Great service in the heart of the new St. Petersburg

My wife and I enjoyed our visit to the Vinoy very much. When we first arrived the front desk clerk was very polite and quickly changed my room when I requested closer proximity to the pool. Room service provided us a crib and greeted my two year old son with a little Vinoy Teddy Bear. When the staff discovered we were celebrating my wife's and my birthday, chocolate covered strawberries were delivered to our room with a birthday card!

Later, when my brother ordered a bottle of champagne for me and my wife by dialing the resort, the representatve was very friendly to my brother and had the bottle promptly delivered to my room.

I finally came to the conclusion that every staff member I met was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The food was fantastic in the resort resturants where we ate. And to top it of, the Jazz quartet in the Terrace Room was surperb!

By the way, St. Petersburg is no longer the retirement community it used to be. It is now a vibrant, coastal community with fine dining, night clubs, and shopping. Central Avenue features hundreds of antique shops, and a mammoth new/used bookstore.

We didn't realize the Vinoy resort now offers shuttle service to St.

Pete beach and sailboat cruises at sunset. Another reason to return.

Best hotel I've ever stayed at

Staff is outstanding. Better than the Ritz Carltons I've stayed at.

Service is unbeatable. They do everything to make sure your vacation is perfect!

A hotel with misplaced priorities

My family and I have been staying at the Vinoy ever since it was owned by Stouffer. It used to be a beautiful hotel, staffed by caring and conscientious people. Since Marriott has taken over the hotel, I don't know how it has kept a four star rating. The furniture, instead of being replaced when worn out, is simply spray painted.my family reserved a suite for a long weekend. We were kept waiting for two hours, and then presented with a room the painters had just vacated. The furniture was mismatched. We were even treated to a "desk" that had apparently just come out of someone's office, complete with a splash of coffee down the side. This was to take the place of a tv stand they couldn't find. The room was missing drapes, doors on the armoires, and the phones weren't even hooked up yet.We had the nerve to complain, and were moved to a room in the "older" original part of the hotel. The room was so shabby it was pathetic.this hotel is not what it once was, and the management does not seem to care how the guests are treated.Their idea of four star apparently only extends to the spa and tennis club. If you don't use the spa, you will never be able to figure out where the money went.

Great hotel

We just returned from our third stay at this wonderfully restored historic hotel. Beautiful room in the new tower with view of marina and gulf. Furnishings are absolutely first class since recent renovation.

Restaurants are fine, including one restaurant that is more informal and not as pricey as the others. Highly recommended.

Very Nice, Food Expensive

We just came back from 5 nights in Orlando, and 2 nights at the Renaissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg. This hotel was beautiful - huge rooms, very comfortable, spacious bathrooms (double sink vanity), all the amenities (bathrobes, coffee maker, etc.). The free shuttle service (within a 3 mile radius was very helpful. Lots to do in the area, numerous museums, pier, restaurants, bike rentals, dolphin watching boat ride, etc. A great vacation destination. The only problem was the hotel restaurants were extremely expensive, so after the first breakfast there, we stayed away. Also, note we only paid $127 on Orbitz, and I'm sure most people (very well dressed crowd - a wedding party, I think) payed a lot more. I just priced another stay - my sister lives in the area and we'll be visiting again in a couple of months - and the rate was $260. For $127, it was a steal. I'd definitely return if I can get that rate again.

Beautiful but

Beautiful hotel in wonderful town. Room was poorly furnished, torn, stained etc. overpriced

Best veranda/celeb watching spot around!

Stayed at Vinoy in october, 2002. Everything was really nice. The pools were beautiful. Have the chicken/cashew/grape salad sandwich at the outdoor restaurant near the pool. The foyer was fantastic! But the most oustanding feature was the the huge covered porch or veranda in front of the hotel. It's a long covered area sprinkled w/ rocking chairs & tables. perfect for a drink & watching who is coming to the hotel and checking out the automobile they are driving. (saw celebs there) Not to mention the great view of the water from there. The Veranda seemed to be the only public place for viewing the gulf, however. I wish there were more. I had a standard room- roomy but no view.

Wonderful

I stayed here on business in the old part of the hotel. Was pleasantly surprised with the room. Bed was very comfortable. Room service was very good. Restaurants are great, spa was great.Very nice staff. Is expensive though...Only negatives are bellhops very slow, and no fast internet connection.

Somewhat Dissapointing

Visited with much anticipation Nov. 2002. I particularly enjoy hotels with great history. Staff was very attentive during check in. Room service was fine, food was very good and delivered on time. Room was fairly spacious but blandly (cheaply) furnished. Room furnishings were also not consistent with atmoshphere and style of the hotel itself. Everything was fine if not great until 5:45 a.m. (literally) when my wake up call came courtesy of a huge, loud truck lifting and emptying a dumpster in the loading dock area under my 6th floor window. Not quite what I had in mind at $229+/night. Said nothing not wanting to appear to be looking for a freebie, but got a bit peeved when during check out I was not even asked how everything was during my stay, a glaring omission on the part of the staff. Overall not great not bad. Expected more not only for the price but based on the history and billing as the best in St. Pete.

The Vinoy is "V"onderful

Stayed at the Vinoy for a week in May 2002, and found it to be a charming resort steeped in 30's-40's charm. The huge veranda is relaxing and overlooks the bay. The Staff is friendly. The gift shops are great. The spa services and exercise room are top notch too. Make it a point to VISIT THE POOL. Stand under the waterfall and let the massage begin!! The golf course is okay, but played after Innsbrook, so it was lacking. It is a romantic destination. Walking distance to incredible shopping and restaurants. Worth the $.