Sheraton Sand Key Resort, St Petersburg Clearwater

The Cranley Report®: Sheraton Sand Key Resort

Sheraton Sand Key Resort , St Petersburg Clearwater

Hotel Address

1160 Gulf Boulevard
Clearwater Beach
Florida
33767
USA

Cranley Rating

Sheraton Sand Key Resort Main Entrance

Photo 1 of 29. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Resort Hotel

Hotel Opened

1974

Cranley Summary

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort is located adjacent to Sand Key Park and Preserve on over ten acres of exclusive white sandy beach. The hotel is nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. A short distance away across the channel is the action that surrounds Clearwater Beach which is the hub of tourism offering a wide choice of activities during the day and evenings. A wide variety of watersports, deep sea fishing, sailing cruises, the nearby Clearwater Marine Aquarium, golf courses, restaurants and shopping are all available in close proximity in the Tampa Bay area. The resort is 37 kilometres from Tampa International Airport with a driving time of approximately 40 minutes. There are 390 spacious, elegant guestrooms and suites offering modern up-to-date amenities including wired Internet access in all rooms and balconies or patios with harbour, gulf, park or boulevard views. The hotel features three restaurants, several bars, an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, tennis courts, a fully equipped gym and an extensive white sandy beach area. There are extensive banqueting and conferencing facilities all with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment available.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort Hotel Florida is located adjacent to Sand Key and Preserve on over ten acres of exclusive white sandy beach. The hotel is nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. A short distance away is the action that surrounds Clearwater Beach which is the hub of tourism offering a wide choice of activities during the day and evenings with watersports, deep sea fishing, sailing cruises, the nearby Clearwater Marine Aquarium, golf courses, restaurants and shopping in the Tampa Bay area. The resort is a perfect base for many world class attractions including Orlando with Walt Disney World's famous attractions. Tampa International Airport is approximately a 40 minute drive at a distance of 37 kilometres from the hotel.

Airports
Distance	20 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi Hire car Hotel limousine service (chargeable) Super shuttle providing door-to-door transportation

Layout Description

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort is a nine storey building set in landscaped gardens. A winding pathway leads through the gardens and pool area down to a private white sandy beach looking directly out on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Florida’s west coast. The main lobby area houses the reception desk and leads off to the hotel’s restaurants, bars and meetings rooms which are all located on the ground floor of the hotel. Four elevators serving all guestroom floors are located by turning left from the reception area opposite the Mainstay Bar. Also located off the lobby are the hotel's two gift shops, business centre and the entrance to the gardens, pool area and beach. The Suncoast Fitness Centre with a gym and spa are located on the ninth floor.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours.
Languages Spoken	Multilingual including English, German, French, Spanish, Mexican.
Payment Methods	All major credit cards accepted.
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies exchanged 24 hours a day.
Taxis Arranged	Guest services will arrange taxis.
Tours Arranged	Guest Relations will arrange tours to all surrounding areas.

Guest Relations	Guest Relations offer standard services including arranging of golf tee times, dinner reservations, watersport activities, local sightseeing, tickets for the theatre and sporting events. Also available is assistance with transportation requirements, including car and limousine rentals and bus charters.
Concierge Services	Standard services.
Medical Facilities	Several walk-in clinics and emergency rooms are available nearby, as well as a doctor "on call" service with an approximate response time of 30 minutes according to the hotel.
Parking	The hotel has parking space surrounding the hotel for 438 cars. There is no charge for parking.

Cranley Comment

On entering the lobby area the reception desk is to the left. There is a central seating area with sofas and chairs and immediately opposite is Rusty's restaurant. Facing Rusty's and turning left leads down to the lift lobby area serving all floors, the Mainstay Tavern, business centre, the two in-house shops, telephones and an ATM banking machine. Also located in this area is a door leading out to the grounds and swimming pool, Turtle Bar and the Poolside Cafe. Turning right at Rusty's leads to Island Grille and the hotel's conference and banqueting rooms.

Shops & Amenities

Description

There are two shops conveniently located on-site, Sea Grapes Apparel and BlueWater provisions. The two shops are located on the lobby level.

Cranley Comment

Sea Grapes features a variety of Sheraton Sand Key Resort apparel such as beachwear attire, clothing and unique gifts. BlueWater Provisions offers a large variety of convenience-oriented food items, beach snacks, beverages, beach lotions, magazines, newspapers, cigarettes, wine, assorted personal necessities, gift items and the shop has a coffee machineing food. BlueWater is open 24 hours every day. Across the street from the hotel are the many shops of Sand Key offering a wide variety of convenience stores, chemists and clothes shops.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	9
Total Rooms	390
Elevators	4
Rooms per Elevator	98
Total Staff	320
Staff per Room	0.8

Check-in Time	15:00
Check-out Time	11:00
Late Checkout	According to availability and chargeable.
Smoking Rooms	There are a limited number of smoking rooms available.
Room Service	Breakfast 06:00 to 11:30 All day dining 11:30 to 23:00 Dinner 18:00 to 22:00 BlueWater Provisions is open 24 hours a day and has a selection of salads, sandwiches, light snacks and beverages.
Laundry Service	A same-day service is available Monday to Saturday. There is no service available on Sundays or public holidays. Laundry apparel must be received by 09:00 and will be returned by 18:00. Self-service coin operated washers and dryers are located on floors two, four and six. Laundry detergent is available at BlueWater Provisions shop on the lobby level.

Club or Executive Facilities

There are no Club or Executive rooms but the hotel has a Starwood Platinum member club lounge called the "Sand Key Beach Club" which is located on the ninth floor of the hotel. The lounge is surrounded with large windows on two sides and has views out over the bay. The room is decorated in pastel tones with vibrant colourful soft furnishings. There are comfortable sofas, tables and chairs and a large raised television in a cabinet. Continental breakfast from 07:00 to 10:00 and evening cocktails from 17:00 to 19:00 are served complimentary to Starwood preferred members. Complimentary high speed Internet access is available in the lounge.

Cranley Comment

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort has 390 spacious guest rooms and suites all with private balconies or patios with gulf, harbour, park or boulevard views. All the guestrooms have a choice of king-size or two queen-size beds, are well appointed, offer natural light through floor-to-ceiling sliding balcony doors and are fitted with modern up-to-date amenities. The rooms are decorated in pastel shades with coordinating colourful soft furnishings. All guestrooms have a shower over the bath and have wired high speed Internet access available. All children under the age of 18 can stay in parent's guestrooms free of charge.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Standard Rooms	375	61 Harbour 124 Gulf 130 Park 60 Boulevard	27 inch television Coffee making facilities Cable television In-room Nintendo Pay-for-view movies Electronic voice mail Speaker phone In-room video folio review and checkout Iron and board In-room safe Private balcony with table and two chairs In-room wired high speed Internet access for laptop computer is available (chargeable) Balcony	2 Adults and 1 Child	31

Cranley Comment

Standard Rooms are approached along brightly lit wide corridors with each corridor housing a drinks and ice vending machine room. On entering the room there is a small hallway which contains a vanity unit with a sink and immediately opposite, a marble shelf unit with tea and coffee making facilities. A door leads into the bathroom. The bedroom area is spacious, bright, airy and decorated in a contemporary design with shades in pastel tones and colourful coordinating soft furnishings. The rooms have either a king-size or two queen-size beds with high wooden headboards. All the guestrooms have light wooden furnishings. Rooms with king-size beds have a large wooden desk. Rooms with queen-size beds have a small circular table and two comfortable chairs. King-size bedrooms have a rattan cushioned easy chair with a separate foot rest. There is plenty of storage space with a large double fitted wardrobe housing an in-room safe and a chest of drawers with the television on top. All the rooms have either a balcony or patio area which is furnished with two chairs and a small table. All the bathrooms have a shower fitted over the bath.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Suites	15	5 Harbour 5 Gulf 5 Park	As per the Standard Rooms with the added benefit of: More space Living and dining area 42 inch flat screen television Refrigerator Sofa bed	6	62

Cranley Comment

All the suites are located on the eighth floor of the hotel. On entering the room the bathroom is immediately off to one side. The spacious suites are carpeted and all individually decorated in a contemporary design with shades of pastel tones and colourful soft furnishings. The rooms are open plan with a dining, lounge and bedroom area. The dining area has a circular table and four chairs, a bar area with fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. The lounge seating area has a double sofa bed, two easy chairs and a coffee table. There is a large wooden desk with a flat screen television located on the wall above. The suites are available with either a king-size or two queen size beds and have a furnished balcony running along the entire length of the suite. The bathrooms have a double vanity sink unit and a shower over the bath. Most of the suites have connecting rooms available. One of the suites is used for meetings and private functions and is furnished accordingly without a bed.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort has three restaurants catering for all tastes and offering a range of local and American classic dishes. Rusty’s offers bistro style dining and is located on the ground floor of the hotel adjacent to the lobby. The Island Grille offers casual dining for lunch or dinner in a family type setting and is located off the lobby area. Poolside Cafe is located in the grounds of the hotel next to the swimming pool. The cafe serves salads, sandwiches, quick snacks, beverages and ice creams on their terrace, the poolside and beach front.

Rusty's

Restaurant Type	Bistro
Restaurant Capacity	192
Opening Times	Breakfast Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 11:30 Sunday from 07:00 until 12:00 Open daily for dinner from 18:00 to 22:00
Dress Codes	Proper dress is required, no beachwear.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking.
Children’s Facilities	Children's menu available. High chairs available.
Breakfast Options	Rusty's feature a full breakfast buffet including continental and cooked breakfasts. Daily specials such as breakfast pizzas, omelettes, crepes, breakfast sandwiches and more are available.

Cranley Comment

Rusty's Restaurant is located off the lobby area of the hotel and is a contemporary American bistro style restaurant offering international specialities and Florida favourites. The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. In the evening, the rich woodwork and casually elegant atmosphere add the perfect complement to the Floribbean flair, a mixture of Florida and Caribbean cuisine present in many of the dinner dishes. A choice of soups, enticing main dishes, daily prime rib buffet and desserts are all available. The restaurant offers more than 30 wine selections by the glass. There is live jazz piano music during the evenings from Tuesday to Saturday.

The Island Grille

Restaurant Type	Grill
Restaurant Capacity	96 (of which 76 inside and 20 outside)
Opening Times	Daily 11:00 to 23:00
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking.
Children’s Facilities	Children's menu available. High chairs available.
Breakfast Options	Not open for breakfast.

Cranley Comment

The Island Grille is located off the lobby area of the hotel and has a casual family orientated setting. The restaurant is decorated with tiled floors, wooden tables and chairs and has an open kitchen. There is a terrace area outside. The restaurant is open seven days a week and offers a menu with something for everyone, from burgers to bronzed mahi, a fresh salad bar, soups and sandwiches. The Island Grille is popular with children for its “brownie explosion” and its frozen yogurt at the “make your own sundae” bar.

Poolside Cafe

Restaurant Type	Poolside
Restaurant Capacity	16
Opening Times	Daily, weather permitting 11:00 to 16:00
Dress Codes	Casual.

Air-Conditioning	No
Smoking Policy	There are no designated smoking tables
Children’s Facilities	Children are welcome in the small terrace cafe.
Breakfast Options	Not open for breakfast.

Cranley Comment

The Poolside Cafe is located in the grounds of the hotel next to the swimming pool. Steps lead up to the small cafe which has a limited seating area and fans on the ceiling. The cafe serves salads, sandwiches, quick snacks, beverages and ice creams on their terrace, the poolside and beach front during the day.

Bars

Number of Bars

Mainstay Tavern