Vacations Close To Manatee Viewing Center

Mixed review. Great real estate. Rooms are crap. Place needs a deep renovation or knocked down. Need better pillows. Restaurant is solid.

My daughter and I recently stayed. The property was overall good, the staff were friendly and helpful. The room was a little dated and could use a refresh. The bed was comfy, there were some stains on the floor and some peeling paint. The biggest negative was there were tiny little gnats crawling on the sinks so we were a little cautious about wanting to put our stuff on the counter. The property was nice, but if you don’t have a car and have to rely on ubers or the trolley it gets expensive as this hotel isn’t near much in walking distance.

The pictures on the website imply a legitimate resort, but it should be branded as a luxury (on a good day) motel. Everything seems outdated compared to what is shown online. Part of the appeal was the hot tub, but it was out of service. Many other reviews highlight the unusable hot tub. For every review that mentions the hot tub being cold, dirty, and/or broken, Skybeach claims it's just temporarily closed for maintenance. Judging by the murky-green water and reviews, I believe the hot tub is always out of order, no matter when you visit. Also, beware of the thin walls. You can hear every suitcase rolling over the loose tiles outside your door, and speaking at a normal volume in the room after 10 pm resulted in our neighbors banging on the walls and yelling for us to be quiet. I pointed out (speaking at a regular volume) that we weren't being excessively loud and suggested they call Skybeach if they thought we were. They stopped banging and never called the front desk. Imagine if we were watching the TV that was mounted to their wall… On a positive note, the larger pool was enjoyable, and the on-site restaurant served delicious food with an excellent bartender. Also, the coffee shop was a nice morning treat, again with exceptional service, and we enjoyed sitting outside to drink our lattes surrounded by local foliage. Overall, while it wasn't a completely terrible experience, I wouldn't stay here again. I feel like I was catfished by a motel pretending to be a resort.

We have stayed at the TradeWinds a couple of times over the last three years, and it never disappoints. It is absolutely wonderful! It is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a staycation. Everything about our stay was amazing. We love coming here and will definitely be back again!