This was the best vacation I've had in a long time. The resort was staffed well, the grounds were beautiful and well maintained. The beach crew were very helpful and friendly. The beach is very clean. If you get up and, on the beach, early enough you may even catch a dolphin fin popping up from the horizon. Nothing at all bad to say about this resort. We are already trying to book for next year. If you're a couple or a family, this place is your home on the beach away from home.
I have no complaints about the resort with one exception. We were in room 47 which was in the second floor. Right below us and directly in front was the location for the I assume restaurant workers. There was constant noise from the conversations, singing and clanging of carts. It started at 7 am and did not end till 10. I do not know if management is aware of such a disturbance. Other than that, the room was spacious and clean. The chairs outside the room are a nice place to sit and watch the water. I would definitely recommend but be aware of where your room is located.
I am hesitant to write this only because I don't want this hidden gem to become overrun! Rarely do we like to go to the same place twice, but after having such a fantastic experience here on our 'babymoon' in October, we will be bringing our entire family back for baby's first beach trip this upcoming summer.
The website is super clear about what accommodations they offer, and if there is something you have a question about, you can always call or email in advance! I sent an email regarding a place for baby to sleep and they responded within the hour with a solution.
The rooms are basic but clean and nice and have everything you need. We stayed in a room on the second floor with two beds and a small kitchenette which was perfect for keeping drinks and snacks cold, and reheating leftovers from dinners out. The rooms were very clean and the book they provide with hotel and area information was extremely helpful.
Our beach experience was amazing and definitely the reason we will be returning this summer. The water is crystal clear and gorgeous. They make it so seamless by providing towels and setting up an umbrella and chairs for you every day. I recommend bringing some cash to tip the person who sets up your beach spot. The pool is small but warm and nice and a great place to cool down and relax. The sunsets are unmatched from the beach. A server from the Turtle Club restaurant patrols the beach most of the day taking drink and food orders which is SO nice and convenient. You're also allowed to have your own food and drinks so it's nice to have options.
I didn't feel like it was extremely crowded. There were all types of guests from families to couples to girls trips. Everyone was polite and respectful of each other's space on the beach.
We ate at the Turtle Club one time. The food is pricey and I felt that it was good but not fantastic. It could have been just what I ordered. The ambiance and drinks were wonderful. We will probably eat there once during our next stay, but we usually just ordered in and explored the local faire.
The location is great but there are only a few places to eat within walking distance, so I would recommend renting a car if you plan on going out to eat or doing any exploring or are planning a trip to the grocery store.
Overall, I foresee the Vanderbilt Beach Resort being a family tradition and can't wait to be back!
We have stayed here before. There used to be an arrangement with the restaurant for breakfast in the morning but that NO LONGER exists. unknown reason. We stayed at the condos across the street. They were clean and well maintained as per usual. The area is quiet and very convenient as the beach is just across the street. The beach appeared to be EXTREMELY crowded, but may because they let people who ARE NOT staying at the resort pay to use the beach only. It takes the privacy of the beach away and makes it seem like a public beach. After paying the cost of this resort I don't like the fact that "outside" people are allowed, too much crowding.
Thank you for your review. The restaurant has never been open to the public for breakfast, but in the past we offered a continental breakfast as part of a summer special package for hotel guests that ran from June to early December. We have not previously offered breakfast in the restaurant during our winter busy season and we discontinued the summer special package when COVID began. We do, however, continue to provide FREE coffee and pastries for hotel guests in our front lobby and our restaurant continues to offer lunch and dinner every day.
The County just completed a beach renourishment project on our section of the beach a few days before Christmas and the beach is now twice as big as before with plenty of space. However, the public beach access on the corner of our street, and a section of the public beach from that access South to the Ritz Carlton Hotel, remains closed for a few more weeks while they renourish that section. This, along with school break over the holidays, is why our section of the beach has been more crowded than normal. It is not because we are letting people pay to use the beach. We take pride in providing our guests with a great beach experience and we are are sorry if you did not have the experience that you expected during your stay. We expect that now that the holidays are over, and also the renourishment of the southern section of the public beach is complete in a few weeks, things will return to normal.
So far above our expectations. The room(s) are phenomenal. We traveled up and down the east coast and then the west coast of Florida and truly none of the hotels we stayed at could compare to the Vanderbilt. Loved the facility and the beach. The restaurant was with it's beach side seating as well as indoor seating was frosting on the cake. This facility is certainly on par for "resort" status. We will be going back!! We have shared our enthusiasm with friends and relatives.
