We stayed at the Sea Chest Motel from May 31st through June 4th, 2008. Check in was fast, and the couple that owns the resort is the most conscientious family around. They offer nothing but customer service deluxe.

The rooms were very clean and well appointed. The kitchen is well equiped, with a regular size refrigerator, microwave oven, coffee pot (and filters), two stove top burners and a 1/2 size oven, all in perfect working order. The silverware, plates and cups were newer. Our room had two double beds, and a sofa sleeper. It had a large closet, with an iron and ironing board. Extra linens for the sofa sleeper were in the closet. The bathroom had a nice hairdryer, with a clean tub/shower. There were numerous drawers to place all of our belongings for our several day stay.

Outside, they have plenty of chairs by each room doorway, and numerous tables with umbrellas for you to enjoy the beachfront and all the beauty surrounding the area.

The pool was spotless, with an abudance of chairs neatly arranged all around the pool, and several noodles, innertubes and air mattresses were kept there for all the visitors enjoyment. There is also a ping pong table and shuffle board available too. Ice machines and plenty of covered trash recepticles were easily available. They even have free wireless internet.

So much attention to detail has been given here. There are only 22 rooms, in a "U" shape facing into the courtyard. The grass and edging was precise and the landscaping well manicured. You can tell they work hard to keep the grounds immaculate.

We met several people who would all congregate around the pool and/or around the umbrella covered tables. This place brings back the true memories of being with your family and just relaxing. It was obvious that several of the people staying here were returning guests.

The owners frequently walk around the motel and engage in conversation with the guests, and it was obvious they knew several of them quite well. We personally observed a young man (around 20ish) walk into the office and while he was asking if she remembered him, the owner was running around the counter to give him a hug and called him by name. He was surprised and stated he was just a little kid the last time he had been there. Did I mention anything about excellent customer service here??

This motel is right on the beach. Keep in mind, this is a very wide beach, so you will walk for about 3 minutes to get to the ocean water. Having said that - it is absolutely georgous and sunsets are breathtaking. The water was perfect for finding all sorts of interstesting ocean life. One of our favorites..... tons of live sand dollars. Be sure to bring your goggles or mask and enjoy the beauty of the ocean underwater, all within a few minutes of your doorstep.

The office is staffed from 8am to 9pm daily. The maids work hard and quickly! All the employees greeted us with friendly hellos.

There are several shops and restaurants within walking distance of this motel. Johns Pass is very close, less than a two minute drive and is a great place to shop and explore, by day and night.

If you are looking for an affordable, spotless, comfortable room, a sparkling clean pool, a safe environment with incredible customer service, then this is the place for you.

Sea Chest Motel - we loved you!


Sandy & Dan

I have been going to the sea chest with my famlily for 28 years. It is as much fun as it was when I was younger. Now my family and I are getting ready for our annual trip to visit and I have my small boys with me. The sea chest is like home. My oldest son even calls it his florida home.

Treasure Island and the Sea Chest offer something more than the more populated and popular beaches...family time. We spend entire days at the beach with no mention of tv, telephone or internet. My sons get to play with their grandparents and parents.

The Sea Chest is a wonderful place that we hope will be there for many many years.

Our extended family has lived in central Florida for 4 generations and have had a "few" favorite hotels over those years. We seen the cycle of "new --> wonderful --> decline" of many hotels. We found this hotel in the "wonderful" stage, and it has just stayed that way. It appeals to ALL ages due to many factors:
-- Value for the Price. Where else can you get a lving room + bedroom + kitchen, many units comfortably sleeping 5 for less than $150 a night directly on the beach? For family retreats, Grandma & Grandpa get the one room (plus separate kitchen) efficiency. It connects to a hotel like unit with 2 double beds where the brother with his young family stay. These units are next door to one of the larger units that house my family of 5 with the large living area where we can gather for common meals. There are several such combinations... and as the family changes (e.g. the oldest child grows up and gets married, they move into a hotel like room (it's less expensive), while the young families move into the larger units as they need more space.
-- It only has 20 units, which makes it calm, quieter, less busy, less noisy (even when there are kids), more intimate, etc. We can always get the common outdoor grill, picnic area at least once over the busy weekend, or the ping pong table, or the shuffle board. Both these games can be played by the very young to very old, in a "family" or "friendly" way. There are "private" areas and "common" areas to be found.
-- The beach, over the years beaches also come and go through buildup and erosion, some naturally and others unnaturally (through building of high rises, etc). Sea Chest's beach is one of the widest beaches on the west coast. You can see sea and shore life here. If you're a middle school science teacher, like my mom was, it's heaven. I can't list the number of times we've found live sand dollars, squid, sea anamoes, crabs, sea oats, etc. We always return them to the gulf so that this wonder can be preserved. On the other hand, the beach is large enough to play football, fly kites, etc, without getting each other's way or interrupting those who don't like that activity.
-- The owners are also very "real" people. This quality has been passed down from the last owner to "new" owner We've been coming over the last 20 years, not just for the family reunion but when we need to get "away". Ownership has only changed hands once. Its like the owners want to preserve this jewel as much as the customers who go here.

I was six weeks old when my parents first took me to the Sea Chest. Now, almost 26 years later it remains my favorite place in the world! My family and I would spend every Thanksgiving and Christmas there until I was 12 years old. After my two older brothers entered high school and college it was difficult to take vacations so we had stopped. Two years ago I convinced my father, who had been vacationing there since the 50's, to go back with me. I was very nervous that the new owners had changed it, however to my surprise it looked exactly how I remembered it. I've been back twice now and have another trip planned this December. I cannot wait to start a family so my husband and I can give our children the same vacations as my parents gave my brothers and I. The Sea Chest Motel is an amazing vacation spot. You will never have to worry about poor service, unclean rooms, or bad company. I will not stay anywhere in Treasure Island unless it is at the Sea Chest. A++

The area attractions are very inviting and I recommend that every visitor go to the Orange Blossom Grove for fresh squeezed orange juice and the best key lime pie ice cream! I love Treasure Island and absolutely adore the Sea Chest Motel!