hotel suggestions for Destin area

[madelinesmum]

We are driving this trip and will be going through the Destin/Ft. Walton beach area and were wondering if anyone has a suggestion for an affordable place to stay?

 

[spiceycat]

there was a nice condo on the beach - it didn't have great viewss but it was nice. I will see if I can find the brochure from it.

you realize this is at least an hour from I 10?

 

[horseshowmom]

We stayed at Sandestin, but I don't think it qualifies as affordable (at least not for our budget - I was there for a conference, not on my own money).

However, I did want to say that Destin is gorgeous, and we really enjoyed it. We're planning on going back next summer for vacation (at a less expensive condo! ).

 

[spiceycat]

found it

http://www.seaspraycondos.com/

or you can look at all the condo
http://www.destin-fwb.com/Lodging/index.cfm?t=5&c=136&action=seek

hotels/motels
http://www.destin-fwb.com/Lodging/index.cfm

but sometimes you can get a better deal with a condo.

 

[horseshowmom]

Thanks, Spicey! Those listings look very helpful!

 

[Sammie]

There are some wonderful condos to stay in.

Hidden Dunes Resort www.hiddendunes.com being my favorite, but most require a 3 night stay.

If you are looking for less than that, there is a new Courtyard by Marriot that is fabulous, one of the nicest places I have stayed in a long time.

It is in Miramar Beach at the entrance to Sandestin Resort and Courtyard guests get passes to Sandestin.

Nice place and new

 

[rcraw45425]

Yeah, we routinely vacation in Panama City and Destin, it's ~4 hours from home for us. Pretty much all of the Destin Condos require a 3 night minimum. Also, there are very few hotels directly on the beach, most are at least across from the beach if not farther. In fact, our last stay, at the Village of Baytowne Wharf (new part of Sandestin) we never even saw the ocean our entire stay! There is a Sheraton or Hilton that's beachside at Sandestin, but pricy. That Residence Inn/ Courtyard, marriott place is nice, but you can't even see water from the road. Now, over on Okaloosa Island in Ft. Walton, there are a few hotels beachside. Take a look at that Destin/FWB website someone posted, I think it lists some. Oh yeah, reasonable and Destin don't go together. Our three night stay at Baytowne cost more than my 4 nights at Portofino Bay!

 

[bama-mom]

We just returned from Destin last week. Our condo was on the beach, but the building ran perpendicular to the beach, so views weren't that great. We knew that beforehand, so we were okay with it. I would stay here again, probably one of the cleanest places I have ever stayed. They have effeciency units, good for just passing through (also have 1, 2, or 3 br also).

Since the boards won't let me post a link, the name of the place is Sea Crest Condos on Okaloosa Island.

 

[ilovejack02]

We are going next week and staying at Blue Point Sheraton. Pretty decent rates. Normally we stay with Newman Dailey rentals and have always been happy but just decided to do a hotel this time. It got decent reviews on tripadvisor.com. Have fun!

www.destinvacation.com
They give a few round of golf with each paid night
also a free dolphin cruise too.

 

[dawgsgirl]

We stayed at the Breakers at FT Walton Beach. All units are beachfront and have great views. In general, Ft Walton is cheaper than Destin. There are also a couple of motels beachfront, but I don't remember the names. What I do know--I kept comparing how much I was paying with the cost of staying at WDW. It was an expensive trip!

 

[OHIOVACATIONER]

You will have a great time in Destin. Although depending when you go it can start to be cooling off soon, especially at night. Destin is a beautiful beach although I have heard in some places due to the hurricanes last year they are in the process of re building the beach area. We stayed at Jetty East Condo and the Inlet Reef Condo. Both are nice.

 

[Sammie]

Oh yeah, reasonable and Destin don't go together.

That depends on when you go.

 

[MermaidMommy]

We stayed at Sandestin this June -- and we did go to the beach, although we spent a lot of time at the Village -- and the beaches don't have any hurricane damage.

The hotel that's a part of the Sandestin Resort is a Hilton, very nice, rates can be fairly reasonable if you're going off season. Otherwise, previous posters are correct that most of the beachfront places are condos, not hotels, that have 3-7 day minimums depending on the season. If you're staying a few nights, we've used VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals by Owner) for our past several stays at Sandestin and have paid far less for a condo than we would have if we had gone through the resort. PM me if you'd like more information

 

[newtodcl]

We go to Destin every year and have always stayed here: pelican-beach dot com and have always had a great condo....i do know that they offer nightly rentals.

 

[rcraw45425]

We go to Destin every year and have always stayed here: pelican-beach dot com and have always had a great condo....i do know that they offer nightly rentals.

Hey, I just tried to plug some dates in for a possible fall getaway, when I pulled up their rate page for Nov-Feb, it has 1 & 2 day stays as N/A. Real bummer, we canswing two days due to school committments but three days would mean the kids missing another day of school

 

[Sammie]

Hey, I just tried to plug some dates in for a possible fall getaway, when I pulled up their rate page for Nov-Feb, it has 1 & 2 day stays as N/A. Real bummer, we canswing two days due to school committments but three days would mean the kids missing another day of school

I have friends that stay at Pelican Beach often and I have never been aware of anything less than a 3 night stay. Most times when they say they offer nightly rentals that means they offer 3, 4, 5, etc night stays versus having to book for a week.

The only places I have found that offer less than 3 night are the regular hotels such as Hilton, Hampton, Best Western, Marriot etc. The Embassy Suites is very nice and directly across the street (on Old Scenic 98) from the Beach with a private walkway to the beach, very good location.

 

[rcraw45425]

Yeah, that's been our experience too. Three night minimum. Same with the condos in Panama City Beach too, with the exception of one of the now older ones, Continental Condominiums, across from Gulf World. The times we have gone down in the past year we have booked through Resort Quest, the old Abbott Rentals. Have stayed in two brand new properties through them in PC, the Celadon Beach Resort and Sunset Beach. I seem to remember talking with a lady at Sterling Beach on Thomas Drive and she told me that if we book directly through them we could get two nights. IF only I could find the phone number..........

 

[dawgsgirl]

I don't know how to post a link, but try breakersfwb.com. Their website shows daily rentals and I did not see any mention of minimum stay.