Island Grand at TradeWinds

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ TradeWinds is a great choice for families, especially if you’re traveling with kids. I visited with my three daughters (ages 4–14), and there was never a shortage of things to do. They absolutely loved the water slide, nightly s’mores, foam party, and live music. There were activities throughout our stay that kept everyone entertained. The beach is beautiful, the service was friendly, and everything was very convenient. I also really appreciated having a small kitchenette with a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and stovetop. Being able to prepare a few meals made traveling with three kids much easier and saved us from having to eat out for every meal. The main downside was the rooms. They felt quite dated and had a noticeable musty smell. While they could definitely use an update, I did appreciate the layout with a separate sleeping area and a sofa sleeper, which gave our family a little extra space. One tip for future visitors: take a short drive south to Fort DeSoto to hunt for sand dollars. My girls absolutely loved this, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Overall, despite the dated rooms, we’d happily return because of the incredible family-friendly atmosphere, beach, and endless activities for kids.

Sam was an outstanding server at Salty’s. She was friendly, attentive, and professional from the moment we sat down. She made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal, kept our drinks topped off, and checked on us regularly without being intrusive. Her warm personality and excellent service made the entire experience even better. Sam truly went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. We’ll definitely be back and hope to have her as our server again. Highly recommend!

I have so many negative things to say: 1- The pool was dirty and full of grease—disgusting (I’ve attached a photo). 2- The reservation was for an ocean view—which costs extra, meaning it was one of the most expensive rooms. While there was an ocean view, if you looked to the side, you saw all the dumpsters. I understand they have to be somewhere, but there are a thousand options—like building a screen so guests don't have to see that unpleasant sight. 3- One day during my stay, it was raining, and they set up music and games in a really nice area. However, what I didn't understand was that while we were playing, they wheeled a large trash bin right past where all the guests were—the stench was awful; OMG, it made me want to throw up—disgusting. 4- The rooms were super old and lacked maintenance, but the worst part was that the bathroom had no exhaust fan; whenever someone showered or used the toilet, it was terrible. 5- The prices were on another level—whether for food or drinks. 6- Customer service was non-existent: no smiles, no "good morning," nothing—staff would just walk past you. The receptionist didn't even know where our room was. In conclusion, given the price, I expected something better; you can find hotels at this same price point that are much better. This hotel has a long way to go to match its price point. Anyway, I do not recommend it.

We were really excited to stay at this resort, but unfortunately our experience didn't match the description or the price. Check-in was supposed to be at 4:00 p.m., and we arrived right on time, only to be told our room wasn't available because of a maintenance issue. It took another three hours before we were finally given a room, and the staff showed very little concern for the inconvenience. The rooms were smaller than expected, and the patios were so narrow that they were difficult to use, making the extra cost for a patio feel unjustified. Several amenities advertised on the resort's website were either unavailable or required an additional fee. Overall, the property felt more run-down than we expected for what we paid. The Island Grand section has only three pools and one very small hot tub, which had an unpleasant odor during our stay. While there were plenty of beach towels available, we found that some of the "clean" towels still had visible dirt and didn't appear to have been washed properly. There were definitely some highlights. Pete's Bistro was excellent, with great service, and our kids loved the pizza and ice cream in the Hall. Being right on the Gulf was wonderful, and it was a quick, easy walk to the beach chairs. The outdoor staff worked hard to keep the grounds clean, and everyone we interacted with was friendly. St. Pete Beach itself has a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of family-friendly dining options nearby. Overall, while there were some positives, the room issues, misleading amenities, and overall value didn't justify the price. We won't be returning to this resort.

Our family had a great time at this resort. So many things to do for the kids, and still so fun for adults too. Food across the resort was way better than expected. Recommend sending your kids to the Kids Camp on a Friday night (the counselors Makayla and Yessenia were amazing) and having a romantic dinner at Palm Court (Cathy and Demay were excellent)… and obviously you can’t beat the sunset on the beach. Will be back!