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 (437)
  • Very good (639)
  • Average (364)
  • Poor (169)
  • Terrible (146)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Really bad choice

Oct 12, 2021 Exnorther Delray Beach, Florida

While visiting Sarasota, we spent one night at the Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach. Unfortunately, this was one night more than we should have stayed. It’s history says it was built in 1953 and expanded in the 1960’s. I suspect that was the last time it was modernized. Yes, there is a flat screen TV, a small fridge and a microwave. But that is… Read more
While visiting Sarasota, we spent one night at the Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach. Unfortunately, this was one night more than we should have stayed. It’s history says it was built in 1953 and expanded in the 1960’s. I suspect that was the last time it was modernized. Yes, there is a flat screen TV, a small fridge and a microwave. But that is not enough to offset the negatives. The lattice work on the balcony is loose and flopping in the wind, drapes not fully connected to curtain rod, bathroom faucet full of corrosion, shower drain corroded, both upholstered chairs badly stained, parts of wallpaper was peeling as well as the paint, the carpet buckled in places. One of our rooms even had ants. The outside of the building is just as bad. The parking garage is a frightening mess. The top floor of the garage contained a garbage can filled to way over the brim. The outside catwalk looked dirty and moldy. Frankly, the only thing this place has to offer is a view of the beach, but that can be seen from much nicer hotels. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Lido Beach Sandcastle Resort Motel

Sep 19, 2021 GrandTour262582

Upon arrival, our check in was easy. Friendly and helpful staff. Parking garage easy to get to and secure. Walking to the room we notice the gutters are falling off and resort very dated and weathered. Door to room is old and weathered. Keys don’t readily work in door but after playing with it we got into the room. Room is clean, but definitely… Read more
Upon arrival, our check in was easy. Friendly and helpful staff. Parking garage easy to get to and secure. Walking to the room we notice the gutters are falling off and resort very dated and weathered. Door to room is old and weathered. Keys don’t readily work in door but after playing with it we got into the room. Room is clean, but definitely needs an update. Even with AC already on the carpet in the room is damp and the room is very humid. Shower tub is trashed with rubber mat covering the floor. New shower head at least. Room not cleaned as apparently our “please clean room” sign blew away. No biggie, we had clean towels… we only needed coffee replenished. Pool was great! Plenty of chairs, lounges, and towels. Very well maintained.. Of course the beach was beautiful! If you’re looking for peace and quiet… well… not here. Room next to parking garage. You wake to loud motorcycle revving motor for 5-10 minutes each morning at 7AM and loud bass music playing for 30 minutes 8AM. Prior to check out on a Sunday . 9AM . The cleaning crew playing music outside our door.. for over an hour. For cheap beach stay… I guess it’s just that. Beach at Lido is beautiful. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Don’t stay here

Sep 9, 2021 gretab666

Check-in took 30 minutes My room was fine, a bit musty. The shower did not drain and meant that three guests could not use it the first night. Three requests were required to have James come to complete the repair. It took until 5pm the second day. I waited 30 min for a beach chair - there was no line. I waited an additional hour for an… Read more
Check-in took 30 minutes My room was fine, a bit musty. The shower did not drain and meant that three guests could not use it the first night. Three requests were required to have James come to complete the repair. It took until 5pm the second day. I waited 30 min for a beach chair - there was no line. I waited an additional hour for an umbrella as they were assembling them. Basically, a very frustrating experience on the beach. The male bartender at the tiki bar was quite rude to another guest while I was waiting. The guest asked for salt on the glass of his margarita and the bartender said “I know what I’m doing. I’ve done it before.” The trash outside our room in the bins was never emptied and the garbage was strewn about I assume by vermin each morning. We were in room 171. The floor of our shower and the drain fittings are painted over and we’re grungy looking and peeling. When we flipped the drain handle up the entire unit came out of the tub and was dangling. I would have checked out if we hadn’t had 20 other families at your lodging. Dean and the new young woman at the front seat were wonderful. The older gentleman who was handing out water and towels on Saturday tried to help me get a chair and he was very kind and polite. James is clearly overworked but is a very nice man. I should never have stayed here. The front desk smiled and said it was a shame and the hotel will be torn down soon so don’t expect it to be upgraded. For $289 a night I would have expected something nicer. My friend paid $459 a night not one of the higher rooms and had similar issues. Another had to unscrew the AC cover and press the compressor back up so it would stop banging the cover several times a night. And the rooms stayed hot unless you kept the drapes drawn. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Deceiving Pictures

Aug 7, 2021 gabydiaz0661

Alas! don't book your stay based on the pictures. The hotel has a fabulous location, but the hotel itself has seen better days. It was quite dirty, with the trash cans overflowing for days. Employees had an attitude and were never friendly. My room had mildew and the TV didn't work. The beach was dirty and not accesible for someone in a… Read more
Alas! don't book your stay based on the pictures. The hotel has a fabulous location, but the hotel itself has seen better days. It was quite dirty, with the trash cans overflowing for days. Employees had an attitude and were never friendly. My room had mildew and the TV didn't work. The beach was dirty and not accesible for someone in a wheelchair. They didn't have recycling containers conveniently located. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Terrible experience

Jul 28, 2021 Vivian M North Miami Beach

The air conditioner was terrible, the four nights to expended in this place NOT sleep because hot The beach with dead fish and smell horrible The cost food and drinks is so expensive that five star hotels and the portions small At the beach isn’t enough umbrellas for all guest I think only for 30% and nothing to do with the pictures at the web