The Don CeSar - St Pete Beach, Florida

Alissa M. V.

It was such a pleasure to stay at the Don. My fiancé and I are planning our wedding there next year in 2026 and we wanted to stay there a night to experience it before the wedding so we booked a stay and it was such a memorable experience. The gift shop is amazing, the food is great. The hospitality is wonderful. The rooms are so beautiful and clean. Really, no complaints at all. The keys to get into the hotel rooms are so cool too, they are pretty wristbands. I think we made the right choice to have our wedding here next year and I can’t wait for our guests to experience such an amazing stay like we did!

alyssam614

As a Tampa native, staying at the Don Cesar has always been something I viewed as iconic, especially for a special girls' weekend celebrating my best friend’s first time away from her newborn. ||Unfortunately, our experience was the opposite of the “luxury” the property advertises and the reputation the Don holds in this city. Please let me de-influence you from wasting money at this property when it offers the same experience as many others on the strip for 3x the price. Expect: ||-Long waits for one of the three elevators constantly|-Small, cramped rooms|-Delays for basics like toilet paper and pillows|-Disappointing and overly expensive meals ||Lastly, we were given incorrect information about refrigeration options on-site for my friend’s breastmilk ahead of checking in, and were told there were no fridges available. Because breastmilk safety isn’t something that can be left to chance, my friend purchased a mini fridge and brought a large Yeti cooler as a backup, which, as you can imagine, caused her undue added stress as she prepared for her first trip away from her child. ||When we arrived, we learned there were in-room coolers and mini-fridges were in fact available with no apology, no acknowledgment - just indifference.||When I politely asked the manager Kim if anything could be done to the bill given the misinformation we were given and the stress it caused, all we got from her was a blank stare, directions to return the mini fridge and 0 accountability. Her tone was dismissive, unprofessional, and honestly insulting.||We weren’t even looking for anything major, just a small gesture or acknowledgment of the inconvenience would’ve gone a long way. Instead, the attitude made it clear our experience didn’t matter. Our time at this property left us feeling like a new mother doing her best to ensure her baby’s milk was stored safely was being punished for the hotel’s lack of proper training and internal communication. This was especially disheartening to come from a woman in leadership there. ||For the price, the lack of customer service and basic hospitality was shocking. The Don Cesar may still be an iconic landmark, but it no longer delivers an iconic experience.

Linda M.

⭐️ 1 Star (if I could give 0, I would)

This hotel, Don César, was a complete disappointment. From the moment we arrived, the check-in staff was friendly, but everything went downhill after that. The room was extremely small — it barely fits two people — and the bathroom was even worse. The carpet in the hallways had a strange smell, the doors looked dirty, and we had to use force just to open ours. For the price of this “five-star” hotel, I expected much more.

The worst part of our stay was the restaurant Maritana. It was honestly one of the worst dining experiences of my life. As soon as we sat down, we could feel how unwelcome we were. We asked the waiter if he spoke Spanish, and from that moment, his whole attitude changed — cold, rude, and clearly uncomfortable serving us. They even brought someone from the kitchen who spoke Spanish, but in a very disrespectful way. I can defend myself in English, but that moment was humiliating.

The food was terrible, overpriced, and the portions were ridiculously small. I understand that fine dining means smaller portions, but what truly ruined it was the lack of respect and professionalism from the staff. They didn’t offer us bread, dessert, or even ask if everything was okay.

Later, when we went to the main lobby, we felt the same — the staff looked at us differently, as if we didn’t belong there. At the beach lobby, service was slightly better, but still far from what you would expect at such an expensive hotel.

However, I do want to highlight one positive experience that truly saved our night: the restaurant Society Table. The people there were incredibly kind and professional. Celeste, Diana, and Julio gave us an exceptional service — friendly, warm, and welcoming. The food was delicious, and their attention was 10 out of 10. It was the best part of our entire stay and the only reason I didn’t leave the hotel even more upset.

Unfortunately, in the hotel stores — especially the clothing and shoe shops — we again experienced that same uncomfortable attitude. The staff looked at us with indifference and didn’t even ask if we needed help, while treating other guests very differently. It’s sad to see that kind of behavior still happening today.

Overall, this hotel felt tense, lifeless, and far from what a true five-star experience should be. It’s a shame, because it could be a beautiful place, but the lack of respect, warmth, and consistency completely ruined it.

If I could give this hotel zero stars, I would. Definitely not worth the price, and I would never return.

Jen M.

This is my Happy Place! The first view of the hotel when you cross the bridge always takes my breath away. The service is outstanding everywhere in the hotel- everyone is just so kind and friendly. The rooms are very comfortable, the pool area is outstanding. My husband will tell you I own half of the gift shop- have to rep the Don- and the view at sunset is the best. I feel so calm and relaxed here...please don't change a thing! I love my Don CeSar!

Phyllis H.

We had a great birthday vacation. We celebrated ourselves all week long. We lounged by the pool and we were catered to every single day. Katie, our pool attendant and server, was outstanding and made sure we always had what we needed as we relaxed by the pool. Quinn made sure we had the best chairs possible each day with towels all perfectly arranged! The staff were wonderful and always had a smile and positive attitudes! If you haven't stayed at the Don Cesar you are missing out! Best.Vacation.Ever!!

Katie L.

I booked this hotel for a local staycation, hoping for a relaxing experience at what was advertised as a “luxury” property. Unfortunately, the stay was far from that.
The only real highlight was the beachfront location and a comfortable bed. Beyond that, everything else was disappointing.
I had specifically booked a standard room with a balcony, but upon arrival, I was surprised to find that our room had no balcony at all. When I brought this up with the front desk, I was told I could “upgrade” for an additional $180 per night—a frustrating upsell tactic for something I had already booked.
The room itself was small, and the bathroom was even smaller, comparable to a cruise ship bathroom. The bathtub was in poor condition, and the shower curtain had visible rust stains. For over $350 a night, plus resort and parking fees, this level of quality was unacceptable.
To make matters worse, the room was very dusty, and the AC unit was so loud it made it hard to relax or sleep peacefully.
All in all, this hotel relies heavily on its prime location, but neglects the details and comfort you’d expect at this price point. I would not stay here again, nor would I recommend it to others looking for a truly comfortable or luxurious experience.

WorldTraveler1976

We always have such a great experience at the Don! We stayed for 5 nights in mid-October and it was perfect. Arriving on a Tuesday meant for first two days the place was empty, which was great! It got busier closer to weekend. ||We experienced some great customer service from Marisa at the bar and Jackie at the pool! Jackie went as far as bringing stuffed animals to our 7 month old daughter! Jackie is truly a gem! ||No it’s not cheap but it’s well worth it! We will be getting married there in the Spring so can’t wait to come back!

Traveler20286253025

All the feels of an island all inclusive luxury resort but definitely without the all inclusive part. There is an exorbitant cost for the room that makes you expect something better. The bed was wonderful and the views were spectacular but the room and bathroom were so small it was difficult have a suitcase opened and be able to open the door to the room at the same time. The bathroom decor was modern but the room so small that the toilet seat wouldn’t stay up due to the tiny countertop extending a few inches over the toilet. The standup shower was very narrow and not easy to turn around within it. ||The main restaurant was average food at best and the breakfast service extremely slow. The staff was very nice and friendly. There was paid valet or paid parking that was NOT included in the room price and despite the $38 per day it was clear that the attendants expected tips, as evident by them accepting Venmo since the campus advertises a cashless property. Thinking the towel attendants, beach chair folks, bell hops, concierge, and EVERY possible thing you can imagine where someone could earn a tip would prefer cash.