The Don CeSar

I know I’ve seen quite a few negative reviews about this hotel, but I have to share our experience because it was completely different. I’m from California, and I brought 18 of my family members here for a vacation. There is something truly magical about this place, and I honestly believe it comes down to the people. From the moment we arrived, Dennis and Scott greeted us at valet and were willing to help with anything we needed. Then we would head to the front desk, where Nick always seemed to find a way to make us smile. In the mornings, we would stop by Uncle Andy’s, where Jackson and Justin made us some of the best morning drinks and always started our day with a smile. Then we’d head over to Society Table, where Liz and Jamie made us feel like we were part of the family. And then there’s the pool and beach. I wish I could remember everyone’s names because so many of the staff made such an impression on us. Reggie, Rodney, Joseph, Andrea, and Tevin went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. They made us feel like we should just stay on the property and spend the entire day hanging out with them! There is something special about this hotel, and I truly believe it is the people who take care of you. What stood out to us was that their kindness felt genuine. It never felt like they were simply doing their jobs because they had to. They seemed to genuinely care about making sure our family was having a great experience and that we had whatever we needed, no matter what time of day it was. We came here as a family of 19 from California, and we left feeling like we had become part of the family here. We will absolutely be back for our next family vacation — not just because of the hotel, the pool, or the beach, but because of the way the people here made all of us feel. Thank you to everyone who made our stay so special. You truly made a lasting impression on our entire family!

This was our 2nd stay at The Don Cesar Resort and we had an amazing week. The Resort is beautiful and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. I definitely recommend staying at The Don Cesar Resort.

I recently celebrated my wife’s th birthday at The Don, and the experience was exceptional from beginning to end. Isiah and his team were incredibly accommodating throughout the entire process—from selecting the location and customizing the menu to rearranging the space on the day of the event and providing outstanding service. Every detail was handled seamlessly, and we couldn’t have asked for a better celebration. —thank you to the entire team!

a magnificent property right on the gulf fully renovated after the hurricanes weddings r booked thro june 2027 and with good reason

The Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa, the Pink Palace or Pink Lady, the most luxurious accommodation on Florida's West Coast, was severely damaged by back-to-back hurricanes (Helene and Milton) in 2024 and closed for business for several months. After extensive renovation, repairs and remodeling, it reopened in 2025 and -- take it from someone who has visited the property on several occasions, it is better than ever. Located at 3400 Gulf Boulevard on St. Petersburg Beach, the Don opened in 1928 and quickly gained a reputation as the Gulf playground for America's pampered rich at the height of the Jazz Age. It entertained such notables as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, J. Scott Fitzgerald, Robert DeNiro and even Al Capone. Today, the 40,000-square-foot property contains 277 guest rooms and 40 suites, three restaurants, three bars, two swimming pools, an ice cream parlor and a beautiful, sandy beach. I booked the same space I enjoyed on two previous occasions, on the third floor, a junior suite with a balcony with a panoramic Gulf view, a king-size bed, separate living room, two 50-inch flat screen TVs, minibar, separate bathroom with two vanities and walk-in shower, work desk, chair, sofa, refrigerator, coffee-tea maker and separate entryway. The hotel also features concierge Heidi Swanson, who arranged for a ticket to a Tampa Bay Rays/Seattle Mariners baseball game at Tropicana Field, retail shops, a spa, huge lobby bar, valet parking, health club, sauna, exercise gym, jacuzzi, coffee shop, laundry/valet service, 24-hour fitness center, whirlpool, massage service, beauty shop/salon, dry cleaning, business center, room service and bike rentals. Three days at the Don is worth every dollar. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and was a founding member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America in 1989.