Anyone who's tried to obtain or renew a passport recently knows what a headache it is. But if you're thinking that the lack of a passport means you have to give up your dream of a tropical, island vacation - think again! Should you find yourself without the documents to travel internationally, or you'd just prefer to vacation a little closer to home, I'm going to share with you five really great reasons to choose TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach as your next vacation spot!
The author was hosted by TradeWinds Island Resorts to facilitate writing this article.
All thoughts and opinions expressed are their own.
The number one thing I am looking for in either a personal or family vacation is an island vibe. That's my jam: the beach, clear turquoise waters, stunning sunsets, live music and fruity drinks. TradeWinds Island Resorts checked ALL those boxes, and it's right in Florida!
Let's start with the rooms. Item number two on my list when planning a getaway for my family is the size of the rooms. We have a family of six. At many resorts this means getting adjoining rooms, which is an added expense. TradeWinds Island Resorts offers several different room layouts and occupancy limits. The resort view villa I enjoyed on my hosted stay allowed for six guests and had plenty of room for everyone plus our "stuff." There was also a full kitchenette to utilize - what a bonus! If you travel with kids you know keeping snacks and drinks in your room is one of the keys to survival! You can set up InstaCart to deliver groceries to the hotel upon your arrival and you'll be ready to relax in no time!
Speaking of relaxing. . . when my husband and I are on vacation, we like to relax (or rather, try). The kids however, want a million activities at all hours of the day. Well guess what? At TradeWinds Island Resorts, there is something for EVERYONE!
 Zipline on the beach! |
Kids and adults alike will love the resort's Zing Ray beach zipline, inflatable High Tide water slide and Surf Wipeout attractions -all included in your daily resort fee. For an additional fee there are also fun extras such as a floating water park and aquabanas. At night, the resort offers a complimentary S'more making session and a new teen lounge area for the older kids to hang out at. There are also plenty of other daily activities as well as paddle boats and mini golf. The TradeWinds Island Resorts website gives you the full rundown of non-stop family fun!
 RELAX and enjoy the ocean breeze from your complimentary beach cabana lounger! |
When you're ready to relax, there are plenty of places to sunbathe, read a good book or take a nap! You have access to a beach cabana lounger for each day of your stay, and you'll find several hammocks hanging around the resort. Poolside lounge chairs are also easy to come by at both the family and adult only pools.
If you're traveling with your family, you'll surely appreciate all the little extras. TradeWinds Island Resorts doesn't just want you to stay with them, they want you to truly feel like you are on vacation. With that in mind, the resort has some "extras" intended to make your life easier. Little details such as a poolside air compressor to blow up your rafts and pool toys, several filtered water dispensers so you won't have to constantly be purchasing bottles of water to stay hydrated, and a bin of sand toys and boogie boards at the beach hut for you to borrow during your stay. If you want to purchase your own beach toys or need sunscreen, these items are readily available at the activities desk near the main pool at the Island Grand.
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Another important aspect of a vacation for me is FOOD! I want several options, easy ways to feed the kids and something with a festive atmosphere. TradeWinds Island Resorts offers easy grab and go options in the deli, a poolside eatery with drink service and a great menu, an Italian grill plus the show stopping Rumfish Grill. On our final night the resort treated us to the most amazing dinner experience at Rumfish Grill. The on-site restaurant features a 38,000 gallon fish tank, designed by Animal Planet's hit series, Tanked. Prior to dinner, we had enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour which is something you can book when you stay at the resort. There's really nothing like eating a delicious meal immersed in an aquarium!
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Although the resort offers so much to do and so many dining options that you absolutely never have to leave, should you feel like exploring the area you can easily do so without needing a rental car - which is the clincher for me when booking a vacation. On St. Pete Beach, there are several free ride services you can utilize to get to where you want to go. Not having the extra expense of a rental car leaves more in the budget for fun!
On the morning of my departure from TradeWinds Island Resorts, I walked along the shoreline and plucked several souvenir shells from the crystal clear waters of the gulf. Looking back towards the resort, I watched the giant waterslide being inflated, heard the twang of a steel drum somewhere in the distance, and knew, I would surely be bringing my family back to stay at this beautiful resort - on an island much closer to home!
To book your stay at TradeWinds Island Resort, visit their website.
P.S. I have to give a shout out to the staff working at the TradeWinds Island Resorts. Every single staff member I encountered during my stay was so happy and upbeat! You could tell they enjoyed where they worked and truly appreciated our patronage. Their attitudes really helped me to feel like I was on island time!
