EVEN Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch

Waking up to that lake view was a treat, and everyone on staff was friendly and helpful. The restaurant served really good, authentic food, with a fun and welcoming wait staff. It was a lovely stay in a beautiful hotel. I’ll be back, and I’ll tell my dog-loving friends that brisket is the best hotel dog!

Mikayla at the bar was terrific, looking after travelers with both empathy and efficiency. The hotel itself is fairly new and affordable, with a lake view, outdoor pool, fitness center, and a decent restaurant and bar for breakfast and dinner. It’s also set away from busy UTC, which I appreciated. I usually stay at the Voco downtown Sarasota, but IHG had doubled the rate for Xmas week, so this was my first time trying the EVEN brand. Housekeeping was decent and did arrange a later afternoon cleaning around my grueling schedule, though the service was inconsistent. I asked daily for a hand soap refill and never got one. Shower metal parts fell off several times and nearly injured someone; I was told engineering would fix it. The stained carpets, broken light fixtures, extremely slow elevator, and loud entry doors also point to poor building maintenance. Management seemed seriously disorganized. Despite being fully booked, they scheduled just one breakfast server, and guests left without being served. The server’s frustration was obvious, which made for a bad start to the day. The front desk was often empty, and calls rang without an answer. Many staff seemed new and sometimes invented answers to simple questions. I was told the hotel didn’t offer bath mats, though one appeared two days later. Book with caution.

The worst part came at checkout: my card had been charged more than the confirmed rate from EVEN Hotel reservations. I had no extras during the stay, and none appeared on the checkout statement. I tried twice to reach manager Garrett Brown about a credit, without success. We’d booked directly, then noticed online rates had dropped a lot five days before our visit. We called to cancel and rebook at the lower price, but the hotel hadn’t notified us. On arrival, 40 minutes before check-in, we were asked to pay $20.00 for early access, despite the nearly empty parking lot and hotel, so we waited until 3 PM. The room had a sharp, broken 10-inch corner missing from the mirror above the sink. The soap dispenser was empty, the hairdryer’s GFI outlet didn’t work, and its cover was hanging loose as if someone had started a repair and left it. We reported these within an hour of check-in for our three-night Friday-to-Monday stay, but only the soap was refilled. Leaves on the carpet were still there when we left. Breakfast, which cost extra, was fair at best.

I got to keep my routine without leaving the room, thanks to the yoga mat and exercise equipment. The bedding was comfortable, the lighting was good, and everything was spotless and well thought out. The fitness center was among the best I’ve seen at a hotel, and the peaceful pool was well maintained. Fresh, healthy food at the restaurant was delicious. The lobby and shared spaces had a clean, modern feel that helped me relax, and the staff were warm and genuinely helpful from arrival. It was an easy, uplifting stay, whether for work or vacation. I’d gladly recommend the EVEN Hotel Sarasota–Lakewood Ranch and come back.