Daytona Beach - Hotel Recommendations?

[Carole]

We want to stop for one night in July at Daytona Beach. Anyone have any hotel or restaurant recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[Piglet]

We usually stop over for the night at Daytona Beach on our Drive to Disney. DH is a big NASCAR fan. We have stayed at the Hampton Inn - next to the airport. Very nice place. If you want to stay next to the beach, I can't be of help.

Melinda

 

[cart-mom]

I've stayed on the beach at Daytona but wasn't impressed by the hotel so I wouldn't recommend it. I will recommend that you try out Ormond Beach for your hotel stay. It's just up the street from Daytona Beach and it's a little nicer IMHO. When you get to the strip (the last road before the beach - I think it's Atlantic Ave?) turn left and if you go about a 1/2 mile or so you'll see a sign for entering Ormond Beach. It's a little less crowded down there and just minutes from Daytona (literally).

Sightseeing tip - if you go to the end of the peninsula there is a lighthouse you can climb. It's a great spot to see the whole island and you'll get some great photos.

 

[ez]

Give me more specific info on what type of hotel/restaurant you are looking for, and maybe I can come up with some suggestions.

 

[Carole]

ez,

We are looking for a hotel that is not real expensive, on the ocean and big enough for 4 (DH, kids 16 and 19). We want to spend the night and play on the beach then continue to Disney. We hate trying to find a place when we get there so we want to make a reservation. Restaurant wise - we like something that is not a chain and is a favorite with locals - I think last time we ate at a little diner and loved it.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Carole

 

[Chattyaholic]

I would recommend the Desert Inn. DH and I have stayed there 3-4 times, whenever we go to Florida in January. It's right on the ocean and they have a restaurant, lounge, laundry, indoor and outdoor pools, internet room (6 computers) and have two computers right in the lobby (nice lobby too, with couches), indoor parking, etc. We just stayed there again this past January for 3 nights. I think it was $75 per night. It's probably more now that summer's here, but all the hotels there on the beach will be higher priced than in the winter. We always get an ocean front room, and I love having the balcony door open to hear the waves. You can drive on the beach too. We enjoy walking the beach, down to the pier, and then walking the street back and going into some of the gift shops. I think the hotel has their own website too, www.desertinn.com, if I'm not mistaken. They were refurbishing rooms, the lobby, and other areas, when we were there in January too.

 

[ez]

Carole,
My parents have a timeshare at OceanEast, it is on the border of Ormond and Daytona, sometimes they do cash specials, maybe you can get lucky and get a good price on a suite there. I have friends that also stay at the Coral Sands in Ormond, and they seem to like staying there. They have rooms or little cottages. In Daytona Beach, they have redone alot of the oceanside area by the Adams Mark, it is really beautiful with lots to do, but I don't know how expensive it is...there is a movie theater and a bubba gumps there.
As far as where to go eat, I know you said you want to stay away from chains, but I do want to mention that the Red Lobster on A1A is excellent, consistant quality we go there often. A huge local favorite is Marios, an Italian restaurant on us 1 in Ormond. We love it there. Alfies is in Ormond by the sea on a1a, we don't go there but I know it is a reasonably priced local favorite with nightly specials. Julians(prime rib) on A1A in Ormond has a huge local following Charlie Horse on A1A ,very casual, steak and crablegs, almost like a fun biker atmosphere. There is a stonewood tavern on A1A, people rave about, But I think a chain owns that. Anyway, good luck on your trip, I hope you have a super time-Eileen

 

[Carole]

ez and Chattyaholic,

Thanks so much for the information!! The restaurants sound really good - we will try one of them for dinner !

Carole