On Clearwater Hyatt, Dolphin Winter and Jenna Elfman

Not too long ago, I wrote  a post about our short near-beach getaway in Clearwater, Florida.  One of the reasons I wanted to stay in this area  was to check out  Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach and Spa  Ever since Chase Hyatt Visa started to offer 2 free nights as a sign-up bonus, I wanted to spend my wedding anniversary here. So, here it is in all its splendid glory.

The beach was somewhat busy, especially considering the fact that we were there during the slow season, when the kids are already in school. Don’t be fooled by the picture, it was taken late in the evening. I imagine this place is a zoo during Spring Break.The kids had an absolute blast. My son couldn’t decide on whether to play in the sand  or swim in the ocean. So, he would run very fast, fill up his bucket with sand, and then throw it on the ground and sprint toward my husband and yell: “I’m coming, daddy!” And he would do it over and over again. The water wasn’t as clear as the name suggests, but it probably had to do with the time of the year we went. No, it’s NOT me! I have no clue what’s going on here. Just showing you that you may encounter some quirky individuals while vacationing in the area. BTW they gave me permission to take this photo.

So, what is my verdict on the beach?

Meh. It was too crowded and busy for our taste. We much prefer the laid-back charm of Sanibel, where we stayed with  my parents in May. My husband doesn’t really want to go back to this area.  So I guess I won’t be using my Hyatt certificates in this hotel. Someday I just might end up unapologetically Vendoming after all, just like my friend Kendra did recently Check out those food photos, makes me want to go to Paris…

Ok, back to Clearwater, United States. If you like lots of activities and don’t mind crowds, Chase Hyatt Visa (does not pay me)  could be a very good deal, especially during Spring Break or holidays. It comes with 2 free nights at any Hyatt property after spending $1,000 in 3 months.

So, if both spouses got it, you would have 4 nights total, which you can use back to back in Hyatt Regency Clearwater. At the moment, Chase has several limited time offers on their cards, so pick the one that fits your goals, which might be staying at a beachfront Hyatt in Florida.

I checked, and the rates in April were  $500 per night. Standard rooms are over 600 square feet, have two queen beds and can fit up to four. I imagine you can bring an extra kid or two, as long as you take an air mattress with you. Here is  TripAdvisor page with in-depth reviews and photos, in case you are interested.

We also ended up visiting the Clearwater Aquarium, famous for having Winter the dolphin as its resident. I’m sure most of you have heard of the movie “Dolphin’s Tale.” Well, here she is. Unfortunately, you can’t see the prosthetic tail in the photo. Pretty cool technology, for sure. It costs $140 to touch Winter and get one photo. Say what???  For that price, I would expect to ride on that dolphin’s back across the pool a few times. Yes, I said it! The aquarium itself is quite old and can barely handle the crowds, but they are trying to make improvements. They also have put an entire set of the movie in a separate building in downtown Clearwater. You can go there by trolley or boat.  Both are included in the admission.

Overall, the ticket was a very good value, considering we only paid about $19  per person with a coupon. A fun fact: While waiting for our trolley in downtown, I saw Jenna Elfman go by. She is a Hollywood celebrity, in case you are wondering. Here is my family and  a good friend who met us at the aquarium. It was super hot, but we still had a ton of fun together.

The photo above was taken in the parking lot of Chick-Fila. Neat, huh?

Well, I hope I’ve inspired you to make your own local getaway or maybe come on over to Clearwater beach with your Chase Hyatt certificates. Who knows, you may even encounter a celebrity of your own! Me.