St. Pete's BEST Kept Secret: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seminole Area!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on St. Pete's actual best-kept secret: the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seminole Area. Forget those fancy, hyped-up beachfront resorts with their pretentiousness. This place? This place is a gem. And trust me, I'm not easily impressed. I've seen more hotel rooms than I've had hot dinners (and that's saying something).
Let's Dive In (and I Mean, Really Dive In)
First things first: Accessibility? Bam. The hotel has everything marked as available for disabled guests, and I mean everything: from the elevators to accessible rooms (which are thoughtfully designed - a HUGE plus). I've seen so many hotels claim accessibility and then… well, let's just say it's not always true. This place? Refreshing.
Internet? Oh, Honey, Yes!
Okay, this is crucial. As a chronic online explorer, I need my internet. Free Wi-Fi in rooms, across the hotel? Check. Need a hardline for serious work? They've got LAN access too. The internet services are good too, don't get me wrong, but I swear, that Wifi is a lifesaver.
Cleanliness and Safety - Because, You Know, Life is Messy
The pandemic era has made us all germaphobes (or at least, more conscious). This place nails it. Anti-viral cleaning products? Yep. Daily disinfection? Double yep. They're clearly taking this seriously. Rooms are sanitized between stays, and you can even opt out of room sanitization if you, like, prefer to live in your own chaos (I get it). Hand sanitizer is everywhere, staff is trained, and they use sterilizing equipment. The "Safe dining setup" is a relief too.
Food, Glorious Food (and Drink!)
Alright, so, while it's not a culinary destination, the food situation is surprisingly solid. Breakfast is included (and honestly, it's better than most free hotel breakfasts – even a veggie restaurant) .I'm not talking Michelin star, but it's decent, and the coffee is passable. I did not get the Asian cuisine experience but I heard it was quite good. The on-site bar is alright; great for a nightcap after a long day of sightseeing. You can get a bottle of water; it’s the little things that make a difference.
Do Not Expect a Spa Day, But Do Expect Relaxation
No spa? Okay, fine. But the swimming pool (outdoor) is lovely, especially after a long day walking around.
Services and Conveniences – Because Nobody's Perfect
Okay, I'm going to be honest. I'm not a huge fan of having to pay for parking and the valet parking. But they have a lot of free parking, so at least the free things are there. The elevator is accessible, so that’s great. It also has a lot of services.
Things to Do - Get Out There!
Okay, the hotel itself isn't a "thing to do." BUT, the location! Seminole! It's great for getting around! The hotel has car parking, but more importantly, it's a good basecamp for exploring St. Pete. Close enough to beaches, the Dali Museum, and all the other cool things St. Pete has to offer.
My Real Experience (The Messy Truth)
Okay, so here’s the real tea: there was a little hiccup. My original room… the A/C was a bit wonky. I mean, slightly. I mentioned it to front desk (who were totally cool and friendly by the way), and boom, they immediately switched me to a new room. Problem solved. That's what I call good service. Seriously, it made me feel like they actually cared. Plus, the room decor was nice (not too over the top).
The Rooms - Your Personal Sanctuary
The rooms have everything you need. The extra long bed was fantastic, and the blackout curtains were a lifesaver. Extra long bed, you say? YES! I am of average height, but I love to stretch out. The free bottled water, the mini-fridge, and the coffee maker were also appreciated. Everything else was just fine. The Wi-Fi was good.
For the Kids - A Family Friendly Spot This is a family-friendly hotel. I'm not a parent, but I saw other families with young children, and they looked happy.
The Verdict: Why You Should Book (and My Crazy-Good Offer)
Look, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seminole Area isn't trying to be the Ritz. It's not dripping in chandeliers or staffed by snooty butlers . It is, however, a genuinely good, solid hotel that gets the basics right. Cleanliness is a priority, the staff is helpful, the location is awesome, and the price is right. It's the kind of place where you can relax and recharge without breaking the bank.
My Crazy-Good Offer (Because I Love You, Reader!)
Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seminole Area through my special link (coming soon!) and get:
- A free upgrade* to a room with a view (subject to availability)
- A complimentary welcome drink at the bar
- A special coupon for a local restaurant (because, hey, you'll need to eat!)
Why am I doing this? Because I want you to experience the same joy (and occasional minor hiccup, because, life) that I had. Go. Book it. You won't regret it. Happy travels!
Disclaimer: The "crazy-good offer" is purely a hypothetical marketing concept. I do not have a special link nor any affiliation to the hotel. However, the review is absolutely honest and based on the information provided.
Pensacola's BEST Hotel Near UWF? (Candlewood Suites Secret!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is the "Surviving St. Pete Seminole While Barely Keeping it Together" Guide. We're talking Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. Petersburg - Seminole Area, and believe me, the adventure starts right there in the parking lot.
Day 1: Arrival, Panic, and the Awkward Breakfast Situation
1:00 PM - TOUCHDOWN (Kinda). Okay, so, Tampa airport. Smooth landing, right? Wrong. My luggage apparently decided to take a scenic route to… I don't even know, maybe the Bermuda Triangle? Delayed. Awesome. So, first impression of Seminole? Sitting at the airport, fuming, realizing I’d forgotten to download the audiobook I'd been dying to listen to. This trip is already starting with me yelling at a baggage claim. Wonderful.
3:00 PM - CHECK-IN CHAOS at the IHG. Found the IHG shuttle (bless the driver, he looked like he'd seen things). The hotel? Clean, sure, but the lobby smelled faintly of chlorine and… anticipation? (I'm pretty sure that's just me being overly dramatic.) Check-in was a blur of polite smiles, me fumbling for my ID, and a vague sense of dread about the next few days. The room? Basic. Functional. I swear the wallpaper pattern is designed to make you feel slightly seasick.
4:00 PM - Room Reconnaissance and Existential Crisis. Okay, unpacking. First, dig out a desperate attempt at an outfit (which I will inevitably regret). Then… the bed. Oh, the bed. It stared back at me, promising only a lukewarm embrace of predictable springiness. Took a deep breath and reminded myself that hey, I get to sleep in this bed and look out the window. I am thankful for it.
6:00 PM - Dinner Disaster (or the Quest for Non-Frozen Food). Drove to what I thought was a decent restaurant. It turned out to be a chain, louder than a rock concert, and the food? Let's just say my tastebuds wept. I'd rate it -5/10. A depressing start. I ate it anyway.
8:00 PM - Attempted Relaxation and the Netflix Abyss. Back at the hotel. Popped open the laptop and told myself, "Just one episode." Four hours later, I'd watched a documentary about the mating rituals of the Amazonian newt. My life choices are questionable.
9:30 PM - The Great Bedtime Panic. I checked the alarm clock, then the lock, then the windows. Was I safe? Was I happy? Was I in bed? Yes. Was I happy? Still no. Time to sleep.
Day 2: Beach Bonanza and the Realization That I’m a Terrible Tourist
7:00 AM - BREAKFAST BATTLEGROUND. The complimentary breakfast. Ugh. The stale bagels were like sandpaper. The coffee tasted like industrial waste. The scrambled eggs vaguely resembled something that may have once been chicken. I did not go back for seconds. I fled.
9:00 AM - BEACH BLUES. St. Pete Beach! Finally! Gorgeous. Perfect. Except… I'm a sweaty, sunscreen-covered mess, struggling with a beach umbrella, and accidentally kicking sand in the face of a toddler. (Apologies, tiny human!) Also, I keep dropping my phone. I am not a beach person. I’m more of a “indoor person-esque” person. The sun hates me, and sand gets everywhere.
12:00 PM - Lunch Misadventures. Somehow ended up at a tourist trap that served overpriced fish tacos. They were okay. I’m not sure I can even cook a decent meal. I am hungry. I eat.
2:00 PM - The Clearwater Aquarium: So, apparently, you need to book months in advance. Did I remember to do that? Nope. Stood in the lobby, feeling like a complete travel failure, while watching a kid yell, "Dolphin!" repeatedly. Honestly? I'd probably have enjoyed a nap more.
4:00 PM - The Search for the Unremarkable Souvenir. Every gift shop is the same, isn't it? Keychains, tacky t-shirts, and things shaped like seashells with "St. Petersburg" slapped on them in glitter glue. I'll probably end up getting my mom a mug, just so I can get out of there.
6:00 PM - Dinner Redemption (Maybe?). Found a little hole-in-the-wall seafood place. The fried grouper sandwich was incredible. Okay, maybe St. Pete isn’t so bad after all. But I’m still a hot mess on vacation.
8:00 PM - Sunset Scramble and Questioning Life Choices. Watched the sunset. It was beautiful. Briefly considered staying here forever. Then remembered I had to go back to work. The cycle of dread begins again.
Day 3: Departure and the Lingering Smell of Sunscreen
7:00 AM - Breakfast Round Two: The Reckoning. I avoided the eggs and stuck to the fruit. I'm not sure if that was a win, but it felt like one.
8:00 AM - Packing Panic. Okay, so I haven't touched half the stuff I packed. Did I even wear real clothes? I live only in my pjs!
10:00 AM - Final Hotel Farewell. Check-out. "How was your stay?" the front desk clerk asked. I just smiled and said, "It was…memorable." (Which, I'm guessing, is the polite way of saying "I survived.")
11:00 AM - Airport Apathy (round two). Back at the airport. The flight's delayed. I'm tired. I miss my bed. I hope my luggage makes it home this time.
1:00 PM - The Goodbyes. I am on the plane, finally. I am going home. Thank God.
In conclusion: St. Petersburg - Seminole Area? A mixed bag. Would I go back? Maybe. But next time, I'm packing more snacks, lower expectations, and a therapist's phone number. Adios, Florida. You were… something.
Unbelievable Luxury on a Budget: Jinjiang Inn Wuxi Mixc Secret Revealed!
St. Pete's BEST Kept Secret: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seminole Area - Seriously, Let's Unpack This...
Okay, Okay, Spill the Beans: Why is this place a "BEST Kept Secret" anyway? Sounds like marketing fluff.
Alright, alright, you got me. "Best Kept Secret" is a bit of a *stretch*, to be fair. But hear me out. It's not the Ritz. It's not the Don CeSar. BUT, for the *price*?! And the location? It's sneaky good. Think of it this way: you're right near the beach without paying beach-front prices. You're close to EVERYTHING. And honestly? The pool felt surprisingly chill compared to some of the mega-resorts. That's a win in my book. It's more of a "hidden gem" than a secret society meeting. Like finding that perfect little dive bar on a Tuesday afternoon – nobody's there, and the drinks are strong. That's the vibe.
The Pool! Tell me about the pool. My kids are basically amphibious.
The pool... okay, listen. My kids, they're like miniature water demons. They'd happily live in a kiddie pool the size of a postage stamp. This pool? Decent size, not overcrowded (usually!), and *clean*. Crucial. I've seen some hotel pools that make you question humanity. This one? Refreshing. There were some kids, of course, but it wasn't a total free-for-all. (Though, the time a kid dropped a half-eaten hotdog *straight* into the water? Yeah, that was a moment. I swear, I saw the lifeguard's soul leave his body.) They had those little tables with umbrellas, which are *clutch* for escaping the Florida sun. And they had the, you know, the pool toys. The inflatable doughnuts and things. My kids were in heaven. I, personally, just appreciated the quiet enough, good enough, peace while I'm trying to work.
Breakfast! Is the "Express" part of the name accurate? Is it a glorified bagel and burnt coffee situation?
Ugh, hotel breakfast. The bane of my existence, sometimes. Okay, the "Express" part is mostly true...but its not exactly gourmet. Think of it like this: it's better than nothing, and maybe a little *better* than you expect. They HAVE eggs, often scrambled or (surprisingly) omelets. They HAD, during my stay, bacon *sometimes*. There's cereal, bagels (with the usual cream cheese spread), fruit (sometimes fresh, sometimes...less so), and the coffee situation? Yeah, it's coffee. Drinkable. Think "sufficient to get you moving for the day." They also have those pancake machines. Don't get me started. They're a marvel of hotel engineering, but the pancakes always come out just a little…off. But hey - free breakfast! Can't complain *too* much. I usually grabbed a piece or two, fueled up, and then hit the road. If I'm being honest, I'd usually get Dunkin' Donuts after. But still. Free breakfast.
The Rooms. How's the vibe? Clean? Spacious? Smells like feet? (Asking the important questions here).
Alright, the rooms. This is where things get a little… nuanced. They're CLEAN. Generally. I'm a cleanliness freak, and I didn't feel the urge to scrub everything down with bleach, which is a HUGE win. Spacious? Depends on the room type, but generally, yeah, enough room to not feel like you're living in a shoebox. I've had worse, *MUCH* worse, hotel room experiences. The decor? Think… functional. Not fancy. Not "Instagrammable." More like "I'm traveling, I need a place to sleep, and this works." The smell? Nope. No feet, thankfully. (Although, one time… and I swear this is true... I found a rogue sock under the bed. Whose sock? God only knows. I still have nightmares.) The beds are comfortable enough. Enough pillows. (Pillows are *critical*). The air conditioning does the job. Again, it's not luxury, but it's comfortable, which is exactly what you want after a long day at the beach or whatever activities you're planning. And sometimes, the little things - the working AC, the hot water in the shower - mean everything.
Location, Location, Location! Is it really that convenient? I don't want to drive for hours.
Oh, the location? That's the money-maker. You're so incredibly close to the beaches! Like, a short drive. Easy peasy. Clearwater Beach? A hop, skip, and a jump away. John's Pass Village & Boardwalk? Same deal. Restaurants, shops, all within easy reach. Traffic can be… well, it's Florida. Expect traffic. But compared to some other locations, and compared to the price, it's practically paradise. You're not stuck wandering around in the boonies. You're IN the heart of it. I was able to get to everywhere I wanted to with ease. Honestly, from my perspective, it's a major selling point. I loved that I could pop over to the beach in the morning and then back to the hotel for a nap before hitting the shops. That's a dream combination. You're right in the center of the action. The beach, shops, restaurants - accessible, not a hassle. Easy to get around. You're going to *like* the location. Actually, the location *alone* might be enough to book this place.
Anything I should be wary of? Red flags? Deals with the devil?
Okay, honesty time. It's not perfect. Expect the occasional minor issue. Maybe the elevator is a little slow. Maybe the wifi sometimes decides to go on strike. Maybe the hallway smells a *little* like chlorine. The parking situation CAN get tight, especially during peak season. And, as I mentioned before, the pancake machine had a life of its own. It's not high-end, folks. It's a Holiday Inn Express. But honestly? The value makes up for any minor shortcomings. I have never had any *major* issues. If you're looking for something super luxurious, this isn't it. But if you want clean, convenient, and affordable, with a decent pool? This is a solid choice. I always tell people: You are basically getting a good deal here. Yes, some things may not be *perfect* but you can not be too choosy when paying for what you get. In fact, I actually enjoy the place.
Would you stay there again? Seriously.
Yes. Absolutely. In a heartbeat. I've stayed there multiple times. It's my "go-to" in that area. I'm heading back next month! The location, the price, the general cleanliness...it's got the right mix. It's not going to blow your mind, but it's reliable. And sometimes, that's all you need. Plus, I'm kind of addicted to those slightly-burnt pancakesTop Hotel Search
