Golden Host Resort - Sarasota

The retro look is super cute, and both the rooms and shared spaces were clean. The pool area was wonderful, too. The tik bar on the property is a fun spot to relax with a drink before heading back to your room. I’m a travel advisor and will absolutely recommend this hotel to my clients.

The outdoor Tiki Hut wasn’t open, which was disappointing. The pool was another letdown: it looked greenish and cloudy for the first three days of our stay at the end of February, though staff said it was safe to swim. They shocked it and the water cleared. We were about to swim at 11:30 AM on Saturday when we were asked to stay out while they poured bleach along the ledge and cleaned it. Really, at that time on a Saturday? Also, if you’re assigned a second-floor room, there’s no elevator. We asked for a ground-level room but they couldn’t accommodate us, so keep that in mind when booking.

The hotel played live music on some nights, which was a nice extra, and checkout was smooth and efficient. The room was somewhat clean, but the shower wasn’t well maintained and there was visible splatter on the bathroom wall. When we asked for towels and an extra pillow the next day, the towels arrived but the pillow didn’t. At check-in, we were told about a refundable $150 security deposit that Expedia hadn’t disclosed. I didn’t object to the charge itself, but pricing should be transparent. Most hotels just keep a card on file instead of taking a deposit. When I asked why we hadn’t been told beforehand, the staff member’s reaction felt dismissive, as if she assumed I couldn’t afford it. The female staff member with blonde hair, who looked to be in her late 40s, made the process uncomfortable and didn’t make me feel welcome. We kept paper proof of the refund because her professionalism had left me unsure. The stay served its basic purpose, but it didn’t meet expectations. The price matched the level of accommodation, and we’d probably choose somewhere else next time.

It’s such a quaint place. We stayed upstairs in the back building, where every room has either a balcony or a patio overlooking the courtyard. The staff were really friendly, and after our first night I even got a text asking whether the first day had gone well. You don’t get that from the Hilton. There’s a washer and dryer on site for a fee, and guess what, there’s even a coffee pot in the room.