The Best Beach Resorts in Siesta Key, Florida

You and your family may feel a little too at home in the Hyatt Residence Club’s condos. The sprawling units, some as large as 3,000sqft (280sqm), are only a few steps from the sand. The state-of-the-art fitness center does the heavy lifting that a garage gym cannot, and you’ll wonder how you’ll ever go back to living without a private poolside cabana. The sweetest perk? Saying farewell to cooking and dirty dishes as the chef-in-residence prepares your meals right in your room.

A short 200 steps is all it’ll take to get from your villa to the beach, but be warned: your journey may quickly fall off course. The lush landscape in the private courtyard may tempt you to hang out a little longer in the shade as the scent of barbecue convinces you to order up some grub. The friendly competition on the private volleyball and shuffleboard courts may challenge you to get involved, too. Finally, as the sun sets, you’ll wave back to the Gulf and do an about face with your compass pointed to the Crescent Club for moonlit cocktails.

Twin Palms will help you take a load off. You can settle into your room with a kitchenette and have groceries delivered to your door, so you won’t have to make a late-night food run. Point of Rocks and Crescent Beaches are a hop, skip and a jump from your door. And don’t you worry about cab fare when you’re bar-hopping around the Key: Jonny’s Free Ride will take you around Siesta Key Village and the beaches before dropping you safely back at Twin Palms.

The secluded condos at Palm Bay Club grant you ample space for rest and relaxation. Wake up to a swim with direct Gulf access, then spend a few early hours casting a line off of the fishing pier. If you’re trying to live the true Florida lifestyle, you’ll need to hone your pickleball game on their floodlit court. End every night watching the sunset from your ninth-floor Gulf-view room and do it all again in the morning.

Escape the resort rush and fees at the laid-back Captiva Beach Resort. Stretch out a bit in a suite or opt for a smaller space since you’ll be hanging out at Crescent Beach most of the time anyway. When you’re not, you’ll be tempted to hang by the pool and cook up burgers on the communal Weber grills. Take our word for it and spend a few hours at Siesta’s Daiquiri Deck: the 0.5mi (0.9km) stumble back to the resort is completely manageable any time of the day or night.

Planning a short Siesta Key stay? Better book a Tiny House. These small quarters deliver a sizable siesta with one- to three-bedroom beach hut-style suites. They’ve even got room for your dog should you choose to bring Rover on holiday. Best of all, you can hit the shores of Crescent Beach lickety-split. In fact, you’ll make it across the Stickney Point Bascule Bridge so fast that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for a scoop at Abel’s Ice Cream to keep you cool under the sun.

An oasis only steps from the sand yet well enough away from the noise, the Inn on Siesta Key can be your old Florida homestead for as long as you’d like. Cottages come with single or double beds and baths, perfect for a spur of the moment couples’ vacay or a much-needed solo getaway. Beach chairs, umbrellas and towels are at your disposal, but no shame if you prefer to sit under the shade of the pergola beside the pool.

Sunset Beach Resort isn’t messing around when it comes to their room nomenclature. Along with cut-above sunsets that’ll sit warmly in your memory, their marine-named beachfront vacation rentals will indeed grant you access to sandcastles, sand dollars, seagulls and sea turtles (all of which should remain undisturbed, of course). Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy your own peace without interruption as you lounge on the shore, sip coffee on your private deck or take an unplanned snooze with the curtains drawn.