My wife and I had the good fortune to take our son to stay at the St. Regis Longboat Key in early February and we are already searching for times to go back. We’ve stayed at beachside resorts all over the US and Caribbean and came away thinking this is one of, if not the best, of anywhere we’ve been.
Sitting on one of Florida’s most pristine stretches of Gulf Coast shoreline, The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is an ultra-luxury beachfront destination that is built around outstanding service and experiences that guests are meant to remember forever. At every point of our 3 day stay we felt like the resort lived up to the expectations.
Arrival and First Impressions
When we arrived we started to think we were in for something special. We were welcomed at the entrance gate and then we had 3 people opening our car doors and grabbing our luggage before we could even say hello. And from there it just got better as we were walked to the personal check-in desk and immediately offered champagne. As we learned more about the resort we watched people come and go from the lobby bar and were then escorted to the elevators and up to our room The whole process took less than 5 minutes until we were looking out from our balcony to the pools and Gulf of Mexico right below.
Room and Amenities
Wow. Our water-facing room had two queen beds, an obligatory mini-bar and snacks, etc. The closet was the size of a city kitchen and included a safe, robes and a beach bag to use to go to and from the pools and beach. The “wow” came with the personalized Butler service, a bathroom with a rain shower and soaking tub, and the balcony with a table and lounge chair looking out at the turquoise waters of the Gulf. Everything was about feeling like we were not just on vacation, but on a vacation built to relax and reset.
My son and I enjoyed the gym, including a great selection of free weights, weight machines, yoga equipment, treadmills and Peloton bikes.
The Spa is right next to the gym. We didn’t manage to get a reservation, but from what we heard from other guests we will book well ahead of time for our next trip. The spa includes private plunge pools, drink service and a direct view of the waters of the Gulf. It looked amazing.
The whole resort is built around the pools. There is a large, shallow pool right outside the hotel’s door that is built for and all-about family experience. It’s not too deep, surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas and there are activities during the day for kids.
Next to the main pool is a lazy river that wraps around the rest of the courtyard. Kids and adults alike were happily sitting on a tube and floating the day away. And yes, there’s lots of kids playing games and jumping on/off the inner tubes, and that just made it an even better experience.
Around the corner is an “adults only” pool and quiet space. Located next to the spa, the beach and the bar, this is a quiet space to relax. We didn’t get to try it but did see several people enjoying the sun and service.
And, of course, there’s the beach. The powdery white sandy beach. Step off the boardwalk, put your toes in the sand and ‘boom’, you’re greeted by a beach-staffer who will setup your lounge chair and towels. Even in February with 72 degree weather, we had to sit and look at the water, enjoy the silence and have a few drinks to celebrate where we were.
There’s also a custom lagoon on site where you can snorkel with stingrays. We missed this experience and it’s just another reason we want to go back. Soon.
Dining and Drinks
Breakfast is served daily in “Riva”, and Italian restaurant. The buffet includes custom omlettes and waffles, as well as an endless variety of fruits, pastries, yogurts, cereals and more. We managed to sit outside each day so we also enjoyed the view of the pool and the sunshine on our plates each morning.
We enjoyed lunch by the pool each day. The service was incredible. And the margaritas aren’t to be missed.
Dinner on our first night was a Riva. Outside. Each of our three meals was so good that we cancelled our off-premise plans for the next night and went back for more. It was all that good.
There are several great options for food and drinks on premise.
CW Prime – Award-winning steakhouse and seafood (Wine Spectator award) with Gulf views.
Riva – Italian-inspired restaurant with fresh pasta and classic coastal dishes.
Aura – Poolside bites and Latin-American-inspired flavors plus cocktails.
Oshen – Rooftop lounge serving Nikkei cuisine and sunset cocktails.
The St. Regis Bar – Elegant. Signature cocktails, and live music
Caroline’s Coffee Bar – Artisanal coffee, pastries, and light bites.
We took a quick trip from the hotel into nearby St. Armands Circle. The hotel set us up with bikes and it look about 10 minutes to get from the hotel to St Armands’. We did a lot of window shopping, grabbed some ice cream and headed back to the hotel. Next time we’ll also try to grab a meal at one of the local restaurants we saw. So many good options and the concierge will set us up with a great table.
Transportation
We flew in and out of Tampa International Airport, largely because of other parts of our trip and flight availability. It was less than 90 minutes from the rental car facility to the resort front gate. And the drive took us across the Tampa Bay and through Sarasota, so it was an easy and beautiful trip. Next time we’ll fly into Sarasota-Bradenton Airport, which is just 15 minutes away. No need for a car.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Top shelf resort, amenities and service
- Quiet, peaceful environment
- Think about food and drink and it’s ready for you.
- Restorative
Cons
- Expensive.
- Waterside / informal dining closes at 7pm
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready for a high end hotel with every amenity and restorative service, this is the place for you. If you want shabby-chic or all you can eat, it’s not the place for you.
We can’t wait to go back.