Golden Host Resort

Agree with the other reviews that say this place is really bad and dirty.
How anyone could give it more than one star is beyond me.
Avoid this place if you have a choice.
We didn’t have a choice.
Check in was easy because we had prepaid on
We had a second-​floor room and no elevator so we had to carry our luggage up the stairs. And of course back down in the morning.
The AC worked ok, but it was plugged into two extension cords to connect to an outlet across the room. I assume the outlet underneath the AC unit was broken.
The TV was the oldest I’ve seen in a long time. A big old tube type. Several channels had no sound.
The worst was the dirt.
I walked across the floor barefoot and that was a big mistake.
When I got in the shower I noticed there were black footprints there.
It was dirt from the bottoms of my feet picked up from the carpet.
Rubbed a towel on the floor just to make sure that that’s where the dirt was coming from and it was very black on the towel from the carpet.
Everything else was booked so we had no choice and it was only for one night so we survived luckily.
Surprisingly that über driver said it was one of the best ones along that street. I can’t imagine what the others would be like.

Gross place to try and sleep. There was a tree growing above my door. There were roaches, spiders and mold. The girl working the front clearly wasn’t qualified to do so as she couldn’t seem to understand how to check guests in or out. The manager refused to deal with the many unsatisfied customers waiting in the lobby. Sleep in a dumpster before sleeping here. They got 1 start because you can’t give 0

The Golden Host Resort is a plausible (and affordable) option, if, like me, you’re the type of person who only relies on a hotel for a place to sleep. If you’re thinking that by «resort» you will find a spa, gym, sauna, etc., and some posh relaxation destination where you will spend all weekend being pampered in a hotel, then go elsewhere, because apart from a bar, outside patio, and a garden with a pool, there is nothing else on the property. This is a motel. We got a room with double beds at a discounted rate of $ 79 a night (normally, these rooms go for about $ 110).
From the outside, the building looks somewhat run down, but the rooms have been remodeled (save for the CRT TVs) and are not bad at all. Standard conveniences in the room include a writing desk and chair, a round table with a couple of chairs (presumably used for dining), a microwave, mini-​fridge, a balcony, and a blow dryer. There is also a closet with hangers provided, and a folding luggage rack. Silverware and dishes are NOT included, so make sure you pick those up when you do take-​out, or if you order delivery, make sure to ask the restaurant to include those.
Check-​in was a bit of a hassle. It was late at night, my friend and I were tired, and we each wanted to lie down in our respective beds and sleep, but the lady behind the counter was having trouble getting us a room key, and an envelope. It took about 15 minutes to get a room key. There is no elevator to get to the rooms on the second floor, so hopefully your luggage is not too heavy to carry up the steps. The beds were comfortable however, and after doing my customary bedbug check (yes, I am somewhat traumatized as I have had the misfortune of being bitten by these and it is awful), I did not find anything. I also checked the sheets for stains, and found none. The pillow was somewhat on the soft side, but comfortable. Their Wi-​Fi kept fading in and out, which was frustrating, and the programming on TV was pretty lousy, as you only had about 10 channels to choose from. Other than that, no complaints. Slept comfortably, the bathroom looked clean, and room service made the beds every day, took out the trash, and replaced towels, as needed.
There is a breakfast Nazi, so beware. She will rush over at exactly 9:30 a.m. to put all the breakfast items away (breakfast is included by the way and runs from 7:00 — 9:30, and includes Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes, muffins or danishes, waffles, milk, and orange juice). She turned back people who arrived at 9:31 and said she had a lot of cleanup to do (I guess, if putting cereal in cabinets and the perishables in a mini-​fridge is considered a lot of work…). Ice is only available at the bar, and there is no drinking water in the rooms, not even bottles for purchase so again, this is something to buy at the bar. There are no swimming pool restrictions, as people were swimming late into the night, so if you get that «I must jump in the pool at midnight» urge from hot flashes, go right ahead.
If you’re looking to stay in Sarasota without breaking the bank and want a no-​frills place that is clean and provides the basic amenities while being in a central location, Golden Host fits the bill just fine. Just be patient with the front desk, especially if it’s a long, holiday weekend.

If I could give them a negative Star I would do so. I made a reservation for a room back in February and with a conformation I show up at the check in counter. They claim that they don’t have a reservation as I had a hard copy in my hand other wise. All they could tell me was «I am sorry and we don’t have any other room. If you like we can call you.» I am not sure how their call would help me if they don’t have any room to put me in. My room was booked for $ 89.00/night. Sarasota had few events going on and there was no Hotel, Motel or Hostel home. I ended up finding a room with a help of a friend for $ 265.00/night. Can you say I got robbed… Well I didn’t get to pass the counter to see the place but all I can tell you they robbed me.

Not my favorite place I have ever stayed but it served it’s purpose. I’m visiting Florida for vacation but on Marco Island for most of it. Had to rent a car and head to Sarasota for my friend’s wedding so needed a place to stay. It was the cheapest at $ 90 for the night but either it’s the fact I’ve been staying in a condo on the Gulf on Marco Island for too long or it’s just me but this place wasn’t up to par with cleanliness. As soon as you walk in there is a musty and mixed with mildewy smell for the whole room which wasn’t big. Didn’t need to be big, just could never escape from the smell. Some lamps didn’t work, outlets were inconvenient and lacking. Discoloration on walls on trim, especially in bathroom, I’m assuming from water damage. Water had an unpleasant smell and taste to it (known from brushing teeth) and I was apprehensive to stand barefoot in the shower, let alone walk around my room without at least socks on. The bed looked clean but I always worry about what I can’t see. Just slept because I had to and hoped the whole night there weren’t bed bugs. Like I said, or served it’s purpose for a stay and a shower but I didn’t want to spend more than a few hours in my room. The receptionist was very nice though.

Not bad for the price. The AC worked but the buttons were broke. The pool was nice and the area clean. Your average Best Western. The breakfast was actually pretty good too. I’d go again. The location was actually the best part. Wonderfully located for all the stuff to do.

We just visited and it was more than expected. Read other reviews and booked directly with motel. No problems and they accommodated our second floor request. Got a room facing the courtyard which was quiet. The room was clean and I was pleasantly surprised to find daily maid service. The breakfast was a small selection of cold foods, but it was well maintained throughout breakfast time. The pool are was wonderful and sheltered (much better than a parking lot pool!) the rooms are dated, but clean and spacious as rooms go. It was a nice place to crash and very conveniently located. The best price we could get too. There were many older couples staying here as well so safety was not even an issue. Would definitely stay here again.

I think this place is actually called the «Golden Host Resort.» I’m not sure what a «resort» officially is but this is just a hotel.
I stayed there with friends in February 2011 during a visit to New College of Florida for the school’s 50^th anniversary. The party was great, the hotel was meh, just serviceable, although pretty cheap. If you’re visiting Sarasota to drink delicious mai tais in a smokey, divey bar called the Bahi Hut, you’re in business because it’s a short walk from your front door.
The rooms are basic/​functional. We got two double beds. The balcony door was impossibly loud and difficult to open. The beds were comfortable and pillows were fine. There were two sinks. It was nice that it came with a table and a few chairs and we could park really close to the stairs that got us to our room. The one thing that would have made the experience better: if it didn’t smell like salt. This place is nowhere near the beach, so why the unpleasant «drenched in salt water» smell? Bleh.
The front desk folks were really nice and definitely made sure we were comfortable.
One tip: if you book through
or a third party site, be sure to call the Golden Host directly to confirm and make sure you get the number of beds you want. We found that out the hard way and only got two double beds after some annoying negotiating over the phone before our arrival.