In years gone by, railroads planned resort hotels along their routes hoping to stimulate more tourists to ride their rails.
Something like that is behind the new Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, the first resort developed by the discount airline Allegiant.
The 700-room property at the mouth of Florida’s Peace River is just a bit north of Fort Myers and a 10-minute ride from the Punta Gorda Airport.
“That’s one of the key reasons the company chose this location,” said Deidre Villeneuve, executive director of marketing at Sunseeker Resorts. Las Vegas-based Allegiant carries passengers from 56 destinations to Punta Gorda, which hosts only one other airline (Sun Country).
The midrise, $615 million resort opened in late December and has the potential to put sleepy Punta Gorda on the map for many more tourists. I had a chance to take in the Sunseeker’s amenities on a two-night hosted stay last month.
Poolside Reflections
Among the most eye-popping of those amenities is Reflections, the resort’s Vegas-scale pool that stretches as far as the eye can see. The 2.7-acre pool deck features 350 loungers surrounding a free-form, 500,000-gallon pool.
On the brisk day I visited, swimmers were scarce, but I could imagine families camped out poolside in force during the summer.
Alternatively, there’s Level Blue, the boomerang-shaped, adults-only pool on the rooftop of the main hotel tower. In a separate world 127 feet in the sky, Level Blue provides a more rarified pool environment for those willing to shell out $20 for the experience.
It may not be a daily habit for the average guest, but I expect anyone on more than a brief stay will want to at least try living the rooftop life.
Another outstanding feature is the half-mile Promenade that spans the length of the resort and overlooks the expanse of the Peace River. The waterside promenade is the thread that draws the resort together and provides a fun social experience.
As strolling guests explore, an array of shops and restaurants beckon. We tried four of the eight on-site food outlets. The premium steakhouse Maury’s had the appropriately masculine design notes (dark wood paneling, banquette seating, leather-bound menus) and a dedicated lounge. We had a delicious small steak and a halibut fillet, with some sides and drinks, for $200 before tip.
The Allegiant Stadium sports bar features a row of reclining theater-style seats that are an almost irresistible place to watch your game of choice.
The food hall, Harbor Yards, has 11 premium concepts, including pizza and pasta, a charcuterie bar, a raw seafood bar, a patisserie, an American grill, a specialty coffee outlet and a Mexican venue.
For a more elevated Mexican meal, we tried Blue Lime, which occupies a primo bayside location and has multiple garage door-style windows that could be wonderfully indoor/outdoor on the right night. My carne asada was scrumptious and my wife’s halibut was “perfectly cooked,” but everything took awhile, the restaurant having only opened a week earlier.
Our server was apologetic and engaging. Sunseeker seems to have excelled in hiring for hospitality: We had friendly and enthusiastic interactions everywhere we went.
Room for expansion
Although Allegiant acquired 22 acres from former landowners, the resort occupies only 11, with the rest banked for future development. Wedged between the bay and busy Route 41 is a main tower of 512 standard rooms and two towers with 189 one- to three-bedroom suites. Bayside rooms have sunset views and command a $50 to $75 nightly premium.
Our one-bedroom suite, with a large, shaded balcony overlooking the harbor, was planned as a condo unit and had a full luxury kitchen. A large square dining table seats four adults or a family of six. There is also a built-in washer/dryer combo.
At 1,150 square feet, the rooms felt spacious, as did the king bed. Motion-activated, low-level lighting in the dual-sink bathroom was a welcome feature. The décor was a neutral gray and cream with brightly colored paintings as an accent.
For a weekend in April, Harbor View rates start at $449 ($336.75 prepaid) plus a $30 a day resort fee. Overnight parking is $15 for self-park or $30 for valet. A shuttle runs to the airport for $7.50 each way.
Workout classes are offered in a 7,100-square-foot fitness center, and there is a spa with 10 treatment rooms. Otherwise, there isn’t a lot to do on the grounds at Sunseeker. Watersports, for example, are offered through off-site partners. A sunset cruise we took with one of the vendors was a quick 10-minute trip into Punta Gorda. The resort’s exclusive 18-hole golf course is about a 15-minute drive. The nearest beach is about 40 minutes away.
Villeneuve said commissions for agents start at 10%. “The program varies based on the source, but we are a preferred partner with all the major consortia groups,” she said.
