Opal Sands Resort

Every room faces the Gulf

★★★★★📍 Clearwater Beach (Gulf front)$$$

Opal Sands opened in February 2016, built by Ocean Properties as the newest member of what is now the Opal Collection, and its design (by Design Duncan Miller Ullmann) was the headline from day one: a crescent-shaped building that turns every one of its 230 rooms toward the Gulf and brings the beach into the lobby. Interiors lean on stylized wood and turquoise-and-blue accents rather than seashell kitsch. The resort launched with the Sea-guini restaurant overlooking the water and the Sandbar tiki bar on the deck, and the rest of the property follows the same beach-first logic: a zero-entry pool and sun deck, a whirlpool, firepits for the evening, a large fitness center, a spa and a 5,500-square-foot event lawn that makes it a popular wedding address. It sits on the promenade that links the hotels of South Gulfview Boulevard, so mornings start with a walk on the sand and evenings end with a stroll north to Pier 60.

Room craft: since every room faces the Gulf, the real choices are height and space. Higher floors give the widest sweep of water and sunset; lower floors put you closer to the pool and the beach crew. Suites add a living area and suit families or longer stays. Reserve beach chairs and spa time when you book in peak months, and plan at least one sunset on the balcony with room service. How it compares: its sister property, the Sandpearl (also on this site), sits at the quieter north end of the beach with a more residential feel; the JW Marriott to the south is newer and pricier with a rooftop scene; the Hyatt Regency a short walk north on the promenade gives more space per dollar but not the same on-the-sand position. Opal Sands is the pick when the view from bed matters most.

Practicals: Clearwater Beach, about 25 minutes (13 miles) from St. Pete-Clearwater International and around 35 minutes (21 miles) from Tampa International. Parking is valet and indoor, typical of the beach, and rates follow the seasons, peaking from late winter through spring break; summer brings value with afternoon storms. Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands are a short drive north, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is across the causeway, and dolphin cruises leave from the marina nearby. Fit: couples, families who want a gentle pool and easy beach, and travelers who want every view to be the Gulf. Less suited to anyone who wants a quiet, tucked-away beach, since the busy heart of Clearwater Beach is a few minutes' walk away.