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Steps from Siesta Key Beach and close to Palm Arcade, Sarasota Pavilion, TPC Prestancia Golf and Social Club, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Skiers' Island, and The Ringling Museum of Art. Complimentary beach shuttle, outdoor pool, and poolside tiki bar.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
During our recent stay at Spark by Hilton, we noticed several changes from our previous experience at Best Western Plus, which left us somewhat disappointed.
The updated rooms at Spark were nicely renovated, but we found them to be lacking in space compared to our prior stay. The removal of amenities such as drawers, a microwave, coffee maker, and a safebox was particularly noticeable and inconvenient. Additionally, the pillows provided were not as comfortable as expected.
One of the challenges we encountered was with the housekeeping service. While the staff was friendly and changed towels daily, we were surprised to learn from the reception that we were limited to only two large towels despite booking a king bed room.
The breakfast offering was another point of concern. When we made our reservation, we were under the impression of a full breakfast service, but upon arrival, it was reduced to a limited selection of bagels (plain, everything, and cinnamon). Fresh fruit was notably absent for the majority of our stay, which was disappointing considering our previous experience with a more varied breakfast menu.
Overall, while Spark by Hilton is suitable for short stays, it may not be ideal for extended vacation stays based on our recent experience. We appreciate the efforts of the housekeeping staff and the courteous service received but believe there are areas where improvement is needed to better meet guest expectations.
We recommend that management consider reinstating some of the removed amenities and revisiting the breakfast offering to provide a more comprehensive and consistent experience for all guests.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Location
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tuesday Arnshek, Guest Services / Front Office at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Jul 10, 2024
We sincerely apologize that your stay did not meet your expectations. Our rooms have been designed following the Spark brand standards, which prioritize a modern and efficient use of space. We regret that the absence of certain amenities caused inconvenience during your stay. We are sorry to hear about the issues you encountered with our service. Our team strives to provide friendly and efficient service, we understand that being limited to only two towels was not adequate for your needs, and we will address this with our team to ensure they provide additional towels in the future. We regret that the breakfast did not meet your expectations. The menu does follow the Spark brand standards, but your feedback about the limited selection and absence of fruit has been noted, Hilton is actively considering guest feedback to improve our offerings. We appreciate your recognition of our housekeeping staff's efforts and the courteous service you received. Your detailed feedback is invaluable.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed for a week at hotel. Conveniently located 1 mile from beach, with two very good restaurants basically in the parking lot. Free breakfast was above average with many choices. Standard hotel room, clean and no issues. Would definitely stay again.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Keily Brown, General Manager at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Apr 14, 2023
Hi GreggWI33! Thanks for the glowing review. We can't wait to see you next time!
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We did not realize that they don,t prepare the room each day. Their cleaning standards are that they prepare the rooms every third day. They do not post this at the time of booking on their web site. Really I don,t under stand the savings, It would take only 5 minutes to make the bed. 2 requests to prepare the room were made and in each phone call they had said they would do so and never did
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Bad service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Last minute plans over holiday weekend left us without options on Siesta Key itself, but we were Hilton Honors members and this was available. It is a basic '80s era budget hotel on the mainland side of the drawbridge to the Key. Outside elevators and walkways to rooms .Attractive clean pool area. Basic bkfst. but no cooked foods such as oatmeal or eggs, just prepackaged processed stuff. Companion doors between rooms amplify adjacent noise, and we had loud neighbors who partied 'til after 1:00 AM. Room was smallish but clean and included fridge and basic amenities, but no room safe or toiletries except for shampoo and bath gel dispensers on the shower wall. Management and front desk staff were very pleasant and professional. For basic accommodation this is convenient and acceptable, but given a choice I would have preferred a Hampton Inn or better.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Get breakfast at nearby cafes. Ask for rooms without companion doors.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tuesday Arnshek, Guest Services / Front Office at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Jul 9, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to provide detailed feedback on your recent stay. We appreciate your loyalty as Hilton Honors members and your honest comments about your experience. I’m glad to hear that you found our pool area attractive and clean, and that our management and front desk staff were pleasant and professional. We strive to provide excellent service, and it’s heartening to know our team met your expectations in this regard. We continually strive to improve our facilities and services, and your comments will help us in this process. While our hotel aims to offer convenient and comfortable accommodations, we understand that our property may not fully align with your preferences. Your suggestion for more comprehensive breakfast options and enhanced room amenities will be considered as we plan future improvements. Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide a stay that exceeds your expectations.
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We had a 5 night stay and totally enjoyed our visit. The staff was friendly and informative. A hot breakfast was available daily and it was delicious. The pool was large and accommodated a full hotel of guests. Clean towels were available daily and the pool was kept at a comfortable 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The hotel is conveniently located just a short drive to the beach. It is also a great location near shopping and a wealth of great restaurants and dining options. Our only issue was the cleaning person for our room did the minimum daily. Our beds were made and our trash cans were removed but fresh towels were laid on our bed daily instead of being hung on the towel rack in the bathroom. We would definitely stay again. In addition there is a bar by the pool area and there is live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Katrina Swaney, General Manager at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Apr 4, 2022
jillwhitehead-Thank you for your 5-star review and we are glad we were able to exceed your expectations. Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment regarding our staff. These are shared with staff on a regular basis and help us to maintain a higher level of service. Please remember to visit us in the future if you return to Sarasota/Siesta Key.
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Overall, not a bad hotel. The staff was very nice and accommodating. The complimentary breakfast offered was average with fresh bananas and oranges. The TV service has some issues where the guide doesn't show anything. I asked about this at the front desk and was told that they couldn't find a company to fix the problem. Being that I do this kind of work for a living, I know that isn't true. They may not be able to afford the repair or the owners won't pay for it. The room towels were old and thin. The rooms were clean and acceptable. There is a popcorn machine in the lobby that had the same popcorn on the floor for three days. On two occasions during our stay, the dirty towels in the pool area were left out overnight without being cleaned up. In all fairness like many businesses these days, they may be having problems hiring staff. My only real issue was that when we booked on Hotels.com the listing stated that there would be no refund if the prepaid reservation was cancelled. All in all, not a bad hotel and yes, we would stay there in the future. Also, there is a good selection of restaurants in walking distance, including am awesome pizza and Italian restaurant in the shopping center behind the hotel.
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Friendly small bar next to the pool with live music. The pool area was family friendly and very...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So this is actually a motel and for the incredibly high Siesta Key adjacent prices it is not worth it.
Rooms are very small and so are the bathrooms. The curtains don't quite meet so you have a gap where anyone walking down the corridor would see in if they tried. The bed linens also had some dark black spots on them as pictured.
It also allows animals and the 1st floor resident had two enormous dogs that launched themselves with great force at the window every time someone walked by while barking very loudly.
Breakfast buffet was fine and staff was nice but this isn't worth the high hilton price tag.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tuesday Arnshek, Guest Services / Front Office at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Jun 25, 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your stay did not meet your expectations. We take cleanliness and privacy very seriously, and we will address the issues with the room and linens immediately. We also apologize for the noise caused by the dogs and will review our pet policy to ensure all guests have a comfortable experience. While we strive to provide a value-driven stay with amenities such as our breakfast buffet, we regret that you felt it did not justify the cost. We appreciate your comments and will use them to improve our services. Thank you for your stay and for highlighting our friendly staff. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.
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For starters we tried calling the hotel all day on 1/23//23 and no answer! We wanted an early check in! We also asked for a later check out time by half hour to an hour and there was an attendant who knocked on our door three times to see when we were leaving! Also noticed that there were several empty rooms! WHY charge a high rate when you could charge lower and have full occupancy? Staff was friendly and things were clean. We would stay again next year given we were honored a discount! Please acknowledge address and respond in this matter. We look forward to your response. Thank you Daniel & Bonnie Barkley Best Western rewards members 6006637687313684 Any points that you would like to add to our account would be greatly appreciated!
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Review collected in partnership with Best Western
Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria B, Owner at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Mar 15, 2023
dbbarkley315 - We have spent an inordinate amount of time attempting to explain to you that you signed a registration card at check in that clearly reflects what you paid and what was charged to you; room rate plus 13% tax which must be collected. We do have a record of the many emails that have already been sent and received. Not sure anyone who is reading your review could possibly understand why you should be afforded a discount since your stay was quite pleasant, according to you.
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This Best Western is not much to look at but the rooms are comfy and clean. They offer free breakfast. There is an exercise room. Staff friendly. But the pool is what makes it a gem. There is a pool bar and live music on the weekends! The pool is great as well as the hot tub. Pool Towels are available in this tropical paradise. Another perk was being able to borrow chairs and an umbrella for the beach! How nice! They also have nice beach towels for purchase for only $15. The towels cost $25 at the beach and $10 for a cheaply made one at Walgreens. Free shuttle to beach and Siesta village all day and evening! But there are many restaurants within walking distance!
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Katrina Swaney, General Manager at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Apr 15, 2022
maureeng142-Thank you for your review and we are glad we were able to exceed your expectations. Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment regarding our staff. These are shared with staff on a regular basis and help us to maintain a higher level of service. Please remember to visit us in the future if you return to Sarasota/Siesta Key.
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This is a 3 story property with external hallways and doors. But the doors are well sealed and are on the interior part of the complex, overlooking the gardens and pool. So the rooms are very quiet. The outdoor pool is great for swimmers and sunning and has a tiki bar (with live band on certain evenings). The breakfast room is large with a decent selection. Staff at the front desk were very friendly and efficient. Our room was spacious with a comfortable king bed. The air conditioning was not too loud. The bathroom was small with limited water pressure in the shower, but everything functioned well notwithstanding the age of the fixtures. The property shares a parking lot with a decent restaurant, part of the local Geckos chain. You can walk over the bridge spanning the inter coastal waterway and been in all the action. There is also a free shuttle (just tip the driver). A great location at a decent price for the area. Only one elevator. Coin laundry on site.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria B, Owner at Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway
Responded Feb 15, 2023
Badforever - Thanks for your 4 bubble review! We are glad to have had the opportunity to host you and to have met your expectations. See you again soon!
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There are more places to choose from in the Sarasota area.
PRICE RANGE
C$220 - C$444 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
holiday inn express sarasota-siesta key area hotel sarasota, holiday inn sarasota, holiday inn express siesta key
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Holiday Inn Express
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaSouthwest Gulf CoastSarasota
NUMBER OF ROOMS
132
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Is Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
