Hilton HHonors - Hilton Longboat Key Beachfront Resort

I am registered at the Longboat Key Hilton at the start of February for a week. Is this a reasonable location to get around Tampa quickly - and a quick day trip to Orlando?

Is there a better room/side to request?

Any information will help - my wife is coming along - this will be her first vacation in over 3 years and I want it to be a comfortable one. And we (sorry, I) have to stay in Tampa for 5 of the 7 days we are there,

Nope, the Longboat Hilton is about 60 miles south of Tampa on Longboat Key and nearest city Sarasota. In addition you will have to drive about 30 mins to get to an Expressway/Interstate, so the drive to Tampa will take upwards of 1 1/2 hrs.
Orlando is even worse you have to go north and then turn East (not West) will take a good 2 hours plus, a day trip quite doable though.
Havent been to the Longboat in well over 10 years last time there it as fairly nice.
Mike



[This message has been edited by MIKESILV (edited 01-19-2002).]

ef yu goe north frum sarsoda, an thin turn west two goe two orlando, yu wil hav a vry loooooong trip.

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Loving, Caring, Honest, Intelligent, Empathetic, Creative, and Giving.

Thanks Auturo I edited my post, need to go EAST to Orlando.
Mike

I was just at the Longboat Key Hilton a few days ago (I didn't stay there, family lives on Longboat Key and we went for drinks). It's a nice Hilton, the beach is nice at this time of year. The other posters are correct - its a long drive to TPA and longer to MCO. Go off the north end of the island via Bradenton to avoid the most-utilized drawbridges.

Longboat Key is even a longer drive from anywhere on the mainland because there are no bridges going from it to the mainland except from the extreme north end. You either have to drive north to Manatee Ave or south to St. Armand's to get access to the mainland. I've gone from St. Armand's to Tampa a lot and it takes about 1 1/4 hours if the traffic is good on the bridges. Orlando is about a 2 hour drive (I have a friend who did it in 1 1/2, but that's not recommended).

Pretty much any hotel on the mainland would be better to get to these cities, but if you also want to go to the beach a lot, Longboat isn't bad. Although there are better beaches too, since Longboat's keeps getting washed away.

[This message has been edited by johnep1 (edited 01-19-2002).]

[This message has been edited by johnep1 (edited 01-19-2002).]

I stayed at the Longboat Key property about a year ago. It may not fit your geography requirements, but it is a nice property. They do have a limited number of "suites" available. A suite is two adjoining rooms, one of which is basically a very large living room. But if you're with kids, it's great. The beach is beautiful too.

[This message has been edited by harold (edited 01-19-2002).]

The Hilton properties in the Tampa/St. Pete cities are not on the water.

If you are looking for Tampa area Hiltons on the beach, the only two I know of are:

Hilton Clearwater Beach
Hilton North Reddington Beach

Hello all -
I will be staying at this property for four night in late June. Appreciate if anyone can provide feedback, tips, guidance regarding their experience at this hotel?

thanks in advance and all the best...

A search will yield further info on this property.

I thought I would use the property as a cheap way to stay near Tampa once. While the stay was cheap, the commute was terrible; The Longboat Hilton is not convenient to Tampa, just FYI.

If you have 35-40 minutes, it is a nice drive......I live landlocked so any water view for me is enjoyable. I did this drive half a dozen times over the week, and traffic was never a problem...even at 7 am on a Monday morning.

one last touristy point - unless you really, really, really like rollercoasters do not go to Busch Gardens in Tampa. It is very expensive just to get in, and 90% of it is rollercoasters.

Huh??
All the LIVE animals, birds, gorillas etc are just decorative props for the coasters??
Go to Disney and I dare you find one real animal, Busch still cheaper.
Mike

Any comments on this property and how they treat gold would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Terrapin

Has anyone stayed at this property? How would you rate it?

Travel,

Here are my thoughts on the Longboat Key Hilton and Longboat Key in general....

My wife and I have been to Longboat Key five times and enjoyed all of them VERY much. Longboat is not your typical tourist area - it is a well-affluent community where you don't feel like a tourist. The beaches are nice (although not as "white" as Siesta Key since they have had to pump sand back on-shore after some storms) and also fairly quiet.

We have two kids (four and two years old) and they love it there. The Hilton is not a "resort" compared to other Hilton resort hotels, but we have found it very satisfactory for our needs. A typical day for us is breakfast, beach, lunch, swim at the pool, drinks, dinner, and then beach for sunset.

If you're looking for a relaxing vacation, I would recommend it highly. If you're looking to be pampered, there are better choices.

Good Luck,
Craig

Thanks for your help - your itinerary is remarkable familiar to mine!

[This message has been edited by traveltoomuch (edited Feb 22, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UpgradeMe:
Done a search?
</font>

Yes I did.

Thinking of staying here in June can anyone tell me what benefits as Gold Iould get. Are the suites worth upgrading to or is a chance we would get a complimentary upgrade - would be a stay of five nights.

Any reviews or comments about the above would be appreciated

Is there beach/poolside drink service? or is just a bar that you must go up and order? Can you call and reserve chairs and umbrellas by the beach? are the beach chairs set up or is it self service as well? I don't mind paying for the service just trying to get a feel for the property.

Be aware that Longboat Key is having beach renourishment work carried out at present - not sure when the stretch where the Hilton is will get done (or indeed has been done).

I really appreciate everyone's help on this-

I've never been to FLorida West Coast before, but am plannnig a trip with the children next April. I would really appreciate some suggestions on which property to stay at in the area, plus any tips on accomplishin effective rates.

Longboat's been mentioned to me, but I'd be pleased to see a review.

Any help would be great!

Thanks!!!!

I really appreciate everyone's help on this-

I've never been to FLorida West Coast before, but am plannnig a trip with the children next April. I would really appreciate some suggestions on which property to stay at in the area, plus any tips on accomplishin effective rates.

Longboat's been mentioned to me, but I'd be pleased to see a review.

Any help would be great!

Thanks!!!!

I've stayed on neighboring Lido Key 3 times, all at the Lido Beach Resort (http://www.lidobeachresort.com/) I would have chosen the Hilton, but it's way way up the Key from (1) St. Armand's Circle, home to all the cool shops and restaurants, and (2) the bridge back to the mainland. The Hilton is basically stranded up with all the snooty old people and mega million dollar homes. If you want to get out and around and enjoy things, you're always driving that 2-lane road to and from the hotel.

Although non-H, the Lido Beach Resort is a fantastic place, walking distance to St. Armands yet self-contained enough to really be a resort. Two nice pools with all-day table service plus a georgeous beach. Best rooms IMHO are the beach front Main Building rooms; older but larger than the South Tower rooms. South Tower suites are probably really nice, but I never spent the $$$ for those.

I can't say enough good things about Lido Key, St. Armands, and the Lido Beach Resort. It used to be a Radisson and is now independent. I'm secretly hoping for the day they sign up with Hilton!

The closest decent-looking Hilton property is the HGI Sarasota Airport, which is certainly not a beach resort, but it's not a typical "airport" hotel either. Decent in-town location in Sarasota, 5-10 minute drive to the beaches.

Good luck with your visit!

This hotel has been location of my least favorable treatment as a Diamond.

The building is a motel style low rise , not a typical Hilton. On a paid stay, asked for an upgrade and given a parking lot room, furthest from the beach. Hotel was half full and they tried to sell me the upgrade.

No breakfast coupons and they argued when I told them it was Hilton policy. No amenities in the room. Poorly trained staff and no one including the manager understands guest service.

The plus side is that Longboat Key is a great place to relax and unwind with some great restaurants in the area and the hotel is directly on the beach.

Ray



After a quick 1 night stay, I need to update my comments on this hotel. New management team and an investment in renovation equaled a very pleasant stay. Received a nice pool side room, full breakfast buffet and a warm, friendly welcome by the front desk team. The place looks great and most employees are well trained and very hospitable. Only negative was a lack of late check out.

I'm glad to have this hotel back on my list of weekend getaways.
Ray

Any resent comments or opinions about this property and how are Diamonds treated.

Their policy now is to offer you an upgrade to a non-pool facing room for $30 a night or pool view for $50 a night. I am a Gold and just booked the $30 upgrade. You can use your points to stay and pay $30 a night for a suite - that's a good deal.

You're on your own if you roll the dice. If you can't afford the $30, then you aren't going to like Longboat Key anyway, since it's pretty expensive anywhere.

If you want the upgrade deal, call the hotel and ask for Amanda. She's great.

I stayed there last year at that time the hotel had a problem with palmetto bugs (large roaches at least an 1 inch long). My wife and I checked in around 9 pm turned the lite on in the room and not one but two of them where crawling around the room. I called the front desk and asked to change rooms the clerks says to me they are common in Florida. I told him I have lived in Florida for 45 years and if you have a good exterminator they are not common!

He moved me to a room on a higher floor and at least in this room I only found two dead ones that house keeping never picked up. :mad:

I stayed there a couple of nights a year ago, and the hotel was fine. Upgraded to a pool facing room etc. One comment is thatthe fitness center is not up to much.

We stayed here in May and loved it. Only HHonors Gold Status, but we received upgrade to a room with living room. Was great for us.