Hi besties! I wanted to start a new section on my blog for any travel and adventures that I go on. My goal is to review the places and areas where I stay, to find my ultimate vacation spots that are also plus-size friendly. To start, I stayed at the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater, Florida!
Outfits
If you are interested in seeing what I wore while on vacation, visit this post!
Location
The opal sands resort is located in Clearwater, Florida directly on the beach. There is direct beach access through the pool and the side of the hotel. This is actually the last resort on the stretch of beach, before hitting the gulf.
Our Room
Our room was on the 10th floor and to the side of the resort. I definitely recommend asking for a unit that is in the middle (and high up) of the resort, for the best views! The room was clean and definitely on brand for the resort.
The king-sized bed wasn’t the most comfortable in my opinion, so I didn’t sleep amazing both nights. However, I always make sure to bring my own pillow and I use a black pillowcase, so I don’t forget it at the hotel! The balcony featured two extra-wide seats that were so comfortable and I found myself sitting out there for the small amount of time we were in the room!
The bathroom and shower were also clean, which was a big deal for me. There are two different shower heads and the shower was very spacious. If you’re like me, one of the first things I do is check what brand the hotel uses for their toiletries. LOL Nest products were used for toiletries and the bathroom features a gorgeous LED light-up mirror, perfect for doing makeup and skincare!
Dining
The in-house restaurant was the coastal Italy-inspired Sea-Guini. Let me tell you, we loved it! Sea-Guini was open for breakfast (with buffet), lunch, and dinner, as well as supplying the food for room service, and the light bites at the pool bar and sandbar outdoor patio area. Their menu features handmade pasta, both land and sea options, as well delicious apps! I highly recommend trying the vodka pasta with grilled chicken and the bruschetta appetizer. I would also recommend the amaretto french toast and poached eggs for breakfast!
On the lobby floor of the hotel, all the way in the back there is a little coffee stand called Illy. I tried one of their lattes and it was so good! It wasn’t necessarily a craft espresso drink, but it was still better than most drive-through options. Make sure to check out their hours, because they are only open at limited times.
Both their mocktails and regular cocktails were delish. I tried the berry mule (based on a Moscow mule), which both Nick and I enjoyed. At the pool, I tried the strawberry lemonade spritzer (I opted for no agave syrup because I didn’t want it to be too sweet) and it was perfect! Their drinks are so refreshing and definitely worth a try.
The room service food was okay. It wasn’t bad at all, but nothing to write home about. We preferred their dinner options over the lunch options. Also, they gave us the cutest tiny bottle of ketchup and if you are obsessed with mini things, check the top left corner of the room service picture! LOL
Spa and Amenities
Opal Sands Spa
The spa was such a treat and so relaxing! Nick and I got a couples massage and we were both in heaven. The staff was so friendly and I didn’t feel out of place or judged at all. I asked the spa’s front desk about plus-size robes before I even went back, and they were so helpful and kind. They told me where to find them and it couldn’t have been a more positive experience! My robe was a little tight on me, so I definitely think it’s a good idea to just bring your own robe, so you know it will fit you comfortably (if you’re a size 24+). I chose to get the Turkish back scrub add-on, which I also highly recommend. I told Nick he has a new beauty treatment to give me! LOL
Pool and Cabana Rental
The pool was gorgeous and faced the gulf. There are daily cabana rentals, which I opted to get. The cabana was ours for the entire day and there were staff on hand to get us anything we wanted or needed! The price was a little steep at $175 for the day plus tax, but it was honestly worth it. It was so lovely going from the shaded cabana down to the beach to get some sun, and then back up to the cabana when I wanted to cool off. We decided to watch the sunset from our cabana (we recommend cabana #2!) and it was spectacular. This experience alone was worth the trip for me.
Our Stay
- We were able to check in early around 2:00, which was so helpful because normal check-in is 4:00.
- We were hungry so we ordered room service lunch (pictured under dining)
- At 4:00, Nick and I had an appointment to get our couples’ massage at the spa.
- we tried Sea-Guini for dinner.
- We walked on the beach and watched the sunset, it was dreamy!
- We woke up early and walked around the entire resort to explore. There are so many little cool areas of the resort, from the pool, to the fountains, and the tiki bars.
- Went to Illy’s for coffee in the resort lobby.
- We had breakfast at Sea-Guini’s and it was also great.
- Rented the pool cabana to relax for a while and soak up some sun on the beach as well.
- I can’t go too long without an adventure so we paused the relaxing and explored clearwater to see what it had to offer. There are so many cool causeways, tourist attractions, and beaches to walk.
- Went back to the cabana to soak up more sun and it was so beautiful that we canceled our dinner reservations just to soak up the sunset as long as we could. We tried some mocktails and took alllll the sunset pictures.
- For some reason we woke up super early even though we didn’t have to leave until 11:00. We decided to just clean up our room and leave early because we missed our boys (our two golden retrievers).
- We spent some time on the balcony enjoying the view before heading back home.
Overall Review and Experience
Arrival:
When Nick and I first got the resort, we didn’t know it was under construction. You have to valet your car for $40 a night, as there is no guest parking lot. Between the ear-piercing drilling (I’m not even being dramatic I jumped when I first heard it), and the chaotic unloading and parking situation, our first impression of the resort was not great.
Room and View:
When we got to our room we noticed that our view was half beach and half construction going on to a nearby building. The construction was pretty loud mid-day and I didn’t think to factor in construction at all for this trip! We stayed positive though and just focused on the left side of our view – the dreamy gulf!
Is Opal Sands Resort Worth It?:
Yes and no! LOL There was so many different fees and charges and everything was so expensive. We enjoyed ourselves and we were able to relax, but I don’t think the resort was necessarily worth their rates. Nick and I decided we would stay here again IF we needed to stay in Clearwater again, and didn’t have anywhere else we wanted to try.
YES! All of the seating and lounge areas were spacious and generously sized. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating to additional requests we had. There are options to rent cabanas on both the beach and pool if you wanted a little privacy while enjoying your stay.
Tips:
- Bring bug spray. Between 1:00-3:00 the little noseeums come out and bite.
- Do not expect the pantry amenity to have anything stocked, except water bottles.
- Expect to spend way more than your initial room fee, between food, drinks, upgrades, activities around Clearwater, etc. (This obviously goes for most resort stays anyway).
- Try to get a room on a top floor, in the middle of the resort for the best views.
- Look up the sunset time each night, so you don't miss it!
