Gulf coast of Florida

[helenmh]

We are flying to Tampa on 28th dec for two weeks. Can anyone recommend places to stay on the gulf coast. We have thought of SArasota, Sanibel, Clearwater. Any reccommendations of condos, hotels, villas?
Also any good car hire firms?
thanks alot
helen

helen, hi sorry to disappoint you but you may need to be looking further south for warmth at Christmas. Look at Miami and the keys and perhaps Naples as the furthest north. You may be lucky (hopefully a lot luckier than us 2 Xmasses ago when we froze for a week at Disney's Vero Beach resort!!!).

If you decide to not book anything till nearer the time just make sure you have a hotel booked for New Years Eve as they're all very busy and they put up the prices. R

Hi Helen, just back from Florida not v. warm at the moment. Stayed in Key Biscayne (30mins from Miami airport) for the last 4 days where the warmest weather was. What did you decide? R

Welcome back Rhiannon. How was the holiday in general?

We have booked a cottage on Anna maria island near Sarasota for the first week. We found the advert in the Lady magazine. Sounds very child friendly. The owners used to live in Cardiff and moved there with their 4 kids. We have booked the second week at Sanibel island Sunshine island inn whch we booked on the sanibel website. So will let you know what they are like
helen

Hi Jasper, lovely holiday thanks. Had the first week at Club Med Sandpiper then went up to Orlando to the Hard Rock Hotel and went to Universal Studios and then had the last 4 nights on Key Biscayne at the Silver Sands Motel.

Have come home brown but not hot enough for me for sun cream. A couple of very wet days and some cloudy ones.

We loved Club Med, they at least speak good english at this one and the kids clubs and food were both excellent. Cross with Club Med at the moment as their brochure price is far higher than their drive up price at the hotel and we are looking to have £700 returned. Will let you know how that goes.

Got my fair quota of shopping in as usual (love those outlet centres).

Helen, Sanibel is lovely, remember to take a little bag on to the beach to collect some lovely shells when the tide has gone out. R