Hotel Overview
Wonderful beach stay
The location is simply perfect. The hotel is located on the beach and any room is just 1 min from...
See full review
-
Ohio Couple
- Dec 6, 2011
sarasota weekend
we frequently travel to sarasota because we love the city and the beaches. this hotel was really...
See full review
-
christina d
- Sep 21, 2011
Lido Key hotel with great views and a private beach
With 600 feet of white sandy beaches on Lido Key, the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel has lots to offer those looking for fun and relaxation in Sarasota, Florida. This 3-star hotel overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and guests can grab a free lounger or rent a cabana to enjoy the surf, the amazing sunsets, or rent a bike and head up to St. Armand's Circle for fine dining and shopping. Business travelers will appreciate the hotel's meeting rooms, business center and free Wi-Fi Internet access. After a busy day, unwind with a game of shuffleboard on the deck.
Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel Rooms
- Standard View Room
- This room does not offer a view of the gulf of mexico or the pool. Complimentary wireless Internet access. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. TV with complimentary HBO. Compact refrigerator and coffee/tea maker. Complimentary newspaper. Two upholstered chairs. Bathroom with shower/tub combination, interior and/or exterior vanity, and makeup/shaving mirror.
- Gulf View Room
- Two double beds. Gulf of Mexico view. In two- or four-story building. 324 square feet. Complimentary wireless Internet access. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. TV with complimentary HBO. Compact refrigerator and coffee/tea maker. Complimentary newspaper. Two upholstered chairs. Bathroom with shower/tub combination, interior and/or exterior vanity, and makeup/shaving mirror.
- Poolside Room
- Two double beds. Pool view. In one- or three-story building. 288 square feet. Complimentary wireless Internet access. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. TV with complimentary HBO. Compact refrigerator and coffee/tea maker. Complimentary newspaper. Two upholstered chairs. Bathroom with shower/tub combination, interior and/or exterior vanity, and makeup/shaving mirror.
Hotel Map
1540 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236
- Area served
- Sarasota
- Nearby airports
- Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport - 8 miles, Tampa International Airport - 60 miles.
- Area description
- Corporations/Industries, Electro Corporation - 9 miles, Hi-Stat Manufacturing - 10 miles, Klockner-Bartelt Manufacturing - 10 miles, Sun Hydraulics - 9 miles, Tropicana Beverages - 20 miles.
Amenities
- Business center
- Conference Facilities
- Free parking
- Handicapped Rooms/Facilities
- Internet Access
- Meeting/Banquet Facilities
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Room Service
- Wireless Internet
Meeting facilities
- Meeting Info
- Meeting facilities for groups to 225, banquets to 160, audio-Visual equipment.
Dining
- Cafe
- Open 7am-5pm, casual, Breakfast /buffet.
- Candlelight Restaurant
- Open 5pm-10pm, casual, innovative menu/salads.
- Lounge Bar
- Open 5pm-midnight, casual, drinks.
- Pool Bar
- Open noon-dusk, casual, drinks/hors d'ouvres.
Hotel Policies
- Check-in:
- 1500
- Check-out:
- 1100
Terms and conditions
Rates quoted in currencies other than the hotel's base currency are subject to the rate of the international exchange. Rate may change throughout stay. Rate may reflect average nightly rate. Extra charges may apply. Incidental charges, such as room service, are not included in the rate.
The amenities and/or facilities may not be located at the hotel, but within a reasonable distance, and additional charges may apply for use.
Guest Reviews (95)
Ratings and reviews for Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel
- All travelers (95) 3.6 / 5
- Business (3) 3.7 / 5
- Couples (36) 3.5 / 5
- Families (40) 3.4 / 5
- Friends (6) 4.2 / 5
- Singles (3) 4 / 5
- Amenities:
- 3.7
- Room cleanliness:
- 4.1
- Hotel staff:
- 4.1
- Room comfort:
- 3.5
- Location:
- 4.6
- Value:
- 3.8
82%
would recommend to a friend.
- Most recent
- Highest score
- Lowest score
Reviewer score
Would recommend
Ohio Couple
Wonderful beach stay
The location is simply perfect. The hotel is located on the beach and any room is just 1 min from the beach (unless you get a beach view room, of course). The picture on their site seems to indicate quite a walk and this is not so. The beach itself was beautiful and isolated from the usual crowd. The room had a wonderful odor. It was very clean with enough room for a couple to relax and be comfortable. The parking lot is on each level and is free. There is no free breakfast but the buffet was quite good. The swimming pool is heated and is for everyone (3ft - 8ft). They provide lounge chairs to use on the beach for free. Staff is professional and relaxed. The best part is the accessibility to the downtown neighborhood which is right off a novel. Overall, great stay and amazing value.
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 4
- Room cleanliness:
- 5
- Hotel staff:
- 5
- Room comfort:
- 5
- Location:
- 5
- Value:
- 4
Sightseeing tip:
Short walk from hotel
Go to the beach at night. The sound of waves in the dark will take your breath away. Just lay back and look at the Milky Way and you will wish you were there forever.
Reviewer score
Would not recommend
grits219
First time to see the Gulf
Shower curtain was mildewed, vents were full of dust, room did not have the bolt lock (looks like it's been removed) and the only lock was on the door handle. We slid a chair under the door handle so that we felt safe in the room at night. The carpet felt dirty on my feet the couple times that I let me feet touch the floor (like coming in from the beach) otherwise I kept some shoes on at all times. Location is right on the beach which is what I wanted but not a whole lot to do except sit on the beach all day. I have stayed in one place that was worse than this one.
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 2
- Room cleanliness:
- 2
- Hotel staff:
- 3
- Room comfort:
- 4
- Location:
- 4
- Value:
- 3
Reviewer score
Would recommend
christina d
sarasota weekend
we frequently travel to sarasota because we love the city and the beaches. this hotel was really nice for a weekend getaway, they have a pool and an outdoor bar, a nice restaurant if you don't want to leave the grounds, and the beach is beautiful. it is in the southern part of lido key, so it is quiet. they have complimentary beach chairs and towels, however, you have to pay for an umbrella, so bring your own. the room was clean and had some new paint and carpet. the beds were firm. overall the place was comfortable and a good deal as the rates are pretty low compared with other hotels in the same area.
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 3
- Room cleanliness:
- 4
- Hotel staff:
- 3
- Room comfort:
- 3
- Location:
- 5
- Value:
- 3
Reviewer score
Would recommend
Jack Kacz
To Sarasota
Everytning went great from checkin to checkout , the beach was perfect and a great location
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 3
- Room cleanliness:
- 4
- Hotel staff:
- 4
- Room comfort:
- 3
- Location:
- 4
- Value:
- 4
Reviewer score
Would recommend
optimom
Old motel GREAT location
The beach location makes this tired hotel acceptable. We had ants in the bathroom, and the room's walls were stained, but the balcony view overlooking the gulf compensated for what the facility lacked in updates. The staff was helpful and housekeeping was fine.
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 3
- Room cleanliness:
- 2
- Hotel staff:
- 4
- Room comfort:
- 3
- Location:
- 4
- Value:
- 3
Reviewer score
Would not recommend
Lousie
Less than I expected: worn out and not even "middle drawer"
While this hotel has all of the various amenities a beach resort should have (2 pools, very nice beachfront, Gulf-facing balconies, 2 places to eat plus a bar by the pool), it was all very "old fashioned" and needed upgrading. Bathrooms were very small and the toilet area was down-right claustrophobic; tub looked about 50 years old. The balconies are very narrow and have no privacy. It is close to St. Armand's circle, so that is a plus, but neighborhood is a bit weird. If it's just the beach you want, I guess it fits: it's big, white and clean.
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 3
- Room cleanliness:
- 3
- Hotel staff:
- 3
- Room comfort:
- 2
- Location:
- 4
- Value:
- 3
Money-saving tip:
Not Applicable
It was worth the $25 upgrade for the view of the beach.
Reviewer score
Would recommend
DocJohn
Great time
Our third stay here. Great location just steps from the beach with 2 fresh water pools on site. Will stay here again!
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 4
- Room cleanliness:
- 4
- Hotel staff:
- 4
- Room comfort:
- 3
- Location:
- 5
- Value:
- 4
Reviewer score
Would recommend
K. perry
Nice place to stay
It was a great place to stay at, but besides saint armand circle there was not much else to do. If you are looking for somewhere that has a lot of nightlife this is not the place , but is perfect for relaxing and getting away. The stuff was great and would do anything for you.
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 3
- Room cleanliness:
- 4
- Hotel staff:
- 4
- Room comfort:
- 4
- Location:
- 3
- Value:
- 4
Shopping tip:
Long walk from hotel
Great for shopping and dinning but not nightlife
Reviewer score
Would recommend
Angiesue
Best Kept Secret
Clean & friendly! Right on the beach. Watched dolphins & endangered birds! Cleanest beach in the world. [...] in housekeeping is a gem. [...] at the pool bar was so much fun. [...] at the gift shop was most helpful. The food is so incredibly good (room service too!) Best places to see; Mote Aquarium, take one of the boat tours too. Myakka State Park is a must to see aligators! All of the above are kid friendly even at the pool bar you can watch your kids swim at the 2 pools! We also met so many wonderful people from all over the world. If I had unlimited funds, I would live there. I miss the beautiful sunsets, the ocean breeze, the pina colada's & the crab bisque!
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 5
- Room cleanliness:
- 5
- Hotel staff:
- 5
- Room comfort:
- 5
- Location:
- 5
- Value:
- 5
Reviewer score
Would recommend
Scott
Good Value
Location of the hotel is excellent. Right on the gulf and just minutes from St Armands circle. I thought the beaches there were excellent as you had the nice white sand without all the people that crowd siesta key. I'm not one for crowds so this definitely appealed to me and I will be back
Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
- Amenities:
- 4
- Room cleanliness:
- 5
- Hotel staff:
- 3
- Room comfort:
- 4
- Location:
- 5
- Value:
- 4
Nightlife tip:
Short walk from hotel
Right next door is a small Tiki bar that is part of the Ritz Carlton. Great location to hang out and watch the sunsets
