Florida's 1,350 miles of coastline contain some of the country's best beaches, with velvety sand, clear blue water, and ideal conditions for water sports and wildlife-spotting. However, with picture-perfect beaches comes high tourist demand, and hotel rates often reflect this -- especially those at ocean-facing properties with direct beach access and water views. The good news: After visiting more than 1,000 hotels throughout coastal Florida, Oyster's reporters have zeroed in on 18 great picks that offer both beachfront locations and low rates. From Clearwater to the Keys, St. Augustine on the Atlantic to Panama City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, here are the best affordable hotels right on the beach in the Sunshine State.
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1. Island Bay Resort, Key Largo
The Flora & Fauna Cottage at Island Bay Resort/Oyster
If swaying in a hammock, snorkeling nearby reefs, watching the sun set, and throwing dinner on the grill sounds like your perfect vacation, then Island Bay Resort may just be your version of Shangri-La. The simple beach hideaway in Tavernier (one of the Florida Keys) has 10 quaint cottages with kitchens and private terraces, some with barbecues. The private beach isn’t suitable for swimming, but its tiki huts, hammocks, and Adirondack chairs make nice spots for posting up and hanging out. Guests boating in can park at Island Bay’s private dock, and charters and tours are available for those wanting to snorkel and dive the area’s famous reefs.
2. Inn on the Beach, St. Pete Beach
Beach at Inn on the Beach/Oyster
Inn on the Beach began life as a 1920s beach house, and has operated as an inn since the 1950s. Even after a few expansions and a 2016 renovation, the bright white, two-story stucco building still very much feels like an intimate residence — and an exceedingly tidy one at that. The 12 fresh and contemporary studios and cottages have kitchens or kitchenettes, plus free welcome bottled water, beach towels, and personal coolers for the beach. During the weekends, a free continental breakfast is served in the hotel’s courtyard, which also has a gas grill and grab-and-go beach umbrellas and folding chairs. The historic property is located across the street from Pass-A-Grille Beach, a quiet and more laid-back beach community in the southern outskirts of bustling St. Pete Beach.
3. The Sea Spray Resort, Siesta Key
Beach at The Sea Spray Resort/Oyster
Across from Siesta Beach, The Sea Spray Resort is a small condo-style property with grounds full of flowers, trees, shrubs, and lion’s head fountains. The 14 one- and two-bedroom options have private patios and full kitchens (though some lack ovens), and the property’s outdoor pool area has a fire pit and stainless-steel barbecue. Laundry facilities, loaner bikes, and Wi-Fi are all free here, and guests can borrow rolling beach carts with chairs and parasols, free of charge.
4. Inn at the Beach, Venice Beach
Beach at Inn at the Beach/Oyster
Not to be confused with Inn on the Beach, Inn at the Beach is a mid-range hotel located directly across the road from Venice Beach, about an hour south of St. Pete Beach. Many of the 49 rooms and suites here have views of the water, and all have mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers (suites have full kitchenettes with eat-in areas). When guests need a break from the sand and wind of the beach, there is a brick pool patio with lounge chairs and a hot tub. Wi-Fi, parking, and breakfast are all free.
5. Cedar Cove Resort & Cottages, Anna Maria Island
Grounds at Cedar Cove Resort & Cottages/Oyster
This cheery beachfront hotel is located in a residential area between Holmes and Bradenton beaches, a one-minute walk away from the free trolley that goes across Anna Maria Island. Cedar Cove’s grounds consist of tropical gardens, stone walkways, umbrella-shaded patio areas, and, best of all, a private beach area, which has a bamboo tiki hut, barbecue grills, and rows of turquoise lounge chairs. All 19 of Cedar Cove’s large apartment-style units have full-size kitchens, and some have ocean views.
6. Tiki On The Beach, Fort Myers Beach
The Courtyard Double Room at Tiki On The Beach/Oyster
Tiki On The Beach is as sweet and simple as it sounds. The no-frills budget inn consists of two low buildings connected by a breezy brick courtyard, with a small fountain, a Weber barbecue, and swaying palm trees. The 11 apartment-like units are comfortable and well-maintained; all have free Wi-Fi, kitchen facilities, and separate living areas, though some bedrooms are a bit cramped. The inn backs onto a beautiful sweep of white-sand beach, where free loungers are set up (the hotel also provides beach towels for free).
7. Sanibel Moorings, Sanibel Island
Garden at Sanibel Moorings/Oyster
Lying between a quiet canal for boats and the Gulf of Mexico, this casual condo resort inhabits six tropical-garden acres on famously serene Sanibel Island. The resort takes its coveted real estate seriously, employing a full-time horticulturist who carefully identifies and leads guided tours around the grounds. The property’s botanical garden is such a draw that even non-guests come here to explore. The garden grounds face stiff competition from the white-sand beach, which is one of the best shelling beaches in the world.
8. The Saint Augustine Beach House, St. Augustine
Velano Suite at The Saint Augustine Beach House/Oyster
The scenic rolling dunes of St. Augustine‘s Vilano Beach serve as the front lawn for this charming, cottage-like hotel. Its 16 rooms are cute and quaint with pale blue walls, white linens and curtains, and private ocean-view balconies furnished with wooden chairs — those on the top floors naturally have best views. Rooms go for more than most budget properties, but their kitchenettes can help defray the cost, plus they come with free hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking.
9. Coconut Inn, St. Pete Beach
Coconut Inn/Oyster
The old-fashioned bicycles with baskets parked along the perimeter of Coconut Inn are perfect signals of the charm found throughout this beach-cottage property in St. Pete Beach. More evidence: Coconut’s inviting brick courtyard features not just a fountain and palm trees, but also a gazebo, porch swing, and — the kicker — a modern outdoor kitchen for laid-back barbecues. Speaking of cooking, there are kitchens in all 11 rooms (studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments), which also have views of the beach, gardens, or heated pool.
10. Windjammer Resort, Lauderdale by the Sea
Beach at Windjammer Resort/Oyster
Don’t overthink the word “resort” here: Windjammer Resort, located on a sandy public beach in Fort Lauderdale, is more like simple apartments on the beach than a full-service hotel. Its 33 units come with kitchens, dining tables, and flat-screen TVs; most rooms have furnished balconies and some have ocean views. One of the two outdoor heated pools has direct ocean views. The beach location (just one block from Anglin’s Square and its picturesque fishing pier) and low rates draw families, seniors, friend groups, and partiers, and the vibe is fun, but not out-of-control spring-break style.
11. Wright by the Sea, Delray Beach
The Luxury Oceanfront One-Bedroom Apartment with Terrace at Wright by the Sea/Oyster
Nothing at Wright By the Sea could be described as modern, but that’s just fine with nearly all of the guests who stay here. The kidney-shaped pool, lawn games, like croquet and shuffleboard, and squat buildings with exterior halls and big shutters all speak to the hotel’s 1950s vintage style; you half-expect to see a line of tail-finned cars idling in the circle driveway. Though there’s not a blade out of place on the grassy lawns, tropical prints and clunky wood furniture give some of Wright’s 29 rooms a secondhand feel. The hotel backs onto Delray Beach, a two-mile Atlantic stretch with perfect conditions for snorkeling, paddleboarding, sailing, surfing, and sand-castle-making.
12. Tropical Beach Resorts, Siesta Key
The Two Bed Efficiency Room at Tropical Beach Resorts/Oyster
A spread of five buildings with 70 apartment-style units, Tropical Beach Resorts is a family-friendly compound a quarter-of-a-block from Siesta Key Beach. A private section of the beach is just for hotel guests, who can borrow beach chairs and towels for free. Back at the hotel, there are heated swimming pools, shuffleboard courts, and outdoor dining areas with grills. Cozy rooms (studios and one- and two-bedrooms) have living rooms, full kitchens with modern stainless steel appliances, pillow-topped beds, and covered outdoor seating areas. Wi-Fi, parking, lemonade, hot chocolate, cookies, and popcorn are all free.
13. Sunrise Garden Resort, Anna Maria
The One-Bedroom Apartment with Garden Patio at Sunrise Garden Resort/Oyster
Located between Anna Maria Island‘s beach and bay, Sunrise Garden Resort is a laid-back tropical hideaway. Its 15 likable, apartment-style rooms feel more like someone’s home than a hotel. Each has a large living room, full kitchen, and one or two separate bedrooms. Sunrise’s lagoon-shaped heated pool is a definite highlight of the resort; it’s surrounded by flowering trees and bushes and a tiki pavilion with grills and picnic tables. Pets are allowed for a fee. Free laundry services are a major perk, especially for long-term stays.
14. Sanibel Siesta on the Beach, Sanibel Island
Pool at Sanibel Siesta on the Beach/Oyster
Sanibel Siesta on the Beach‘s blocky motel layout and dated furnishings are alleviated by the property’s many pros, like its beachfront setting, friendly atmosphere, and large, beach-themed condos that guarantee full kitchens, screened-in porches, and private garages. Sanibel Island’s pristine white-sand beaches are some of the best shelling sites in the world, and once visitors have collected all the shells they desire, they can compare their haul to the displays at Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum (a 10-minute drive from hotel), get a sense of Florida pioneer life at Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, play at Dunes Golf & Tennis Club (both a five-minute drive), or visit the grounds of the historic Sanibel Island Lighthouse, which was among the first lighthouses on Florida’s Gulf Coast (a 10-minute drive).
15. Amara Cay Resort, Islamorada
The One-Bedroom King Oceanfront Suite at Amara Cay Resort/Oyster
Located directly on the ocean, Amara Cay provides ample access to water sports, including boating, fishing, diving, and kayaking. The hotel has its own boat dock and dive shop that offers full dive certification programs and refresher courses. A property-wide renovation completed in 2015 transformed what was once a typical value hotel chain into beachy-chic resort with modern rooms and facilities.
16. Palm Pavilion Inn, Clearwater
Beach at Palm Pavilion Inn/Oyster
Exceptional ocean views and a welcoming vibe are the hallmarks of this beachfront hotel, which is located within walking distance of several restaurants, shops, and parks in Clearwater Beach — one of the best white-sand beaches in the country. The simple budget property offers 25 basic rooms with traditional amenities (air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes, free Wi-Fi), plus one-bedroom apartments with fully-equipped kitchens. Daily housekeeping is provided and some rooms have gorgeous ocean views and patios with seating.
The top draws here are the low rates and direct access to a beautiful beach (the hotel offers free beach towels), but other great features include an outdoor pool and on-site grill and bar with free morning coffee, local cuisine, cocktails, frozen drinks, and daily live entertainment. There’s also a rooftop deck that provides more space for lounging and taking in the ocean views.
17. Palmetto Inn & Suites, Panama City Beach
View from Two Queen Deluxe Suite at Palmetto Inn & Suites/Oyster
Palmetto Inn & Suites is a low-key, family-friendly hotel with 122 big rooms. Decor is dated, but some of the rooms come with kitchens and views of the Gulf of Mexico. Palmetto’s fantastic beach, two swimming pools, and hot tub are all kept in immaculate shape. Unlike many area hotels, there are no resort fees, and Wi-Fi, parking, and lobby newspapers are all free.
18. Suites at Congress Ocean Drive, Miami
Beach at the Suites at Congress Ocean Drive/Oyster
This 75-room hotel occupies a prime piece of South Beach real estate: hordes of tourists, thumping club beats, and all. Suites at Congress Ocean Drive is smack in the middle of (in)famous Ocean Drive and across the street from one of the world’s most famous beaches, where beach chairs and umbrellas are included in Congress’ resort fee. Suites are modern, massive, and equipped with cooking facilities, and the hotel’s rooftop pool and sundeck offer panoramic views of Lummus Park and the beach.
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