Treasure Island

[Tom Morrow]

Has anyone been to Treasure Island? I have heard it is very quiet - would Clearwater or St Petersburg be a better choice?

[fredflintstone]

I've stayed at Treasure Island quite a few times. It's actually a few miles long so varies on quietness. St Johns Pass at one end which has a speciality shops, casino boats and reating places. In the middle (Central avenue so splits St Petes into N and S) there is a plaza with a few shops, but quite a few empty last year. St Petes beach is about two miles further south from here. A few hotels around there that have entertainment with beach bars. Beach is quite wide, but it is shelly (Sore on feet) until you get within 20 feet of the beach (about 100yds from walkway). Tend to stay in the Bilmar Beach resort which the kids fell in love with a few years ago, which is just across the road from the plaza. Yes, quieter than St Petes, but not totally quiet. Trolly bus goes along the gulf buvld linking St Petes and Tyrone Mall only a few miles away.

[Boyle73]

Hi

We are just back from a couple of days in Treasure Island before we headed off to Sarasota and then Clearwater.

I thought Treasure Island was lovely and the Bilmar is great and would def stay there again but for no more than a couple of days.

If you do get a room at the Bilmar then make sure you get a gulf room with a balcony for the views.

I am not the biggest fan of St Petes but love Clearwater and think there is far more to do there.

Lesley

[Harry]

Just come back from 5 days there (stayed at the South Beach Condo)... lovely beach town very close to John's Pass and St Pete's... the only problem we had was I got stung by a stingray whilst wading.

* must remember to do the Stingray Shuffle*

[Tom Morrow]

We are only going to the coast for 2 nights so I think I will gove it a try - not sure about the stin rays tho...... eek!

[lausan]

not keen on Treasure Island area we were invited by Friends to the Bilmar they had changed rooms Twice music from the bar very loud lots of bikers,Johns Pass nearby is ideal nice bars Resturants and Boutique style shops ..Clearwater and St Pete Beach are i feel better Areas

[fredflintstone]

How long ago was the stay, as the Bilmar rooms have been refurbished and are extrmelly nice (Its now one of those hotels where people buy the rooms for renting). Most rooms are well away from the beach bar (and those rooms are a lot bigger!) and have lovely views of the gulf. The beach bar closes at 9pm during the week and 10pm on Fri/Sat so it's not an all night bar and strictly enforced and I've stayed above the bar with kids on a few occasions.
Across the road is Ricky T's bar where the bikers hang out at the weekends. The bikes look great and I have never heard or seen a fight yet.
We all know who bad trip advisor can be, but it is one of the few hotels that tends to have great reviews

[lausan]

How long ago was the stay, as the Bilmar rooms have been refurbished and are extrmelly nice (Its now one of those hotels where people buy the rooms for renting). Most rooms are well away from the beach bar (and those rooms are a lot bigger!) and have lovely views of the gulf. The beach bar closes at 9pm during the week and 10pm on Fri/Sat so it's not an all night bar and strictly enforced and I've stayed above the bar with kids on a few occasions.
Across the road is Ricky T's bar where the bikers hang out at the weekends. The bikes look great and I have never heard or seen a fight yet.
We all know who bad trip advisor can be, but it is one of the few hotels that tends to have great reviews

we went for a visit Oct 2007 agree the Bikes are Great but when we were there the Bikers were very Rowdy Police had to be called By Staff a few times

[paulap]

We stayed at the Bilmar too but found the area was too quiet for us. Restaurants seemed to close quite early and there was only really the hotel bar to spend some time in the evening.

[Boyle73]

I think if you are only going to the gulf coast for 2 days then Clearwater Beach (or St Pete's, albeit I favour Clearwater) would be better as there is more to do.

However, for me it would also depend on the time of year and which days during the week.

For example friends went to Clearwater during Spring Break and said it was an absolute nightmare! I've found certain pubs / restaurants get a bit too busy for my liking during the weekend but during the week its lovely.

Lesley