What to expect: Guests enter the resort through a covered parking lot, where one wall is devoted to a large underwater sea mural. Clientele includes families, vacationers, honeymooners, and businesspeople.

Amenity highlights: Amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, and water-sport equipment can be rented. There are also four restaurants and lounges on site.

Insider tip: The hotel has adopted a Great Egret (Connie) at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, about two blocks north of the hotel. The nonprofit avian-rehabilitation center and sanctuary has 600 birds on view to the public. Guests may visit the tree-lined, open-air sanctuary daily (no charge, donations accepted) from morning to sunset, or take a public tour led by an avian docent on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons.