A Holiday Staycation at Hotel Zamora on St. Pete Beach
Thanksgiving looks a little different when you’re newly settled into a home and opening your doors to family — especially when that family includes my parents and my abuela. This year, my husband and I happily gave up our house so everyone could stay comfortably, but we also knew we needed a small pocket of calm amid the beautiful chaos that comes with holiday hosting.
Enter: a Thanksgiving staycation at Hotel Zamora on St. Pete Beach — the perfect reset without ever leaving our backyard.
A Mediterranean Escape on the Water
Hotel Zamora feels like a transportive pause button. With its luxe Mediterranean-inspired design, waterfront location, and palm-lined serenity, it’s the kind of place that immediately lowers your shoulders the moment you arrive. Tucked right on St. Pete Beach, the hotel balances relaxed coastal energy with elevated, boutique-hotel polish — exactly what we were craving.
Our room felt like a peaceful retreat from the holiday hustle, complete with calming tones and water views that reminded us to slow down and soak it all in.
Rooftop Views, Prosecco, and Cabana Dreams
While this Thanksgiving turned out to be much colder than your typical Florida holiday (cue the sweaters and surprise chill), the vibe at Hotel Zamora still delivered. The pools and hot tub were heated, but truthfully? All I wanted was a cabana, a chilled glass of prosecco, and water views.
We got to enjoy a meal at Azura Coastal Kitchen with views overlooking the pool and marina. The menu leans into fresh, locally sourced ingredients with coastal flavors that feel familiar yet thoughtfully done. Nothing fussy, nothing overcomplicated, with well-executed dishes that let the ingredients speak for themselves. Each plate feels inspired by seaside living, like something you’d enjoy after a long day near the water, when all you want is a great meal and zero rush.
Azura is the kind of place you come to linger. To order another round, share a few bites, and actually enjoy being present at the table. Whether you’re popping in for a casual night out or turning dinner into an evening, it’s relaxed, flavorful, and quietly memorable — the kind of coastal dining that feels genuine, not staged.
Between family functions and festive obligations, those quiet moments, lounging poolside, enjoying the rooftop breeze, and sipping something bubbly — felt like the ultimate luxury. Sometimes rest doesn’t need a packed itinerary. Sometimes it just looks like doing less, intentionally.
The rooftop lounge added an extra layer of magic, offering sweeping views and that unmistakable feeling of being away… even though home was only minutes away.
A Local Reminder to Take the Pause
What this staycation reminded me of most is that you don’t have to go far to feel renewed. Hotel Zamora is one of those rare local gems that gives you permission to step back, recharge, and romanticize the in-between moments — especially during a season that can feel nonstop.
This Thanksgiving, I was deeply grateful for family, for space, and for the ability to find respite right here in St. Pete Beach. Whether you’re hosting, traveling, or simply craving a change of scenery, a stay at Hotel Zamora is a beautiful way to give yourself that pause.
Sometimes the best holiday gift you can give yourself is a quiet cabana, a glass of prosecco, and a reminder that rest is worth celebrating too. ✨🍾