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The Helmsley Sandcastle, Sarasota

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  • £114
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The Helmsley Sandcastle

1540 Ben Franklin Dr Sarasota, 34236 Florida

Sarasota resort, private beach on the Gulf of Mexico

On Lido Beach
Facing the Gulf of Mexico on Lido Beach, this casual Sarasota resort features 600 feet of private white-sand beach; the upscale shops and restaurants of St Armands Circle are 1 mile away. Show more
Sun, sand, and sports
Kayaks, personal watercraft, small sailboats, and bicycles are available for rent. Guests at The Helmsley Sandcastle also have complimentary use of volleyball and shuffleboard courts and 2 outdoor pools.
Bright hues and views
Spanning the 7 buildings of The Helmsley Sandcastle, guestrooms provide views of the pools or the Gulf of Mexico. All have high-speed Internet access, compact refrigerators, and complimentary HBO. Hide

GUEST REVIEWS

4.1out of 5

Expedia Guest Rating

88%

of guests recommend

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

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Rooms & Rates

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Please complete the highlighted fields below. The check-out date must occur after the check-in date. Please change the date. Date format should be dd/mm/yy. Please provide the ages of children below. The check-in or check-out date is prior to the current date. The check-in date cannot be after 28/06/2013. The check-out date cannot be after 28/06/2013. The check-in date is missing. Please add the check-in date. The check-out date is missing. Please add the check-out date.
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Rooms:

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Room type  
Gulf Front
Two double beds. Gulf of Mexico view. In two- or four-story building. 324 square feet. High-speed Internet access (surcharge). 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
Two double beds. Pool view. In one- or three-story building. 288 square feet. High-speed Internet access (surcharge). 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.
Standard no view
Two double beds. North side view. In three-story building. 252 square feet. High-speed Internet access (surcharge). Direct-dial phone with voice mail. Cable TV with complimentary HBO. Complimentary newspaper. Compact refrigerator and coffee/tea maker. Iron/ironing board. Bathroom with shower/tub combination. Interior and/or exterior vanity. Hair dryer. Make-up/shaving mirror.
There is only room left for . More rooms of this type may be available at higher rates. There are only rooms left for . More rooms of this type may be available at higher rates.

Hotel Policies & Fees

The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.

Policies
  • Pets not allowed
  • Minimum check-in age is 21
  • Check-in time starts at 3 PM
  • Check-out time is 11 AM
  • American Express accepted
  • Carte Blanche accepted
  • Diners Club accepted
  • Discover accepted
  • JCB International accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Visa accepted
Fees
  • The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
    • Rollaway bed fee: USD 10.00 per night
  • The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

Property Amenities

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Air-conditioned public areas
  • Arcade/game room
  • ATM/banking
  • Audio-visual equipment
  • Ballroom(s)
  • Number of floors - 4
  • Banquet facilities
  • Bar/lounge
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Business services
  • Coffee shop or café
  • Complimentary newspapers in lobby
  • Concierge services
  • Multiple large conference rooms
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Elevator/lift
  • Event catering
  • Fitness facilities
  • Gift shops or newsstand
  • Number of outdoor pools - 2
  • Laundry facilities
  • Multiple small meeting rooms
  • Multilingual staff
  • Total number of rooms - 179
  • Parking (free)
  • Patio
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Private beach
  • Restaurant(s) in hotel
  • Room service (limited hours)
  • Security guard
  • Number of buildings/towers - 7
  • Swimming pool - outdoor
  • Wireless (high-speed) Internet access - complimentary
  • Self parking
  • Free guest parking only during stay
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Rooms

Guestrooms at The Helmsley Sandcastle span seven buildings, one-four stories high. Views are of the pools or the Gulf of Mexico. All rooms include high-speed Internet access, phones with voice mail, and complimentary newspapers. TVs come with complimentary HBO channels. Compact refrigerators and safes are additional conveniences.

Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations or showers only, interior and/or exterior vanities, and makeup/shaving mirrors. A sitting area with two upholstered chairs is included.

Show room details Hide room details
The Helmsley Sandcastle, Sarasota, Florida, Rooms Guest Room

Room Amenities

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning
  • HBO
  • Cable/satellite television channels
  • Climate control
  • Clock radio
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Complimentary newspaper
  • Complimentary toiletries
  • Cribs (infant beds) available
  • Direct-dial phone
  • Electronic/magnetic keys
  • Hair dryer
  • Daily housekeeping (daily)
  • In-room safe
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Makeup/shaving mirror
  • Premium television channel(s)
  • Refrigerator
  • Rollaway beds available
  • Smoking permitted
  • Voice mail
  • Window opens
  • Wireless high-speed Internet access (complimentary)
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Dining

Sandcastle Coffee Shop - Off the pool area. Indoor and outdoor dining. Casual American fare. Breakfast and lunch.

Candlelight Restaurant and Lounge - Seafood, steak, and other American cuisine. Dinner. Lounge open from early afternoon to late evening.

Floridian Sidewalk Café - Open-air dining. Casual American fare. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Sandcastle Pool Bar - Light fare and cocktails. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, 4 PM–6 PM. Open mid-morning to dusk (weather permitting).

Room service - Available from early morning to late evening.

Show dining options Hide dining options
The Helmsley Sandcastle, Sarasota, Florida, Dining Restaurant

Recreation

  • Golf - miniature nearby
  • Golf - driving range nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Boating nearby
  • Personal watercraft nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Boat launch nearby
  • Pilates classes/instruction nearby
  • Yoga classes/instruction nearby
  • Tennis nearby
  • Aerobics nearby
  • Running track/path nearby
  • Basketball nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Bird watching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Playground nearby
  • Bicycle rentals on site
  • Kayaking on site
  • Rowing or canoeing on site
  • Sailing on site
  • Shuffleboard on site
  • Swimming on site
  • Table tennis on site
  • Volleyball on site
  • Segway rental/tour nearby
Show recreation options Hide recreation options

Verified Reviews: All guest reviews are verified as submitted by our customers and reflect their stay at The Helmsley Sandcastle

4.1
out of 5
avg. guest rating
Hotel service:
4.3
Hotel condition:
3.9
Room cleanliness:
4.2
Room comfort:
3.9
Location:
4.5
Neighbourhood:
4.5
88%

of guests recommend

out of 161 reviews

Write a review of this hotel

You may be required to sign in to verify your stay.

Ray C from London
4.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 7 Dec 2011

“Great beach hotel - great area.”

Superb location and Lido Beach area is really good and close to everything you could want, quite up market centre for dining and art ! Downtown Sarasota was OK as well but going North - oh no.

Dawn H from Alabama
5.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 30 Nov 2011

“Beautiful view”

Paul checked us in early and was very friendly as was all the staff. Very pleased with our beach front room! Very quiet and loved opening our door to hear the surf hitting the beautiful clean beach. We will be back to stay here!

Area recommendations
Love Lido and siesta key beach areas. Great beaches and hotels. Everything close by
A Traveller from Massachusetts
5.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 28 Nov 2011

“relaxing respite”

Friendly staff, casual pool bar, amazing beach front., good shell collecting. Convenient to "the circle" for great food. Had a great (all too short) stay.

richard d from Indiana
4.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 27 Nov 2011

“Great older hotel”

The hotel has bin around for a while and the rooms can use an update but the location, staff and food are excellent. Had a great vacation.

Area recommendations
St. Armonds circle
A Traveller from Santiago, Chile
4.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 23 Nov 2011

“To rest, go back!!”

The best, wake up and beeing at the beach. Nice people trying to do the best to make your staying a pleasure. So good.

A Traveller from WA
4.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 17 Nov 2011

“Sandcastle”

Location is nice, pool is nice and the proximity to beach and St. Armands is excellent.

Cheryl C from Sergeantsville, NJ
4.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 15 Nov 2011

“Beautiful pools and beach”

Loved the outdoor space. The pools were lovely and the beach fantastic!

Area recommendations
Armand Circle for Shopping Lido Key for the beach Ringling Bros Museum was fantastic!
Outdoors or beach
Fabulous
Mike M from Tampa
2.0
out of 5
Does not recommend this hotel
Posted 14 Nov 2011

“Just okay.”

The hotel was just okay. Biggest concern was the lack of personality of any of the employees especially the front desk. Not once was I asked if everything was okay and no one smiles. I really don't like an automatic gratuity charge of 16%. I always tip 20% or more depending on service but when there is an automatic charge that is all they get.

Kimberly from Jacksonville, FL
3.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 6 Nov 2011

“A Bit Outdated”

Great location and great beach. Room was adequate, except that the bathroom was so small with very litte counter space. Internet service was good. Didn't care for the shared balcony but at least we didn't have a neighbor, so we slept with the balcony door open listening to the ocean.

Area recommendations
Definitely go downtown Sarasota for great food and atmosphere. The City Grille was awesome, having a great band on a Tuesday night, great food and outdoor seating. Also enjoyed an Irish Pub downtown that had wonderful seafood chowder and friendly service.
A Traveller from UK
5.0
out of 5
Recommends this hotel
Posted 6 Nov 2011

“Love it”

Homely, Friendly staff, Clean, Obliging, Reasonable, Lovely heated swimming pool, Excellent carpark system, Food is good and reasonable. Hotel could offer an option that includes breakfast.

Area recommendations
Sarasota is beautiful and full of attractions
Getting around
Car hire Several Malls Hotel or many other restaurants in St Armand Circle
Back to Hotel Details

The Helmsley Sandcastle

1540 Ben Franklin Dr Sarasota, 34236 Florida

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Nearby Points of Interest

  • South Lido Park - 0.6 km / 0.4 mi
  • St. Armands Circle - 1.6 km / 1 mi
  • Mote Marine Aquarium - 3.2 km / 2 mi
  • IMG Soccer Academy - 15.5 km / 9.6 mi

Location Highlights

  • On bay
  • Full-service health spa nearby
  • In suburbs
  • Marina nearby
  • On beach

The preferred airport for The Helmsley Sandcastle is Sarasota, FL (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.) - 9.4 km / 5.8 mi.

Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property's location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance.

Distances are displayed to the nearest 0.1 mile and kilometre.

Nearest Major Airport:

  • Sarasota, FL, United States (SRQ-Sarasota-Bradenton Intl.)

Area:

Sarasota, Florida, United States of America: Sarasota and several barrier islands nearby are world famous for their beaches. Golf is another popular activity here, with the Bobby Jones Golf Club, a 45-hole municipal facility named for the legendary Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., a popular golfing destination. The Ringling Brothers Circus got its start here, and a museum full of artefacts is open to visitors.

The Helmsley Sandcastle

1540 Ben Franklin Dr Sarasota, 34236 Florida

Most recent booking for this hotel: less than 4 hours ago.
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