My family owns several weeks and we go each year at least once. Great location, very clean and well maintained. While this is billed as a resort, it is better described as a small timeshare complex. Each unit has a kitchen and living room, furnished with basic equipment, plus a gated parking area with assigned parking space.
This was my first August visit, a little more vacancy than other times I have been there. Also, they will not rent out a unit for a single night.

We bought our week 30 years ago when we lived in Sarasota. We visited many timeshares before we decided on Suntide. Outside of some problems in the early years with the old management, we have not regretted our purchase. Walt, Sheryl and the gang have been exceptional. The units and the grounds are not just "kept up" they are constantly being improved and updated. Kudos to all involved. We now live in Northeast Georgia and look forward to our beach week.
It's like family reunion time when we see the others who have been there as long as we have. We are not only enjoying the children we watched grow up, but now their children as well.

You just can't get much better than this. Very up to date modern condos with all the amenities. Great Views. Fabulous service. Friendly staff. The guests are a family amongst themselves and welcome newcomers as part of that family, Daily cookouts, singing around the pool and hot tub. Assigned parking. The condos are right on the Beach. Space is limited on the beach so be prepared to park in your assigned parking as with all beach resorts. This one is slightly different in that the parking lot is at the end of the condos between them and the beach, but really, who cares? More parking available in front on the street. Walking distance to St Armands Square for the best in shopping and dining. Low cost tourist shopping to upper scale high end art shops of various types. The dining is outstanding whether looking for a local pub / bar, or family dining or elegant dining for two in a romantic setting. Beast restaurant for food and drink is Cha Cha Coconuts for fabulous wings (made them give me the recipe and have made them at home many times) and terrific rum runners. (add a shot of 151 rum). Lots of entertainment too (especially after a few of the rum runners and 151 shots). We were there in Oct/ Nov 2010 and there were hundreds of Zombies walking the square for Halloween. What fun. Weather is nearly always great in the Sarasota area and lots to do everywhere. And the pristine snow white beaches are the best. We see lots of resorts advertise white sand beaches, but none compare to the beaches of Lido Key and neighboring Siesta Key, Do yourself a favor and take a trip over to Old Town Siesta Key for blocks of drinking and restaurants. Amazing fun. We have stayed at many of the hotels, resorts, condos along Ben Franklin Drive in Sarasota and find the Sun Tide to be the very best of them all.

We booked a room through RCI & were lucky to get a one-bedroom on the second floor overlooking the pool & with a view of the beach. Would definitely not want to stay in one of the first floor units which appear dark & have no view. Our unit was clean, comfortable, nicely furnished (microsuede sofa, leather lounge chair, 42" flat screen TV with DVD/CD), fully stocked kitchen.
The resort has a small pool, lots of beach chairs & grills, a short walk through the parking area to the beach. Limited activities (coffee & pastries on Mon., hot dog lunch on Wed.) but lots of things to do nearby--St. Armand's Circle for shopping/restaurants, Ringling Museum of Art, Mote Marine Aquarium, Marie Shelby Botanical Gardens. Go view the sunset in the lounge on the 8th floor of the Lido Beach Resort nearby.