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.

  • Early booking bonus: Book before 31 Mar '20 and stay for a minimum of 7 nights and receive up to 20% off the cost of your accommodation, stay for a minimum of 4 nights and receive up to 15% off for stays 1 May '20-11 Feb '21. Discount will be applied at the time of booking. Blackout Dates apply. 

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 (418)
  • Very good (625)
  • Average (357)
  • Poor (153)
  • Terrible (105)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Going downhill

Nov 2, 2019 David G

Just back from our 5th visit to the Sandcastle Resort and sorry to report that some things were definitely disappointing. No bar at night, the restaurant was closed at night so for food or a drink at night you had to go elsewhere. Previous visits it was nice to go out for a meal and come back around 10pm and be able to relax with a cocktail or two… Read more
Just back from our 5th visit to the Sandcastle Resort and sorry to report that some things were definitely disappointing. No bar at night, the restaurant was closed at night so for food or a drink at night you had to go elsewhere. Previous visits it was nice to go out for a meal and come back around 10pm and be able to relax with a cocktail or two but not now. Spoilt the whole vacation somewhat. Had to visit a liquor store to keep something in the room but that is not the experience we wanted on our vacation. On the plus side the staff were excellent as usual and nothing seemed too much trouble. How they can charge a resort fee when half the facilities were either not available or are the basic requirements of holiday accommodation I don't know. The shop was only open spasmodically about 3 days a week. 34 degrees on the beach and you fancy an ice cream, tough the shop doesn't open for another 4 days. Would we go back, Yes if they are open and up front about the lack of facilities, but No if they continue to advertise facilities that are NOT available. If this was a UK hotel I would have been banging on the Manager's door demanding a refund. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Historic Beachfront Hotel with lots of Charm

Nov 1, 2019 257scottg Belleview, Florida

This hotel is clearly an older pro. However, it seemed to be very well taken care of over the years. It is a unique throwback to mid-20th Century Florida beach life. Great rates for the location. Very convenient to Armond's Circle.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Received so little for what was promised at such a high price

Oct 30, 2019 Gary R

My fiancé and I were in the area and decided to stay the night. We called several locations and decided on the Sandcastle Resort on Lido Beach based on the information provided by the reservation associate. We were promised the following amenities with our $280 reservation: Upper floor king room, large bathroom with tub & shower, balcony with a… Read more
My fiancé and I were in the area and decided to stay the night. We called several locations and decided on the Sandcastle Resort on Lido Beach based on the information provided by the reservation associate. We were promised the following amenities with our $280 reservation: Upper floor king room, large bathroom with tub & shower, balcony with a Gulf view, small table and chairs for dining, Keurig coffee maker, Tommy Bahama bathroom amenities, large flat screen TV, in room safe for valuables. Now here is what we got: Ground floor king room. When we informed the desk associate with the personality of roadkill that we booked an upper room, she advised that all Gulf view upper rooms had been booked long ago, and there was no way we could have booked one just 30 minutes ago. The bathroom was very small and outdated. There were however the promised Tommy Bahama amenities sitting in a pile on the sink. The TV was your standard 42 inch that could only be watched comfortably from the bed. The coffee maker was you standard cheap coffee maker with what I call "kotex" coffee pouches that tasted like swill. No dining table to be found and the safe looked as if someone had tried to pry it open with a crowbar. The property itself is outdated and scuzzy looking. The entry doors to the rooms look like something at a "pay by the hour motel" look and the parking structure is cluttered with debris. The pool area was very clean and well maintained and the bed was comfortable. The biggest positive was being able to step right out on the beach from our room. There are much nicer places to stay in the area, and I would only recommend this place if you are absolutely desperate for a place to stay. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Beachfront property!

Oct 27, 2019 AprilR512 Tampa, Florida, United States

My husband and I really enjoyed this quiet beachfront property...I was skeptical from previous reviews but now I can say for myself. This resort is old school beach front property!! So sad to hear it may be getting sold because it is a gem! Rooms are older, yes but clean..friendly staff..pool area is large with 2 pools! Just a few steps and our… Read more
My husband and I really enjoyed this quiet beachfront property...I was skeptical from previous reviews but now I can say for myself. This resort is old school beach front property!! So sad to hear it may be getting sold because it is a gem! Rooms are older, yes but clean..friendly staff..pool area is large with 2 pools! Just a few steps and our feet were in the sand! Exactly what we enjoy for a quiet Sarasota beach resort! Less than 10 min. From all the shops and great restaurants as well! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Avoid this place at all costs

Oct 7, 2019 EAM61 Malaga, Spain

We stayed one night. Do not be fooled by the photographs . This is a disgustingly dirty, unkempt and outdated place. Looks and feels like a prison block! Cannot really describe how awful it is. I must say that all the staff were really nice people. The owners of this establishment really need to start investing before it’s too late.