Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key

With its lovely bay views, the 10-floor Marriott Suites is a large family-friendly hotel with a dash of tropical flair -- though it doesn't entirely shake its corporate chain hotel vibe. Rattan furniture and a macaw mural greet guests in fine Floridian style, while inside the marble lobby the resident parrot, Lisa, holds court. The space is bright, with windows covered by wispy curtains, plus several lounge areas, work stations, and Starbucks-brand coffee in the cafe. The sheer size doesn't feel personal or intimate, though accents like reed silhouettes on the front desk and the pineapple-shaped light fixtures above a carved grand staircase give the space a bit of local character. The outdoor pool is lovely, with a man-made rock waterfall, hot tub, cabanas, bay views, and plenty of seating. The kid-friendly amenities, pool, and easy beach access make the Marriott Suites Clearwater Beach on Sand Key popular with families, but couples and business travelers make up a large portion of the guests as well.

Right on the bay, this hotel has a quiet location, with Florida's Gulf Coast beaches across the road -- Sand Key Park Beach is only 10 minutes away on foot, but the hotel's shuttle service transports guests there in just two minutes. There's a handful of fast food options and shops, including a Dunkin’ Donuts, in an adjacent strip mall next door, and water-sports equipment can be rented on-site. The Clearwater Jolley Trolley stops in front of the hotel, making the trip to Clearwater Beach -- right over the bridge -- in about five minutes. Downtown Clearwater is a 10-minute drive from the property, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is about a 15-minute drive. Ruth Eckerd Hall and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport are 30 minutes away by car. Tampa and St. Petersburg are a 45-minute drive from the hotel.

There's a slight disparity in room quality at this hotel. Some units are more modern than others -- with fresher paint jobs and partially updated furniture -- but the look overall is simple and homey. Appearances are soft throughout -- soft colors in textiles, generally pleasing mid-tone wood furniture, and pastel hues in tropical artwork on the walls. Sliding glass doors bring a lot of natural light to the 220 one-bedroom suites, which have colorful accent walls and conveniences like wet bars, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and microwaves. Suites measure about 500 square feet (47 square meters), and have sofa beds and 42-inch flat-screen TVs in the living rooms plus 37-inch TVs in the separate bedrooms. Balconies offer lovely sunset vistas over Clearwater Bay. Rooms have either one king or two queen beds. All are air-conditioned and include DVD players, work desks with ample outlets, irons and ironing boards, bathrobes, and newspapers on request. Marble bathrooms have shower/tub combos or walk-in showers, hairdryers, and toiletries. Be aware that in-room Wi-Fi comes with a fee, unless guests are Marriott Club members.

The hotel has many crowd-pleasing features on-site, many of which capitalize on the hotel's prime bayside location. One of best places to take in the bay views is from the hotel’s pool, which features a rock waterfall, blue-cushioned lounge chairs, a volleyball net, kids' pool, and hot tub. Cabanas with mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs are also situated by the pool, where fruit-flavored water, towels, and a water-sports kiosk are available. A Pizza Hut Express and the laid-back Kokomos Bar & Grill, with deck seating, are also located poolside. Java Cafe, in the lobby, serves Starbucks. The Watercolour Lounge provides bay views from floor-to-ceiling windows, while the Watercolour Grill House serves American fare -- steaks, seafood, and salads -- classic circular booths, and terrace dining. Breakfast is not included in room rates.Antonio's Salon & Day Spa offers hair and nail services in addition to traditional spa treatments, and a 24-hour gym comes with free weights, modern cardio machines with mini-TVs, and healthy snacks. The business center, with three computers and two printers, is open 24 hours a day. The hotel has 7,500 square feet (697 square meters) of meeting space, including 14 conference rooms. There are arts and crafts, a playground, and movie nights at Lisa’s Klubhouse for any families with kids. Wi-Fi in rooms is only free for Marriott Club members and the hotel does not provide free beach chairs or umbrellas. Free Wi-Fi is available for everyone in the hotel's common areas.