Well my best friend and I were trying to get a hotel for one night for the night of our graduation. It was supposed to be an all girls trip before we went away to college. We took the time to drive an hour over to the hotel and once we got there they said we needed someone 25 or over to put a credit card up in case of any damages. We told them not a problem. We then had one of our parents drive over an hour to the hotel. Once she got there, the manager then said that she changed her mind and wouldnt let us stay there unless we had the mother stay with us because we looked like(and I quote) " A bunch of alcohol drinking, party it up kind of kinds and thats not what she wanted at her resort." She was extremely unprofessional and even after we comlied with everything she said and we had someone waist an hour driving to the hotel, she still turned us down. She was rude and never once did we show disrespect of any kind. I will never recommend this to anyone.

From our arrival to departure we found the staff to be very friendly and helpful.
The hotel in general and our room were in need of refurbishment, the kitchenette in particular.
The sun beds on the beach were very tatty and were overpriced considering you could not even lay flat.
The above two issues can and should be dealt with by management; the pictures shown on the Diamondhead web site are deceiving.

Firstly every ones aspirations are different. We've been lucky enough to stay in some beautiful locations across the world and having read some of the previous comments on both the resort and the hotel we were a little concerned. Concerned? Why? The hotel/apartments as that is what they are, really are fantastic. We didn't have a room with a view of the sunset but a view of the Gulf made up for that which is what we requested, I'm sure all rooms get the sunshine at some time during the day. There was an ongoing supply of hot water night and day and the bath was large and extremely relaxing. The seperate bedroom had a king size bed which allows you to be as close or as far apart as is your choice!
I read someone mention valet parking was missing from the hotel. I'm not quite sure why you would need it...the car park is well designed with easy access to 4 x elevators. We're all different I suppose.
The apartments are large and allow you to have simple food e.g. breakfast. You can easily eat out but how much food can a person take! The fridge was great for keeping both the milk/'butter/oh and the wine and beer cold.
The staff were very polite both at reception and the luggage guys couldn't have been more helpful in booking trips at restaurants for us.
The hotels location right on the beach but is only a short walk to the entertainment area of Times Square. The walk along the beach is beautiful and romantic at sunset. The pool at the hotel was good and there were ample sunbeds and there was no need to rise at 6am to put out your towel and this just did not happen.
Food - Charlies Boathouse grill was excellent. The car par was nearly full (yes it took more than one car) which must be a good sign. The Parrot Key Grill was also good for my steak but the calamari wasn't so good. The Parrot Key has a great location but there is a premium to pay in the price of the food. Also a busy place. There is a Mexican place (Cassada???) at Times square which was a great place to sit and have an early evening meal with live music and watch the people go by. Good value to with cheerful staff.
Trips - We spent a full day trip to the Everglades, which entailed a 'boardwalk' into an everglade environment, an air boat ride, trip to a zoo, a museum and a trip up alligator alley and lunch. All this with handling snakes, alligators and spiders! Fantastic day out. Remember to take your mosquito spray. Publix / Wal Mart do a spray of 98% DEET which puts the UK's jungle formula of 50% DEET to shame. Capt Tony's half day fishing was simply brilliant. the sun shone, the fish bit and the sea was not too choppy. I was the only person on the boat (out of about 25) to get my reel tangled, and I did it three times. I must be special! but the crew sorted me out with nothing more than a knowing smile and a fab time was had talking to them and the others on the trip.
Busch Gardens was easy to get to with our hire car and the use of hired sat nav that must have surely saved me from divorce more than once.
Sanibel Island is very pretty but DON'T GO ON FRIDAYS! The nature reserve is shut and there is only a couple of other places on the island to visit unless your a sailor. The beach is good for shelling if its your thing.
Shopping - Edison Mall didn't float our boat but Tanger and Miromar Malls did. The Fleamarket was an 'experience' and has a good Avon outlet but it is what you would have expected from the name. The funnel cake was tasty though and really hit the spot. There are plenty of supermarkets close to the hotel, with Publix being our personal favourite. Close? You really do need transport, be it a car or if you don't have one the tram service is supposed to be great and goes for miles up and down the island for not a lot of money. We used the seven/eleven (supermarket) for petrol, be aware you have to pay in the store prior to taking your petrol, leave money with the cashier and then go back to your car to fill up with petrol, again be aware that you need to lift the large lever up on the pump before petrol is dispensed!
We used National/Alamo to hire the car excellent value for money and a slick and efficient collection and return process. We hired a Sat Nav unit which as mentioned was a godsend, however, it does take a while to get used to and be aware that immediately leaving Tampa Airport there are roadworks so this does throw you somewhat, the sat nav simply recalculates and sorts you out though. Also be aware that sometimes you may be taken the quickest route as opposed to the most direct so a combination of sat nav and a map is extremely useful.
We flew from Heathrow to Washington and then onwards internal flight to Tampa. Arriving at Washington we had to collect our luggage from the baggage area and then transfer internally going through security for our onward flight to Tampa, be aware of the liquid limit of 100ml, therefore, do not buy duty free at Heathrow as this will be taken off you, unless you are prepared to pack it in your suitcase prior to going to the transfer/security area in Washington. On the journey home ask at your departure desk where you will next be collecting your bags, as we did not ask and needlessly had to go through security again at Washington which was a nightmare!
Enjoy, we did very much!

The hotel is beautiful,the view from my suite was fabulous and very accurate. The entire staff from the bellman who opened my cab door as I arrived , the girls at check in, the housekeeper were so friendly . I received excellent service from everyone,and will definitely be returning to Diamondhead in the future..