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Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
1540 Ben Franklin DrSarasota, FL 34236
(941) 388-2181
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
10 reviews for Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel
10 reviews in English
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Review from John A.
Salinas, CA
8/4/2011
I stayed here with my wife and teenage daughter from July 29 to August 2, 2011 and had a great time. The Gulf is only about 50 yards away across a white, sandy beach. We especially enjoyed spotting dolphins jumping out of the water less than 100 yards offshore.
This is a clean, family-friendly hotel that is reasonably priced and has a perfect, uncrowded location right on the beach. It is clearly an older building (perhaps 30-40 years old) but appears to have been remodeled in the past few years. Being an older building, the bathrooms are smallish but not tiny. Everything in our room was clean and in good working order. Being the hottest time of year, I was thankful for the A/C!
I found the employees to be very friendly and helpful. Only once did I have a problem (not enough towels in the room). Five minutes after I called the front desk, housekeeping was at the door with fresh, clean towels.
NOTES:
* There is a free, on-call shuttle to drive you to (and pick you up from) nearby places. If you take advantage of it, be sure to tip the driver!
* There are PLENTY of clean pool towels available near the pool. Don't bother bringing your room towels down to the pool or to the beach. The pool towels are bigger and you can use as many as you need.
* While I didn't see much of it, be aware that people smoke in all of the outdoor areas (pool bar, outdoor restaurant seating and room balconies). Smoke doesn't bother me but it does my wife and thought that I should mention it.
* A 16% gratuity is automatically added to the restaurant and bar bills. Another guest (a local) told me that this is because the hotel gets a large number of foreign tourists who don't tip at all. I don't know if that's true, it's just what he told me. -
Review from Mark H.
Updated - 7/20/2011 6 photos
I'm going to up the ante on my previous review (read below) based on my recent stay this week and go from 4 to 5 stars. The level of friendliness with the staff and the old school charm of the room with it's wonderful gulf view all remain the same. However, due to car trouble, we decided to stay put at the hotel for our entire stay. This prompted us to try their food--AND IT WAS OUTSTANDING!
THE BURGER (as it's called on their menu) was incredible. Big enough for two moderately hungry people to share with an order of fries. The bacon was thicker than most burgers, and the flavor was intense. This may actually be the best burger I've ever eaten.
BREAKFAST BAGEL SANDWICH was also massive. Who's eating this whole thing? 2 or 3 scrambles eggs, 4 slices of bacon, American cheese and served with home fries. Who wants to go lay on the beach and expose their bloated stomach after eating this monster? Again, probably best if you split it with someone, unless you're starving.
GROUPER SANDWICH was very good, and the size was decent. Not the thickest, flakiest filet I've ever seen, but it exceeded all of my expectation considering that it's hotel food. Very flavorful... The batter they use is light and crunchy and the tater sauce is made fresh--not out of some jar.
Next year, we will do the same and remain on hotel grounds for eating purposes.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/5/2011
The wifey picked this placed randomly as a surprise for my b-day last July, and when we got there… Read more »
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Review from Moraima D.
Altamonte Springs, FL
7/21/2011
I have to say this hotel exceded my expectations, don't get me wrong it's nothing fancy but for the price and being right on the beach I thought we were going to get a very rundown place. We chose this hotel after reading reviews all over , because we wanted to stay right on the beach, no driving to and from, but the other places around were way to expensive.
Everybody was nice, specially the beach boys helping with the chairs and umbrellas. The room was clean, again nothing fancy just a standard hotel room. I would've prefer to have a queen bed at least instead of two full since it was just my husband and I. The shower is tiny though, and the AC is way to cold almost all the time and you can't control it. It has two heated pools which is awesome and one is huge so it never felt crowded, although we didn't use it that much. We were mostly at the beach were they have complimentary chairs and towels but you have to rent the umbrellas for $10 a day and it's totally worth it. At least during July when the sun is to it's maximum power. the beach is fantastic!!! We didn't have a beach front room, but it was just a matter of going down a flight of stairs and there it was :-)
We had dinner and breakfast there just one day and for being hotel food it was pretty good, but a little pricey. That's why we decided to skip their food for the rest of the week. They have small refrigerators in the rooms so we went to a supermarket and bought cereal, milk, bread, cheese, deli ham, crackers, juice, water and had breakfast at our room and made sandwiches for the beach so we didn't have to go out for lunch either. It rained every afternoon but late enough that it was ok to go back to our room and get ready for dinner. We had dinner in different places every night based on reviews from here, and hang out at St. Armands circle and Siesta key village. A very relaxing vacation. -
Review from Dale Z.
Algonquin, IL
3/13/2011
We stayed here for about 3 days. It was alright. Nothing special.
The great thing was that it was right on the beach.. we didnt have an ocean view room, but it was literally only a 30 second walk to the beach.. that was great!
The heated pools were cool, there is a laundry area onsite that comes in handy with old school arcade games, like Galaga, which is awesome.
The rooms are typical hotel rooms. Nothing fancy. My only complaints were that the rooms smelled musty, like they have flooded before and that if it falls under 60 degrees outside, the A/c doesnt work. There was also some mold spots on the shower curtain.
The service was great, the people were friendly and the parking was close and plentiful.
The beach is amazing. So close and so private. They have cabanas, chairs, etc..
for the price we got it on from Priceline, I would stay there again. -
Review from Shelley B.
Los Altos, CA
12/29/2010
As a Florida native, i've been visiting the Helmsley Sandcastle for about 15 years and even spent my honeymoon here. This place, along with Barnacle Bill's and the Sarasota Jungle Gardens on Tamiami Trail, is a treasure of Sarasota. That is, if you are looking for the true natural beauty of Lido Key and not the pampered, sickly vacation experience offered at the likes of the non-beachfront Ritz Sarasota.
The rooms at the HS are small, but cozy; the bathrooms are basic, but clean. The room service is friendly, the food is delicious and runs until 11pm (although they were kind enough to extend the deadlines for us a few times!).
Just next door is an adorable tiki bar thats been there since the 1950s! It has a fire pit, perfect for watching sunsets in the cool Florida winter. The bartender there trained under Don the Beachcomber.
The stretch of beach in front of the Helmsley is arguably the most beautiful on Lido, towards the south end of the island near the park. I've stayed at other Lido hotels and the Helmsley is by far the best location for the money.
Come here for a true Florida vacation, if you are looking for peace, friendliness and natural beauty without breaking the bank. -
Review from Anna L.
6/18/2010
I want to say I love this hotel but I really think that it is in need of a facelift!
There are two pools which I loved lounging around during the day because they gave you free poolside food (wings, nachos, fruit/cheese, etc). Be careful of seagulls and crows though..they are known to attack your plate if you don't cover it up!!! I had that happen to me twice :( but it was funny. The hotel is right along the beach and has it's own private section which is fantastic if you want to get a quiet swim in during the day..vs. going to a super crowded beach where there are naked kids running around. They provide free towels and beach chairs. Umbrellas are hard to come by during hot hot hot days and so call ahead and reserve.
If you don't have a car, consider renting one or use their in house car once or twice. It is free and they are quick to get it in case you want to stop by St. Armand's circle.
I heart the mid century design. I was fascinated by the logo and kept taking it's picture (mainly because I'm a designer and so I click away when I see inspiration!! haha). The hotel is a lovely pink and the beach chairs are pink & white striped. It's so nice to just sit there and view all of it at once against the blue ocean.
The room is clean but the doors and and fixtures NEEDS to be replaced and the bathroom needs to be remodeled. I was quite disappointed when I got to the room because of all the old fixtures. I also wish there was a kitchen or at least a microwave. However, it is clean and there is a giant closet to put all your stuff in. I was a little scared to use the bathroom though but got over it after the first day...when you gotta go you gotta go - _ - -
Review from Ingrid G.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2007
UPDATE: Well, apparently Leona has shuffled off this mortal coil. I read in the paper that her dog, heir to the fortune, is staying at an 'undisclosed location' in Florida. I wonder where that might be?
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When I'm in Sarasota visiting my mom, I sometimes like to stay at a place that brightens my mood. However, hotels on Lido key are either super expensive or those weird condominium kind of places with decor from the 70's. That is why I love the Helmsley. The rooms are big, bright, and clean. Many of the rooms are right on the beach with a view of the Gulf--you can actually see dolphins jumping from your window! The Helmsley has a nice poolside bar and pool, as well as a full service restaurant. Generally the staff is very pleasant. But the best thing is that Leona herself often stays here---once we sat right next to her at breakfast. When you're in Sarasota and want to stay at a true original, go for the Helmsley! -
Review from Gulshan I.
Downingtown, PA
Updated - 5/16/2011
Ok so they sent the charger and battery via UPS along and charged us $30+ which included some sort of a fuel charge and some other charges. Serves me well for leaving it behind.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/11/2011
At this hotel you are paying for the location. The rooms were average but clean. The view was… Read more »
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Review from Sara D.
Sarasota, FL
5/12/2011
Whoever complains about this hotel is just grumpy. Right on the beach, very reasonably priced, just lovely.
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Review from Chris P.
Chantilly, VA
11/21/2009
Im actually sitting by the pool at the Helmsley as I write this.
We checked in yesterday and so far everything had been great. The hotel has obviously been around for a couple decades but they have done a good job maintaining the property.
I got a beach front room which has a fantastic view of the gulf. The carpet and decor in the room is a bit outdated but still in good condition and seemingly clean. My only complaint about the room is the balcony door. It looks like it belongs on the front of a South East DC liqour store. Management should consider replacing it with something a little more aesthetically pleasing.
The staff had been quite pleasant and helpful.
My favorite things about the Sandcadtle...
1. Free rides to St Armands Cir
2. Pool side bar and the pool itself
3. 10 steps from the beach
It's not the Ritz but you get a lot for the price. I'd stay again for sure.
