St. Petersburg, Florida, has long been a favorite for folks seeking a warm winter getaway. Our list of favorite St. Pete hotels offers everything from a giant aquarium to a floating waterpark to a historic hotel about to celebrate a century of welcoming guests. But if your idea of a great vacation includes practicing your pickleball swing, take aim at SkyBeach Resort.
The beachfront resort dates back to the 1950s, and it’s clear when you pull into the parking lot that the property has stories to tell. Once known as the Outrigger Inn, it served as the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960s. It provided housing for both Black and white baseball players at a time when the state of Florida resisted attempts to integrate spring training.
Accommodations
SkyBeach Resort features 113 accommodations in a variety of room categories ranging from traditional hotel rooms to two-bedroom suites. All have balconies or patios, and many offer water views.
I stayed in a Waterside Double Double room on the ground floor with my husband and 20-something-year-old daughter. Along with two double beds, the room featured a small refrigerator (with a separate freezer area), single-serve coffee machine, and microwave. I was disappointed to see single-use plastic water bottles in the rooms.
In the bathroom, the single-sink vanity provided just enough room for the three of us. The walk-in shower was stocked with Gilchrist & Soames toiletries in refillable bottles.
The outdoor patio overlooked the ocean; a hammock made it even easier to linger.
Public Spaces and Facilities
SkyBeach Resort does double duty as a hotel and the home of the Southside Sports membership club. Hotel guests have full access. Along with a dozen pickleball courts, there’s a tennis court and four beach volleyball courts.
Both pools—original to the resort—offer water views. The Serenity Pool and nearby hot tub are for adults only, while the Headliner Pool is open to guests of all ages. Both pools are steps from the sand. Loungers line the beach. As part of the daily resort fee, guests have access to kayaks and paddleboards.
Complimentary bikes (two hours per guest) are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Every weekend, live music performances take place on the resort’s beachfront Azibi Stage.
SkyBeach Resort features a marina with 29 boat slips available for day, overnight, and seasonal docking.
Dining Options
SkyBar + Grille enjoys a stellar beachfront location with views of St. Petersburg’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Open for lunch and dinner, the two-story, open-air restaurant and bar serves an all-day menu with options ranging from a double smashburger with yucca fries to a softshell crab sandwich and Thai Crunch Salad.
The bar lineup is arguably more robust than the food menu. Along with a multitude of cocktails, mocktails, beers, and wines, SkyBar serves a trio of Rum Buckets that, just as the name implies, are served in a 32-ounce souvenir Bacardi plastic rum bucket.
At the time of publication, construction was underway for a new Mediterranean restaurant and bar, located steps from the lobby.
Paradeco Coffee Roasters is open for breakfast and lunch. Along with assorted coffee and tea, the menu focuses on mostly vegan offerings. Expect dishes the likes of Cashew Ricotta Kale Toast (vegan cashew ricotta, roasted kale, roasted chickpeas, and olive oil pesto) and a Mushroom BLT Sandwich. (vegan Portobello mushroom bacon, marinated tomatoes, local greens and bread, as well as Italian olive oil veganaise spread) Purchases cannot be charged to your room. Guests looking for a more traditional breakfast experience will have to venture off property.
Good to Know
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is a 16-mile drive; Tampa Bay International Airport requires a 24-mile stretch behind the wheel. Depending on your destination, the latter likely offers a more robust flight selection.
SkyBeach Resort has four rooms adapted for guests with mobility disabilities. The ADA rooms are limited to the property’s Deluxe King room category.
Rates for a Waterside Double Double room at SkyBeach Resort start at $279. Be sure to budget for the $45 daily resort fee. It includes a number of amenities such as Wi-Fi, towels at the beach and pool, and self-parking for one vehicle.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
SkyBeach Resort is pet-friendly. A $50 per day fee applies, with a maximum charge of $200 for stays of four nights or longer in a designated pet-friendly room. Four-legged guests receive a pet bed and bowls to use during their stay, as well as treats, waste bags, and a branded bandana.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by SkyBeach Resort, but as always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
