Clearwater Florida: Trip Review

WHERE WE STAYED, ATE, ETC.

This was our first trip to Clearwater, FL, for Colton and me. We went the last week of May, and the water was so blue and clear. It was hot and sunny but had a nice breeze along the beach. The trip was last-minute for us because the weather in Corpus was so gloomy and rainy - we desperately wanted the sunshine, so I booked a trip here. Ironically enough, my aunt and uncle went the week before us (we had no idea and actually never heard of Clearwater). They have been there a few times. I will share their tips and tricks too because they have some good ones! I thought today I would do a 'Question and Answer' all about our trip here.

Where did we stay?

We stayed at Opal Sands Resort. I will say there were some pros and cons to this hotel, but overall I would definitely recommend it. This hotel is family-friendly and has three restaurants. Each room in the hotel faces the ocean, which is so nice. Also, the rooms are very spacious; Colton always appreciates that because I pack a lot, lol. As for the pool outside, it's amazing. There is one pool, and the chairs face either the pool or the ocean. We grabbed chairs that faced the ocean two days in a row because you could see different wildlife in the ocean. One day we saw a manatee, every day we saw different kinds of fish. I don't remember what they are called, but Colton was excited. He brought his rod and fished off the jetty at the hotel - that was definitely a plus for him! We also saw dolphins and turtles.

Another unique thing Opal Sands has is they give you a wristband with a small card on it that acts as a hotel key to your room. It is also waterproof, so you don't have to keep getting a new one + you can take it off at night or put it in your beach bag. They also give you another wristband at check-in that is paper, and it just shows that you are a guest at the hotel. This one doesn't come off until you rip it. You can see it in my photos if you look closely- it's the bright blue bracelet on my left hand. The only con of the hotel is that this property is at the end of the jetty, so when you walk to the beach, the sand isn't as nice because it has a few shells. However, when you walk a little way down, the sand is like powdered sugar- just so soft and white. If you love fishing, then this hotel would be a 10/10!

Where did we eat?

We mostly stayed around the hotel to eat. I recommend the French Toast at Sea-Guini, we ate outside every morning for breakfast because the weather was so nice. + Oh, Em Gee- it's the best french toast I've ever had. Colton got the buffet every morning and really liked it as well. For lunch, we ate poolside, mostly Chips + guac! Haha! For dinner one night, we ordered from a local pizzeria called Coal Oven Pizza and had it delivered to the room. It was so good- I definitely recommend it.

What did we do?

So, because our trip was short, we mostly stayed around our hotel, but we did take advantage of the blue water and no crowns in the mornings. That's the perfect time to take pictures with no people in the background or swim without kids splashing water. Lol, there are other activities you can do like rent bikes, rent water toys, and shop. One night we walked down the street to feel the vibe. It's definitely party city at night time the nightlife is wild. Haha! Probably not the best if you have small children.

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Entertaining myself while Colton fishes the jetty.

Tips + Tricks for your next stay.

Since our trip was quick, we mostly stayed around the pool and rented chairs at the beach, but there are some really great tips if you vacation there for a week or longer.

1. Go to the beach shop and buy beach chairs/ umbrellas the first day, + you get to be closer to the water than the hotel cabanas.

2. Go to Walgreens or CVS and buy snacks and water.

3. Try the Garlic Crab fries at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill.

4. It's cheaper to get Uber/Lyft than renting a car, + everything is within walking distance.

5. Definitely pack a speaker and plastic bags for your sandy clothes for the trip home.