Vacation at this Affordable Beach Front Resort on Florida's Gulf Coast

A sweet vacation getaway awaits you on this pristine beach front where the Grand Shores West Beach Resort, nestled between larger, less personable high-rise structures, holds a cozy place for your visit to Florida's Gulf Coast.

If you enjoy swimming in a heated pool and soaking in a 16 foot jacuzzi spa, grilling out on gas fueled barbecue grills, sailing a catamaran or tanning on a beach side lounger, then this is the place for you.

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For the past twenty some years my friend has shared her time share week at the beach with me. Much has changed in our lives but one thing remains constant: it's the week we spend together at Grand Shores West. By mid-August, as the week grows closer our level of excitement cranks up for this vacation spot to become our home for seven care-free days.

We've honed the vacation preparation to a science after all the years staying at this resort. Our suitcases are packed lightly with shorts, swim suits, flip flops, and sunscreen. Packing for travel doesn't get easier than this. No fancy attire is required even for a visit to the nearby beach restaurants where we enjoy a Frozen Rum Runner alongside a basket of fried shrimp or a Mojito and the fresh catch of the day.

After we cross the Courtney Campbell Causeway driving over from Tampa, we stop at our favorite grocery store, Publix, to pick up groceries for the week including the ingredients to make Seven Layer Dip and the ever-flowing pitcher of Sangria.

The Large One Bedroom Balcony Apartment sleeps four comfortably but more people have definitely camped out on the carpeted floor in this suite. There's a full sized refrigerator in the fully equipped kitchen including dishes and flatware. There's even a microwave oven, the ever essential coffee pot and a dishwasher. The cable TV holds less interest than usual for the week while we bask under the umbrellas reading our paperback novels.

Located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, Grand Shores West requires a three day minimum stay at their unbelievably low daily rates. There's even a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Luxury penthouse available on the second floor overlooking the ocean. The resort has an affiliation with RCI Membership with discounts available.

No, I'm not being paid for this unsolicited promotion of the beach resort. In fact, after all these years of vacationing here, I find it incredible that the regular staff doesn't recognize me or even know my name. That's just the way I like it.

If you could find a fly in the ointment of this vacation dreamland it would be just one thing. For unknown reasons the Management of this slice of paradise likes to keep this place on the QT and at times, service can be somewhat understated.

Whether we need to rouse the guard to light our barbecue grill at 9 pm, or get a maintenance item addressed we get the same response, prompted by a lifestyle that doesn't take kindly to strict time frames: "We'll get to it when we can." And they do. After all, working on the beach has its share of hardship.