Sandcastle Resort At Lido Beach Sarasota, Sarasota ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2025

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About the Hotel

1540 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America, 34236

Sandcastle Resort At Lido Beach, a 3-star Sarasota hotel, features a private beach with 600 feet of pristine white sand, two outdoor heated pools, and on-site dining options. This pet-friendly resort is ideal for families seeking a memorable getaway.

Rooms & Amenities

The resort offers inviting guest rooms and suites featuring modern amenities and ocean-inspired décor, including Gulf View Suites with a partial view of the Gulf of Mexico and a separate living room. Rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi, mini-refrigerators, and private balconies in select accommodations.

Dining Options

Dining options at Sandcastle Resort include the Candlelight Dining Room serving coastal cuisine and the Sandcastle Tiki Bar offering light snacks and cocktails by the pool. Guests can enjoy breakfast daily from 8 am to 11 am.

Leisure Activities

Leisure activities include beach volleyball and relaxing under complimentary umbrellas on the beach. The resort also offers a variety of games involving lounge chairs and towels services for guests.

Meetings & Events

Sandcastle Resort At Lido Beach provides meeting spaces suitable for events of various sizes, accommodating up to 225 guests. The resort employs experienced staff and includes amenities like free Wi-Fi and audio/visual equipment necessary for productive meetings.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Queen Room Mobility accessible

Max:

2 persons

23 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

Shower

Coffee machine

room details

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Double Room

Max:

2 persons

30 m²

Bed options:

2 Double beds

Sea view

Shower

Coffee machine

room details

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Room Assigned On Arrival

Max:

2 persons

27 m²

Bed options:

2 Double beds

Shower

Coffee machine

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Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center

Sarasota 3.2 mi

Airports

Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ) 8.0 mi

St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) 52.3 mi

Train

Vanderipe Railroad Station 8.4 mi

Bus

Bus stop400 ft

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Wi-Fi

Parking

Paid parking

24-hour services

24-hour reception

24-hour security

Babysitting

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
Parking
Safe deposit box
24-hour reception
VIP check-in/ -out
Pets allowed
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Wheelchair access
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Private beach
Elevator
ATM/Cash machine
Vending machines
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers
Key card access

Sports & Fitness

Table tennis

Services

Free shuttle service
Housekeeping
Laundry
Dry cleaning

Dining

Poolside snack bar

Business

Business center
Meeting/ Banquet facilities
Fax/Photocopying

Children

Cribs
Board games

Spa & Leisure

Heated swimming pool
Outdoor swimming pool
Beach access
Beach umbrellas
Sun loungers
Sun terrace
Garden area
Shallow end

Room features

Air conditioning
Heating
Sitting area
Patio
Terrace
Garden furniture
Tea and coffee facilities
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries
Sink

Media

Flat-screen TV
AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Location

1540 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America, 34236

Map view

1540 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America, 34236

City landmarks

Mall

Saint Armands Circle

1.3 mi

Beach

Lido Key Beach

2100 ft

Aquarium

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

2.0 mi

Parks

South Lido County Park

2500 ft

Coolidge Park

3800 ft

Parks

Ted Sperling Park

2500 ft

Big Sarasota Pass

2600 ft

Benjamin Franklin Dr

South Lido Key Beach Park on the Gulf

2200 ft

Parking area

Siesta Key Beach

2.9 mi

190 Taft Dr

So. Lido Nature Park Kayak Launch

2200 ft

2150 Benjamin Franklin Dr

Lido public beach

2300 ft

2201 Benjamin Franklin Dr

Lido S Park

2300 ft

Beach

South Lido Beach

2300 ft

Beach

Lido Key

4200 ft

1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy

Mote Marine Laboratory

2.0 mi

Gulf of Mexico

Public beach

4300 ft

Garden

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

2.5 mi

St. Armand's Key

1.1 mi

Gallery

Clyde Butcher St Armands Gallery

5200 ft

John Ringling

1.2 mi

Church

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church

1.1 mi

101 Bird Key Drive

Bird Key Park

1.7 mi

946 Siesta Drive

Nora Patterson Bay Island Park

1.5 mi

Island

Edwards Islands

1.6 mi

Gallery

The Gallery on Siesta Key

1.9 mi

Beach

Big Edwards Island

1.5 mi

Bay Island

7.3 mi

Beach

Shell Beach

7.8 mi

Nearby

South Lido Park

0 ft

Restaurants

Candlelight Restaurant and Lounge

100 ft

1540 Benjamin Franklin Dr

Ridley's Porch

1700 ft

1234 Benjamin Franklin Dr Ritz Beach Club On Lido Key

Lido Key Tiki Bar & Public Beach

1700 ft

1234 Benjamin Franklin Dr Public Beach at Ritz Carlton Beach Club

Drift Kitchen & Bar

3000 ft

700 Benjamin Franklin Dr

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

68%

liked the hotel and would stay again

accessible location

excellent service

outdated place

high price

6.8/10

Nice

Rooms

6.6

Location

7.9

Service

8.1

Dining

6.0

3.5/5 based on 1811 reviews

#41 of 61 hotels in Sarasota based on Tripadvisor

John

United Kingdom, May 2024

7.8/10

The hotel needs a refresh in terms of decor and maintenance, but our stay was enjoyable overall. The rooms were dark and felt old, needing urgent upgrades, yet they were quite cozy. The service provided by Carly was exceptional, always with a friendly smile and prompt assistance. The location of the hotel was perfect, right by the beach and not overcrowded. Dining was satisfactory but a bit pricey for what was offered.

Rooms

6.0

The rooms are in need of an upgrade but were cozy and comfortable.

Service

9.0

Carly provided excellent and friendly service throughout our stay.

Location

9.0

The location is superb, right on the beautiful beach and close to shopping areas.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was satisfactory, but slightly overpriced for the options available.

Facilities

The hotel offers a good range of facilities for a comfortable stay.

Peter

United Kingdom, April 2024

6.4/10

The hotel is located near Lido beach and town, offering easy accessibility to parks. The rooms, although a bit warm due to being over the parking garage, were clean and provided more comfort than our initial room. The service, from various staff members like restaurant and maintenance, was excellent. The outdated location, reminiscent of a 50s family resort, was a downside despite its proximity to the beach. The dining experience in the hotel's patio cafe left something to be desired. Overall, the place has a throwback vibe but comes with a hefty price tag.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were a bit warm at 75 degrees due to the location over the parking garage but offered more comfort than our first room.

Service

9.0

The service, from check-in to dining and maintenance staff, was excellent all around the place.

Location

6.0

The location was a mix of positives and negatives; accessible to parks and Lido beach, but the resort seemed old and overpriced for its offering.

Dining

5.0

The dining experience, including breakfast in the patio cafe, didn't meet expectations and seemed to reflect the overall tired vibe of the place.

Facilities

5.0

The facilities were lacking modern updates and felt like a throwback to a different era at a high cost.

accessible location

outdated place

Sheila

United Kingdom, January 2024

6.6/10

The hotel is in a great location right on the Gulf, offering a wonderful beachfront experience. The rooms, though spacious and with a balcony, appeared dated and in need of repairs. The service was efficient, but the mandatory 18% tip added to purchases affected the overall friendliness. The location is excellent for beach lovers, but those seeking action might find it a bit far. Overall, a decent stay with room for improvement.

Rooms

6.0

The rooms were spacious with a balcony, but showed signs of age and needed repairs.

Service

7.0

The service was efficient but impacted by the mandatory 18% tip added to all purchases.

Location

8.0

The hotel is perfectly situated right on the Gulf with a beautiful beach, ideal for those seeking a relaxing coastal getaway.

Dining

5.0

The dining experience had both positive and negative points, with some dishes being enjoyable but others causing discomfort.

Facilities

The facilities were functional, but improvements could enhance the overall guest experience.

beachfront

dated rooms

James

United States of America, December 2023

7.4/10

The hotel's location right next to the beach is fantastic, and it's close to various attractions. The rooms, while spacious, could use some updating. The service was excellent, except for a minor issue at breakfast, which was outstanding. The beachfront location is superb, although there might be construction nearby. The dining options were good but slightly pricy. Overall, a decent stay with some room for improvements.

Rooms

7.0

The deluxe room was significant in size with separate rooms and a large bathroom featuring a jacuzzi bath, although it needs a serious update. There was a bit of a musty smell, and the air conditioning was noisy, prompting a room change late at night due to a neighboring guest smoking cannabis.

Service

9.0

The service was overall accommodating and excellent, particularly the sports facilities. The morning buffet was outstanding, with a minor exception. Services like dry cleaning, housekeeping, laundry, and shuttle services were satisfactory.

Location

8.0

The hotel's location right on the beach with two pools is fabulous, just a short walk away from St Armand's Circle. The beachfront view is amazing, but there were some construction vehicles and orange fencing nearby, slightly impacting the experience.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was good, with available breakfast options and the option to dine in-room, although the breakfast could be more varied. The restaurant offered awesome dishes, but they were a bit pricey.

Facilities

6.0

The facilities were decent, but the hotel needs updating, especially the rooms. The pools and beach access provided a pleasant experience for guests.

beachfront location

noisy air conditioning

Emil

United States of America, July 2023

7.8/10

The hotel's rooms, though clean, are a bit outdated and could use some improvements. The service was excellent and welcoming, with helpful staff all around. The location right on the beach was perfect but had some disappointments. The dining options were good but seemed overpriced. Overall, a solid choice for a stay with some room for enhancements.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms were clean but still a bit dated, needing some major updates.

Service

9.0

The staff took wonderful care of us and were very helpful and welcoming throughout our stay.

Location

8.0

The hotel's beachfront location was excellent, providing a perfect setting despite some disappointment.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was good overall, but the prices seemed a bit high for the offerings.

Facilities

8.0

The hotel offers a good range of facilities and amenities to enhance the stay.

Joseph

United States of America, June 2023

6.6/10

My stay at the hotel was a mixed experience. The rooms were uncomfortable without a view, and they charged extra for a microwave. However, they were kept clean and stocked daily. The service was excellent, especially at the front desk, but the hidden cost of the breakfast buffet was a letdown. The location was impeccable right by the ocean, but the parking garage was a hassle. The dining was decent, but not exceptional. Overall, it had its ups and downs.

Rooms

5.0

The rooms were uncomfortable, lacking a view and charging extra for a microwave. Despite the drawbacks, they were cleaned and restocked daily.

Service

8.0

The service was great, especially at the front desk. Staff were attentive and readily available, but the surprise cost of the breakfast buffet was disappointing.

Location

7.0

The location was perfect, right on the ocean, offering a stunning view. However, parking was a bit inconvenient and messy in the garage.

Dining

6.0

The dining experience was decent, but nothing extraordinary especially with the repetitive breakfast options. The pricing was unexpectedly high for the breakfast buffet.

Facilities

7.0

clean

uncomfortable

Henry

United Kingdom, June 2023

6.8/10

The hotel had bright, clean rooms; however, they were not very impressive for a resort, especially with carpeted floors in a beach area. The price of $300 a night didn't seem justified. The service was a mix of exceptionally friendly interactions and some instances of not-so-friendly attitudes, particularly considering the added 18% tip. The location was wonderful, directly on the Gulf with a lovely beach, offering easy access to kayak launches and free shuttles to nearby attractions. The dining experience varied from delicious to cold and stale, with some dishes not meeting expectations. Overall, the facilities were satisfactory, though there were occasional disappointments. The Wi-Fi didn't come free, which felt like an added expense for the value provided.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms were clean and organized, but not very nice for a resort, and the carpeted floors weren't preferable for a beachfront location.

Service

6.0

The service was a mix of exceptionally friendly and accommodating interactions alongside some instances of unfriendliness, especially with the mandatory 18% tip.

Location

9.0

The location was wonderful, directly on the Gulf with a beautiful beach and convenient access to kayak launches and free shuttles to nearby attractions.

Dining

5.0

The dining options ranged from delicious to disappointing, with some dishes not meeting expectations and coming at a high price.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were adequate, with occasional letdowns in certain areas.