Although this is a 50's vintage building, it has charm and character. After checking nearby accomodations I found this to be the bargain of the year. You can stay next door at the Double Tree and pay 3 times the amount and get a room facing the road.
Take my advice, if you go to the Sandalwood, spring for the extra $10 or $15 per night and get a unit facing the beach. Can you imagine...a one bedroom condo with a deck overlooking the beach, in prime season at $115.00 per night?
Don't expect a 5 star hotel, but you will get a clean condo with staff that can and will take care of any concerns that you have.
I will return every year.

The Sandalwood was just a great place to stay, let alone at a price that families can afford and that budget travelers will love. Although a dated property with it's own charm, it is clean and well decorated. If you want more luxury, the Doubletree next door, at 2x or more the price is for you. Staying here though, you can still enjoy their beach tiki bar! The restaurant as Sandalwood has good food at good prices for a beach restaurant but it's fare is limited to good deals, not haut cuisine. If you want a good price, heated pool, rooms with ref., stove, and MWs, ON THE BEACH, easy walk to many restaurants and bars, located in the middle of the great beaches from Clearwater to Ft. Desoto, you can't beat this place. The staff was helpful, friendly and attentive, from needing a new dish towel to providing advice and directions. If you need lux and matching bath towels, stay somewhere else. If you like clean plush towels and a great price and superb location, this place is for you
The Kentucky Boys

Sandalwood is very relaxed and very family oriented. The pool is great just what my daughter loves with enough sun to keep mom happy. Sand castles and shell hunting just steps away with 5 Major league spring training sites within 25 miles for me. The building is older like a Fifties style hotel. Clean but older. The staff has always been very helpful and accommodating with my family. We have stayed there for 3 consecutive years and will make it 4 unless Mickey Mouse's siren song calls my youngest....We own a business and realize what a gem it is. It's not a party hotel. They do not put up with Loud raucous behavior around families. :) It's not a Five star hotel with all the amenities. It's on the beach, it's clean, and it's a great price. Sorry I never even thought about looking inside the oven...We were too busy having fun on the beach and in the pool !!! Minutes from John's Pass. Dolphin cruise is great. With 3 decent restaurants a short distance from the resort. Hotel next door has all the ocean toys you could want to rent. I love falling asleep to the crashing surf. We have stayed in different rooms and have never been disappointed, but I have to say the third floor over looking the gulf is my favorite.

We recently stayed at the Sandalwood and was very impressed. Although it's an older facility and rather small the rooms, pool (heated) and grounds were immaculate. There is a beautiful beach and it's great not to have to cross the street to get to it. Staff were very helpful and friendly - eager to please. The efficiency we stayed in was tastefully decorated, well furnished and even had a small kitchen. We were somewhat skeptical about staying there after reading some of the reviews but liked the looks of the place after seeing pictures on the web and bottomline..... the prices were too good to pass up. So, we took a chance and are glad we did. We will definitely stay there again and are looking forward to returning.