Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach

Sarasota, Gulf Coast Beaches

Restaurant
Standard Room
Gulf Front Double Room
Courtyard View Room
Restaurant
Standard Room
Gulf Front Double Room
Courtyard View Room

The hotel

The sand is beautifully bright and sugary soft on this 600ft stretch of private beach and you can hire watercraft to drift along on the waves. This really is a must-see paradise, and right on the doorstep it only makes this pleasant and inviting hotel even more appealing. There are lots of dry land activities too, including bicycle hire. Alongside the attractive pool area is the pool bar where it is customary to gather at sunset. Later you can enjoy a meal in the Candlelight restaurant or perhaps stroll over to St Armand's Circle and sample one of the bistros there. The hotel puts on seasonal live entertainment and the staff are friendly and helpful.

Amenities

  • Bar
  • Swimming Pool
  • Families
  • Free Parking
  • Room Service
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Wheelchair access
  • Laundry Service
  • Internet Access
  • Car Included
  • Beachfront location
  • Volley Ball

Where is it

On Lido Beach in the charming resort community of Sarasota, which offers a wealth of cultural activities and attractions.

Hotel information

179 rooms on up to 4 floors in 7 buildings with 2 lifts. All with air-conditioning, TV, complimentary WiFi, coffee maker, fridge, safe, iron and board, and hairdryer. Standard Rooms with 1 king-size bed or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Courtyard/Poolside Rooms sleep maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Gulf Front Rooms sleep maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Free self-parking. 3 minute drive or 20 minute walk to St Armand's Circle.

Candlelight Restaurant and Lounge (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Sandcastle Pool Bar (open for drinks and snacks). Lounge bar with seasonal live entertainment.

2 heated swimming pools, shuffleboard, sailboats*, kayaks* and water cycles*, table tennis, beach volleyball, giant chess and bicycle hire*, 600ft private beach, golf* and tennis* nearby.

Room service*. Coin laundry*. Gift shop. Complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel.

This hotel has a resort fee of $12.50 plus tax per room, per day (payable locally, subject to change).

Resort fee includes use of the following amenities - WiFi - Access to fitness centre - Use of beach chairs (two per room) - Beach towels - Beach games - Use of pool deck - Resort bicycle hire (max 3 hours per person, per day) - Bottled water in guest room (2 per day) - In-room coffee - Use of lobby business kiosk - Unlimited local and toll free phone calls - Daily newspaper - Use of coin operated laundry - Self-parking - Shuttle to St. Armands Circle daily (8:30am-10:00pm). Resort fee, tax and inclusions are subject to change - please see hotel check-in for current inclusions available to you upon arrival.

Wheelchair accessible rooms available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. For more information and contact details please check out our Special Assistance page

*Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (429)
  • Very good (630)
  • Average (358)
  • Poor (155)
  • Terrible (111)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Despicable customer service

Mar 14, 2020 719tamif

I have stayed at this hotel for the last 10 years, and had a vacation planned there again at the end of this month. However due to the corona virus outbreak, that is no longer a reality. The run around I received from customer service staff here in regards to a refund I was promised a week ago has been a joke. I was hung up on twice, transferred… Read more
I have stayed at this hotel for the last 10 years, and had a vacation planned there again at the end of this month. However due to the corona virus outbreak, that is no longer a reality. The run around I received from customer service staff here in regards to a refund I was promised a week ago has been a joke. I was hung up on twice, transferred to a FULL mailbox of the general manager to leave a voicemail which ended in being disconnected, told from 2 different customer service reps that I would be getting a refund and then when it wasn’t received I was told they just changed their policy. And to top it off, when I explained that I have several different auto-immune diseases and that due to the medication I’m on my immune system is compromised and was told by my rheumatologist I should not be traveling, the customer service rep I spoke to said “that’s not my fault”. Furthermore, I booked this trip with my mother...she was refunded her money, but I have been told I will not me. As I’m aware the circumstances that the world is in right now is nobody’s “fault”, I would expect a little more compassion and flexibility from a hotel whom no doubt has insurance for situations like this. I on the other hand can not afford to lose $1,800. The money I’m going to be out now is one thing (definitely a big thing), but what’s even more disheartening is the treatment I received from the Sandcastle staff...especially when other hotels and airlines have been so accommodating to guests during this time. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating What a Great Place!

Mar 6, 2020 cgarmatt

From other reviews I read , yes the property is old and in need of some repair. But it is absolutely spotless and clean . The staff can’t do enough for you and the food was terrific. Will visit again.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating A bit of a shock--and I'm not that picky

Feb 27, 2020 Nona G Boulder, Colorado

I am a seasoned traveler. I stay in budget hotels as well as three star, and an occasional four star, I like to know what I'm paying for, so I look at the pictures of the place before I book. The pictures of the Sandcastle Resort rooms did not prepare me for what they put me in. If I had paid $80 per night--not the $265 I paid--I would have been… Read more
I am a seasoned traveler. I stay in budget hotels as well as three star, and an occasional four star, I like to know what I'm paying for, so I look at the pictures of the place before I book. The pictures of the Sandcastle Resort rooms did not prepare me for what they put me in. If I had paid $80 per night--not the $265 I paid--I would have been Ok with it., But to think I am OK staying in a dark, old, shabby room with no heat on the cold days in Florida at $250 a pop mis not OK with me. No safety lock; no in room microwave--I had to ask for one and we could barely find a place to out it in the small room. Beds hard, not much cushion in the mattress. I really was a bit shocked when I unlocked the door and walked in to the room. A warning if you stay here: tell them you to not want a dark dingy room with the only window facing the parking garage. Buyer beware,. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great amenities

Feb 23, 2020 Kgreg007 Minneapolis, Minnesota

We stayed at Sandcastle Resort for three nights in February 2020. We enjoyed the amenities a lot- great for kids and adults, and fantastic pools. The beach was wonderful as well. The room was... fine. You don’t go to Lido Key to spend your time in your room, but if it’s a cold day where you’re forced inside... a bit nicer room would make your stay… Read more
We stayed at Sandcastle Resort for three nights in February 2020. We enjoyed the amenities a lot- great for kids and adults, and fantastic pools. The beach was wonderful as well. The room was... fine. You don’t go to Lido Key to spend your time in your room, but if it’s a cold day where you’re forced inside... a bit nicer room would make your stay even better. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Wonderful value for a family vacation

Feb 23, 2020 Jeffrey Z Saint Paul, Minnesota

First- yes, it's true that this hotel is a bit long in the tooth and there are some signs of deferred maintenance. But the positives far outweigh the negatives. We spent four wonderful days here with our kids, 11 and 12, swimming, biking and having an overall wonderful time. The staff was kind and helpful. Our room faced directly out onto the… Read more
First- yes, it's true that this hotel is a bit long in the tooth and there are some signs of deferred maintenance. But the positives far outweigh the negatives. We spent four wonderful days here with our kids, 11 and 12, swimming, biking and having an overall wonderful time. The staff was kind and helpful. Our room faced directly out onto the beach, the breakfast buffets were delicious and kept us full til dinner. We played shuffleboard and ping pong in the courtyard. The shuttle to St. Armand's Key was really convenient, too. Stay here while you still can! We heard differing reports on when the hotel will be torn down and rebuilt. For now, it's a budget-friendly way (half the price of many other beachfront hotels in SW Florida) for a family to have a winter beach vacation. Read less