Recently I received phone calls from several conference registrants seeking information about lodging during the conference. I directed them to Jaya Dillard who works for the Visitors Bureau (904-209-4429) who has been extremely helpful regarding lodging, restaurants, parking, public transportation and other issues relating to St. Augustine.
However, I did mention that I have stayed on a number of occasions at the Hampton Inn Vilano Beach. For those who may be interested in a less frenetic atmosphere than downtown St. Augustine, I highly recommend this hotel. Vilano Beach is located is located on Anastasia Island and is a few miles from downtown St. Augustine.
Vilano Beach is located is located on Anastasia Island and is a few miles from downtown St. Augustine. I have always found this hotel to be clean and comfortable and relatively inexpensive for St. Augustine.
Vilano Beach has several exceptional restaurants including Casa Benedetto (cash only), and The Reef, and nearby The Kingfish Grille. I have tried all of these restaurants and they are fantastic, in my opinion.
To get to Vilano Beach from St. Augustine, you would cross the Usina Bridge. The traffic on Vilano Beach is almost non-existent compared to St. Augustine.
If you do stay at the Hampton Inn Vilano Beach make sure that you leave in plenty of time for the conference because parking can be an issue in St. Augustine. There is a large visitor’s center which has a lot of parking and is probably about 4/10 of a mile from Flagler College.
I spoke to the manager at the Hampton Inn last week and there was still plenty of rooms available, but I would not wait, because March is a very busy month in St. Augustine.
Ben Costello
Director
