When traveling to the Saint Petersburg area on Business or as a big golfer who may have purchased a product from The Indoor Golf Shop, then the Renaissance Vinoy Golf resort is definitely a must stay place! The timeless Historical hotel with its Mediterranean Revival design was the most impressive and expensive in the state of Florida when it opened in the 1920s and has had a long history. Today, almost 87 years later, the Vinoy has been remodeled but retains most of its charm in its location on Tampa Bay, just steps away from Downtown Saint Petersburg.
From the minute you walk into the oversized lobby, one is greeted with grand chandeliers, the original cypress beams have been restored, marble floors and every aspect of the lobby has been redone or refurbished keeping its original grandeur but still attracting today’s modern travelers. The hotel has 2 outdoors pools, a large tennis club with a number of golf courses, a 74 slip marina, a 18-hole golf course, a spa, and a number of restaurants and bar offering fine dining or casual, offering something for everyone.
I had the opportunity to stay in both the classic rooms at the Vinoy located in the original building and on my second stay, I was upgraded to a larger room in the new guest tower. The guest rooms in the original tower are fairly larger in size and are very comfortable. My room had a large king bed, a dresser, a desk and flat screen tv, along with a chair for relaxing. My room overlooked the marina and downtown offering great views day and night. The room was completed with a coffee pot, the standard Renaissance bathrobes, and a minibar.
My second stay at the Vinoy, I was upgraded to larger room with two queen beds and a balcony in the guest tower. This was great because I was traveling with a friend and we both had room to stretch out. This room is by far one of the nicest rooms at the Vinoy and the staff knows it and is happy to share their opinions with you! The room is extremely large for a hotel room and although is just one large grand room, it offers a separate space that functions as a living area that is completed with a large desk, sofa, chair and entertainment center. This room also offers a mini bar area with a mini fridge and separate sink. Despite the size of the room, the true highlight is the view from the two balconies. From one Balcony, A southern view reveals Tampa Bay and the Vinoy Marina is visible and from the second balcony facing north, Downtown Tampa is visible over the bay; tennis players are down below on one of the many Vinoy tennis courts, and a sea of green of trees camouflage the old northeast neighborhood of St. Petersburg. It is really nice to see a green nature; synthetic grass will always be the best option. This tennis court construction is actually great.
The Vinoy does not have a concierge level or lounge, which is slightly disappointing for a resort of this size. Nonetheless, the Vinoy instead offers Gold Elite a $10 breakfast credit each morning at the hotel’s restaurant and I believe $15 for Platinum Elite. This did not cover the cost of a single item on the menu (I’m Gold Elite), but it did make breakfast less than $5 with a tip each morning, which in my opinion is more than reasonable for a sit down full service restaurant.
Although I did not get to enjoy the golf course or the tennis courts, I did explore them after work each day and they appeared to be of high quality. But let’s be honest, I don’t play either sport so who am I to judge? The Marina was ½ empty and the pool was large and I never saw more than 10 people lounging around it. This provided plenty of room to spread out, sun bath, and relax at the pool while overlooking the city and the bay. I personally did not visit the Spa, but my friend who did said it was well kept and of high quality and she was very satisfied with her Spa mani/pedi.
All in all, the Vinoy Resort is a great place to when away from home. If you’re on vacation to play golf with products like drivers for high handicappers, play tennis, or just looking for a place to relax, then the Vinoy is a great place to spend a few days. The rooms are of good size and quality and the staff are all top notch! Not to mention, the resort is walking distance to almost everything St. Petersburg has to offer making the location superb! This bright pink historic hotel is a must see. Even if not staying in St. Peterburg, I’d highly recommend just stopping by the Vinoy, having a drink at one of its bar and checking out its lobby. The Vinoy is a sight not to miss.
