W E L C O M E T O T H E P I N K P A L A C E!
Destination: St. Petersburg, Florida
Recently, we took a road trip to one of our absolute favorite getaway destinations, St. Petersburg Beach! Located on the gulf coast of Florida, the title holder of “The #1 Beach in the US”, does not disappoint. Known for its white sand and calm, clear waters, this slice of heaven is guaranteed to put you right into relaxation mode.
We have been to St. Pete several times on weekend trips & family vacation. Each time, I have caught a glimpse of the famous, Don CeSar Hotel, better known as “The Pink Palace”. Naturally, this has been on my bucket list merely for the fact that it’s a giant pink resort! In this post I want to share our experience and fill you in on everything there is to know about the gorgeous + historical Don CeSar Hotel, from the exterior to the core of what makes this destination so special.
THE ULTIMATE PINK PARADISE
Before we could even get to the front door, I was already out of the car with my suitcase in hand. I was completely swooning over this backdrop! The entrance of the hotel was definitely one of my favorite spots on the property to get the ultimate Pink Palace photo. To our disappointment, there was some construction going on during our stay which appears in our photos but understandable that they maintain this beautiful building and keep it in pristine condition. I can’t wait to see it all finished!
CHECKING IN THE DON CESAR:
As we pulled our car up, we were greeted by not one, not two, but three gentleman eager to welcome us in and help us with our bags. In fact they wanted us to turn on vacation mode that second. They took our luggage and car over from there. The staff gave us a wonderful first impression and were so accommodating right off the bat. Since we drove, we arrived earlier than expected. Check in is usually around 4:00 pm, giving the staff time to efficiently clean the rooms from the previous stay. Sometimes an early check in is optional. We arrived around 9:45 am and much to our surprise, they had a room available. We were able to unload and visit our room all before 10:00 am!
OUR ROOM:
We had a standard double room with a side nook area for extra seating. The room was very clean and bright. We were pleased that the room was spacious and had a good sized bathroom. Our room had a great view of the courtyard, swimming pool and the ocean. Being a pet owner, we were so thrilled to learn that the Don is pet friendly! This is a wonderful accommodation if you are from out of town or just simply want to bring your fur babies along for the fun!
THE GROUNDS:
It didn’t take much time before we wanted to get out and explore this beautiful location. We found that the hotel was dripping with history! Built in 1928, the Don has its own touch of personal charm and character. It was interesting that the hotel looks massive from the beach line and the streets but when you are staying in the resort, it feels personable, quaint and it’s very easy to get around. All of the amenities are in a central location.
You could honestly spend an entire day walking around the pink palace and finding little areas that catch your eye. We spent the morning getting familiar with the grounds and finding some good photo ops. (Aka, this set of stairs). When we learned there was a Starbucks coffee located in the hotels cute ice cream parlor, it was game over. Officially won my heart!
PINK ON PINK:
Everywhere you turn there is pink ... and then more pink! This is funny even saying out loud but how freaking cute are these awnings? I was instantly drawn to this area for photos and caught myself strolling through to enjoy my coffee in the morning. Over to the side was a small seating area that was covered with tropical plants and greenery. The hotel has done such a great job of incorporating little sections where you can find quiet and relaxation.
PRIVATE BEACH AND ACTIVITIES:
The hotel has a great little patio area right off the beach. It is equipped with lounge seating and fire pits. It’s a great area to hangout after some pool time or to enjoy a drink from the bar! Once we ventured past this area we were so excited to see more beach activities! (Stephen mostly). His reaction to finding corn hole boards was, “Let’s play!” while mine was, “Babe, they are Pink!” ... typical lol.
On the Don CeSar’s private beach area you have access to lounge chairs + umbrellas and are able to rent cabanas, paddle boards and kayaks! We were ready to grab a margarita and kick back in the sun.
TAKING IT ALL IN:
The private beach area was beautiful. It was spaced out enough where you didn’t feel on top of the family next to you. We were delivered drinks and food right to our lounge area which was such a nice accommodation.
There is no detail spared at the Don. Pink and white striped towels made this girl one happy camper! Along with my cute towel, I had some beach day essentials that I brought to the chairs and pool during our weekend trip. I’ll link some of those finds below!
BEACH FINDS:
Leopard Bow Sandals:
(These sandals come in multiple colors, I need them in every option!)
Fashion Illustration Case:
(Obsessed with this site! I have gotten multiple cases from them. There are a ridiculous amount of cases to choose from)
Dear Summer Floppy Hat:
(On sale right now for $9.00!)
POOLSIDE:
The hotel has two heated pools and a cabana bar. We enjoyed most of our afternoons laying out and enjoying the hotels amenities. During our stay, the hotel was hosting a marketing event for Peroni, so lucky for us there was some music and giveaways. The vibe was amazing! We absolutely felt like we were on vacation and in paradise!
DINING OPTIONS:
The Don CeSar has a great variety of dining options right in the hotel. The Maritana Grille, The Beachcomber Bar and Grille, Sea Porch Cafe, The Rowe Bar and Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor. We were able to try out 3 of the 6 and were so happy with the options and quality. I wish I had more photos to share with you but I guess I was too hungry to snap a picture (That’s a first!).
There are also some wonderful options for food around the hotel. We visited an area called Johns Pass, located just down the road. This cute boardwalk offers many restaurants, shops and even specialty cruises to see dolphins and other sea life.
THE DON CESAR WRAP UP:
One of my favorite parts of this weekend getaway was walking the beach and catching the sunset. There is truly nothing like seeing the sun set on the gulf coast. It is a different experience than our beaches at home.
We had a weekend filled with laughs and adventure at the Don CeSar. I am completely in love with this Pink Paradise!
For more information on the Don CeSar or to book a stay, visit:
We love St. Pete Beach. We will continue to have our weekend getaways here! If you guys want to see a more detailed travel guide on the city of St. Petersburg, let me know!
XO,
Kirsty
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