We stayed in Sept 09 and loved it. Let's get this straight - it's not the Ritz but it's not trying to be. If you have 5 star desires - stop in the Don Cesar down the road - the reviews seem positive. However, if you are on a budget and you want a clean, well positioned and pleasant stay - look no further. There are numerous bars well within walking distance - great for the Brits who have had a week in Orlando and now want to have a drink in a lively atmosphere and not worry about driving. Philthy Phils and the Sloppy Pelican are both about 5 mins walk down the sidestreets. But best of all for a lively local drink is the Reef - made fun by the barman Rick - a major character. Go there for the Rum Runners and Friday night $3 Margaritas. They will do the trick.
The owner Dave has great tips on where to eat - Cafe Luna is great as is Sea Hags and we had a superb Prime Rib at Silas's.
If you are in season try and watch a Rays game - tickets are far less than Premier League games and it is a great night.
But most of all go to Anna Maria island - it is gorgeous - the beaches are fab - better than Fort de Soto. We went and saw plenty of wildlife - pelicans dolphins and even a small shark. It was stunning. While you are there treat yourself to the best burger on the island at Duffy's Tavern.
The rooms are no frills furnishings but the beds are very comfortable. The appartments are great - and the air con is brand new and almost silent. Dave is spending money upgrading the rooms and it was well appreciated.
So I give this simple motel a 5 star review- you should go - it is simply great value for money and run by the extremely friendly and helpful Dave. You can't go wrong.

I have to say that we weren't sure when we went to Gulf Tides Inn, but it didn't take time before we realized we made a very good choice. The owner Dave is an excellent host, always there to help, give tips, suggest places to go and restaurants, etc... The place is clean and well kept. Great job !

Unlike the last reviewer we actually stayed at Gulf Tides Inn. The Saint Pete Beach area is very different from the Clearwater area. Sounds like someone needs to do their homework.
This is an older place but that is part of the charm. It is not owned by a large corporation. It is not a "resort" either. It is more a "Mom and Pop" operation where if you need something this guy bends over backwards to try to please you and makes things as "homey" and relaxing as possible.
I stayed here a week with my kids and they had an awesome ending to their summer vacation from school.
The beach is a 5 minute walk from Gulf Tides. It is also located near the business area and many things are within walking distance. My teens (16) liked the freedom of being able to walk to the ice cream stand or bait and tackle shop.
We all loved the pool. It was large and super clean. We were in it every night it didn't rain and had it mostly to ourselves. There was tons of outdoor seating and several tables to choose from. On a typical night when we didn't eat out I would use the gas grill and BBQ our dinner. I was able to watch my kids in the pool, have my chicken and ears of corn cooking on the grill, while standing in the kitchen preparing my salad all at the same time. Now that is living! LOL. We always ate outside at one of the tables...it was wonderful and the kids didn't have to track in dripping wet.
Here's some extras that I liked- there's a large bookshelf in the office if you like to read or aren't chasing small kids around, wink, like I mentioned there is a grill, chairs to bring to the beach, outside shower, a clothesline (around back), a full kitchen, hair dryer and coffee maker, washer and dryer and wireless for your laptop.
Here's what I didn't like- the bathroom sink had smelly water that came out of the faucet. I noticed at a local restaurant you could taste this weird water in their fountain sodas. I think it's typical for a beachy area in florida. There is no maid service. You can however get fresh towels and there is a broom and dustpan in the closet.
Make sure you take a ride to Pass-A-Grill one evening and sit by the water and watch the dolphins and the ships go by. You can also fish just about anywhere.
You can also take a ride to Tarpon Springs which is where they dock the boats that go "sponging" and almost everyone there is Greek. It is a tourist trap for the most part but the food is fantastic! I highly recommend "Hella's" for some of the best Greek food and pastries you'll ever eat in Florida.
OK this might sound Hokey or silly but if you like flea markets and you're there on a weekend do not and I repeat do not miss the Wagon Wheel in Pinella's park!!! Especially with teens. It is so big they offer a complimentary shuttle back and forth between buildings, LOL. It has everything from Ed Hardey knock-offs to butterflies from africa to vintage home decor. Don't forget to also visit Fort Desoto beach which is maybe 15 min. by car.
If you need groceries you have a Sweet Bay and Publix nearby. There is also a bowling alley and skating rink within driving distance for the rainy season.

My partner & I stayed here for 11 nights during September. We had a really great stay, very relaxing, and always felt safe during our time there as it was a pretty quiet area.
We loved the pool and spent most our time in it. The apartment was great it had everything we needed for our stay. The air conditioning is brilliant, all new air conditioning units. We frequently seen a maintenance guy there so you can tell the owners like to keep things in good working order which is great. Free wi-fi is a great bonus as we used it daily and it has excellent signal.
The owners are great to chat to and have plenty of information on the area which is very useful if its your first time to the area.
Becka