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 (435)
  • Very good (635)
  • Average (363)
  • Poor (161)
  • Terrible (128)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great find

Apr 12, 2021 slengyeljr Toms River, NJ

I saw that it was and older resort and was nervous booking it. But the view from my 2nd floor gulf view room was everything. The beds were comfortable and the room clean. The bathroom was average size. It needed more water pressure in the shower. The hallways looks very unkempt. The pool area was great as was the tiki bar. The bartender Eric was… Read more
I saw that it was and older resort and was nervous booking it. But the view from my 2nd floor gulf view room was everything. The beds were comfortable and the room clean. The bathroom was average size. It needed more water pressure in the shower. The hallways looks very unkempt. The pool area was great as was the tiki bar. The bartender Eric was fantastic. The food and drink menu excellent. On the beach are free lounge chairs for guests. You have to get out there by 9:30 am to get a chair. The beach attendant Ryan rides around and will drill in a umbrella for you. A very nice guy. Bring your spf over 50 or more. The sun is on fire. Front desk was informative at check in with all the covid rules and procedures. There was no maid service, but what everything you put out your door, sheets or bath towels they put new ones out for you. Parking garage on site is very covient. We never made it to the on site restaurant but we ordered to go from there. All in all it has everything you need for a nice comfortable beach Vacation. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Rundown - don't waste your time

Apr 11, 2021 SuzieQ6578 Lockport, New York

The front desk staff was exceptional. Arrived slightly early prior to check-in. No big deal! Was told that my number would be called or texted when room reasy. No big deal! Took the boys to the beach and looked around! Found bar at the pool! Met some really nice couples and everyone's opinion was the same. Tried to find a hotel and all… Read more
The front desk staff was exceptional. Arrived slightly early prior to check-in. No big deal! Was told that my number would be called or texted when room reasy. No big deal! Took the boys to the beach and looked around! Found bar at the pool! Met some really nice couples and everyone's opinion was the same. Tried to find a hotel and all booked except this one. You aren't going to spend much time in your room. Try to overlook the outdated property. Bartenders were fabulous! No call from the front desk that room was ready. This was also told to us my couples we met! Went to front desk and my keys were sitting on the countertop. Advised needed to pay an addional fee per night for resort. Unreal! Got to room! Old carpet, paint chipping off walls and doors, faucet wouldn't shut off, flush the toilet and hear gurgling in tub, vanity light didn't work, missing screws in vent above vanity, no control in room for air conditioning, and could her unit tutning on/off all night long. Couldn't hear other room conversations. Beds were comfy - that was a plus! Had booked two nights with my family and checked out after first night! Just couldn't do it another night! Super tolerable, but definetely not worth the money for thus resort. Would recommend staying elsewhere!! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great Location at a reasonable cost

Apr 8, 2021 lml1245389

We have been going to the Sandcastle for over 10 years. We started with a long week-end but now make this a winter get away destination. The location is right on the beach and has two fantastic pools. The staff are so friendly that they welcome us when we return. Also, the location allows you to go to great dinner spots both downtown and on the… Read more
We have been going to the Sandcastle for over 10 years. We started with a long week-end but now make this a winter get away destination. The location is right on the beach and has two fantastic pools. The staff are so friendly that they welcome us when we return. Also, the location allows you to go to great dinner spots both downtown and on the circle. We understand that the hotel is aging. We will be so sad when it is gone and replaced with expensive high end hotel. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Poorly Run and other guests weren’t happy either

Apr 7, 2021 Sightseer694492

I’ll begin with check-in and this set the tone for the me. I was third in line and waited 25 mins to register. I thought no big deal, it’s once. Nope. I was told to come back for keys because the room wasn’t ready. They make you wait again in an unreasonably, slow line for that. I felt that the ladies at front desk wanted to do a good job, but the… Read more
I’ll begin with check-in and this set the tone for the me. I was third in line and waited 25 mins to register. I thought no big deal, it’s once. Nope. I was told to come back for keys because the room wasn’t ready. They make you wait again in an unreasonably, slow line for that. I felt that the ladies at front desk wanted to do a good job, but the place is poorly managed and the system is not costumer friendly. You pay a resort fee for things like WiFi and 2 chairs- I got neither. The staff says “first come, first serve” for chairs yet your resort fee says you pay for them. I paid 1k to stay 3 nights and to complete for chairs is ridiculous. On the second day- I noticed there wasn’t enough workers, then rumors that the place will be demolished so my guess is everyone (staff and management) just gave up. They say that you can’t have room service due to Covid but I think it’s a lie. They don’t have the cleaning staff. There were only two ladies working the breakfast shift and they were frustrated. The line to be seated for breakfast was long. Other guest stories: - room not ready until 3 hours passed checkin - coming from airport at 11 and not allowed on property until 1pm - rooms outdated, junk furniture, broken front doors - woman bartender rude -hard to get basic requests met. - given wrong information re: shuttle If the place was correctly managed, I could overlook somethings but no one here gives a rat’s butt anymore. Just waiting for the bulldozer I guess Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Beautifully quiet beach with AMAZING sunsets!

Apr 3, 2021 reneerU961HB

My friend & I stayed there the first week of March. The beach is wide, flat with rolling hills of shells. The sunsets were unbeatable. The hotel itself is in need of a remodel (which I understand is happening). The food was excellent. Pools are fine. The servers & bar tenders were fun. Everyone works so hard at this resort to make you… Read more
My friend & I stayed there the first week of March. The beach is wide, flat with rolling hills of shells. The sunsets were unbeatable. The hotel itself is in need of a remodel (which I understand is happening). The food was excellent. Pools are fine. The servers & bar tenders were fun. Everyone works so hard at this resort to make you happy. From the guys walking around the pool to deliver free water bottles to the behind the scene staff & Management that made sure the property was clean - great people. This property has history, it has generational visitors, it has stories. It's a vintage hotel with a family of people that have been there forever. It's not a 4 star resort but it does have something that new, shiny hotels can never have until they've they've been around a long time. You just can't buy that. Read less