I would like to give them minus five stars! We reserved a king with an ocean front view with a blacony for our ten year anniversary, we called to confirm and requested an email with details. We got the email with description of a gulf view balcony with gulf view! We arrived at 4:45 and were told that it wasn't ready. Weird as check in is at 4:00. Went into other room to call housekeeping. Then came back and said it was under maintenance. Then they tried to put us in a queen, gulf view which the windows opened six inches. I don't think so. Checked back out immediately. So thoroughly disappointed with the service. I bet they gave our room away to someone else. Very Nice response from the hotel. I see you take no responsibility in your or the actions of the employees You are sorryso sad..you, Courtney L are so fake with your cookie cutter response with NO ACTION
I am truly sorry to hear that your experience with us did not meet your expectations and I appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us. Best, Courtney L. The Don Cesar.
Courtney did nothing to resolve the problem. The new manager Chris Jennings contacted us and resolved the issue to our satisfaction. Although we still didn’t get exactly what we were looking for, and it was a little chillier out, we stayed there and had a great time. Thanks Chris Jennings for taking the time to make it right.
So disappointed with the Sunday Brunch buffet (29.00). No imagination, nothing special and (I am still laughing at this) the carving station consisted of fried chicken and waffles. Seriously? The food we had was good, not great, and we didn't leave hungry. The bottomless Mimosas (16.00) were the deal of the day, maybe to make you forget about the buffet. This was on our Mom's 'Bucket List' and it was a Special Birthday. We will probably find a better brunch buffet for our next adventure.
I went to a wedding/reception at this hotel. Ceremony was on the beach and they did a great job of setting up the seating and having staff directing guests along the way. The reception was on the roof-top ballroom with a nice view from the balcony.
The bartender and servers did an excellent job and the food was very tasty. I would definitely recommend them to someone looking for an event venue.
I’ve always heard such wonderful things about the Don Cesar, so naturally I was excited for my best friend to have her wedding there. Unfortunately the reality was far different from what we were promised. Customer service is 90% of what makes or breaks an experience at a hotel or resort - the Don’s service was truly the most disappointing I’ve ever experienced. Most of the staff (waiters, valet, receptionist, and bell hops) were unpleasant or downright rude. I was constantly judged for not having the nicest car, for using valet coupons (provided by the wedding planner for all of the wedding party!) even though I tipped every valet person well. There is a lack of communication between the staff that causes stress to their guests. The wedding planner tells you one thing, reception or valet says another. It forced me to become the middle man and forced me to go back and forth between multiple parties to find an answer. It caused unnecessary stress that could’ve been prevented with a quick notice between the staff. Now imagine being a bride and having to deal with that stress ten-fold, in many different levels that’s what my friend experienced. Constant miscommunication between the wedding planners, where they would mix up the vendors names and not follow up or not even send a schedule a week before the wedding! This is just a small glimpse of what she experienced. Was the wedding beautiful? Yes, but the unbelievable amount of stress has tarnished the memories for this bride and the wedding party forever. You should be able to trust a wedding planner and a five star hotel - but you can’t. If it wasn’t for my friend constantly following up and taking matters into her own hands, this wedding would’ve never happened! If you are looking for a relaxing or stress-free venue for a wedding, the Don isn't for you. Don’t be mislead as she was. She trusted the fact that it was a five star hotel, a place she visited regularly and loved! She never anticipated the lack of service or consideration she received. The venue is not worth the stress.
Exceptional location and extremely accommodating team across the board from the welcoming valet who greet you to the helpful beach rental fellows to the delightful 24-hour (full menu) in-room dining staff to the incredibly impeccable housekeeping team. This is officially my favorite place to stay. It sets the bar and does NOT disappoint.
Historical Luxury Beach Resort. Sold and updated a few years ago to entice a new crowd. Lost it's charm with the addition of big TV's in the Hotel Bar which in the past had a real feel of a cozy place to visit. Rooms are small but updated and that's a plus. Elevator still slow, great pool service. If only people would leave their kids home.
We've lived in this area for years, and have had occasion to visit the Don when friends were in town or for dinner or special events. But we'd never actually stayed there before. My wife and I both love the history of this beautiful property, and the architecture represents an outstanding example of a bygone age. So we thought it would be fun to spend a night there for our anniversary. The interior has been thoughtfully and elegantly renovated, and the room was phenomenal. We were most impressed by the courtesy of a very engaging staff. Every employee we met (and we met a lot of staff) was friendly, outgoing, and courteous. I asked the concierge in advance to make sure there was a particular soda in the room for my wife, and even though the hotel does not stock it, they went out and bought it and made sure it was waiting for us on our arrival. We had booked a Gulf view balcony room, and they upgraded us upon our arrival to the best available room, which turned out to be the Gulf view Penthouse suite! Now you can't expect that sort of treat every time you stay there, but we thought the management was both incredibly thoughtful and generous to do that for us. In fact, the front desk staff were clearly genuinely happy and excited to deliver the good news to us. We used room service and the Spa, and again, the staff impressed us with their skill and courtesy. The linens, the towels, the bathrooms - everything was just top notch. We've stayed at lovely hotels all over, but the Don Cesar just set the bar higher than we've ever experienced. If you're coming to the area, this is THE hotel to try.
This has to be my favorite hotel of all time. It sits on the beautiful white beaches of St Pete. The hotel is beautifully kept, preserving it's historic feel but still having all the mod cons you expect. It has 2 great pools and a hot tub that surround a full bar with seating for lunch. There are other restaurants and bars on site along with boutique stores and an ice cream parlor.
The staff are wonderful and many of them have worked there for years and it's lovely to see familiar faces. This will always be my happy place!
The BEST!!! The room (we stayed in 121) was fantastic! (I will post photos later). Sure it wasn't a great view but we didn't spend any time looking out the window. The pool & beach were wonderful places to spend time, always clean and well kept. The service there was second to none. I would definitely come again.
The Don is a classic and stately place, but has recently gone a bit corporate. The food is good and the drinks are good. The atmosphere is by far the best on St. Pete Beach, 2 pools a beautiful bar, and an outdoor cafe right on the beach.
Didn't really get to see much. Want to take a tour, but will have to go back. They're only at 2. A little overwhelming, but only bc we've never been there before. It's a beautiful building. Hopefully, we'll go back for the tour before heading home.
Beautiful historic hotel. The staff was wonderful. Food was very good. Pool was great with a bar 2 steps away. Parking iz a premium, but they have valet parking if you like. The beach was magnificent! Jet ski, cabanas, umbrella rentals are there for a price.
Who else better to give a review of this glorious landmark than a past employee!
Having had the honor and pleasure to have been with this hotel for just under 10 years,I know all the secrets! She is as she appears! A true and beautiful lady, the care given to her was 1st class,and still is ! Those working here do so out of love , I would ask those staying with her to judge her by her history, and her beauty, and love her as we do,she is truly one of a kind never to be repeated.
We had such a wonderful stay here! The hotel is absolutely stunning and the service was great! We really loved sitting on the beach and having lunch and listening to the live music in the lobby at night. The spa was wonderful as well. We will definitely be back! Thanks for making our vacation so perfect!