Dolphin Beach Resort

Great place to stay with the family on st pete beach. Great location, friendly staff, wonderful cleaning ladies. Would definitly stay again. Loved the pool and outdoor tiki areas, beds were comfy and lobby is very cute and updated. Love the complimentary bath and body Works toiletries. … only downfall isn’t any fault of the dolphin beach resort but all hotels on st pete beach have a looong walk to the water

I recently visited the Dolphin Beach Resort for a wedding. The wedding ceremony was conducted outside on the beach and the reception was held upstairs. I can’t say that the staff was particularly friendly, which is what I would expect during a wedding. I don’t even think I saw the bartenders smile once the entire night. We had one female server who was polite and slightly made up for the rest of the lackluster crew.
Aside from the wedding, the front desk staff was extremely rude to my parents when they inquired about parking. We were told that we needed to park down the street in a public lot, despite that fact that we had paid for a room and were already parked in the hotel’s lot. She refused to give us a parking tag and said our vehicle would be towed overnight. Obviously we moved the car, but it was a hassle and unsafe under the circumstances.
On top of it all, my brother-​in-​law (who we shared the room with) had a massive spider bite the next morning. Truthfully, our room wasn’t that bad; the A/​C worked great, we had a nice mini fridge, and it was very spacious. We had two full-​sized beds, a table with chairs, and a counter for food. The beds weren’t particularly comfortable, but then again this isn’t a high-​class resort. Our back door did open right out to the pool deck (and subsequently the overpriced tiki bar). I would’ve given the room a 3.5 out of 5. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was roomy and got the job done. We don’t do staycations in my house, but if we did I can’t imagine that we would ever pay to go back to the Dolphin Beach Resort.

Well I am currently at the dolphin beach resort and besides the room not meeting my expectations, there were lamps, plural, with no switches that maintenance had to come and spend my first 1.5 hours fixing, the front desk was rude and was adamant that they had no room to cover my 4 nights since there were people coming on Friday that they were holding the rooms. I checked in on Tuesday didn’t make sense to me. Now I come out to the pool and it is closed and again the rude front desk doesn’t have any information nor an aplogy, just shrugging their shoulders. I’m only here one day so far and would absolutely not recommend this hotel. I booked through
and will also write my review there. Think twice before you book here.

We got a deal for a hundred bucks, so I can’t complain too much. However, this is a very so-​so beach hotel. While the location was good, most of the rooms don’t have a beach view or balcony. The whole also seems to be very dated, and somewhat stuck in the 70’s, with décor mostly of a mixture of stone/​brick and bright pastels.
I also didn’t have a particularly good experience at their beach bar, which was disappointing – the service was bad, the prices were high, the food wasn’t very good, and was only served in styrofoam.
The service was good, however, and they do seem to have some frequent deals – watch for one of those, but I wouldn’t pay full price.

Many mixed reviews and many different rates depends on where you book. Hotel is bit outdated, but most of hotels are in the area. Room is pretty big size with fridge, coffee and microwave. For old hotel, room is pretty clean and bedding is not too bad. Front desk staffs doesn’t seem happy and friendly. Great location right on the beach and well kept pool. Pool bar and hotel restaurant have friendly staffs. Hotel rate is bit high for facility but it is beach premium. Beautiful and quiet beach compare to crowded, expensive, hard to find parking and loud clearwater area. Free parking for guest, no resort fee for pool, beach chairs available for rental, many restaurants, boat rentals, banks, and shopping place around. I would go back with $ 150 pool view rate.

Dolphin Resort restaurant offers delicious specials during the winter season but discontinues the early bird specials immediately following Spring Break. This is very disappointing to the locals who have been loyal to this restaurant. The Spring and Summer dining prices are too high for this resort. Although we normally come in for dinner 1 – 2 nights per week, we won’t be back until next winter when the owner properly adjusts the menu pricing. I guess the owner doesn’t value the repeat business of local Floridians.

Review
No, no no! Not a good place. We booked it based on pictures and because it was the only hotel available for where we were going. At $ 300+ a night, I expected something different. What a disappointment. Do NOT stay here. Noisy, dirty, uncomfortable beds and lumpy, cheap pillows. Woke up with a backache and a headache. Faucet leaks in bathroom. Tub and toilet top stained. Only 1 one ounce shampoo and conditioner for 4 people. Towels smelled and were not only small, they were cheap feeling. Didn’t dry. Blow dryer is so small it took me forever to dry my hair. The bar is cheesy. The front desk staff looked tired and annoyed to be there. One staff member referred to my husband as «buddy». Very unprofessional. The lobby smells musty. The sheet stained. Roaches! The room had roaches! There were no other places to stay and we were hours from home so we didn’t have the option to leave. But, I promise, we will never return.

Another fun stay here. very nice pool area. Staff was friendly and efficient. Just steps from the beach, so you get the best of both worlds. Room was decent. Air conditioning was VERY loud. Seemed like bathroom could have been cleaned a little better. Walking distance to many bars, stores and restaurants.

Stayed for a week, didn’t know what to expect from all the different reviews. The room was facing the ocean and over looked the pool, very clean bed, was very comfortable. The room service was quick and food was good. Could not ask for abetter location, walking distance from any restaurant you could ask for, grocery store right across the street.
Decided not to rent a car and it turned out to be a smart move. The location was great the Dolphin is doing a great job, the grounds and the pool are very clean .
The sunsets were amazing, since your right off the beach all you have to do is open the balcony door pop a bottle of wine and your all set.
Keep up the good work.
Highly recommended, great deal. Enjoy …

We stayed here for 2 nights while visiting family. We found a priceline deal for a 3 star hotel on the Express rates, where you don’t see the name until booking. I, personally, wouldn’t consider it a 3 star, but I’m not the expert.
The room was really dated and smelled musty but, overall, fairly clean. The beds were not comfortable, really soft. My younger sister is barely 100 lbs and the bed sank when she laid on it. We had a view of the parking lot, but I imagine other rooms face the beach or pool. The pool is a nice size and there weren’t a ton of people at the resort.
The check-​in woman was very pleasant. Overall, I probably wouldn’t stay here again. We were married and stayed at The Postcard Inn a few years ago and I think that resort is more accurately classed as a 3 star resort.
Pros: Location, right on the beach. Nice pool. Pleasant staff.
Cons: Rooms, especially the beds.

We have stayed here twice in the past two years. The rooms are a little outdated, but clean and spacious. The proximity to the beach couldn’t be better. And the pool is clean and warm! It’s not a luxury place, but if you’re a family looking for a place to sleep while you’re out exploring St. Pete and the surrounding area, this place is perfect. We’ll be back!

Horrible Hotel. I went there for a short holiday vacation between Christmas and New Years. The room smelled like mold as soon as I open the door. There was mold on the ceiling by the air vent and in the bathroom. I had to go buy fabreeze just to stay in the room. They had no beach towels so I had to use my room towels and when I asked the maid for more due to this she said they had none to give me. The food is horrible. If you want a cheap stay this may be the place but you get what you pay for.

I would love to give this 4 stars but we had Roaches in the bathroom and the Staff was not the friendliest. Also Bring your own beach towels as they offer no towels to take out to the beach.
Now the good news. Our beachfront room was just that. Gorgeous view of sand, ocean, and sunsets. Room had just been redone with cute color scheme and carpet. (That’s why I was surprised to see the roaches). Close to tons of restaurants. One of the few properties that had cabana rentals right on the beach. If you don’t mind the bugs… Go for it.

This place is OK… I probably wouldn’t stay here again. I’d probably only go back here just to go to the downstairs bar and since karaōke lol. I didn’t feel the cleanliness of the hotel was where it should be. Our bathroom was kind of smelly, the toilet didn’t flush well and the shower was spraying all over the place. Definitely only worth two stars.

Ib started here on my honeymoon. I gotta say that the staff is about the nicest that over ever come across in forever.
Now the motel was not the best looking and had seen better days Though, it did look like it was renovated. But the view was amazing. I would recommend this place

I would not recommend staying at this so-​called resort.
We live in st pete but for my boyfriends birthday, stayed here for 2 nights.
The rooms appear clean, but both mornings we found cockroaches in the bathroom. Living in FL i understand that they are around, but I’m disgusted that they are that prevalent in a «resort». The other issue was the rats, or mice, as the hotel staff told us they were. In the evening when we were sitting outside our room which was ground level facing the pool, we saw some rodents on the pool deck and around the edge of the hotel… we saw 2 and then while watching those 2, another one promptly ran up over my foot!!!
When I spoke with the staff member, Brenda, that night about it, I got an attitude that was…” We live in FL, what do you expect? What do you want me to do about it?” She was rude, condescending and unprofessional.
I spoke with the manager in the am, she was more understanding, but there was no suggestion of what they could do to entice us to come back, or what they would do to improve any of the situations that I discussed with her.
I certainly do not recommend staying here… pay an extra $ 30/​night and stay at the Sirata or Tradewinds.

I am so disgusted with this place. Rude employees and gross rooms. Management here is beyond a joke.

I took my mom here for her 60^th birthday, I looked all over for a resort with a decent rate. At 250/​night for what the pictures showed, I thought it was a deal. I was sadly wrong, I would hardly classify this as a resort, it is a motel on the water. The pictures looked nothing like the real deal and the staff in the restaurant was rude like you couldn’t believe! This would have been better priced at less than $ 100/​night, that way the customer does not have high expectations. Another thing worth noting and the main reason if I ever get a free weekend here, I will not even give it away. They rent their portion of the beach to a para-​sail company who goes right up on the beach with their boat telling swimmers to move! If you are looking to relax at the beach, this is not your place, pay a little more and stay somewhere nice. I will always read the reviews from now on.

Been here for 30 mins. There are 2 women @ the front desk. One is such a bitch, I probably will not stay here. We will see if the other one, who is an angel– can make it right.
Update: I spent the entire weekend. To elaborate as to how this entire debacle started…
The 2 women at the desk were the antithesis of each other. At no time have I ever been to a ‘resort’ and told ‘no.’ Not only was I treated like garbage by the one receptionist, I have not heard ‘no’ that many times from a 2 year old, let alone an adult in a service industry.
Thankfully, the other woman, who is what I expect a receptionist to be, was very helpful, in explaining what steps I’d need to take to achieve my goals. And each time she spoke, the other receptionist would interrupt her and tell her no. I don’t think Ive ever been so embarrassed for someone. She made a complete fool of herself. Meanwhile, I followed the great receptionist’s instructions, and got exactly what I was asking for.
The room: Perhaps expecting toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner & soap in a hotel bathroom is excessive when I’m paying $ 300+ a night? Evidently.
Standing water in the tub? Check.
The only thing this Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas-​esque place was missing, was hookers & needles. Tho they’ve def been there. Blood on the curtain? Check. Stains on the bedding? Check.
The only good thing about this place– was that the coffee machine was so dated, I was forced to cross the street, and eat at the little French Bistro, Café Soleil. It was heaven.

I’m tempted to give four star because I think this hotel lives up to what is promised, but the three star average is probably about right. This is a standard moderately priced hotel on St. Pete. It is adequate in every respect with a nice smallish pool and a reasonably priced buffet breakfast. The rooms a fairly spacious. It’s not a luxury place but it’s on a very beautiful beach and my room had a fridge and a microwave. You can walk lots of places or relax in house at the tiki bar and restaurant. I think this is a perfectly ok place to enjoy a weekend getaway. It’s not upscale or boutique, but it gets the job done and the employees are hard working and doing their best, including to be friendly. Keep in mind that busy times are busy and they are trying to be accommodating as best they can. :)
I liked that there was no resort fee, I could park my own car and there was no parking fee (one car per room!), and I had a partial beach view over the public parking lot. Nice big window. If the window opened and I could get the beach air in I would have been even happier, the air felt a little stuffy. But that was really my only complaint. :)
Don’t forget to tip the hardworking cleaning staff. They deserve it.