Sarasota Sands Resort

I posted a review the other day and it has disappeared.
BED BUGS
My family has been coming here for 25 years, and we have always enjoyed our stay. This past trip, however, we returned home with bed bugs. The after-​math has been nothing short of a living nightmare. When I called two days after returning home, I had to call twice to get a manager to return my call. (You would think a call like this would put a hotel on high-​alert… I was told it was the first time they were hearing of my call!). All three people I spoke to, including the general manager, were very dismissive, and basically told me that it is not their problem, they can come from anywhere. What is even worse, they said there is a family staying in that room now, so they cannot go in there. ??? Good luck to that poor family! The resort is not even looking to see if there are bugs in the room! The fact that this place is denying having them at all, so much so that they will not even check the room, is just irresponsible. They said the family in there now «has not seen anything.» Of course not! They come out in the pre-​dawn hours and are very very small, and I did not see anything there either of course. Even in my own home, I have finally found ONE, after combing my room/​bed for three days. I am confident they came from Sarasota Sands because I noticed some bites on my arms and shoulders and arm-​pits about halfway through the trip, and no one else was getting bites (I thought maybe mosquitos?). I was with two other groups who stayed in two different rooms, on two different floors. When I returned home on Saturday, I made the mistake of putting on laundered clothes from my suitcase to save myself from putting more laundry away… huge mistake: within an hour, I was covered with bites and my whole body was itching out of control. I have not slept in three nights, and our house is being torn apart. Every piece of clothing, stuffed animals, bedding, and linens has to be washed in hot and dried, then sealed in garbage bags. I have had to take two, going on three days off of work just to get through all the laundry, the constant Lysol-​ing and vacuuming until the treatment is completed tomorrow. My extermination company told me that most hotels/​resorts will pay for the very costly treatment (can be several thousand dollars), so I can see why Sarasota Sands does not want to have any part in this. Even after explaining the timeline of events very politely, I was met with a dismissive and defensive response.
I will keep working on having them help with this problem, and if they do so, I will update my review to reflect that they at least are willing to help solve the problem, rather than ignore it. So disappointed and upset. I need a vacation from my return home from vacation!

When I was much younger, my grandparents used to own a timeshare here. Almost every summer, I would spend a week here making many memories. It’s been more than 10 years since I had been to Florida and Sarasota Sands. My boyfriend and I decided to vacation this June in Sarasota on a whim. I knew immediately that I wanted to stay here. Not much has changed about the place and I mean that in a good way. A very nostalgic trip for me and I wonder why it took me so long to get back here.
My boyfriend and I opted for the studio unit which rents for a total of $ 650 a week in the off season. Of course, studio units are small and we knew that going in to the situation. I had been used to my grandparents 2 bedroom units in years past. Our unit came with a small mini kitchen equipped with two burners, a microwave, toaster oven, and all the dishes, pots/​pans, and utensils you would need. We spent most of our stay eating at area restaurants, so this small kitchen was the perfect size. Our unit was on the 5^th floor, which actually had an amazing view and was very private in the mornings and evenings. My only critiques are as follows: I wish the bathroom sink area was just a tad bigger. The bed was not the most comfortable. And the AC unit had a tendency to be super loud and drown out the TV. However, my boyfriend and I are a young couple and these are minor issues. I think the studio units are perfect for young couples/​travelers, but I wouldn’t recommend it for an older couple.
My favorite thing about the resort is you are literally right on the beach. Your view is amazing and because you are on the end of Lido Key, it’s a very private section of the beach. The animal life is great if you like that and the beaches really are the best in the whole United States. While we stayed, we saw many devil rays and a couple manatees.
Staff is nice and they keep the grounds clean. Plenty of activities on the grounds including shuffleboard, arcade games, hot tub, exercise room, swimming pool, billiards, tennis, and air hockey. There really is something for everyone. Area attractions include the Mote Marine Aquarium, The Ringling Museum, and many outdoor recreational activities. Many great restaurants in the area.
Traditionally, the resort has always catered to older retirees and their grandchildren. However, on this trip I saw a great mixture of young families, couples, and retirees. I think if you are a young couple in your 20’s and you are looking for a quiet, laid back, and affordable trip to the beach, then this is a great option. If you are looking for non-​stop partying, this resort and the town of Sarasota is probably not your thing. Also, if you are looking for an expensive, luxurious resort then this isn’t your place either. Sarasota Sands is an older place where you come to relax and make memories. Yes, the décor is stuck in the 1980’s but who really cares? I see some people complain about having to pay extra for beach towels and chairs. I don’t think $ 2.00 to rent a beach chair or umbrella is bad at all (and I don’t have a lot of money!) and if you didn’t pack a beach towel, that’s really more of a reflection of how unprepared you were when packing. I always pack a beach towel if I know I’m going swimming.
I had an amazing week at Sarasota Sands and I can’t wait to go back. I hope that in the future, I’ll be able to bring my kids here too. I already miss this place!

We loved our stay!
Minus one star for the couches. Yes, they were THAT bad. The fabric that is– HIDEOUS. The bed was heavenly.
Excellent service, beach is just perfect, nice people.

Stayed here in Sept. Although it’s an older resort our unit was clean and well maintained. Immaculate resort, friendly and about 50 feet to a perfect beach. Water temp was 85 degrees. Perfect. You could spend 5 hours in the water and be very comfortable. We have a reservation for Sept 2014. They do the RESALES in house. Some great deals.