Review: Clearwater Beach Sheraton Resort on Sand Key

Item: Clearwater Beach Sheraton Resort on Sand Key
Rating: 7
Author: Jean-François Léveillé

In the greater Tampa Bay region, several Marriott hotels let you combine a beach stay with proximity to a major urban hub. Clearwater stands out for its distinctly beach-oriented focus, while Tampa concentrates most of the region’s urban infrastructure.

On Sand Key island, two Marriott properties clearly stand out: the Sheraton Sand Key Resort and the Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key. For a short stay focused on rest, direct beach access and a calmer setting than downtown Clearwater Beach, the Sheraton Sand Key Resort stands out as a particularly appealing option.

Set away from the tourist bustle, the hotel benefits from a wide natural beach on the Gulf of Mexico, generous outdoor spaces and an atmosphere clearly geared toward relaxation. Its resort positioning, without being luxurious, makes it a coherent choice for enjoying the Florida coast while staying close to Tampa and its attractions.

For our complete guide to Florida, flight options, accommodations and activities, check out our United States: Traveling to Florida with points guide.

Facade of the Clearwater Beach Sheraton Resort on Sand Key

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months Up to 70,000 points After $3,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

Booking and points rates

In the Clearwater Beach area, hotel rates can climb quickly, especially for properties offering direct beach access. During our stay, the Sheraton Sand Key Resort was priced at US$355 per night, or 63,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a standard room.

At this price point, the Sheraton Sand Key Resort sits in the upper-mid range of beachfront hotels in Clearwater Beach. It’s generally less expensive than the destination’s most premium resorts, while being well above mid-range options that don’t offer direct beach access.

Item	Value
Cash rate (per night)	US$355
Points cost (per night)	47,000 to 77,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Room obtained	Guest Room, 1 King, Gulf View, corner balcony

To earn points for this kind of stay, check out our comparison of the best credit cards in Canada.

Arrival and location

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort is located on Sand Key island, just south of Clearwater Beach, in a setting notably calmer than the tourist center. Right on the Gulf of Mexico, the hotel offers immediate access to a wide, less crowded natural beach ideal for relaxing.

Although the property dates back to the 1970s, the Sheraton Sand Key Resort underwent a major renovation for its 50th anniversary. The common areas and rooms now feature a more current style, consistent with its resort positioning, without aiming for luxury but offering a good level of comfort.

From Tampa International Airport (TPA), it takes about an hour by Uber or car to reach Clearwater Beach and Sand Key, depending on traffic, making it a relatively accessible destination from a major air hub.

The lobby and facade of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort.

Check-in was smooth and professional. While our Nightly Upgrade Awards didn’t secure a suite upgrade, we received a corner Guest Room, 1 King, Gulf View, Balcony, offering more privacy and a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico.

The lobby is functional and matches the classic style of a Sheraton beach resort. The overall look remains fairly simple and reveals the original 1970s architecture, with common areas that are more enclosed, less bright and less airy than at newer or recently redesigned properties.

Room: Guest Room with Gulf view

The room at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort reflects the recent renovation: a modern, warm, nature-inspired style, with tones of blue, sand and light wood immediately evoking the Clearwater coastline. Driftwood-style patterns and finishes, paired with carpeting that evokes waves receding on sand, reinforce the relaxing ambiance typical of a beach resort.

The space is well designed for a Florida beach stay, with several storage options, a small nook for bags and a versatile round table, more functional than a simple desk. The king-size bedding is comfortable, and the bed, placed perpendicular to the picture window, faces the main wall where the TV is located.

The Guest Room, 1 King, Gulf View, Balcony.

The reasonably sized balcony is perfect for enjoying sunrise with a coffee, offering a real extension of the room and direct contact with the soothing natural surroundings.

The corner balcony, with a view of the Gulf of Mexico.

Restaurants and dining

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort has two main restaurants, each offering a different experience. For breakfast, we used Rusty’s Bistro, which offers a varied buffet of hot and cold dishes. The options remain classic, but table service for coffee and water is particularly attentive. The room is well organized, but surprisingly has neither windows nor a terrace, which is surprising for a hotel located right on the Gulf of Mexico.

Rusty’s Bistro, where breakfast is served.

The Mainstay Tavern offers a relaxed gastropub style, with an American menu and a few local specialties. The atmosphere is simple, almost cafeteria-like, with minimalist decor and, again, no outdoor view. The space is functional but not very inviting for a longer meal.

The Mainstay Tavern, a relaxed gastropub style.

Services and facilities

Beach

The hotel’s private beach is without question its main asset. Spanning over 13 acres, the fine white sand and warm Gulf of Mexico waters offer an exceptional setting for relaxing, walking or enjoying water activities. Loungers are plentiful and well spaced, and sand access is immediate from the hotel, reinforcing the beach experience.

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort’s wide private beach.

Pool and hot tub

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort offers a main oceanfront pool, typical of Florida resorts, surrounded by a wide deck with loungers and umbrellas. The atmosphere is relaxed, ideal for alternating between swimming, reading and rest. A rectangular hot tub rounds out the offering, simple but effective, and always popular with vacationers seeking extra relaxation.

The main oceanfront pool and its wide deck.

The hot tub and outdoor fire pit lounge area.

Bikes and fitness centre

For those who want to explore the Clearwater Beach area at their own pace, bikes can be rented through the Zebra app for $20 per one-hour block. It’s a pleasant option for exploring the surroundings while enjoying the sea air and a ride along the coast.

The fitness centre at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort is spacious, modern and very welcoming. The equipment is complete and well maintained, and the space has a pleasant atmosphere, ideal for keeping up a workout routine. It’s likely one of the nicest fitness rooms we’ve seen in a hotel of this caliber.

The fitness centre, spacious and very well equipped.

Bike rental through the Zebra app.

Around the hotel

The Sheraton Sand Key Resort’s location is a real asset for enjoying Clearwater Beach while staying away from the downtown bustle. Set on Sand Key island, the hotel has direct access to a wide white-sand beach and a calm setting, ideal for relaxing along the coast.

The surroundings let you combine rest and activities: long walks along the beach, swimming in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, or exploring the area by bike thanks to rentals available through the hotel. The proximity to Tampa also offers the chance to discover urban and cultural attractions while easily returning to a peaceful beachside setting.

Pros and cons of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort

Pros

Wide private beach: over 13 acres of fine white sand
Spacious pool: with hot tub and wide deck
Comfortable room: renovated, with balcony and Gulf view
Modern fitness centre: one of the best equipped in its category

Cons

Disappointing restaurants: none has a terrace or outdoor view
Limited bathroom: single sink, shower only

My overall impression and final rating

Our stay at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort was defined by calm and comfort. The hotel offers a relaxing setting facing the Gulf of Mexico, with a large beach, a spacious pool and well-maintained facilities. The room is pleasant, well suited to unwinding after a day at the beach, and Tampa’s proximity makes it easy to add urban excursions.

The recent renovation brings modernity and warmth, with a nature- and beach-inspired style that reinforces the peaceful atmosphere throughout. One downside: the dining options at the main restaurants remain disappointing. Without a terrace or coastal view, they struggle to make the most of the hotel’s exceptional location, and this is the main weak point of this beach experience.

A calm, comfortable stay facing the Gulf of Mexico, carried by a large beach and well-maintained facilities, though it could have made more of its coastal view at mealtimes.
Jean-François Léveillé, Milesopedia contributor

To maximize this type of experience, check out our comparison of the best credit cards in Canada, ideal for earning travel points toward your next stay.

And to plan your entire trip to Florida, check out our United States: Traveling to Florida with points guide.

Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and stay for free at more than 8,000 hotels around the world is to hold the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card). You can also earn American Express Membership Rewards points and transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy.

To learn all about earning and redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points for free hotel stays, check out our guides:

Compare

Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

American Express Marriott Bonvoy

Annual fee: $120
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Total$600Plus $100 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $600
Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months: Up to 70,000 points

The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points with the current offer:

Earn up to 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 10,000 points after you spend $500 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership.

The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 70,000 point welcome offer is worth about $630, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

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Annual fee

Primary card$120

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,210

2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Clearwater Beach Sheraton Resort on Sand Key – Frequently asked questions

Is the hotel on the beach?

Yes, the Sheraton Sand Key Resort is located on Sand Key, with direct access to a private white-sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

Do the rooms have a view of the water?

Guest Room 1 King Gulf View rooms have a balcony with a Gulf view, ideal for watching the sunrise.

Does the hotel have a pool and hot tub?

Yes, a spacious oceanfront pool with a rectangular hot tub, loungers and umbrellas for relaxing facing the Gulf.

What is the resort fee and what does it include?

The daily fee of US$25 + tax includes 2 hours of bike rental for two, upgraded high-speed internet, access to the Jolley Trolley and a dessert for two at Rusty’s Bistro or the Mainstay Tavern. Marriott Elite members also receive a complimentary drink.

How do you get to the hotel from Tampa?

Tampa International Airport is about an hour away by car or Uber, depending on traffic.

Is the hotel better suited for a relaxing or a lively stay?

The hotel is ideal for a calm, beach-focused stay, away from the bustle of downtown Clearwater Beach, while staying close to Tampa for excursions or urban activities.