Brad Wester

Do I need a car when visiting Clearwater Beach, Florida?

,

Do I need a car when visiting Clearwater Beach Florida

A frequently asked question is “Do I need a car when visiting Clearwater Beach, Florida?”.

No, a car is not needed when visiting Clearwater Beach, Florida. Clearwater Beach is a very walkable vacation destination. When on vacation in Clearwater Beach you’ll find almost everything is in walking distance no matter where you stay. It doesn’t matter if you’re staying on the South Beach side of Clearwater Beach or the North Beach Side, you’ll find many restaurants, bars, stores, playgrounds and even the Clearwater Marina is within walking distance.

Visiting Clearwater Beach without a car

Your trip to Clearwater Beach does not need to include the cost of a car. Parking can be difficult at times, and while we do not charge our guests to park when staying at our beachfront condos, may hotels have a daily rate to park your car even when staying with them. Clearwater Beach is filled with delicious restaurants, fun bars, and great shopping opportunities all across the island. You really do not need a car to have an amazing vacation. The whole area is very walkable.

If you’re trying to get somewhere slightly further, such as Publix grocery store or the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, you can take the Jolley Trolley to these locations that stop every few blocks and can you around Clearwater Beach and the surrounding area with ease and at low cost.

Clearwater Beach Vacation Day Trips

If you’re wanting to check out other places of Florida when visiting Clearwater Beach, you may want a car then. It would be easier to get around to your own desired locations and on your own time with your own car. There are some surprising acceptations though. You can take some day trips even without a car. The Clearwater Beach Jolley Trolley can also take you to some great day trip locations such as to and from Dunedin, as far north at Tarpon Springs, and as far south as John’s Pass and Tradewinds on St. Pete Beach.

How to get to Clearwater Beach from the airport

The only time you truly need to get into a car when visiting Clearwater Beach is when you’re headed to a from the airport. But there are many ride options and airport shuttles that have you covered there. Uber, Lyft, Way2Go Rides, and more!

A new ride option, Grouper Airport Express, has recently opened from the St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport (PIE). Grouper Airport Express provides very affordable rides to and from St. Pete/Clearwater Airport (PIE) to any location on Clearwater Beach.

Grouper Ride Cost
– $8.00 per person
– Groups of 3-4: $20 one way total cost
– Groups of 5-8: $30 one way total cost

To catch a Grouper, you download the Grouper app and book just like you would using the Uber or Lyft app, or you can book a ride online from the PSTA-Grouper website. They pick you up in large shuttles (see picture above) and have plenty of room for you, your guests, and all of the luggage you’re bringing with you.

/0 Comments/by
Brad Wester

Clearwater Beach Hurricane Cleanup 2024 – How is Clearwater Beach doing after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton?

, , , ,

Clearwater Beach Hurricane Cleanup 2024 - How is Clearwater Beach doing after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton

Clearwater Beach has been in the news many times in its history, usually for being one of America’s Best Beaches. In recent weeks, Clearwater Beach, along with many other Florida beaches, has been in the news twice during the coverage of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. If you’re one of our many tourists, you may have a lot of questions for us. We will do our best to answer as much as we can in this post. If you have further questions, please leave us a comment at the bottom of the post.

Should I cancel or reschedule my Clearwater Beach vacation?

Our first suggestion is to call your host. Check-in with the property owners or managers to ensure they are ready to see you.

We, B&W Management, and our beachfront condos are ready for you! We are good to go and ready for guests. All of our condos stood strong during both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. We are cleaned up and prepared for guests! We have a few touch-ups that will be taking place during the next few weeks, as well as ongoing maintenance.

The beach itself is also continuing to be cleaned up. It is looking better each day. Previous Clearwater Beach visitors know the beach is swept clean, and even the sand is lightly fluffed almost daily. That care continues and is a massive part of why the beach is improving daily. You can see a live beach view from our Clearwater Beach webcam.

The most noticeable change to the beach was that Hurricane Helene washed away our sand dunes, which were located directly in front of the condos. This is a cosmetic change that is quickly noticeable, but the beach is still beautiful without them.

The rest of Clearwater Beach is quickly cleaning up and coming back together. Many businesses have already reopened, with more opening almost every day.

The main streets and sidewalks are cleaned up and ready to go. Yes, you will still see some debris being removed as businesses continue to finish their cleanup and renovations. Even before the hurricanes, there were many construction sites on the north and south sides of Clearwater Beach. Those continue to move forward as well!

Are restaurants open?

Yes! Many restaurants are already open, and more are reopening every day. Here’s a current list of restaurants that I know are open, with many more opening very soon!

Is there still enough to do in Clearwater Beach?

The popular Clearwater Jazz Fest has been canceled this year, but there is still much to do. Here’s a current list of activities open in Clearwater Beach, with more constantly opening up.

Still unsure of what to do?

Call us! (727) 461-1123 We’re ready to answer any questions. Things are changing and improving every day. Another great thing to check out is the live cams below. These will give you an idea of what everything is looking like in real-time.

Clearwater Beach Live Web Cams

/0 Comments/by
Brad Wester

Clearwater Beach Roundabout

,

If you’re headed to Clearwater Beach for the first time, you’ll soon come across the multilane roundabout. The Clearwater Beach roundabout splits the island in half. You’ll first encounter the roundabout when crossing onto the island from Clearwater Memorial Causeway. You’ll find north Clearwater Beach on the right side of the roundabout and south Clearwater Beach on the left. You’re headed to north Clearwater Beach; what lane do you need to be in?

Clearwater Beach Roundabout Updates 2/15/2023

clearwater beach roundabout changes 2023

The City of Clearwater has recently announced changes to the Clearwater Beach roundabout. In an effort to improve traffic flow, vehicles in the outside lane of the roundabout will be forced to exit at Coronado drive and head towards south Clearwater Beach.

Here’s the announcement from the City of Clearwater…

“Traffic Pattern to Change at Clearwater Beach Roundabout: To improve the safety and traffic flow on and off Clearwater Beach, the city of Clearwater will implement a traffic safety pilot program to test a new traffic pattern starting Feb. 17. 🚗🚙🚕

The following minor traffic pattern changes are being made:

➡️ The outside roundabout lane south of Mandalay Avenue will be forced to go south on Coronado Drive.

➡️ Those in the inner lane will still be able to exit onto Coronado Drive or continue in the roundabout.

This is a pilot program and will be reviewed for six months to see if safety improves. Street markings and flexible posts will be installed in the area marked in red on the map.

Questions about this traffic proposal? Call (727) 562-4750.”

How to drive around the roundabout

*Originally written March 8, 2019. Please see the changes made above.

Clearwater Beach Roundabout

While approaching the roundabout, know which side of the island you are headed to and choose the appropriate lane before entering the roundabout. When entering Clearwater Beach, if you are headed to the north side of Clearwater Beach, you’ll be using one of the first two exits and need to be in the right lane. (Shown in green in the image above.)

If you’re headed to the south side of Clearwater Beach or essentially making a U-Turn and headed back off the island, approach the roundabout in the left lane and merge into the center lane of the roundabout. (Shown in yellow.) As vehicles exit, the roundabout from the right lane (green), cautiously merge from the inside lane into lanes if possible before exiting the roundabout. If traffic is backed up and space is available, you may exit from the center lane if there’s enough space available for a safe exit.

One part of the Clearwater Beach roundabout that is different from other multilane roundabouts is that the outside lane does not allow you to circle the roundabout consistently. The outside lane is forced to exit the roundabout and leave Clearwater Beach on Clearwater Memorial Causeway. Suppose you are traveling from south Clearwater Beach to north Clearwater Beach. In that case, you must enter the roundabout from the left lane and drive in the center lane of the roundabout passed Clearwater Memorial Causeway, the exit at the appropriate north beach exit.

Please yield to traffic and travel cautiously when entering the roundabout. When exiting the roundabout, please be aware that pedestrian crossings appear shortly after the roundabout.

/3 Comments/by
Brad Wester

Clearwater Beach Grocery Store

,
Clearwater Beach Grocery Store

Are you planning a trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida? All of the Clearwater Beach Vacation Rentals we offer feature multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and full kitchens! Having several bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, and a full kitchen in each of the condos provides ample room for the entire family to enjoy a family vacation together.

If your beach vacation is a week long, or even longer, you’ll definitely enjoy having the ability to cook your favorite meals. The full kitchens come with full-sized refrigerators, stovetops and ovens, microwaves, and dishwashers. Not having to go out to eat every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner will help save money and provide you with the best sunset view available – the beachfront balcony from your condo! The only thing you’ll need is a quick trip to the closest Clearwater Beach grocery store.

Closest Clearwater Beach Grocery Store

The closest Clearwater Beach grocery store is Publix Super Market at Island Village Shopping Center. Publix is just over a mile from Surfside Condominiums and The Villas of Clearwater Beach. Publix is a full supermarket with a wide range of groceries, a large deli, and fresh bakery. The Publix on Island Way features beer and wine but does not sell liquor.

There are many happy hours on Clearwater Beach, but it’s difficult to beat enjoying your favorite drink while looking over Clearwater Beach from your condominium’s balcony. If you’re looking to make your own drinks, stop by Walgreens on Clearwater Beach. Walgreens is located at 401 Poinsettia Ave, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 and can be seen directly from the roundabout that you take as you enter Clearwater Beach. In addition to the traditional Walgreens store, they also have a large liquor store with everything you’ll need to make your favorite cocktail.

While staying on Clearwater Beach, you may run out of sunscreen and need to buy more. All of these stores offer sunscreen, but you can also find an option closer to Surfside Condominiums and The Villas of Clearwater Beach. CVS is a located within a short walking distance from the condos and provides a quick way to pick up any grocery items you may have forgotten, extra sunscreen, after-sun skin care or even sunglasses and beach toys that you may want. While CVS is a short walk away, they also have a fairly large parking lot available for customers as well. CVS carries beer and wine but does not have a full liquor store. The closest and largest liquor store is the Walgreens right next to the Clearwater Beach roundabout.

If you’re looking for beach chairs, umbrellas, or even bikes, kayaks, paddleboards and fishing equipment! Visit Clearwater Paddle Board and Rental Co. to purchase or rent your needed beach gear!

/0 Comments/by
Brad Wester

Airports Near Clearwater Beach

,
Airports Near Clearwater Beach

When planning a trip to Florida, Clearwater Beach is often on the list of places to go! Clearwater Beach, Florida has been ranked as the #1 Best Beach in the United States and as one of the Best Beaches in the World in 2018! The soft white sand, beautiful sunsets and family-friendly atmosphere make Clearwater Beach a great vacation destination! Not only is Clearwater Beach beautiful, but it is also convenient to get to! There are two airports near Clearwater Beach that offer direct flights by a large number of airlines.

The Two Airports Near Clearwater Beach

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is the closest of the two airports near Clearwater Beach. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is located just 12 miles from Clearwater Beach! (Directions from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport to Clearwater Beach.)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is a smaller, less crowded airport that will quickly get you to Clearwater Beach! The downside: the small airport only has a few airlines to offer. The airlines that serve St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport are Allegiant Air, Sunwing Airlines and Sun Country Airlines. If the airport in your home location doesn’t have these airlines, cross PIE off your list, and fly to Tampa International Airport!

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Tampa International Airport is a much larger airport and it’s ranked as the 4th Best Airport in the United States! Tampa International Airport provides flights from 19 airlines!

Air Canada
Air Tran
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
British Airways
Cayman Airways
Copa Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Edelweiss Air
Frontier
Jet Blue
Silver Airways
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Sun Country Airlines (seasonal)
United
US Airways
WestJet
World Atlantic Airline

The large number of airlines makes finding direct, or one stop flights to Tampa, Florida easy and well priced. Once you land at Tampa International Airport, you’re only 20 miles from Clearwater Beach! (Directions from Tampa International Airport to Clearwater Beach.)

Rides From Airports Near Clearwater Beach

Both airports near Clearwater Beach, Florida have easy to access rental car services if needed. Both airports also allow ridesharing services like Uber. The last few trips I’ve made to Clearwater Beach, I’ve decided against renting a car and just grabbed a ride with Uber.

When landing at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, there were a number of Uber rides available right away and I was picked up in under 5 minutes. The ride to Clearwater Beach was very quick and only cost $15.00. When grabbing an Uber from Tampa International Airport to Clearwater Beach, several rides were available in minutes and it cost $40 to get to Clearwater Beach. Traffic was a little backed up getting onto the island. The traffic slightly increasing the cost of the ride. The trip back to Tampa International Airport later in the week was less than $30.00.

/1 Comment/by