Travel Answers

I am going to be taking a trip to Siesta Keys and I have very bad anxiety! I have read alot of good things about this area but one women said it was very sketchy and she did not feel safe on the main street and at night walking around? Is this indeed a unsafe area? Is there any where we should stay away from or is there alot of crime. I was very surprised when I read this. I really need some honest replies due to my anxiety. Thank you so much!!!

Can anyone recommend a beach in Sarasota or down the I-75 from Sarasota to Naples, Fl ? We'll be driving from Orlando to Naples and want to spend the day exposing 'milk boatil' white Scottish hides to some rays. If we do all the way to Naples the day will be mostly done, so want to break the journey 2 hours or so drive from Orlando. Locations for handy for getting back on the I-75 with adjacent (metered) parking most welcome... Thanks for any suggestions Paul

Hi, I am a UK Travel Agent and I have been given some great rates for the Ritz Carlton in December - too good to pass up! I am in Florida for a month however and we are therefore on a bit of a budget (not as in back packing scrooge type budget) so we are keen not to over spend in Sarasota. I've stayed at the Ritz Carlton West Palm Beach and found the food and drinks were very expensive. So I presume the Sarasota property will be the same! Can anyone tell me if there's the normal "Florida" Restaurants close to the Ritz Carlton? Just so we have options of places to eat for less? or is it in an area with just up market eateries? Usually I'd just grin and bare the hotel prices but as we are away for 4 weeks we really need to be a bit more watchful on the pennies!

Can anyone from Sarasota help me with several questions. I am making my first ever visit to the area in August. I need a few tips and suggestions: Looking to rent a room for a short term stay, and want to know about the local buses.

Hi there, my family and I are planning on spending some time in and around Sarasota/Siesta Key this July. We have two boys aged 7 and 9 and we love the beach! Can anyone recommend a nice, clean safe place to stay that is on or very near the beach, budget 100-200 per night...also, any ideas of what to do and what not too miss while there would be much appreciated! Cheers.

Hi Can we get to Orlando Airport from Sarasota by bus or train please?

Hello, We are traveling to Sarasota this summer to do a pre retirement check. What kind of weather can we expect? Also, we are American/Europeans and would like to find a neighborhood which is open minded and liberal, is there one in Sarasota? Thanks for your help.

I'll be on holiday early July nearby Sarasota for a few days with my family and friends. Anyone got any suggestions for organised July 4th celebrations?

i will be coming to sarasota for the 1st time in mid september. i will be staying at lime tree resorts. what is nearby - will i need a rental car to get around - what about grocery shopping and convient stores - are they nearby... help... thanks!

Does anyone know of any cheap fishing trips in the Sarasota area. Either sea or lake fishing. Any tips be great. Thanks

I am interested in the Pinecraft area. Any info would be appreciated

Help! I get to fly into Sarasota Airport but need to get to Osprey to pick up a car. Shuttles and cabs are way too expensive for me. Can anyone tell me if the Sarasota bus system has service from SRQ to towns like Osprey? Thanks much. Wayne

Hi, We are planning to stay in the Rita Carlton for 2 weeks are there any eateries within walking distance ? Are there any tours I can take to Cape Canaveral from the hotel? Thanks for your help.

Hi , Can you please tell me what my options are to get to the hotel from TAMPA . Is it a TAXI job or shuttles etc ? I am trying not to drive coming from Ireland on the other side !

what are the opening and closing hours from now to the end of may at the waterpark?

We shopped on St. Armands on 2/24/08 and had a wonderful day. Regretfully we did not purchase CMC (Not sure of brand initials) Magic Pants carried by one of your merchants. We would so much appreciate it if someone would identify the ladies clothing store that has long flowing hot pink sheer curtains, that hang from the ceiling for dressing rooms. Please reply.

hi everybody!!! i 've just come back home from ny yesterday and i'm already depressed......... i love all in ny city!!! and i wonder how will i live without the city and the food of new york! yes i really love the food there.my best friend used to send me food i like in my house but now she's moved, so we are in front of the problem: can someone in ny send me some food at my adress? (like for example the tatziki of the whole food market,i know there are stores in florida !! she sent me 3 examples of that per month!!) don't be afraid,i will pay all the taxes and even more if you help me! that really important for me! tell me if someone can do that for me! thanks for all!!!

will be in siesta key / venice areas from 24 to 28 october 2006 (four nights) and need a four bed villa plus pool. unable to locate anywhere to rent for under one week. can anyone out there help us. thank you

I know this is a travel forum but I have been considering relocating to Sarasota on and off for some time. I can't find any other forum with people who can tell me about their area. I am a single 28 year old male with a business degree and sales/customerservice/foodservice experience. I want to move to an area that has plenty of jobs and also has a lot of females in the age range of 21-35. Sarasota seems to be up and coming but my main concern is that there is no nightlife and places to get crazy and meet women. I like dance clubs and hip hop/techno. I don't need Miami night life but It would help to know that it is easy to get a job...that the people are easy to get to know and in my age group and that there is enough nightlife to have a lot of fun on a friday or saturday night. The area use to have the reputation of having no night life and not being for single people. Is this still true or is Sarasota a good place for a single 28 year old? I am looking for a place in Flordia that is by the beach but is not out of control like Daytona or Miami...where I can have the best of both worlds....fun when I want it and some peace when I want it too.

I am going to Sarasota for a week with my child in May. I cannot decide if I should rent a car or use public transportation. We are staying at Hyatt Hotel (1000 Bulv. of the Arts). Are there direct bus lines going to beaches (Siesta, Lido, Fort Myers)? I am also thinking about taking my child to Marie Salby Botanical Gardens, aquarium, Myakka State Park and some other attractions. I am worried that if I rent a car I will have problems to find parking. Also I don't want to go to notorious 41 highway :(

I am going to Sarasota for a week with my child in May. I cannot decide if I should rent a car or use public transportation. We are staying at Hyatt Hotel (1000 Bulv. of the Arts). Are there direct bus lines going to beaches (Siesta, Lido, Fort Myers)? I am also thinking about taking my child to Marie Salby Botanical Gardens, aquarium, Myakka State Park and some other attractions. I am worried that if I rent a car I will have problems to find parking. Also I don't want to go to notorious 41 highway :(

I've been trying to find a roomate here in Sarasota, but it's kind of hard to find someone. Does anyone have room for one more person?? Thanks in advance

I've been trying to find a roomate here in Sarasota, but it's kind of hard to find someone. Does anyone have room for one more person??

We're going to be in Sarasota for a few days on business in December. I'd like to find a cool place to stay. We are twenty-somethings and would prefer a place that is different, more modern than most of the places I saw on line. In Sarasota or on Siesta Key would be ideal. Somewhere near the beach with spa treatment for my wife. (I want to take care of her since I'm dragging her along.) Price is not really a concern. Thank you for any input.

Hi, My wife and I will be relocating to Sarasota within the next year and wanted to find out a few things from anyone who lives or has lived in Sarasota. 1) Would like to find a really awesome church, great and accurate teaching and youthful worship. 2) Anyone know a great guitar teacher hopefully with some schooling from a place like Berkeley, more rock/alternative style. 2) Does anyone know a good commercial real estate person, will be relocating my business and need a cool spot. 3) How is the jet skiing, any places to launch and are the beaches motorized. 4) Best neighborhoods around? I really appreciate any of you giving your opinion and info. I hope to meet some really cool people when we move as things in Fort Lauderdale have not click for me. Can't wait to move out of this town and get back on the west coast of Florida.

My sister and I are traveling to Bradenton for a few days in October and was wondering about two things. Where is the best diving in Sarasota and where in the Sarasota area can I snorkel and hug a manatee?! Thanks

Hi Any good ideas for great days out from Bradenton to make a break from the beach? Anything up to 150 miles radius would be a great help! Thanks for your help Mike

Hi Internet forecasts for the next ten days look miserable for Bradenton and Sarasota - but is the normal Sunny morning, thunder and rainy afternoons still the norm? We fly from the UK shortly! Thanks for any info Mike

I'm a 20-something-need-to-dance gal visiting my hubby's family in Sarasota in July. Where-oh-where can I party at night? Dancing (Top40, HipHop) preferred over just-bars. Thanks in advance!

Hi can anyone help please. We are looking to stay around the Sarasota area (or even a bit further down) of Florida and want to know which beach is gently shelving - ideal for kids and non-swimmers? Also which month would be the best out of May and November? We visited Sand Key near Clearwater last November and had lovely air temps but the sea was cold and grey looking.