Avalon Hotel Downtown St. Petersburg

The Avalon is a cute little boutique hotel with a vintage building and rooms that mix old-fashioned touches with modern ones. The bed was really comfortable, and they offer a complimentary wine and bubbly happy hour plus a free shuttle within 10 blocks. The man at the front desk was very friendly when we arrived and explained the amenities at check-in. Parking seemed limited, though it might have been because we got there late on a Saturday afternoon. We were in town for a wedding and I'd definitely stay here again.

The location worked well, about a 10-minute walk to the pier and another 10 minutes to Central Avenue. The bathroom and bed were clean, morning coffee was free, and the cookies were good. Still, I really disliked this place. We paid $553 through Booking for two nights, and even at $50 less I wouldn't come back. I've stayed in one place in St. Pete that was 1,000 times worse, but this one was still a strong dislike. The room was tiny enough that it felt hard to move around. The closet was pitch black and had only four hangers. A small shelf over the sink left almost no room to brush my teeth comfortably, and there were no towel bars or hooks. The worn gray striped carpet looked dirty and dated. Our room, 210, faced the street, and every sound came through the single-pane windows. The AC barely worked. The only lights were a harsh white ceiling fan and two weak bedside lamps. Most frustrating, there were no outlets except for a power strip beside the bed. When I asked at the desk, the woman answered condescendingly, “we are a boutique hotel,” as if boutique guests didn't have phones, tablets, computers, and smart watches. She put in a regular extension cord from the strip, but housekeeping took it away. Edit on 3/24: Will H, since there's no way to answer replies to reviews, I'll add this here. There are more urgent things to fix, like outlets, bathroom towel bars, a closet light, and removing that shelf over the sink. Details like these are what ruin the experience. I'd start there.

Kevin at the front desk has been consistently welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuine. I remembered him from a stay a couple of years ago, when my apartment AC broke. It was fixed after a day, but I stayed three nights because I liked the atmosphere, service, and easy access to downtown. I recognized Kevin again when I booked this weekend for my girlfriend's birthday. The team made the visit feel special by wishing her a happy birthday and having champagne in the room when she arrived. Those thoughtful touches mean a lot. Avalon Downtown St. Petersburg keeps exceeding what I expect. The welcome and service are great, and the attention to detail stands out. Kevin is wonderful, and I'll happily find a small excuse to come back for a weekend. Highly recommend it.

A fun, cheeky retro hotel, with lovely landscaping and a clean room. The renovation was done well, and the staff were good. It's easy to get around from here, close to downtown and the pier, and parking is free. I'd definitely stay again.