Siesta Key vs Lido vs Venice Beach (Clearwater, Sarasota: condos, houses)

[lnewman65]

We are currently looking for a vacation condo and have focused mainly on Siesta Key. There are some good options and we really like the village. It has been challenging for me to get a sense of the differences between the 3 places - not based on the sand/beach - that is not the most important part. We are more interested in being able to walk to places to eat, getting the best bang for the buck and not being in a building where you are either in your condo or you have to literally leave the building to go outside (lack of lanai or deck etc)

If any of you have any opinions about great places or why you might pick one over the other, I would love to hear it - looking under $500k so I know there are amazing places everywhere that we would love to buy but of course are way over our budget.

[Cardiff by the Sea]

Have you made a trip down to check it out? Neighborhoods are very difficult to understand on paper.

[gomet]

There are not many condos in Lido. However there are plenty of places to walk around as St Armands is there.

Long Boat is nice, however no places to walk to. Siesta has the village so that is great. Don't know about Venice, however, Venice's downtown is very charming and historical with many places to eat, etc.

[x3meggiex3]

Be aware of the traffic and tourists that'll most likely be where you're planning on going before you make a decision.

Siesta key has "the village", which is a stretch of bars and restaurants expanding about a mile and a half, maybe.. It's nice, but it's overly priced. There's a couple areas that you should avoid because, well... they suck. Just be sure you know which ones those are. The beach is beautiful, but it's a tourist trap. I grew up going to Siesta Key and frankly... I don't go anymore.

Lido.... used to be a nude beach. Some oldies didn't get the memo when it had changed. Be aware.
St. armands circle is pretty sweet, but it's also a tourist trap. It's beautiful, lots of boutique's, restaurants, bars, so there's definitely a chance you'll find something to do. I'm not sure how many condo's are out there, but it appears that there's plenty of houses. Also pretty expensive, so just expect it. You can be cheap there, though. Same with Siesta.

I've been to Venice beach once.... wasn't a fan. Not too much out there (unless I went to the wrong location). I still wouldn't suggest it to anyone.

If you're willing to travel to venice beach then you might as well consider a couple beaches a bit more north of Sarasota. St. Pete beach is pretty popular as well as Clearwater beach. I enjoy those places because they have quite a few legitimate restaurants and bars that sit on the sand. It's pretty nice up there.

Anna Maria Island is probably the biggest tourist trap of all of them. It's a very small island, though there's quite a few things to do there and it's in the Bradenton-Sarasota area. Doesn't take but 15 minutes from Lido to get there, so you might want to consider that as well.

[gypsychic]

I'd look around Lido - everything is so much more convenient from there, and Lido is a nice beach. Proximinity to St. Armand's Circle is fantastic, and it's just a quick hop over the beautiful Ringling Bridge to downtown. IMO, Siesta is overpriced and overrated. I never go due to HUGE crowds and congestion all the time. Unfortunately, Anna Maria is getting the same way - too much publicity.

Good luck!