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We stayed at The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection again this year for New Year’s Eve for a little staycation (we did this last year as well) and to avoid the crazy traffic from the crowds leaving the St. Pete Pier after the fireworks (we were at a nearby party at the Birchwood). The iconic hotel was remodeled last year. It has been restored to the jewel it was and is packed with historic charm.
Anthony’s Take: The hotel is gorgeous and the renovation has made this a great place to stay in St. Petersburg. Our room was comfortable and we appreciated the two “free” drinks that are included in the daily $40 plus tax “Resort Fee.” I did not find any benefit to holding Titanium Elite status as there were no upgrades and late checkout was not available. I wasn’t expecting much from the hotel as it was New Year’s Eve and completely sold out. The staff is friendly and the location can’t be beat if you want to explore St. Petersburg.
Booking
Since were staying one night for New Year’s Eve, the rates were high with the most inexpensive room going for over $800. I managed to redeem 69,000 points plus $79.10 for a Deluxe Tower, Guest Room, 1 King, Resort View, Balcony room. This seemed like a good value. The hotel can be booked with Marriott Bonvoy® points (46,000-70,000 points per night) with rates varying since Marriott eliminated its award buckets.
Transportation to/from the Hotel
We drove from home in Tampa. It took around 30 minutes to get to the hotel. Going home, our travel time was about the same for the 22.5-mile trip.
Location
This hotel is located near the St. Pete Pier. There are lots of stores, galleries, restaurants, and a few museums nearby. It’s a great location for exploring the city and a good base if you’re heading to the beach.
Check-in
We arrived at the hotel a little after 4:00 PM and our room was ready. Reception was packed and there is no dedicated line for Marriott Bonvoy® elite members. The agent asked if I wanted points or breakfast as my welcome amenity (I chose points) and informed me of the Resort Fee. He made me two keys, explained that the hotel was sold out (so upgrades and late checkout were not options), and had me on my way a few minutes later.
The hotel charges a daily Resort Fee of $40 plus tax. It includes the items listed above. I’m not a fan of these fees as I find they really don’t deliver much value. Marriott, unlike Hyatt and Hilton, does not waive these on award stays.
The hotel feels like you’re stepping into its rich history as soon as you reach the entrance.
As mentioned, the hotel underwent an extensive renovation last year. I like the refreshed lobby decked out for the holidays.
The lobby has some seating (it was packed, so I did not take photos) as well as a cafe that serves coffee, snacks, and food throughout the day.
Fresh flowers and plants filled the lobby.
Our room was located in the Tower, which is quite a walk from the lobby.
The elevators to the tower are in the back of the resort near the parking garage.
The elevator lobby on our floor was clean and nicely decorated.
The hallways also felt fresh and clean.
Deluxe Tower, Guest Room, 1 King, Resort View, Balcony (371)
There are 354 rooms and suites at the hotel.
The room has a large foyer that’s a bit of wasted space upon entering.
A closet is found here. It held robes, slippers, and a safe.
The bathroom is across from the closet. It’s a good size with two sinks, a glassed-in shower, a separate room for the toilet.
I liked that the toiletries were Ortigia brand. The shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion were found in between the sinks.
There were also two bars of soap.
The shower was spacious and had good water pressure and temperature. I liked that there were not wall-mounted toiletries.
A tube of shower gel was in the shower.
The toilet had plenty of space and a separate door for privacy. I like when toilets are not wedged close to a bathtub or shower.
The room was spacious and held a king-sized bed, two nightstands, a chair, and table.
The chair was next to the bed and near the balcony.
A desk and chair were across from the bed.
The desk held an empty refrigerator for guest use.
There was also a wall-mounted TV here.
A Nespresso machine, coffee, condiments, glassware, and an ice bucker were under the TV.
The balcony had two chairs and a small table. It overlooked the tennis courts.
Cocktails
The vouchers above were given to me at check-in. They’re part of the Resort Fee. What I liked about them is that they are valid for any cocktail or glass of wine.
I had a glass of Veuve Clicquot and my husband had an espresso martini. We had these at Veranda, which is located on the patio near the hotel’s front entrance. They were also accepted at Paul’s Landing by the pool.
Public Areas & Amenities
The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection offers some lobby seating, a fitness center, a spa, several food and beverage outlets, a pool, and a golf course.
It was too cold to go in the pool, but some folks filled the hot tub.
Paul’s Landing overlooks the pool.
The fitness center is located near the pool.
The spa is across the hall.
We did not check out the golf course. It’s located two miles from the resort.
Overall Impression: The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection has a great location, lots of amenities, and its recent renovation has left the property in pristine condition. We’ll definitely be back again.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Rates & fees. Terms apply.
(Fitness Center, Spa, and Golf Course Image Credits: Marriott.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
