Why do the rooms at the Hollander Hotel fill up so quickly?
Maybe because downtown St. Petersburg recently has improved so dramatically as a destination. The Museum of Fine Arts gets high praise. The Dali Museum attracts visitors from all over the world. There are now high-rise office towers looming over streets that once seemed rather has-been.
If you visited this area in the early 1970s and haven’t been back, you’re in for a surprising travel find. In fact, Paul Abercrombie wrote in the Washington Post that “St. Pete’s arts and nightlife scenes are palpably more vibrant and hipper than Tampa’s, as a result of the young people and entrepreneurial small businesses that have enlivened its walkable downtown.” Also from Abercrombie, a Tampa native: “St. Pete is cooler than Tampa.”
I’ll leave that determination to others. But there is little doubt that downtown St. Pete is a place to go these days, whether for locals who want to enjoy a long weekend or vacationers from other states. Conventions and business meetings crop up when it’s cold further north. In fact, a conference brought me here for a few days in February.
Demand for hotel rooms can be is high, and so are the prices. A rather ordinary room at a chain hotel easily can set you back $300/night, and parking is likely to require additional spending.
Enter the Hollander Hotel, a historic restoration from old St. Petersburg that comes in well under half that price and provides a central location near museums, Tropicana Field, and some great downtown restaurants.
Parking is free, which is unusual for a downtown location. It is a bit on the quirky side. Once the rather small lot fills up, there is additional parking on a vacant lot adjacent to the hotel. Cars squeeze in here. Parking can be rather, shall we say, creative. But it is free. Also missing is the “resort fee” that so many places charge just because they maintain a pool or a workout room.
For a small boutique hotel, Hollander offers quite a few amenities. Start with the large veranda, where you can sip tropical drinks and enjoy shade from the hot Florida sun. Inside, the Tap Room restaurant offers craft beers and basics such as salads, wraps, burgers, and a nice Cuban quesadilla. Best of all, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you’re only in need of a gourmet blend of java, the small coffee shop in the lobby will take care of you.
An onsite organic spa called Harmony Echo provides massages and skin care options. The pool area offers plenty of space, some cabanas, and a walk-up bar.
The ride in from the airport is rather lengthy. But once you check in, a car might not be necessary. The area is walkable, and the hotel provides a free shuttle to various downtown attractions.
This place dates back to the early 1900s, but later in its history the hotel was renamed and then abandoned. It was only about 20 years ago it was refurbished and restored to its former identity. As you walk to your room, you’ll still have that old Florida feeling as the hardwood floors creak slightly under your feet.
The rooms don’t feel like a chain hotel, with furnishing touches that recall the former times. But every modern amenity is there: queen suites feature a refrigerator, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and a walk-in closet.
A tip: Don’t book the Hollander Hotel with a third-party website. Book directly at hollanderhotel.com and use promo code 443 and get a discount.
Book as early as possible during the winter months and special event periods. If you miss out, try the art deco Avalon, a sister hotel next door.
If You Go