Pelican Post at Anna Maria Island Inn

We were really happy with our stay. The location was convenient, the staff were excellent, the rooms were very nice, and there were plenty of towels for the pool or beach, separate from the bath towels. All the units are grouped around the pool, which made it easy to meet people and socialize. I'd highly recommend the place. Check-in was super convenient. On your scheduled check-in day, you get a text with a link to an online form for your vehicle details and a photo of your driver's license. Once you submit it, they send the lockbox code for the RFID bracelet keys to your room. One Google review said you had to go to another location to get room keys, but that's no longer necessary.

The pool and hot tub were almost all ours, which made it feel like a little private getaway. The property was charming and well cared for, and our clean, comfortable room had everything we needed for a beach stay. It was quiet and relaxing, just what we hoped for on our first trip to Florida. We hardly needed the car because the beach, bars, and restaurants in Bradenton Beach were a short walk away. Staff are offsite, but friendly and helpful, and only a text away if you need anything. We had a great stay at the Pelican Post and would happily return. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an easygoing place within walking distance of everything on Anna Maria Island.

The place looked nice inside, but there were too many problems for us. We live in Saint Pete and visit every couple of months. The hotel we loved shut down after hurricane Milton, and our next choice was full, so we tried this one. Getting into the room was a hassle: we were given a code for the key box outside, but couldn’t reach the key until we used a car key to move the switch. There are no USB ports, no ice machine, and barely any room in the bathroom for our things. It gets really hot, so having no ice is a big deal. This is the worst place we’ve stayed on Anna Maria Island. Run as fast as you can.

Being so close to the beach and restaurants is the best thing about this hotel. But the arrival instructions were confusing. We couldn’t find the office when we got there, and when I called, they said it was about five minutes down the street. They told me the location was clear in the reservation confirmation, but it wasn’t. The front desk person also said the address was listed there, which it wasn’t. Both the signs at the property and the booking confirmation should clearly give the office address and hotel address. The room layout felt strange and unwelcoming. The blinds were broken, and the harsh white overhead light hits you as soon as you walk in. With stark walls and a busy floor pattern, it didn’t feel relaxing. The sitting room was mostly empty, with an awkward couch, a tiny table, and a huge TV. The dry bar barely worked: there’s no outlet near the coffee machine, so you have to run an extension cord along the wall. There’s another oversized TV taking up a whole bedroom wall. The firm bed was fine, but I kept hearing scratching in the walls. The bathroom seemed squeezed in as an afterthought. It’s tiny beside the other rooms, and the door swings into the sink area so you can’t stand there with it open. The faucet and outlet are oddly off to the side, and the shower is ugly and poorly planned. Checkout is at 10 a.m., earlier than the 11-to-noon checkout I’m used to, and the strict enforcement feels hostile to paying guests. At $300 a night after fees in the off season, I thought it was overpriced for the room and amenities.