JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

The private little beach for hotel guests was the highlight for our family. It was peaceful and relaxing, and we could enjoy the shore away from the big crowds. That made the trip feel more special, and we'd definitely stay again. The hotel is beautiful, with modern touches, and everything was clean and spacious. Traveling with a baby, I especially appreciated how comfortable and roomy the accommodations were.

We'd been a little worried after reading some recent reviews, but the hotel staff made the stay exceptional. Valet, front desk, and beach servers were all on point. Justin at the front desk handled our upgraded room request and early access seamlessly. Andi and Molly were AMAZING on the beach, so friendly and obliging. We'll be back!

The hotel is beautiful, modern, and nicely designed, with the quality and atmosphere you'd expect from a newer JW Marriott. Still, service and the beach experience fell short, and the operational problems took away from what should have been a luxury stay. It has a lot of potential. We arrived at 8:00 p.m., but our room was still being cleaned despite the 4:00 p.m. check-in time. It wasn't ready until after 9:00, which was frustrating after a full day of travel. The balcony was covered in dead bugs and hadn't been properly cleaned. The coffee maker had only decaf, there was no privacy door tag, and the two queen beds stated in the room description seemed more like double beds, on the small side. The beach area felt quite small for a property this size, and it's an inlet cove rather than ocean-facing. Rules for chairs and reserved seating weren't enforced consistently, which made it hard to enjoy the beach. We ate at both restaurants; they were good, but not great. Elite members got continental breakfast at Latitude, with a $10 upcharge for hot items. Deep End by the pool had a great view, good service, and decent food. We asked for late checkout and, as a Platinum member on a Luminous stay, were offered just an extra hour, until noon. I asked to speak with a manager but never heard back. We ended up leaving, given all the frustrating parts of the stay.

My fiancée and I had a great experience, and everyone was friendly and helpful. The whole staff deserves five stars. When my fiancée lost her Apple Watch, security investigated right away and kept us updated the whole time. Thanks to Tyson, Derek, and the rest of the team. We'll be back with more family!