Review of the Lido Beach Resort In Sarasota Florida

It’s no secret that I love the beach, and I always enjoy a stay at a great beach hotel. On a recent trip to Sarasota, I had the opportunity to spend two nights at the Lido Beach Resort, an Opal collection hotel offering 223 guest rooms and suites right on the white sand beach. Lido Beach Resort is a fantastic “home base” for a family beach vacation – I truly enjoyed my stay.

Disclosure: My trip to the Lido Beach Resort was complimentary as part of a press trip to Sarasota. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.

Review of the Lido Beach Resort In Sarasota Florida

Location of the Lido Beach Resort

The Lido Beach Resort is located on the Gulf Coast barrier island of Lido Key and is great for families. It’s only a short ride from the Sarasota Airport and about an hour from the Tampa Airport. It’s a nice convenient spot, right near the St. Armands Circle area (which offers shopping and restaurants).

You can easily access a number of great local activities, including kayaking, downtown Sarasota, and the Ringling Museum. It really is a great spot for a casual Gulf Coast family vacation.

Amenities at the Lido Beach Resort

As you’d imagine, the beach is definitely one of the biggest amenities at the Lido Beach Resort. The resort is located right on the private beach, and guests can take advantage of towel service, as well as beach chairs. During our stay, I didn’t find the 300-foot private beach to be overly crowded, and it was a nice spot to both relax and have fun.

There are also beautiful sunsets that can be seen right from the beach, so it’s definitely worth heading out there during sunset at least once during your stay. I always love the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico because they are so scenic. If you want to stay active on the beach, you’ll be able to enjoy beach volleyball.

The resort also offers two beachfront pools (one heated family pool, and one adult-only pool), three jacuzzis, a sundries shop, and a small fitness center. Although I love the beach, the pools are definitely worth visiting as well. If I was visiting with my kids, I’m sure we would have spent equal amounts of time at the beach and the family pool.

For help finding and booking activities, the resort has a concierge in the lobby. There’s also a free shuttle service that can take you to nearby St. Armands Circle for shopping and restaurants.

The Lido Beach Resort is pet friendly, so guests traveling with their dogs can enjoy staying with them (additional fees apply, and dogs must be under 30 pounds each).

For those needing a business center, the resort offers one that is open 24 hours a day. There are also on-site laundry facilities, as well as bicycle rentals. Only valet parking is available – for an additional fee.

Restaurants at the Lido Beach Resort

If you’d like to dine on-site, there are several options available. My favorite is the casual Tiki Bar, which is located right by the beach.

The poolside Tiki Bar offers tropical drinks and light bites. During our stay, I stopped there a few times for a quick drink, as well as a delicious lunch (the fish sandwich is a must-have).

For gorgeous panoramic views of both the city and the beach, Lido Beach Resort has recently introduced a brand-new restaurant concept. Drift Kitchen and Bar is located on the 8th floor of the Palm Building.

Breakfast and dinner are offered at Drift. Dinner options include pasta, pizza, and seafood.

Prefer to dine in-room? Room service is available. Lunch is offered for pickup at the Tiki Bar, while dinner can either be picked up or delivered from Drift.

Rooms at the Lido Beach Resort

I love coastal decor, and the recently-renovated rooms at the Lido Beach Resort are absolutely stunning. The resort offers two buildings with updated rooms, many with beautiful beach views. Deluxe guest rooms, suites, and junior suites in the Palm Building include a kitchen with full refrigerator and cooktop, balconies, and a Keurig coffee-maker, complete with coffee. The resort fees includes microwave popcorn and two bottles of water per day, as well as complimentary Wi Fi.

If you choose a room in the Tiki Building, you’ll have the option of either a regular guest room or a kitchenette. Regular guest rooms offer a refrigerator and microwave, while the kitchenettes offer a full-sized refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, utensils, and dishware.

My deluxe guest room included a king bed, tv, small sofa with coffee table, round dining room table, and bathroom with a large shower. Bathroom amenities are made by Gilchrist & Soames, and include shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and soap.

The private balcony was my favorite part of the room however – not only did it have beautiful views, but I also loved the Adirondack-style chairs that I could relax in.

My room at the Lido Beach Resort was one of my favorite rooms ever – because of the light, coastal decor. It’s absolutely beautiful. If you think that you may want to prepare some meals in your room, it’s definitely worth getting a kitchenette so you’ll have that option.

The Lido Beach Resort is definitely a great place to stay with kids. It has a fun, casual, and relaxed vibe that is great for families. With the pools, beach, and activities located nearby, there’s plenty for families to do.

The Lido Beach Resort can be booked here.

Additional Resources: Want to read more Gulf Coast travel tips and reviews? Click to read our post with destination recommendations, ideas on what things to do, hotel reviews, and more.