Best Hotel in Indian Rocks Beach
If you are planning a Gulf of Mexico Florida beach vacation, Indian Rocks Beach is the perfect destination for all your travel adventures. The barrier island area is secluded, with a charming coastal look and feel, yet the excitement of two more significant and well-loved beach destinations are just a short car ride away.
When you stay at Indian Rocks Beach, the fun of Busch Gardens is just an hour's drive, and the bright lights of Tampa are even closer. At the same time, return to a quiet room, pristine white-sand beaches with natural dunes and sea oats, warm ocean water, and all the conveniences of a big beach resort. Plus, the quaint town populated by less than 5,000 residents allows for easy walking to shopping, restaurants, and has 27 easy-access beach points.
There is a reason so many visitors to Florida are choosing to make Indian Rocks Beach their home base. All the local attractions, from Clearwater Beach to St. Petersburg, are just a short trip away, but there is plenty to do right here in this lovely beach town. Visit the historical museum, Beach Art Center, Heritage Village, Florida Botanical Gardens or one of many area nature preserves. There is so much to do here!
Where to Stay in Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Rocks Beach is the perfect 'home base' for any Florida visitor, but choosing the right hotel is very important. The hotel or condo you select will set the tone for your entire vacation, and making the wrong choice could be a big mistake.
The Prestige Collection Harbourside at Marker 33
While there are many beautiful hotels in and around the Indian Rocks Beach region, one property stands out above all the rest. The wonderful Prestige Collection's Harbourside at Marker 33 offers a variety of engaging attractions, including family-friendly activities for kids of all ages. And with a spectacular water park right on site, it is easy to see why so many families choose to make Indian Rocks Beach their vacation destination.
Harbourside at Marker 33 is a brand-new property. The welcome center, the facilities, the amenities and even the furniture are new and ready for your arrival. While there are several decent accommodations in and around the Indian Rocks Beach area, this fresh, modern hotel is a real standout.
The facility is also distinguished by its unique accommodations. While the Holiday Inn in Clearwater and the Hilton in St. Pete will be happy to rent you a room, when you stay at Harbourside at Marker 33, you will enjoy real condo-style living.
That means one and two-bedroom living, with a fully equipped kitchen, living area, free wi-fi, a lovely balcony with generous furnishings, a large dining table, separate sleeping areas, and in-unit laundry facilities. If you are traveling with the kids or extended family members, but longing for romance and solitude, you will undoubtedly appreciate the condo-style accommodations that allow everyone to spread out while lodging together.
Guests can also choose to rent a hotel-style room at the Prestige Collection - Harbourside at Marker 33. These well-appointed hotel rooms feature a pair of double beds, a mini-fridge, a microwave, and coffee service. Those amenities alone could save you a ton of money on restaurant food and takeout meals.
Splash Harbour Water Park
One of the main attractions of the Prestige Collection Harbourside at Marker 33 is the on-site water park. Kids in particular love this feature, but their parents are sure to appreciate it as well.
Located just steps from your room, children and teens will enjoy the Splash Harbour Water Park, which plays home to fun twisty slides, a 600-foot lazy river and a dedicated splash area for toddlers. Best of all, guests staying in a one or two-bedroom unit receive two (2) free adult passes to the water park for every day of their stay. Guests can also purchase additional tickets to Splash Harbour Water Park at a reduced rate of just $16.95 per ticket. Children’s tickets are $13.95.
In addition to the free water park tickets, guests of the Prestige Collection Harbourside at Marker 33 can use the large swimming pool, located right inside the park. While the large heated swimming pool is closed to park visitors before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m., guests can enjoy the sparkling water for free at these particular times.
In addition to these benefits, guests can also enjoy family-friendly amenities like miniature golf, a welcome center with games and planned activities led by on-site staff. Harbourside at Marker 33 even offers occasional painting classes, wine and cheese tastings, barbeques, karaoke nights and more. Plus, there is a fully stocked gift shop, and Jimmy Guana's restaurant and bar are located right in the complex!
The Harbourside property, and the entire Indian Rocks Beach area, also offers proximity to the beach, along with excellent restaurants and shopping. The central location of Indian Rocks Beach also makes it the perfect jumping off point for your Florida vacation, with Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater and other quaint coastal cities just a short drive away.
If you want to work off some of that great food, Indian Rocks Beach also has a fully-appointed offsite fitness center. The Anytime Gym is a favorite spot for fitness enthusiasts, both local and out of town visitors. Harbourside guests may obtain their gym key for just a $20 deposit. That gym key provides 24/7 access to the Anytime Gym, 365 days a week. The Anytime Gym is located a mere half mile from the resort so that you can move back and forth with ease.
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites
The Holiday Inn Hotel is also centrally located within the same complex as Harbourside at Marker 33, and a convenient choice for visitors to Indian Rocks Beach. This hotel offers access to the Splash Harbour Water Park, the on-site Jimmy Guana's restaurant as well as mini golf, and the gift shop.
Compared to some other hotels, including the Prestige Collection - Harbourside at Marker 33, the Holiday Inn Hotel is older, without the updated amenities of competing properties. The Holiday Inn is not a bad hotel by any means, but it is also not one of the newer properties in Indian Rock Beach. Like Harbourside, it does share the marina and offers fishing and charter boat rentals directly on-site. There are public boat slips here as well.
Great Heron Inn
The Great Heron Inn is another popular property in Indian Rocks Beach, with lots of great amenities and stunning ocean views. The property is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, so it would be harder to find a better location.
The Great Heron Inn offers a pool with a great outside view, and guests can luxuriate in a roomy one-bedroom suite complete with living room. And since it is located in Indian Rocks Beach, the Great Heron Beach also offers convenient access to the nightlife of Tampa, the beauty of St. Pete and the beaches of Clearwater.
Sea Star Motel and Apartments
The Sea Star Motel and Apartments is popular with both visitors and tourists, with a long list of amenities and an excellent location. This favorite spot is within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, and activities, making it a good place to stay and a suitable home base for nearby Florida attractions.
The amenities offered by the Sea Star Motel and Apartments include free Wi-Fi access, pet-friendly accommodations, fitness club access, and onsite shuffleboard. You can even schedule a romantic beach wedding, complete with honeymoon suite.
Gulf Towers Resort Hotel
The Gulf Towers Resort Hotel is located right on Gulf Boulevard, in the heart of the action. That central location has helped make Gulf Towers Resort Hotel one of the most common places to stay in Indian Rocks Beach.
This hotel features large, well-appointed rooms, easy access to the beach and area parks, and plenty of friendly staff members. Like Harbourside and area lodging, the location near Gulf Boulevard also makes the Gulf Towers Resort Hotel a great landing point for guests who plan to visit nearby attractions like Busch Gardens, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and other favorite tourist spots.
Indian Rocks Beach - The Perfect Home Base
Indian Rocks Beach is the perfect destination for any western Florida beach vacation, located in the sweet spot between St. Pete and Clearwater. The excitement of St. Pete is just 10 miles to the south, while the crystal blue ocean of Clearwater is only 7 miles to the north.
Indian Rocks Beach also gives non-beach fans a chance to unwind and relax, without the crowds and traffic of St. Pete, Clearwater and other busy Florida cities. You do not have to be a beach enthusiast to enjoy the secluded spots and romantic vistas of Indian Rocks Beach.
Indian Rocks Beach is also home to all the water-friendly attractions you would expect. If you want to try your hand at deep sea fishing, boating charters, or take a romantic sunset cruise, you can do it here.
Whether you are planning a fun family vacation, a romantic anniversary getaway or a dream wedding, Indian Rocks Beach has a lot to offer. Why stay in crowded St. Pete or pricey Clearwater Beach when you can enjoy a quieter and more laid-back experience in Indian Rocks Beach? If you are tired of fighting the crowds and sitting in rush hour traffic, just trade in those more crowded, hot spots for a relaxed vacation in Indian Rocks Beach.
Once you have decided that Indian Rocks Beach is the perfect home base for your Florida vacation, you will need to decide where to say. Each of the properties on our list has a great deal to offer, but for your money, the Prestige Collection's Harbourside at Marker 33 stands head and shoulders above the rest.