Admittedly, I rarely stay in hotels unless I use credit card points or have a free night award. However, I’m slowly being turned into a hotel traveler. And as a result, I’ve developed favorite brands. Right now, at the top of my list, are Marriott Hotels and specifically the Marriott Autograph Collection hotels. 

DUNEDIN, FL – THE FENWAY HOTEL

About 25 minutes from the Tampa airport is the cute little town of Dunedin, Florida, situated right on the water. A quaint beach town, with a minor league baseball team, Dunedin was a charming getaway for us. 

As we pulled into town, we saw the Fenway Hotel come into view. Known as the Grand Lady of Dunedin, this beautiful hotel from the 1920’s still boasts all of its prime beauty. The salmon-colored exterior, lined with giant palm trees and a well-trimmed lawn welcomes all visitors and passersby. 

Amenities

As you pull up, you’ll be greeted by a host with a warm smile as they help you unload your bags, grab your keys, and park your car for you. There’s a $15 charge for this during your stay, but it’s the only option for parking, so just something to note. 

Entering the hotel, the hospitality is palpable. Every time we passed the front desk, the host remembered us by name, something that I’ve experienced at each Autograph Collection hotel I’ve stayed at. They greeted us with a welcome drink as we waited to check into our room for the night. Is there a better way to check in?! The answer is no. 

The lobby of the Fenway is stocked with a full bar and glowing lights, the Hew Chophouse down the hall (which we’ll get to in a minute…) and doors to the grand outdoor pool! 

Oh, and down the hall is the stairway to the old speakeasy where liquor was imported from Cuba… This area is blocked off, but the pictures and plaques tell the story. I can only imagine the prestige of this grand hotel in her prohibition prime. 

The rooms were small, but comfortable. There is an Alexa in the room where you can order room service, play music, or call the front desk! The room is fully stocked with wine, whiskey, and snacks that you can enjoy (at cost obvi…)! 

Let me go back to the hospitality for just a second. I think it’s rare that the GM of the hotel is waiting on you, serving you, remembering you by name. But that was exactly our experience. Everybody we interacted with, from the valet host, to the GM, to the server at Hew Chophouse, to those cleaning the rooms were world class in their attitudes, smiles, and hospitality. It was something you simply don’t see at chain hotels… We felt SO at home and welcomed. 

Food and Drink

When evening came, we booked a dinner reservation during sunset and requested to sit outside on the front porch. There was live jazz music, hanging Edison lights, each fitting the vibe of the entire hotel. Our server came prepped with recommendations of pork belly wings and a Cabernet for my wife. Let me say… he was spot on. That pork belly was something I’ll dream about for years to come.

Hew Chophouse is the steakhouse on the property that serves all three meals. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available and will even serve you poolside if requested! 

My wife ordered the Filet Mignon which was absolutely incredible. I’m a steak guy, through and through. And this was a NEXT LEVEL steak. I ordered the New York Strip which was phenomenal as well, but that Filet Mignon was flawlessly tender and juicy, with SO much flavor. I went with the fries and she decided on the Brussels sprouts. We both agreed that the Brussels sprouts were good enough to be the meal themselves. Basically, her meal was a 15/10. Like. Really good. 

After dinner, we headed up to the HiFi Rooftop bar to enjoy a drink while soaking in the last bit of sunset. The music, the lighting, the TVs, and the atmosphere was the best and most relaxing way to end the evening. It wasn’t super rowdy, but it gave a little life to us and we sat back and looked out at the red and orange sunset with palms in a near view and the Gulf beyond.

Other Notes

One of our favorite perks of the Fenway Hotel was the bikes available to visitors at no cost. We’ve stayed here twice and each morning we grab a bike and head to a breakfast spot about 7-8 minutes away. It’s such a fun way to grab a mid-morning brunch! On our way back to the hotel, we took the scenic route and rode along the shoreline sidewalk soaking in all of the sun and Florida feels. 

The hotel will also have different events out on the lawn like yoga classes which are really cool. We didn’t experience any of these, but it’s something worth looking into prior to your stay…

Also… If you’re planning on getting married and looking for a beautiful hotel to get married at… Look no further. 

TAMPA, FL – THE EPICUREAN HOTEL

About 15 minutes southeast of the Tampa airport is the Epicurean Hotel. Located more towards the city and a only a bike ride away from downtown, the Epicurean boasts its own unique style and atmosphere. 

The one consistency between the two hotels, among a number of stylistic differences, is the hospitality. Personal greetings, hosts that walked us to our rooms, and a constant desire to serve visitors are the standard here. It’s such a stark difference from an average night at your local hotel. I can’t recommend the experience enough. 

The Epicurean Hotel was the first Autograph Hotel to be built from the ground up, rather than converted. As you walk in you’ll be greeted with a welcome drink, a glass of wine, as the Epicurean itself revolves around accents of wine. The lobby is decorated with a number of old wine boxes creating a unique, 3D shiplap look. 

The rooms are slightly larger than the Fenway hotel, that we could tell anyways. Decorated with vintage telephones, Autograph Collection encyclopedias, and sliding barn door to the bathroom, the room left us feeling like we were staying in luxury. 

Amenities

The first floor of the hotel is equipped with a wine store with more options than you can count, bikes to grab and head downtown or ride along the water, the upscale Elevage restaurant with the prettiest food you’ve ever seen, as well as the outdoor pool. 

We spent most of our downtime roasting ourselves in the sun by the pool. The pool is an easy and peaceful way to refresh yourself in the hot Florida sun! We would take a dip and then hop out and play cornhole until we felt the need to hop in again! There are plenty of couches and chairs to recline on, some with umbrellas for those who may be averse to too much sun. 

As I mentioned, the hospitality is world class at these Autograph Collection hotels. We were served with genuine kindness, so much so that we left each hotel wishing we could stay longer because of how good the staff made us feel! 

There are several reading nooks located on the first floor that are super cozy and comfortable. There’s even an area to get your shoes shined, should you be ready to head out to a business meeting downtown, or maybe even just for the heck of it. There’s a room located between the reception area and the restaurant where cooking classes and events are held as well! I know recently they’ve even done coffee classes there, teaching you different brewing styles and types of coffee! So fun! Definitely check the events schedule ahead of time to see if they are offering anything and make sure to sign up in advance!

Food and Drink 

Okay. Let me be real. This was the best part of the stay in my opinion. The food at Elevage, the restaurant on the first floor was UNBELIEVABLE. Not to mention it was the prettiest food I’ve ever eaten… 

We had multiple recommendations from the manager for appetizers and we went with the Sticky Lamb Spare ribs and the Pork Belly, both of which were incredible. Since we had debated the King Crab Salad, the manager felt passionate about it enough to go ahead and bring it out to us to try and let me tell you… We’re glad she did because WOW. It was SO fresh, with pieces of oranges and grapefruit mixed in among the leafy greens and crab meat. This salad is a MUST for you. 

Once again, my wife went with the Filet Mignon and I went with the New York Strip. The real winner for us was the appetizer of fries I got with my steak… When I tell you this plate of fries might have been made with 10 potatoes, I’m not joking. It was a MASSIVE heap of the BEST fries. So crisp and flavored. We couldn’t stop stuffing ourselves on them. 

After dinner, we headed up to the rooftop bar for a drink just before last call at 10pm. It was a different vibe than that at Fenway’s HiFi bar. It was a bit smaller, more subdued, but the drinks were just as good.

Other Notes

Similar to the Fenway, there are bikes available for guests to take and ride along the water or even downtown. There are also poolside yoga classes that you can register for. Basically, anytime you stay at an Autograph Collection hotel, check the website to see what events may be going on during your stay. They can provide a great experience to learn, move or just relax!