Sta 'n Pla Motel

This motel has a retro feel, and for the price I’ve got plenty of good things to say. It took about five minutes to walk to the beach, two blocks away, with lots of restaurants and bars within a ten-minute walk. The room was very clean. The building is old, but there wasn’t any musty or mildew smell. There’s not much in the room, so it’s easy to clean. The bed has wooden slats and no box spring, which makes me feel better about bugs. I checked underneath and on the slats and didn’t see anything. The sheets and towels are white, and I think they’re bleached. I sat on one with an older bikini and the fabric started bleeding onto the towel, which makes me think it had bleach on it. I consider that a good thing. There’s a small pool that’s easy to access. The doors use codes and have inside deadbolts for added security. The room had a microwave, coffee maker, mini fridge, smart TV, and plenty of luggage space. There was no main light, just lamps plus lights in the bathroom and closet. That didn’t bother me much since I was only sleeping there. The price was great, and there was plenty of parking right outside the door. Since we booked through Air BnB, there wasn’t a lobby. There’s a dock for pictures or for boats to come up, right on the bay. I’d stay again, and it’s a great place for a bachelorette.

The condition of the room and the safety of the property were alarming. There were no exterior lights, the railing beside their second-floor door had fallen, and the room had dirty floors, filthy filters, stained sheets, and a rusty stove. My elderly parents had driven more than 10 hours for this little vacation, a gift after years without one. My mom called as soon as they arrived, and less than half an hour later, while they were leaving for another hotel in the dark, she fell down the stairs. I was in absolute distress. The Airbnb photos looked beautiful, so please don't be fooled like I was. If the place is under renovation or construction, guests need to be told so they can decide whether to stay. This negligence could have made it my parents' last trip. A business this money hungry could cost someone their life.

Lea was a fantastic, caring host and quick to communicate. When the temperature dropped for a day, she brought us a heater and extra blankets right away, which made the stay feel even more special. We were grateful to find this gem and would love to return. The studios are in a quiet part of busy Clearwater Beach, about a five-minute walk from the public beach, restaurants, bars, and a small grocery store, so we didn't need a car. There's also a little red pier right outside with benches and tables, where we watched pelicans and read, plus a pool to use. Our one-bedroom room was renovated, clean, easy to access, and in good shape. It had what we needed for a short stay: fridge, toaster, coffee maker, air conditioning, and good Wi-Fi. We'd recommend it for two adults.

We had a nice stay at Sta'n Pla. The pool was clean, and they even let us take a dip before check-in. We were also allowed to fish from the docks, where we caught sheepshead. The one thing I'd change is that the floors needed a good mop.