When a friend asked me to accompany her to The Karol Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the weekend, I thought “Who’s Karol?”

It was my friend’s birthday weekend, and so, of course, I said, “Yes!” Allowing people to do whatever they want on their birthdays is one of my favorite ways to celebrate; and if that means trying out a new hotel for a couple of nights, how can I lose?

My home is in Sarasota, Florida, and St. Pete is a little more than an hour away … I love the drive over the ocean on Sunshine Skyway Bridge. And while we drove, I silently wondered if there’s a place at the Karol to celebrate my friend’s birthday, or if all the hotel restaurants will be closed, like so many other hotels across the country.

From the moment we pulled up to The Karol, I could tell something was going to be “really right” about this weekend … I just stood outside and enjoyed the full view of the 12-story height, palm trees and columns in front. It’s kind of like the building is holding a little secret inside, and I couldn’t wait to check her out!

The hotel is named for and inspired by Karol Kelly Bullard, former Miss Florida and, apparently, Florida’s first weather woman back in the day. Her husband, developer Fred Bullard, often refers to his wife as “Miss Karol K” and decided to celebrate 50 years of marriage with his bride by launching The Karol in 2020. The boutique hotel is part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio Collection and features 123 guestrooms, a rooftop bar, lounge, outdoor pool and more than 7,000 square feet of event space. It has also earned the highly sought-after AAA Four Diamond Designation (received by only 6 percent of hotels inspected by AAA yearly).

The grand entrance features high ceilings and marble floors. Hollywood-style white sofas, curved to add intrigue, line the edge of the open-air lobby along with shiny accents of rose gold and glass floating mirrors. The first time I walked to the elevator (and every time thereafter) I stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out how many diamond-cut, triple-drop pewter crystals formed two large square chandeliers and how I could get away with one in my own home.

The rooms were large and plush — and I realized Karol and I seem to have the same taste in décor! Soft chairs, warm robes and all the latest tech tools for my gadgets made me smile. Unlike many boutique hotels I’ve visited, Karol understood the benefits of a large hotel bathroom with full-length glass shower doors and more marble, to boot.

And while the furnishings at The Karol were impressive enough, I thoroughly enjoyed the birthday girl’s night at The Vantage Rooftop Bar. The hotel’s signature drink, The Karol Bliss, is a raspberry martini made with Wheatley’s vodka, elderflower and lime juice (I just might have to re-create at home). We enjoyed beverages outside overlooking Tampa Bay across the Feather Sound as the sun set, munching on a charcuterie board and fresh prawns.

And when it was time to say goodbye to Karol, I turned around several times … at first to take a few more pictures, but then as if to say, “I’ll be back.” You see, birthday or not, I don’t think I can yet say I’ve seen everything Karol has to offer.

— Carrie Cox, account executive