Gone are the days when staying in a hotel was the norm on St.
Pete Beach and nearby Treasure Island.
As hotels began racking up their prices, particularly around holidays like Memorial Day Weekend and the Fourth of July, more and more families looked elsewhere for accommodations.
They found a more cost-effective and flexible solution with St.
Pete Beach vacation condos.
Now families could afford to stay not just for a weekend, but for an entire week.
They could also enjoy the same comforts and amenities at home, such as having a fully-furnished, full-sized kitchen and onsite laundry - no more pricey restaurants for every meal and no need to find a coin laundry or dry cleaner in the area.
Another thing that has attracted people to vacation condo rentals is the ability to travel in a group.
If two couples who are friends wanted to getaway for a few days, staying in a one-bedroom hotel room wouldn't be ideal.
Staying in a two-bedroom vacation penthouse condo would offer more than enough space and privacy.
The same goes for a family wanting to get away with the kids.
The adults can have one room while the children have another.
The great thing about vacation rentals is that they are right next to or across the street from all the major hotels, which means you too will be in close proximity to all the restaurants, recreation, shopping, and sightseeing.
In fact, with the Treasure Island Rentals, such as Voyager Beach Club you'll be closer to the best restaurants and attractions, including Middle Grounds Grill, Gators Café and Saloon, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
over at John's Pass.
Plus, at the 'Pass you can parasail, rent jet skis for 30 minutes to an hour, or you can go on a real authentic pirate ship! You'll also be right by Smugglers Cove which is a really fun place to go miniature golfing - fun for a day or for the whole family! On St.
Pete Beach's Sunrise Resort, you've got plenty of really spectacular dining options such as Snapper's Sea Grill, Silas Steakhouse and Bayside Bar, Gigi's Italian, Reef Bar and Grille, and Patrick's Bayside Grill, and Sterling's Beach Bistro.
If you want a really intimate dining experience, you can always check out the eight-table restaurant, Fetishes.
As for recreation near Sunrise Resort, definitely check out the Surf Shack across the street for some surf lessons and paddle board rentals - it's loads of fun, even when you fall off the board.
And you'll be right across the street from The Undertow, one of the area's most popular beach bars and beach destinations.
There's plenty of beach volleyball to be played along with a slew of billiards and other activities under the sun.