While there are many good aspects to this hotel, it also has its down side.
First, the good news. The rooms, pool, lobby, and property in general were kept clean. The linens were above standard. It is located within easy walking distance of both the beach and the old areas of Venice. Breakfast was predictable, but fine. The hotel offers complimentary bottled water, which is nice, since the local water has a noticeable aftertaste.
However, we went to this hotel as a beach destination and paid extra to have a "beach view." When I made the reservation, I discussed this issue in detail, which is why I was particularly annoyed to find that I paid extra for a view of a couple of hibiscus bushes, a stairwell, and a parking lot. I had specifically asked for a room on the second floor since I have been burned on this issue before. While the receptionist may not have guaranteed a second floor room, she told me there were two units of the type I was requesting still available and saw no reason I shouldn't be able to stay in one of them.
When I arrived and saw the set up, I immediately asked for a regular room so that I would not be paying extra for a beach view, but was told none were available. Also, I had given up a king or queen bed and took two doubles so that I could have the "beach view." Putting that aside, though, this location should not charge extra for the ground floor rooms that indeed face the beach but require standing on tiptoes to even be able to tell there is a body of water out there.
As for the lovely sunsets, from my "balcony" I couldn't see a sunset because of the stairwell. The manager himself came to hook up a DVD player for us, so I stood with him in front of the windows in our room and (nicely) confronted him about the issue to no avail.
Other aspects of this hotel that are below standard for the rate include: rooms with a kitchen are barely more than the size of a regular hotel room, no oven in the "full kitchen," chairs for sitting outside are simply chairs outside the room, there is no "balcony," pool and pool area are small and were sometimes crowded, grounds itself were tidy but it is mostly concrete with very little green area.
We were there at prime time, so I am sure I paid the highest price for the room, but I thought the hotel was overrated and overpriced compared to many others where I have stayed on both sides of Florida. The beach itself is two-tiered there, but that may be thanks to the hurricanes from a couple of years ago. It is not the classic beach you will find around Siesta and Longboat Key or on the east side of Florida.
If you are passing through Venice and need a room for the night, this is a pleasant place away from the interstates, but as a beach destination, it was a big disappointment.