a quick walk over to the Gulf. Seeing the manatees from the kayaks was a special treat! We walked and kayaked to Turtles Restaurant, and caught a couple sunsets at Turtle Beach (note - the sand is not the white powdery sand like at Siesta Beach). Another favorite activity was borrowing the bikes to ride 2.5 miles each way to Captain Curt's Coffee and Beer Garden. The landscaping at the resort was beautiful, and the cottage itself was fine for 3 adults - it's not new or high-end, but it was nice, and the beds were comfy. It had everything we needed. Resort staff were friendly and helpful. We also borrowed the beach chairs and drove to Siesta Beach several times for sunsets and that famous sand. Also ate on the north end at The Cottage and Gilligan's Island Bar & Grill. But there are plenty of great food choices south of Stickney Point Rd, so you don't have to go far. Miguels and the Big Water Fish Market were wonderful, and we enjoyed Captain Curt's Sniki Tiki, and Captain Curt's Coffee & Beer Garden, as well as Turtles Restaurant. Never did go to Ophelia's, since we had an...

The pictures we saw before booking the stay were not accurate in my opinion. The staff was very friendly and tried to accommodate us. The facility is just old. Many coats of chipping paint, wood swinging gates that do not latch, boardwalks that are uneven, outdoor lights that may work or may not work, maybe one light on a string of them works like the ones over the hot tub, and entry doors that stick and are hard to close and open. To be fair, there was a storm the day before we arrived. So things were a bit out of sorts. But most of our problems were not from the storm. The cover for the hot tubs are full of mildew. So when you take them off to use the tub, you get to deal with the mildew smell. The walls and ceilings around the hot tub were also full of mildew. I am guessing it is very difficult to keep them clean with the heat and humidity. We had an issue with our first room, the hot tub did not work. Sarah was very quick to move us to another room. The room was large and spacious. But the shower was maybe 30" square. And the bathroom is tiny. The only place to sit in the main room, other than the two high top chairs was a very small couch that sits very low to the ground. And only big enough for one person. The king mattress needs to be replaced. There is a major sag on one side. And overall the mattress was not comfortable.

On the positive side, the appliances were great. They looked new. The resort provides a bag of ice in the freezer so you don't have to go buy it somewhere. And the second room hot tub worked great. It is in a great location and as I stated above, Sarah tried to help us. That is the only reason for the 2 star. If only based on the price for the accommodations, it would be 1 star. The bottom line is for the price we paid, the accommodations were not what we expected nor...