The hotel is right on the beach, as advertised. The sunset was gorgeous! The room was spacious and up-to-date. The pools were nice and the bar next to the pool was very convenient. The staff was OK. The big 'but' is that this hotel is very old. If you like older hotels, then you'll be fine. By the way, there was no in-room internet (wired or unwired), but there was a free wireless network in the hotel lobby.

Walked into lobby and had to loudly say hello. Came out reluctantly to check us in. Parking garage scarry and old. Nothing in this hotel has been kept up...All original. Dead bugs on the windows and curtains. Pool was nasty looking. Hotel door and balcony door old old old. Bathroom was old old old. We called the desk and told them we were leaving and was not going to be charged for the reservation. This was not up to our standards. Nothing kept up to date from the ceiling to the floor...Nasty. I could not even imagine pulling down the covers and sturring something up. We stayed at the lido beach resort and it was heaven. This is where you need to stay. We love sarasota and lido beach and all the employees and accomodations.

Service. I have stayed at hotels around the world. None made me feel more welcome or more valued than the staff at the Helmsley Sandcastle in Sarasota. They made every request a priority and came through every time. I have been in the service business in one job or another for 30 years and I was so pleased with the way my family and I were treated. I was astonished. This hotel has the best location (right on the softest sand beach on Lido Key) The rooms were clean and well maintained. Our room had a balcony facing the beach and was 100 feet from the gulf of Mexico. We paid more for the beach front room and will gladly do so again as it was worth every penny. The pools are heated and surrounded by plenty of space and lounges for relaxing. The beach also has plenty of lounges and amenities for the guests. We never ate at the hotel so I cannot speak to the food though all indications are it is excellant. The hotel is located 2 minutes by car from Armand Circle which is a great shopping and dining marketplace. We ate at Cocina Italiano it was great but pricey. The hotel is not cheap $300 + per night and there are many more affordable hotels in Sarasota (but not on the beach!). That being said you need to ask yourself why are you coming to Sarasota. Are you coming to relax and play with your family on one of the best beaches in the world? IF the answer is yes, crack open the wallet, stay at the sandcastle, and enjoy paradise.

Although this is an older hotel, my wife and I found the room we were asigned to clean and comfortable. Oddly, there was no exhaust fan in the bathroom - window only. Due to bad weather we were unable to use the pool. However, the pool area appeared to be in very nice condition. The lobby was bright and clean with a saltwater aquarium behind the front desk. I observed one of the people at the desk helping out a German couple. He was speaking to them in German and they seemed quite pleased. I found the other staff helpful as well.

Here it is February in New York and I'm on line looking for a vacation spot where my son and i could go when he said to me "Mom, can we go back to the Sandcastle" I knew exactly where he meant. We stayed here 4 months ago and we're going back. I wouldnt stay anywhere else. Being right on the beach with shopping nearby was the best location. The rooms were clean (except for the sand we brought back in with us), the staff friendly, and the food was good in the dining room. This hotel is the gem on the Gulf. We'll be back again and again.