7 Florida Gulf Coast Resorts for Every Vacation Type
Updated: October 26, 2023
AAA Travel Editor, Katie Broome
If you long for a beach vacation at a luxurious resort, you don’t have to grab your passport and head to a Caribbean island. Instead, you can cash in those airline rewards and head to the stunning white sand beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast.
Some of the best beaches in America are located on Florida’s Gulf Coast: soft sand, unforgettable sunsets and some of the clearest ocean water you can see without leaving the country. You’ll also find plenty of Florida Gulf Coast resorts to cater to your every need.
We’ve pulled together a few of our favorites so you can find the best and cleanest resort to make your vacation truly memorable, whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway with your partner or a fun family adventure.
1. Shephard's Beach Resort
Resort-At-a-Glance
- Location: Clearwater Beach, Florida
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Three Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Two restaurants, two bars, all-day live entertainment, fitness room, valet parking
- Ages: All ages, as long as anyone under 18 is accompanied by a parent or guardian
- Best for: Live music and a festive atmosphere
If live music and dancing get you in vacation mode, Shephard's Beach Resort offers plenty of both. During the day, the place to be is the lagoon-style swimming pool, where the Tiki Beach Bar & Grill hosts live entertainment on an outdoor stage. When the sun goes down, the party continues with local bands and DJs by the pool and even more music and dancing indoors at the resort’s two-level nightclub, Wave, where you can reserve a table or booth.
Guest rooms have layouts and configurations for every type of traveler; some have full-size fridges, while others have walk-in showers, wet bars and balconies overlooking the pool and outdoor stage.
2. Best Western Plus Beach Resort
Resort-At-a-Glance
- Location: Fort Myers Beach, Florida
- Oceanfront: Yes
- Best Features: Outdoor heated pool, complimentary breakfast, private beach, access to water sport rentals, free high-speed Wi-Fi, complimentary parking, playground, picnic areas
- Ages: All ages
- Best for: a family vacation on a budget
- AAA Discount: Save 5 percent or more when booking AAA rates, plus earn bonus points with the AAA Preferred™ BWR Program
At the north end of Estero Island, Best Western Plus Beach Resort has a prime location within walking distance of the Fort Myers Beach Pier and Times Square, a popular place for fishing, shopping, dining and general people-watching. All rooms at the Best Western Plus Beach Resort face the Gulf of Mexico and include private balconies, kitchenettes (with full-size refrigerators) and complimentary breakfast each morning.
On the beach side is a shaded, tropical courtyard with shuffleboard courts, a heated pool, gas grills, a picnic area and a lawn with Adirondack chairs facing the ocean. An extra perk? The resort is pet-friendly (as is Fort Myers Beach).
Note: Due to the ongoing effects of 2022's Hurricane Ian, phone ahead for updates.
3. The Resort At Longboat Key Club
Resort-At-a-Glance
- Location: Sarasota, Florida
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Five restaurants, in-room dining, fitness center, spa, award-winning tennis facilities, on-site golf courses, outdoor pool, private cabanas
- Activities: Access to nearby golf courses, shopping, water activities, pickleball
- Ages: All ages
- Starting at: $639/night
- Best for: A luxurious splurge
Fresh from a major renovation in 2020, The Resort At Longboat Key Club promises a true Gulf Coast getaway in luxurious surroundings. Whether you arrive by car or by boat (the resort offers a full-service, deep-water marina for vessels as long as 150 feet), leave your worries behind at check-in.
Stylish guest rooms are decked out with tasteful nautical décor, shiplap walls and white marble breakfast bars. The sprawling grounds feature nearly every activity under the sun, with 45 holes of golf, 20 tennis courts, a spa, a salon, a heated pool and six restaurants and lounges to choose from.
4. JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
Resort-At-a-Glance
- Location: Marco Island, Florida
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: Twelve restaurants, two championship golf courses, fitness classes, spa, private balconies for all rooms, private beach, pool, kids club, Wi-Fi
- Activities: Minigolf, table tennis, special children’s activities, yoga classes
- Ages: All ages, except in the Lanai Tower, which is 21+
- Starting at: $721/night
- Best for: A luxury family vacation
- AAA Discount: Members save five percent or more and earn Marriott Bonvoy points when booking AAA/CAA rates.
Whether you’re traveling with kids or seeking an adults-only slice of paradise, the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort aims to please. This South Florida resort earned the AAA Inspector’s “Best of Family-Friendly” distinction in 2020 for its beach, multiple swimming pools (one with a waterslide and mini spray park) and on-site restaurants (especially the gaming emporium with miniature golf and duckpin bowling). It’s also one of our favorite golf resorts.
A $320 million project completed in 2019 added the Lanai Tower, open to adults only with Balinese-inspired suites, glass balconies overlooking the ocean, a private rooftop pool and personalized concierge service using text messaging. For active guests, the resort offers two private golf courses — both are just a short drive away — plus beach yoga, watersports rentals and excursions to Everglades National Park.
Note: Due to the ongoing effects of 2022's Hurricane Ian, phone ahead for updates.
5. Sandpearl Resort
Resort-At-a-Glance
- Location: Clearwater Beach, Florida
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: Zero-entry heated pool, Spa, 700 feet of private beach, kids club, fitness center, valet parking, three restaurants
- Activities: Paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, yoga
- Ages: All ages
- Best for: low-key travelers
Sandpearl Resort is a luxury resort on Clearwater Beach about half a mile from Pier 60 on the former site of the historic Clearwater Beach Hotel. It’s close enough that you feel close to the action without the noise.
The resort boasts 253 rooms and suites furnished in a blend of beachy and upscale decor for a relaxed Florida experience. Not all rooms have balconies, but it’s worth splurging for one if you have a pool or ocean view.
Enjoy the private white-sand beach, take a yoga sunset class and enjoy a gourmet meal at the area’s only four-star restaurant, Caretta on the Beach.
6. LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
Resort-At-a-Glance
- Location: Naples, Florida
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Four pools, multiple bars and restaurants, championship golf course, spa, bicycle rental, heated pool, free high-speed Wi-Fi, yoga classes
- Ages: All ages
- Starting at: $423/night
- Best for: An indulgent escape
With an atmosphere described as “Floridian elegance,” LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort provides a splurge-worthy escape with its lagoon-style pools, spa, pristine private beach with attendants and exclusive 18-hole golf course (open to resort guests and members only).
Numerous upgrades are available to take your vacation to the next level — consider a poolside cabana rental that includes deliveries of chilled towels and sorbet treats, a night of s’mores and champagne by the fire pit or a sunset dinner for two right on the beach, courtesy of BALEEN, the resort's restaurant.
Note: The resort began a phased reopening in January 2023, so some amenities may not be available at this time. Call ahead for accurate amenity availability.
7. Treasure Island Beach Resort
Resort-At-a-Glance
- Location: Treasure Island, Florida
- Oceanfront: Yes
- AAA Rating: Three Diamond, 2022 Inspector’s Best
- Best Features: Beachfront pool and sundeck, fitness center, on-site dining, yoga classes on the beach, free Wi-Fi
- Ages: All ages
- Best for: A modern beach getaway
With just 77 rooms and suites, Treasure Island Beach Resort is the most intimate of the properties on this list and also the newest. Opened in 2016, the resort offers sleek modern rooms (some with kitchenettes) and an ideal location just 2.5 miles north of downtown St. Pete Beach.
Glass-railed balconies in select guest rooms and on the pool deck ensure your view of the beach — and the Gulf Coast’s legendary sunsets — remains unobstructed. The resort’s casual restaurant serves up gourmet burgers, salad bowls and handcrafted cocktails.
Things To Do on the Florida Gulf Coast
While these resorts offer plenty of fun on-site, there’s plenty to do around you no matter where you are on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Naples Sightseeing Boat Tour
Explore the Gulf on the Double Sunshine, one of the Gulf’s most iconic sightseeing boats. On your 90-minute tour, you’ll see Florida marine life, the mansions on the coast and Keewaydin Island.
Cost: starting from $53
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: Naples, Florida
Guided Island Kayak Eco Tour
See the native marine life and beautiful scenery of Estero Bay on a kayak tour. See the dolphins and manatees up close with a clear kayak and explore some of the best areas to look for seashells. The relaxed pace of the tour makes it perfect for every family member.
Cost: starting at $60
Duration: 2.5 hours
Location: Bonita Springs, Florida
Parasailing Adventure
See the Gulf Coast from 400 feet above sea level on a parasailing adventure. You’ll set sail on a parasail boat with other thrill seekers and take turns soaring above the Gulf.
Cost: $85
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Wildlife Sightseeing and Shelling
Travel by boat through the beautiful Ten Thousand Islands on a wildlife sightseeing and shelling tour. Explore the mangrove islands before hunting for seashells on a private beach.
Cost: $84
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Marco Island, Florida
Tiki Boat
Can’t decide between hitting up a Tiki bar with friends and cruising the Gulf? Do them both on a Tiki boat! BYOB, some salty snacks, and your favorite tunes for a 1.5-hour tour through the Gulf.
Cost: Starts at $59
Duration: 1.5 hours
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Start Your Next Vacation with AAA
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