Daytona Beach

[brennicksmom]

We are planning to spend 2 nights prior to our stay at Disney at the beach. We plan on Daytona because it looks like a fun atmosphere. Without spending a lot, is there any hotel that you recommend?

I looked and the Sun Viking, it looked close enough to the pier to walk and far enough to be a bit more private. We are open to anything that is on the beach

Any suggestions?

 

[NotUrsula]

We often stay at Sun Viking, but I don't think of it as close to the pier -- I've never even seen the pier, as we don't like the crowded part of the beach.

South Daytona is very quiet, really; the end of the drivable section of beach is just south of the Sun Viking.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

We've done a few trips in New Smyrna Beach. It is just south of Daytona and we LOVE it! It isn't as busy and touristy but has everything you could want. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which is now a Best Western.

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwes...--Suites/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=10390

It is right on the beach and also has a pool. The rates were fantastic, the breakfast was really good and cheap, room size was great... You can walk down the beach to some great restaurants burgers, mexican, fancy, etc. , ice cream, really anything or you can drive very easily too. We really love NSB and I could totally see myself moving there someday! I can't recommend this area highly enough for a beach vacation that is close to WDW!

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

We like vero beach, it is much quieter. We usually stay at the driftwood in which is very old school and quirky. Not everyone's cup of tea, but it's right next to the Disney resort in vero.

 

[wishuponastar42]

What are your favorite places to eat in/near Daytona Beach? Last time we were out that way we went to JB's Fish Camp near New Smyrna Beach and it was really good. I am trying to debate whether or not to go back there or do something different.

 

[bookluvingbabe]

What are your favorite places to eat in/near Daytona Beach? Last time we were out that way we went to JB's Fish Camp near New Smyrna Beach and it was really good. I am trying to debate whether or not to go back there or do something different.

We haven't found any super amazing dining in the Daytona Beach area. (Although I hear there is very good dining in Deland.)

We like Down the Hatch in Ponce Inlet. We keep going back to Crabby Joe's but I'm not sure any of us really like it that much. Aunt Catfish's is a lot of fun and has an amazing old-school salad bar.

 

[brennicksmom]

We often stay at Sun Viking, but I don't think of it as close to the pier -- I've never even seen the pier, as we don't like the crowded part of the beach. South Daytona is very quiet, really; the end of the drivable section of beach is just south of the Sun Viking.

We reserved the Sun Viking. If someone goes back more than once it must mean it's a good place to stay. We got the 2 queens, full kitchen, and ocean view with private balcony. Woohoo! They told my husband that the pier is a 3 mile walk each way.

 

[dsanner106]

Our family favorite is the Wyndham Ocean Walk. Rooms are very large, good views, private walk only beach area and connected to the Ocean Walk Shoppes area with several restaurants and movie theatre, go carts lazer tag etc. Short walk to everything several pools and a lazy river. We have been 5 or 6 times.
Drew

 

[ktate82]

We reserved the Sun Viking. If someone goes back more than once it must mean it's a good place to stay. We got the 2 queens, full kitchen, and ocean view with private balcony. Woohoo! They told my husband that the pier is a 3 mile walk each way.

We stay at the Sun Viking every time we go and get the same room type you got. We love it there! The beach is nice, not too crowded and the hotel and staff are awesome! When we want to go somewhere, its a quick drive with a supermarket a few blocks down (right next to an IHOP). My kids also love the pools and the water slide.

 

[brennicksmom]

What types of things are in the kitchen? Pots, pans, dishes, etc? What should we bring from home if we eat to make a quick meal or two?

 

[marius97]

Check out Cow Lick's ice cream...We go to Daytona every summer and just found this place this last year. Amazing ice cream. It is on the main road across from the beach. I want to say it is towards the south side (I call anything south of International Speedway Blvd. as being south side.)

 

[brennicksmom]

Check out Cow Lick's ice cream...We go to Daytona every summer and just found this place this last year. Amazing ice cream. It is on the main road across from the beach. I want to say it is towards the south side (I call anything south of International Speedway Blvd. as being south side.)

Thanks, we will ALWAYS take advice on where to go for cream!!!

 

[bookluvingbabe]

Thanks, we will ALWAYS take advice on where to go for cream!!!

Bring change. They have quite the arcade to tempt you as well.

 

[NotUrsula]

What types of things are in the kitchen? Pots, pans, dishes, etc? What should we bring from home if we eat to make a quick meal or two?

In our case, our "condo box" contains the following: a sharp chopping knife (the knives supplied in condos are NEVER sharp enough to chop food ingredients, IME), PAM spray, a small bottle of cooking oil, some aluminum foil, a few basic spices in small tubes, and coffee filters. All this fits in a plastic tub about the size of a shoe box. (Good to bring because you always need those things, but you seldom need an entire package on vacation. It saves money and saves waste.)

I can't remember exactly what was normally in a kitchen room at SV, but it seems like the usual in that sort of accomodation is a frying pan, 2 saucepans, a flat baking/pizza sheet, a medium mixing bowl, and a casserole dish or two, a can opener, a bottle opener, plus cutlery, cups, plates, glasses and cereal bowls for 6.

 

[bumbershoot]

We stayed at The Cove on Ormond, and it was...weird. It seems to be a timeshare (we got it through hotels.com) and they were really unwelcoming to non-owners. It was also during a freezing-snap (not just a cold snap) AND my son and I were really really sick (when we would emerge everyone would give sympathetic looks and the front desk person asked how our coughs were doing) so we weren't able to use any of the fun stuff there.

My aunt, who we were there to visit (and saw her ONCE because we were ALL sick), said that maybe the SV would be good. That's where her daughter's in laws were going to stay 2 months later. I got jealous of them for getting a better place.

And then the reports came back. They didn't enjoy it at all. Damp, nowhere near as nice as the pictures seemed to say. They just weren't impressed at all.

So...i hope you experience it like notursula does, not like my cousin's in laws did!

I also hope you don't get sick and don't have a freezing snap.