Name: The Don CeSar
Address: 3400 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America, St. Petersburg, Florida, US
Price range: $304–$933 per night
Rating: 8.53

What guests think

At The Don CeSar, travelers highlight its historic charm, prime beachfront setting with powder-soft sand, and generally friendly, attentive staff, with many enjoying the pools, beach setup, and lively ambience that includes bars, shops, and occasional live music.

Recent hurricanes mean some areas are under renovation, which several reviews say limits dining choices, closes or crowds a pool, and brings daytime noise. Rooms are often described as small, with very tight bathrooms, and there are repeated mentions of high food and parking costs. Expect a beautiful historic beach resort with strong service and amenities, but check renovation status and plan for compact rooms and premium pricing.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Beachfront setup with chairs and umbrellas, two pools, lively bars, a spa, a large gym, shops, and water sports are widely praised. Renovations and private events sometimes close a pool or limit options, and spa facilities and parking draw fee or outage complaints.

Related guest reviews

10

Heather

Mar 31, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The property had just reopened after sustaining substantial hurricane damage. I can't say enough about how kind all the staff were, they were genuinely happy we were there and went the extra mile to make sure we enjoyed our stay. The rooms were clean and up to date. The beach is gorgeous and having beach set-up daily was an added perk. I enjoyed the beach yoga and we had a night cap in the lobby bar every night during our stay, there live music each night and the chocolate martinis were fabulous! We enjoyed the Pink Palace!

10

Hayward Dunlap and Rebecca

Apr 6, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

They advertised bikes but didn't have any

10

Arlene

Jul 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

DON CESAR is a 5 star hotel. The architecture of the building is impressive and the beautiful decorations inside complete the excellence of this place. They have alternatives of amenities like: pool, spa, fittness, stores, jacuzzi, great dining and of course the excellent beach of St. Pete. We stayed one night to celebrate our anniversary but next time we will consider to stay two. Eventhough, there was an area that was still remodeling because of Milton Huricane the rest of the accesible areas were awsome.

10

Jim

Jul 26, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The Hotel is a classic gem on the coast of Florida. Two great pools. Beach with umbrellas are close and clean. Pool service excellent with drinks and food. Only draw back was bathroom was tight fit. But reconditioning is still underway from hurricane last year.

10

Irena

Jun 16, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Both pool areas have been remodeled and are beautiful. Only suggestion is to bring back cooling towels in the gym space.

8

Etta

Jun 10, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

They are still recovering from a hurricane. Many options for dining and lounging were still closed off. The open areas were fine but limited. Dining choices were a bit restrictive. But the free bus to other restaurants was useful and appreciated. Beach and heated pool were lovely. Rooms were comfortable with ocean views.

10

Kenneth

Oct 1, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The Don CeSar Pink Palace is back and it looks great and ALL of the employees were great. It had the feel of a 5-star Caribbean resort with the tradition of a resort dating to 1928. THE GOOD: Everything. The beach and the pools were wonderful. Weather and sunsets were beautiful. The drinks at the bars and the food at the restaurants and also around the pool were great! The entertainment in the main bar was great. The cost per night was very reasonable. The employees were all very friendly. The rooms weren't huge but matched our expectation. The cleanliness and room service were perfect. THE BAD: The resort fees & taxes added about $50 per night to the cost but that is normal for St. Pete Beach. The air conditioner was really loud. The shower and restroom was a little bit tight in size. There was a national sales convention there and they blocked off one of the pools for their use only on two days. OVERALL: St. Pete Beach was devastated by the hurricanes of 2024 and the area is not back to its normal tourist destination feel as many hotels are still not re-opened. But that is a good thing as there were no crowds anywhere. And it is evident that the Don CeSar staff is trying their best to bring their hotel back to being the place to stay in St. Pete. We absolutely will be back!

10

AMY

Apr 18, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

We had a nice stay, staff was friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately only one pool was open due to construction, but the beach staff was very helpful.

4

Steven

Apr 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

nothing indicated that the property was under full construction with the main pool and a restaurant shut down and loud construction noise reverberating throughout the spa. additionally, they shut down the only pool for a private event. clearly didn't care about customers.

10

Gregory

Jul 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A very elegant and well maintained old hotel. Beach view was excellent, and it was great to have dedicated beach chairs and an umbrella available for our use. Still recovering from the hurricane, and their signature restaurant is still not open. Valet parking and the local shuttle service were both very helpful. Only minor complaint is that the bathroom is very small - needed to move the shower door to use the toilet.

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Cleanliness

Many guests found the property and rooms clean and well kept, with housekeeping often praised. Others reported stained carpets or linens, dirty air filters, odors or mold, and inconsistent housekeeping in rooms and halls.

Related guest reviews

4

Allison

Aug 18, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

This hotel is very tired and worn. Our room was visibly dirty upon check in. The pillows and beds are extremely uncomfortable. The nicest part of the hotel is the beach, but even that was littered with garbage from previous guests.

6

Timothy

Mar 4, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Unfortunately this year's trip to Don Cesar did not meet expectations. Our first room had filthy carpet and toilet seat that wouldn't stay up. Front desk would not offer to change rooms and offered us two drinks and a appetizer instead. But when housekeeping mng showed up to our room he admitted it was unacceptable and had us moved. The second room was cleaner but there was always a smell of raw sewage coming from the bathroom. It was mostly noticable when returning to the room after being away.. Bar, restaurant beach staff were all very friendly and helpful. My biggest complaint is the tiny and old rooms for the price is not justified. The beach is nice but there is zero effort to prep the beach area. Other resorts on the beach use machinery to rake and clean the beach area. I notice no effort to clean the beach area and definitely was not machine groomed.

6

Robert

Aug 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was lacking the polish of a Ritz-Carlton experience. Seemed like lots of deferred maintenance; stained or unclean carpeting (particularly noteworthy was stained 2nd floor carpeting); trees on resort needed grooming. Hotel room didn’t have garbage bags lining the baskets and when we did so the bags are way bigger than the wastebaskets, which was strange and aesthetically bad. Onsite restaurant Society Table was very slow service; prob sat there for 15 mins before being served water. All of this said, the Don CeSar was nailed by Hurricane Helene and shutdown for 6 months. In fairness, many of the above details may have been missed bc they’ve had such bigger issues to address in order to get The Don back up and running operationally.

10

Lisa

Aug 13, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

The Don Cesar sits on a beautiful piece of property with such a wonderful beach. The sand is so soft. The staff is wonderful and so helpful. The hallways and some of the rooms could use a fresh coat of paint. Don’t agree with the daily parking rate for self parking when you are a hotel guest paying to stay there.

4

Celsa

Sep 11, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Lingering smell throughout the hotel. Make sure to look at your air filters in the room, ours was beyond dirty. We booked a balcony room and the door would not lock. Great gym.

10

Ana

Aug 23, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The rooms and the sixth floor need some carpet, cleaning and furniture cleaning. Also, we kept getting bit at night. I don’t know if it was spiders.

10

Charles

Sep 9, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff at Don CeSar is simply amazing. Everyone is beyond helpful and extremely pleasant. The facilities are spotless. We checked in for four days and never left the hotel. Everything we wanted was there and more. The private beach is pristine. We were there to celebrate my father's 92nd birthday and everyone treated him like a king. He navigated the areas easily. We had a junior suite and it was perfect because it had a lovely seating area where we could order room service in the morning. The pool area had two pools and had games and crafts three times a day. Trivia was at 3 PM and the staff made it so much fun. Cannot say enough nice things . We will return as soon as we can.

10

Zina

May 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I loved our stay here, the staff was amazing! The resort is beautiful, and the private beach is one of the most beautiful in FL. The room had a really dirty air filter, like really dirty or I wouldn't mention it. Clean air is part of luxury.

8

Jaimie

Jul 2, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Beautiful hotel. Love the history, the pools, the private beach, the food. Everything is quite expensive. The only reason i gave 4 stars is cleanliness and state of the room's. I complained and it still wasnt cleaned well at all. Stains on sheets, towels, carpet. And the bathrooms are so tiny in the room.

10

Lindsey

Jun 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our stay at The Don CeSar was absolutely wonderful! We loved every moment and are already looking forward to our next visit. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, making our experience even better. Our room was impeccably clean, the bed was so comfortable, and even with a courtyard view, we still had glimpses of the beautiful beach. Highly recommend!

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Rooms

Rooms are frequently described as compact with very tight bathrooms; some report loud AC and occasional noise. Views can be excellent and suites roomier, but many find layouts dated for the price.

Related guest reviews

8

Amy

Jun 23, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Bathrooms are small.

8

Wayne

Apr 11, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

The property is beautiful. The staff is great. Elevators didn't work properly creating long waits and frustrated guests. The room was exceptionally small. For $800 per night I should be able to sit in the bathroom without my knees hitting the shower door.

8

ROGER

Oct 27, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location, incredible staff, food and drink were a good value, room was tired and small for the price. Definitely worth a visit to this legendary property, but the guest rooms are showing their age.

6

Elias

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Extremely limited and overpriced restaurant/bar menu options; stayed in two rooms within 6 days. Beds were uncomfortable in addition to the noisy, loud, and ineffective air conditioning units in both rooms.

10

joal

Sep 8, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Bathroom in the suite is very tight but in a 100 year old property it is understandable wonderful trip

8

Donna

Aug 9, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

For the price I would have expected an updated and larger bathroom. 1 sink, a shower and toilette …the basics covered. Only 2 towels for a 4 person room. But the staff were excellent. Very considerate and accommodating. But the rooms were cramped and very outdated.

8

stacey

Nov 3, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great amenities. Very small rooms with no dresser or counter space in bathroom.

6

Mae

Jul 21, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

I wouldn’t recommend it to my friends. It was fine, there are better resorts. Positives - The staff were amazing, kind and lovely. The hotel was clean and it’s an old place that has been nicely updated. The beach was beautiful, they have Jet Skis/paddle boards/Kayaks, the gelato shop was cute, and St. Pete is a great place. Cons - The food at all restaurants was not good - inedible at times, way too many flavors combined that didn’t work, trying too hard to be fancy and simple things were not good. They need to have cold water more available on the beach - one sun baked self serve tank doesn’t cut it in 100 degree weather/the waitress won’t bring you water. $15 Drinks showed up already completely melted. The bathrooms are tiny, and definitely would not accommodate larger adults comfortably at all. The spa was sub par - having guests sit in their robes in the lobby is not acceptable/appropriate. Taking down umbrellas at 5pm is too early - needs to be expanded to accommodate the summer sun, that is why guests are there to hang on the beach.

10

Bonnie Marie

Oct 10, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

The bathroom was extremely small but I was sort of ready for that. The service was top notch. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. The service was above and beyond. I would definitely recommend this resort.

6

Sandy

Oct 16, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

We had a luxury king room and the bathroom was very small!

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Service

Service is widely praised as friendly and attentive—especially beach, pool, and concierge teams. Some reviews note slow or inconsistent front-desk and restaurant service and occasional check-in delays.

Related guest reviews

8

daisy

Sep 6, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

The property was nice however the booking showed in the attached picture that it was an ocean front room, however I received a garden view room. the upgrade to ocean view was an extra $100 per night. There was no choice at the time of booking for ocean view versus non ocean view. I am not sure who is at fault Expedia or the Hotel

10

Matthew

Jun 23, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Zero complaints from start to finish. Service is excellent, food and drink are great. Pool bar, pool, beach, lobby bar were all excellent. Had impeccable, friendly service from Cosmin, Humberto, Pat, Rodney, Marissa, Nicole, Ezra, Penny, Peter, Johnathan, and anyone else I’ve missed. We will definitely be back.

2

Nesha

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

My recent stay was TERRIBLE at The Don CeSar in St. Petersburg, Florida, which I booked through Expedia as a VIP Access property. As a long-standing Expedia VIP Gold member, I deliberately chose this hotel in order to receive the additional perks and benefits that come with my status. Unfortunately, none of these benefits were honored. Upon check-in, the reception staff was not warm and inviting and informed me that they could not see my VIP Gold membership in their system and therefore could not extend any benefits. I contacted Expedia multiple times in an attempt to resolve this matter, but despite my efforts, no benefits were provided throughout my stay. It is deeply disappointing that a hotel categorized as a VIP Access property would fail to recognize and deliver the benefits that are clearly advertised. This undermines the credibility of Expedia’s VIP program and left me questioning the value of booking through Expedia. The staff at the front desk, especially Isabella needs extra training given the calibre of this hotel!

10

Claude Al

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We had such a great stay at The Don CeSar and can’t wait to come again! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with smiles and kindness. A special shoutout to the amazing valet crew—especially Denis, who was always so friendly and welcoming. Our son, absolutely loved interacting with him! At check-in, Nick at the front desk was incredibly helpful and kind, setting the tone for a great stay. And a big thank you to Julian for his exceptional hospitality—he went above and beyond by filling my bottle with ice when I was in a rush. It’s those thoughtful little moments that really made a difference. Housekeeping kept our room spotless, and the entire staff at the pool and bar were fantastic—from the bartenders to the team who helped us find seats and even laid out our towels. They truly went above and beyond to make us feel cared for. The Don CeSar had everything we needed and more. We felt completely taken care of from start to finish. Truly an amazing team and hotel—we’ll definitely be back!

6

Ruth

Jun 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful location and classic hotel. Unfortunately our check in wait was over an hour even though we arrived promptly at check in time indicated. We felt rushed given that we had dinner reservations and needed to shower and change with little time due to this inconvenience. The food, ambiance and wait staff at the Martiana restaurant on site was excellent!

10

Jessica

Apr 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved every minute of it. Can’t wait to go back! Resort was wonderful and the staff was top notch

10

Joshua

Aug 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was amazing as I’ve always heard! Staff was exceptionally nice!

10

ILAN D

Sep 11, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Service was impeccable. Though I did have to ask for housekeeping to come and clean the room. Beautiful location right on the beach. Loved the historic ambiance

10

Robert

Jul 5, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

This was our second stay at this hotel. Staff is very friendly. Everyone always had a smile on their face and greeted you as you walked by. Even on a busy holiday weekend, you didn’t feel cramped. There was plenty of room for everyone. Valet was always prompt and courteous. Wait staff by the pool and beach was always friendly. I can’t find a single complaint about our stay.

8

Thomas

Jul 7, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Decent Stay with Good Service — But Rooms Need Updating The hotel and surrounding area are still recovering from hurricane damage, and it shows in places. While many common areas look refreshed, the rooms and hallways feel noticeably dated and in need of real attention. That said, everything was clean, and the bathrooms appeared updated. We stayed in a standard double. It wasn’t cheap, likely due to the holiday weekend. The main restaurant didn’t seem fully operational, though breakfast was available buffet-style in a common area. Limited bar food was served at the indoor and outdoor bars—pricey but good. Service was a strong point. Beach and bar staff were excellent, and most employees were attentive and professional, though a few at the front desk and breakfast area seemed inexperienced or distracted. Live music each day was a great touch, and all three performers were solid. For a 4th of July weekend, though, the experience lacked any real holiday spirit. With decent weather by evening on the 4th and full sun on the 5th and 6th, it was disappointing that there wasn’t a BBQ or celebratory event—just the standard menu and music. Overall, a clean and serviceable spot with good vibes, but the dated rooms and lackluster holiday programming left something to be desired.

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Location

Prime beachfront location with soft white sand and sunset views is a consistent highlight. Several reviews also mention nearby dining or shuttle access to area restaurants.

Related guest reviews

10

Dexter

Mar 17, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location! Historic!

10

Christopher

Sep 2, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Location..check! Pools...check! Vibes...check! Customer Service...check! Cleanliness...check! Pina Coladas...double check! I was pleasantly surprised by our stay at the Don CeSar this past weekend. The hotel has the "Roaring 20's" ambience with a modern twist. Multiple locations within the property for upscale dining and cocktails. Not to mention, attentive poolside and beachside service. What truly blew us away was the amazing customer service at this hotel. From the minute we were greeted by the doormen, to the frontdesk (champagine upon check-in), the staff here are incredibly friendly and willing to go above and beyond for everyone! Huge shoutout to the entire outdoor team (Emma / Paul) who made our weekend getaway feel like we were in paradise (lol). I highly recommend it, and plan on coming back again. Thank you!

10

MaryAnne

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Quiet beach and beautiful beach. Gorgeous sunset views!

10

Mario

May 29, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location

10

Lauren

Jun 23, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Loved the location!

8

Robert

Jul 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Property Location is great; beach was clean/accessible.

10

Michael

Apr 10, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hotel is beautiful. The beachfront access with loungers, umbrellas, and the friendliest staff makes this hotel a dream vacation. On site restaurants and bars are great. You can’t beat the Don it has it all

10

Benson

Aug 24, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Cleaniness, Great Staff and proximity of the beach

10

Emybi

Jun 1, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy access to the beach.

10

Debra

Apr 10, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great classic art deco hotel. Sold out. Great pool and beach. Beach service pool service fantastic. Soft sandy clean white beach.

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Dining

Some venues and cocktails receive strong praise, but many cite limited options during renovations, slow service, and high prices; food quality ranges from excellent to disappointing.

Related guest reviews

10

Allison

Apr 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It’s a beautiful hotel. The society table serves excellent food and the small plates at the bar were great, too. Friendly staff members, clean, beach activities, the beach is soft, white sand.

10

Roberta

Apr 7, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hotel is beautiful and the views amazing. Enjoyed meeting Mark, our waiter at Mauritana where we had a fabulous dinner and fantastic service. Millie and Nikki took care of our room and kept us in order :). Everyone from the front desk to the pool bar was so lovely and friendly.

8

Sean

Aug 24, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great overall property. Wonderful restaurants on the property. Staff was very professional. Great experience.

8

Alison

Mar 24, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We had a great experience here with our young family! The pool and beach was very kid friendly. The hotel is older but has been updated and is very cute. This resort is apart from the others by being greeted with champagne, beach chairs and umbrella included, room key bracelets and parking close by. The only thing that didn't work for our family with young kids, is that no restaurant on site served "normal" casual food after 4pm, like a sandwich and fries or pizza. The only places had oysters and things we were not looking for and it was not within walking distance of anywhere else to eat, with car seats, uber/cab was not an option for us. So we had to order in pizza, but luckily we had options for delivery and tables around the pool to eat at.

10

Scott

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Dining was terrible. Service and food.

8

Abel

Aug 17, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Property was excellent just the food was way overpriced, way to overpriced! A chicken sandwich and a burger with fries should not cost $100

10

Lester

Apr 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We loved the beach access and chairs, service and umbrellas at the beach. Great service at the pools. Dining options on all menus very limited. Did not think food was up to par.

10

Stacey

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location and service. Best beaches in US. The food and beverage was good.

6

Marilyn

May 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Don CeSar is a nice hotel, the staff is very friendly but one thing we didn’t like was the food. Over priced for what you receive, not great taste and poorly cooked/quality. For this, I give 3 stars, otherwise a 4, if all amenities were available but they are doing renovations.

8

Thomas

Jul 7, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Decent Stay with Good Service — But Rooms Need Updating The hotel and surrounding area are still recovering from hurricane damage, and it shows in places. While many common areas look refreshed, the rooms and hallways feel noticeably dated and in need of real attention. That said, everything was clean, and the bathrooms appeared updated. We stayed in a standard double. It wasn’t cheap, likely due to the holiday weekend. The main restaurant didn’t seem fully operational, though breakfast was available buffet-style in a common area. Limited bar food was served at the indoor and outdoor bars—pricey but good. Service was a strong point. Beach and bar staff were excellent, and most employees were attentive and professional, though a few at the front desk and breakfast area seemed inexperienced or distracted. Live music each day was a great touch, and all three performers were solid. For a 4th of July weekend, though, the experience lacked any real holiday spirit. With decent weather by evening on the 4th and full sun on the 5th and 6th, it was disappointing that there wasn’t a BBQ or celebratory event—just the standard menu and music. Overall, a clean and serviceable spot with good vibes, but the dated rooms and lackluster holiday programming left something to be desired.

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Month	Average price
January	$376
February	$468
March	$562
April	$495
May	$442
June	$382
July	$360
August	$329
September	$318
October	$330
November	$345
December	$346

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14 $428	15 $456	16 $342	17 $340	18 $416	19 $542
20 $373	21 $373	22 $486	23 $503	24 $522	25 $423	26 $405
27 $378	28 $378	29 $387	30 $396

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $603	2 $585	3 $585
4 $342	5 $342	6 $334	7 $414	8 $493	9 $612	10 $869
11 $468	12 $353	13 $347	14 $349	15 $349	16 $567	17 $528
18 $315	19 $304	20 $399	21 $414	22 $436	23 $811	24 $933
25 $504	26 $477	27 $477	28 $558	29 $390	30 $477	31 $477

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Accessible

Penthouse (Gulf View Suite)

Suite, 1 Bedroom (Bayside)

Penthouse (Bayside Suite)

Grand Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony

Junior Suite, 1 King Bed (Luxury)

Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony (Bayside)

Luxury Room, 1 King Bed

Luxury Room, 2 Double Beds

Grand Room, 1 King Bed

Deluxe Room, Balcony (King)

Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed, Balcony (Junior)

Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony (Gulf View)

Grand Room, 2 Double Beds

Junior Suite, 2 Double Beds (Luxury)

Guest reviews

Fabulous

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about The Don CeSar

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