Do you need a getaway to rejuvenate, recharge and renew? Well you are in luck! Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts opened its inaugural Compass by Margaritaville hotel on the Anna Maria Sound waterfront July 15, 2020. This upscale boutique is situated on a 220-acre private island community, nestled between a marina and Neal Preserve, and just mere minutes from the beach. Your adventure awaits!
You won’t be able to miss the towering bright blue and orange Compass Hotel which is located right before the bridge to Anna Maria Island. After we parked (parking is complimentary!) we were checked in by the friendly staff and even received a welcome bag with coffee pods and bottles of water. Upon entering the lobby there was a welcome cabana, “Mi Casa Es Su Casa”, which offers light refreshments throughout the day. We found our way over to talk with Susanne, the Director of Contagious Enthusiasm, who was only too happy to suggest local restaurants and activities that we would could fill our day with. The Compass Bar and Chill, located next to the lobby, is the perfect place to unwind and watch the game on TV while enjoying lighter fares and a refreshing drink. You can also enjoy one of the many board games or card games available, or get your sweat on in their fitness center.
Compass Hotel Anna Maria Sound is a six-story hotel with 123 rooms, including ten suites, all with water views. Rooms are stylishly bright and airy. They feature cute beach decor and come equipped with Margaritaville bedding (I had the BEST night sleep!), rainfall showers, smart TVs, free WiFi, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a coffee maker and plenty of USB ports. Our room had a balcony overlooking the marina and pool. It was so nice to sit outside at night and enjoy the breeze coming off of the water as we listened to the music from the pool below.
My idea of relaxation involves the sun, a pool and a refreshing drink, and I was not disappointed. This was a trip away with just my husband and, as anyone with kids knows, a day at the pool without the kids takes on a whole new vibe. We were actually able to doze in the poolside hammocks and enjoy a chilled margarita while lounging on the pool shelf. Poolside games are also available including cornhole and giant Jenga.
To fully recharge, good food is a must! And you can find it at Compass Hotel. Get your day started off right with a complimentary buffet breakfast. Chose from an assortment of pastries and fruits and cereals, plus scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, pancakes and French toast.
You don’t need to go far to enjoy a good meal thanks to the delicious Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar which offers mouthwatering meals and a full bar. There is inside seating but how can you resist sitting on the outside patio and enjoying a spectacular ocean view? The atmosphere is laid back and fun, themed around fishing and even has a giant shark above the bar. Live music further helps set the mood on Friday and Saturday nights.
The menu features seafood dishes galore as well as salads, hamburgers, steaks and sandwiches. No matter what you are in the mood for, you will find it here. Even if you are not staying as a guest at the hotel, this is definitely a restaurant that you should put on your list to visit the next time you are on the island. It is open to the public.
Our dinner was delicious! For an appetizer, we started out with the smoked fish dip.
And for dinner we split the sirloin and shrimp. You get 2 sides - I chose the cucumber and tomato salad and my husband had the cheesy grits - he said they were the best he ever had!
At that point we were pretty full, but we kept hearing about the amazing deserts they had, so of course we had to try one. And I am so glad we did! Believe it or not, there is a giant warm gooey chocolate chip cookie under all of that chocolate, ice cream and whipped cream. Heaven!
What I really loved about the hotel is the atmosphere. My husband kept saying we are on island time and we were! Even though we were only 10 miles from home, we truly felt like we were hundreds of miles away, without a care in the world. Hammocks and the signature Margaritaville lounge chairs are placed strategically throughout the property so you can enjoy views of the water and watch boats coming in or cruising out to sea.
I also loved the location of the hotel. It’s far enough from the beach that you don’t have to deal with all of the tourists and traffic, yet it is close enough that it takes less than 5 minutes before you are lying on some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. Anna Maria Island is truly a treasure box of activities for all ages. I would highly suggest parking your car at Holmes Beach, like we did, and then jump on the free trolley for a fun afternoon of playing tourist. On the south end of the island we browsed the streets of Bridge Street, cast a fishing line from the Pier and enjoyed lunch on the rooftop of Daquiri Deck, which just opened in March of 2020. Hopping back on the trolley, we traveled to the north side of the island where we found all sorts of boutiques, shopping, ice cream stores, bike rentals and a plethora of waterside dining options on the famous Pine Avenue.
When you enter the Compass Hotel a sign above the door reads “Adventure Awaits” and that couldn’t be more true. Whether your adventure is a romantic getaway, a girls weekend, a family outing or something else, the Compass Hotel is the perfect destination.
Would you like to experience your own piece of adventure on the island? Check out THESE DEALS currently being offered.
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I received a complimentary stay and Floridays gift certificate for the purpose of this review. All opinions stated are my own.
