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August 28, 2020 By Hailey

The Don CeSar: Highlights from Our Stay at the Pink Palace of Florida

To celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and the end of a long pregnancy, Justin and I booked a two night stay at The Don CeSar, one of Florida’s most iconic hotels located on St. Pete Beach, just west of Tampa. The Don CeSar provided us with the perfect dose of laidback luxury for our adult-only weekend getaway. Here are my big takeaways from our time at the Pink Palace on the Gulf Coast.

The Don CeSar_Pretty in Pink
Hailey Domeck_travel while pregnant

The Don CeSar is historic.

The Don opened in 1928 as Florida’s Gulf Coast tourism industry began to boom. The hotel’s founder, Thomas Rowe, designed the opulent “Pink Palace” in memory of his lost love, an opera star from London. Many details around the hotel pay homage to Rowe and his tragic romance, which I found quite sweet and sincere.

Over the course of the last century, the hotel has served as a convalescent center for veterans of WWII, faced demolition during tough times, and undergone a series of renovations to improve upon Rowe’s dream. I really enjoyed the information panels around the hotel that illustrate The Don CeSar’s compelling history.

The Don CeSar is a class-act, but it’s not over the top.

Somehow, this historic hotel balances the finer things of life with a laidback air and no-fuss attitude that should be a part of a coastal vacation. Perhaps it’s the slightly dated feel mixed with the modern upgrades sprinkled throughout the property? Or maybe its the seamless movement between a sparkling lobby bar that echos the trombone tenor of the Gatsby Era and the sun-soaked pool patio where bachelorette parties gather and children splash around as their parents sip on frozen, fruity cocktails? As a result, The Don Cesar feels both grand and accessible.

Travel Tip: For those who wish to enjoy a little more space (families, I’m looking at you!), The Don CeSar has a sister-property just down the street – Beach House Suites. These newly renovated suites have kitchen space and ocean-view balconies, and guests have complete access to all of the amenities at the main hotel.

The Don CeSar outdoor courtyard
The Don CeSar pool
The Don CeSar details

The Don CeSar is PINK!

The iconic color palette leaves an indelible mark on your memory. At first glance, the Pepto-Bismol pink may feel off-putting, but it’s uniqueness grows on you as you settle into its beachy charm. Personally, I loved that the pool towels were pink and white striped, too! How fun?

The Don CeSar complimentary towels and lounge chairs
The Don CeSar Poolside

The Don CeSar has a superb staff, who keep guests comfortable and content.

We were very impressed with the staff, and we felt very cared for, especially with COVID-19 serving as the backdrop to our new reality. Everyone was professional and kind. From the friendly waitstaff to the easy-going shuttle driver of the free beach shuttle service, we were greeted warmly and with respect at every turn. I thought the guys running the beach operations were pretty terrific, too.

Travel Tip: Complimentary lounge chairs at the beach are available to guests. On weekends, come out early to snag a front row seat of the gorgeous Gulf waters.

The Don CeSar has some pretty good eats.

The Don CeSar has several on-site dining options for guests, ranging from fine dining at Maritana to poolside service from The Beachcomber Bar & Grill. On our full-free day at The Don, we ordered breakfast and a late-afternoon appetizer from The Rowe Bar, located adjacent to the pool deck which has lovely outdoor seating. We were very pleased with our food, and I have to say that you may see these dishes again on my forthcoming Best Eats of 2020 post!

Travel Tip: When we checked in, we mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary and enjoying a mini-babymoon to boot. The reception manager offered us complimentary drinks and an appetizer to enjoy during our stay. We definitely used them.

The Don CeSar breakfast at The Rowe Bar
The Don CeSar complimentary amenity
The Don CeSar apps at The Rowe Bar

The Don CeSar is splurge-worthy, but it’s not perfect.

If you are like us and don’t often stay at high-end hotels, then perhaps you’d find that The Don CeSar offers just the right amount of glitz without a big fuss. However, if you are more accustomed to luxury lodgings, then I can understand if you’d be slightly disappointed in some of the elements that this hotel does not have.

For example, the Standard King Room was nice enough, but guests may feel a bit cramped. In fact, my only real complaint about our stay was that our bathroom was tiny and tough to share with another person. Being 37.5-weeks pregnant didn’t really help either…

Travel Tip: Consider upgrading to a Suite-level room for a truly splurge-worthy experience!

The Don CeSar Luxury King Room
Hailey Domeck Pregnant at The Don

The Don Cesar is a beachside resort that you won’t forget!

Given that 2020 has been an absolutely dismal year for those of us in the travel industry, I am extremely grateful for this special weekend getaway. Our stay at The Don Cesar was relaxing and pleasant – just what these parents of a toddler and soon-to-be-newborn needed. I’ll be dreaming of that soft sunrise for years to come!

Florida Gulf Coast St. Pete Beach
The Don CeSar at Sunrise
Florida Gulf Coast Goldenrod

Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored by The Don CeSar – although I wish it were.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO SHARE…

Have you ever stayed at The Don CeSar? How do you feel about all of the pink? Have you stayed in a hotel since the COVID-19 pandemic struck our planet?

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Comments

  1. JoAnn Shea says

    January 16, 2021 at 8:26 pm

    We just stayed there this past weekend for the Polo on the Beach event. We had food from all 3 restaurants. The beachside & the other more casual restaurant were okay. Good but nothing special. The servers were very friendly & accommodating. At the Maritana we were seated in a private room. Unless you were choosing a steak, the menu was weird. I was served shrimp complete with heads & antennaes. No mention of that on the menu. Our rooms were very nice & roomy. No complaints there. We were there primarily for the polo games on Saturday & Sunday. It was really cool to see all the action on the beach, right at the water’s edge. The beach was fenced off to the regulation size of a polo field.

    Reply
  2. Raymond Gordon Watkins says

    September 8, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    I have been at Many resorts over the many years of my lifetime. Here is the summary:
    1). Color nice
    2).. Serving staff on beach, restaurant-Excellent
    3). Food good

    CONS
    1). Very POOR CUSTOMER, everything that went wrong was blamed on construction or virus-NO ONE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE
    2). No room service because fee checked in on a Friday and out on a Monday supposedly the virus limited any room service, example: only time for Yoel refresh’s was Sunday -NO bedmake up or food service
    3). Hidden taxes and hotel fees not represented at booking and check inn
    4). Nothing mentioned about $24 a day parking fee, had Togo around construction park on street or other lots you get towed
    5) Room view Lobby floor facing AC condenser, motor repair shop an no reduction in cost of booking, very nosey
    6). Checkout staff wouldn’t address the bill charges and excused everything to construction and virus
    7) sent email back answer from low level reader again Excuses Ask for upper level Manager-NO REPLY-POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

    WILL NEVER-STAY HERE AGAIN AND REGRET I STAYED THIS, much better surrounding classic hotels than this one

    Reply
    • Hailey says

      September 9, 2020 at 11:05 am

      Hi Raymond,

      Thanks for stopping by the blog. I’m sorry that your experience at The Don CeSar wasn’t comparable to mine. This post is a reflection of my enjoyment of my stay, which I did take with a grain of salt, given the restrictions and limitations that have come with traveling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

      As I am in no way affiliated with the hotel, perhaps it would be beneficial share your grievances on review platforms, such as Yelp or TripAdvisor?

      If you return to the St. Pete area, I have no doubt that there are lots of other great hotels and resorts. I hope that you can have a more pleasant travel experience next time!

      Best wishes and safe travels to you,
      Hailey

      Reply

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Hailey Domeck is a Southern girl with a Spanish heart and Swiss soul.

As a wife, mom, and travel addict, her love for mountains, fairy-tales, and great food keep her mind and heart always on the lookout for the next great adventure.

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💫 2020 - not about travel; all about family. 💫

#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the beauty of growing a child in the womb and then nurturing a precious newborn around the clock; the wild roller coaster of shepherding a toddler, whose contagious joy and  stubborn defiance make each day a challenge and a gift; the mundane tasks that help make a home feel warm and welcoming; and a bunch of other things. 

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#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
📷: @whitneykeilman
Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circ Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circumstances, may you experience JOY in this holiday season and have HOPE  for a brighter year ahead. 

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#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow 

📷: @whitneykeilman
• T H A N K F U L • We are saying thanks for • T H A N K F U L • 

We are saying thanks for all things in life this week. It’s so easy to get stuck on either the big picture or the tiny details, but I believe it’s important to take it all in - like I did on this ridge overlooking #Manang Village last year while trekking the #AnnapurnaCircuit in #Nepal. 

Creating a culture of gratitude takes intentionality and discipline... and it’s especially not easy when babies and toddlers demand so much of you at all hours of the day and night. Yet, here we are at the start of the holiday season, and I’m choosing to be grateful for the whole lot. 

What are you thankful for this year?
Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳 I don’t have a Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳

I don’t have any big plans today (#newbornlife), but I’m recalling the joy of “Heidi Hailey” in the Himalayas last November. ☺️ Shout out to @thatdutchieguy for bringing his Polaroid camera on our #CreateConnectNepal journey... what a fun way to capture special moments, - like my favorite stretch of the #AnnapurnaCircuit in the #Manang District ❣️

What are you up to this weekend?
As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s j As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s just wild to me that on this date exactly one year ago, I was walking among giants and completed the most difficult hike of my life. 

On November 11, 2019, the #CreateConnectNepal team and I went up and over the Thorong La Pass. At 17,769 feet (5416m), this is the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The day began in the dark with a grueling 4+ hour ascent through snow-kissed trails and then required a fierce descent down a bone dry valley. It demanded everything of me. 

Yet, that day up and over Thorong La was just one part of my epic adventure in #Nepal last November. I am eternally grateful for that experience and cherish those memories dearly. I also miss those people a lot. ❣️
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