Hotelaholic

St Pete Beach · Florida

The Don CeSar

3400 Gulf Boulevard, St Pete Beach, Florida, 33706

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Check-in
Nov 24, 2026
Check-out
Nov 26, 2026
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HAPPI EXPERIENCE

The stay, in detail

  • The stay, in detail

    Perched atop the windswept dunes of St. Pete Beach, The Don CeSar, since its inception in 1928, stands as a shining monument of glamor and leisure.

Inspired by Art Deco elegance, the property blends contemporary design with rich history at the historic Pink Palace®.

HAPPI HIGHLIGHTS

  • Beachfront location

  • Iconic historic hotel and strong location

  • Beautiful, clean property (pleasant smell noted)

At the hotel

Popular amenities

87 listed
  • 24-hour front desk
  • 24-hour security
  • Accessible parking
  • Aerobics
  • Air conditioning
  • ATM/cash machine on site
  • Baby safety gates
  • Babysitting/child services
  • Bar
  • Barber/beauty shop
View all amenities

Pools & wellness

  • Beauty Services
  • Fitness/spa locker rooms
  • Hair Salon Services
  • Heated pool
  • Hot tub/Jacuzzi
  • Manicure
  • Massage services
  • Outdoor pool
  • Pedicure
  • Sauna
  • Spa/wellness center
  • Spa/wellness center services
  • Steam room

Dining & drinks

  • Breakfast takeaway containers
  • Coffee Shop on site
  • Delivered food - securely covered
  • Food delivered to guest room
  • Kid meals
  • Physical distancing in dining areas
  • Restaurant
  • Sanitized tableware & silverware
  • Special diet menus - on request
  • Wine/champagne

Fitness & outdoors

  • Beach
  • Beachfront
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness classes
  • Garden
  • Golf course
  • Outdoor fireplace
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Personal trainer
  • Private beach area
  • Sun loungers or beach chairs
  • Water sport facilities on site
  • Yoga classes

Rooms & comfort

  • Heating
  • Shared lounge/TV area

Safety & cleanliness

  • Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
  • Dry cleaning
  • Entertainment staff
  • First aid kit available
  • Guest rooms disinfected between stays
  • Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
  • Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
  • Physical distancing rules followed
  • Safety deposit box
  • Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
  • Security alarm
  • Smoke alarms
  • Staff adhere to local safety protocols

Getting around & access

  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Lift / Elevator
  • Valet parking

Guest services

  • Concierge service
  • Fax/photocopying
  • Ironing service
  • Laundry
  • Laundry washed per local authority guidelines
  • Luggage storage
  • Meeting/banquet facilities
  • Pets allowed

Services & essentials

  • Board games/puzzles
  • Business center
  • Cashless payment available
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Electric vehicle charging station
  • Evening entertainment
  • Face masks for guests available
  • Family rooms
  • Fishing
  • Free WiFi
  • Games room
  • Key card access
  • Live music/performance
  • Non-smoking throughout
  • Sun umbrellas

Review in focus

975 reviews
9/ 10
Location was laid back and beautiful on the beach.
Iain · couple · 2026-10-22

The guest experience

8.4out of 10
975 verified reviews

Loved most

  • Beachfront location
  • Iconic historic hotel and strong location
  • Beautiful, clean property (pleasant smell noted)
  • Excellent pool and beach area
  • Friendly/outstanding staff in several areas (front desk, pool, pool bar)
  • Good gym and facilities

Worth knowing — Pricey / poor value for money · Room issues: tiny, outdated, uncomfortable mattress, obstructed views · Noise from road / nearby building site · Inconsistent or rude service (valet, check-in delays, lack of assistance) · Maintenance / property age issues (alarms, older maintenance) · Food inconsistencies: cold buffet, limited lunch options

How guests scored the stay

  • Location9.6

    Consistently strong—beachfront, iconic hotel with excellent proximity to the beach and good overall location praised repeatedly.

  • Cleanliness9.2

    Frequently praised in reviews—rooms and property described as beautiful, clean and even smelling great; multiple guests explicitly noted the hotel was very clean.

  • Overall Experience9.0

    Overall positive impression driven by iconic beachfront location, attractive pool/beach and many friendly staff, but experience is tempered by inconsistent service, room issues and value concerns.

  • Service8.6

    Mixed service profile: several staff (front desk, pool and pool-bar) called out as friendly and outstanding, but multiple reports of inconsistent or rude service (valet rudeness, poor check-in communication, staff inaction around pool and guests, missing crib sheet).

  • Amenities8.5

    Good amenities overall: excellent pool area, nice pool bar, solid gym and beach access; some complaints about missing extras (no outside hot tub), pool could use music/misters, and shuttle/service communication gaps.

  • Food and Beverage8.2

    Mixed feedback: some positive comments about hotel restaurants and food, but others reported cold buffet breakfast, limited lunch options and uneven dining quality.

  • Room Quality7.6

    Mixed to negative: several guests reported tiny or outdated rooms, poor mattress/bed comfort, obstructed views, and rooms affected by road/construction noise; some guests did note rooms were great, so quality varies by room.

Live guest feedback

Guest reviews

Mixed experiences

57% of 7 recent stays rated 8+

8.4975 reviews
  • Wonderful beach getaway in a happy resort

    9/10

    Iain · couple · 2026-10-22

    “Location was laid back and beautiful on the beach.”

  • Overrated

    4/10

    Gabrielle · couple · 2026-09-14

    “Beach front”

  • Wonderful, relaxing stay at the Don CeSar!

    10/10

    Chris · couple · 2026-09-11

    “The history, location, and friendly staff.”

  • Guest review

    10/10

    Michael · couple · 2026-09-05

    “Beautiful and clean, even smelled amazing.”

  • A very lovely hotel, takes your breath away.

    8/10

    Steve · couple · 2026-08-21

    “The pool area and beach were excellent.”

  • Very pricey with limited things to do

    5/10

    Owen · family with children · 2026-08-17

    “Its History and location to the beach”

  • Guest review

    6/10

    Mark · solo traveller · 2026-08-13

    “Great facilities and location.”

View all guest reviews

Hotel info and reviews come from third-party sources.