Budget tips for Panama City Beach

[fvols98]

HI! I heard it can be pricey. Any suggestions for staying budget conscious while vacationing at the beach?

Thanks!

 

[taylor3297]

I actually find Panama City cheaper than some other places. Here is a link you might want to look at: http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/

Now I always stayed in family owned type places and not a brand name like Holiday Inn. The majority of the rooms are gulf front which is really nice.

 

[overplanner]

we live about 45 mins away. you can rent surfboards or kayaks mrsurfs. they also offer lessons. check out their web site for all kinds of inf. you can go to pierpark, the shooping is great, and their usually entertainment, wonderful restraunts like Mageritaville. Buffalo Wild Wings, Tootsies. There is also a movie theatre. There is also Rocket Lanes. It has bowling, arcade and and skating, skating is ony $6 and if you go to their site you can print off coupons. there is goofy golfing, mazes, and gocarts. Shipwreck Island is a waterpark $36/day. you can google it. Most visitors go to St Andrews state park but it is sooo crowded on the weekend. Ripleys Beleive it or not is there too.

 

[Soon2B4]

Check into Shell Island. It is a wonderful beach that you take a boat to. I know there are at least 2 places that take you out and one includes a picnic type lunch. Unfortunately I had family down there and don't have any websites with info.

Also, if you are going in July they have the Billfish which I believe is free.

Edit: Found info on one boat shuttle.
http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/listings/attractions/shell-island-shuttle-boats/

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

You can get some good deals on vrbo.com for condo rentals. I would look in the Thomas Drive area -- Dunes of Panama, Pelican Walk, Hidden Dunes, ones in that area.

Go to Coconut Creek Mini-golf and Gran Maze. For a set price per person, you can play unlimited rounds of mini-golf (2 courses) and do the Gran Maze as many times as you want until 5:00 the following day. The website has coupons for $2 off the price.

If you head to the main part of Panama City (across "the bridge"), you will find more reasonably-priced restaurants and most of the familiar chains, plus local places, too.

Pier Park is a new, big outdoor shopping area. There's a merry-go-round there and you get an all-day pass for $5. There's a really nice movie theater there, too, The Grand. They do summer movies for kids for a very reasonable price, like $3, including a small popcorn and drink.

There's a huge recreation park called Frank Brown Park near Pier Park. There's a nice playground there, and a water playground, too (admission to that, but I think it's reasonable).

Hope this helps!

 

[dyna]

To funny DH talked about stopping at Panama City on our way to disney for months just yesterday 3 days before we leave he decided hotels to expensive at Panama City an we going on down to disney 3 days early we have AP's lodging is cheaper at disney offsite so no beach but an additional 3 days of disney. We will find us a room for the 1szt 3 nites then move into our condo on our scheduled arrival date.