Little help on Panama City Beach

[B714210]

We are planning a drive to PCB for spring break. Disney last Oct. for DD's wedding, next June with the Grandkids. So we really need a nice, but budget-friendly condo. I have never been there, and we are going on the advice of friends. I searched LOTS of condos online and my head is swimming. Loved the look of "Splash", but seems really expensive for 1 week. (Might as well go to Disney) We need a place that is in a safe area, on the beach, is clean but also won't break the bank. Any advice?

 

[dogodisney]

Last March we stayed at Majestic Beach Resort for a long weekend. I'm not sure what the prices would be for a week. It was a nice resort. It has an indoor and outdoor pool.
We have also stayed at Boardwalk Beach Resort but it was for a weekend in Sept. 2008 and that was really nice. The condo was awesome.

Both resorts were oceanfront and we had a bacony for both.

 

[bamamom]

We have been the last 3 years to PCB and we love it. Some condos I recommend are Ocean Villa or Ocean Ritz, Shores of Panama, Sunrise, Tidewater. Splash is neat but very hectic condo PCB has lots of new condos, they have torn down most of the older stuff and built all new condos and do miss going to Pier Park shopping

 

[eatatmidnight]

Just a word of caution. Spring Break at PCB is often quite the party place. Girls Gone Wild is often taped in that area during Spring Break. I would not stay on Thomas Drive or Front Beach Road. DH works for a company that has a plant in the area. We will go anytime except March and April. You can often find good prices at VRBO.com.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Have you thought about driving a little further up the coast, those areas don't seem to be quite as over run with partying teens and college kids. We really love the San Destin/Destin area. The San Destin Golf and Beach resort has some nice accommodations and if you sig up for e-mails and postcards, you can get some great rates.

Suzanne

 

[MNFootballMommy]

I agree with the previous posters--PCB at Spring Break is NOT a good place to be. Besides being overrun with wild teens/college kids, the traffic on the strip is horrible and wait times at restaurants, etc., are ridiculous--assuming you can get through traffic to get there.

If you must go over Spring Break, would recommend Destin as well, or even Gulf Shores. If you insist on PCB, I'd try to go a different time of year, jmho.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Mas17]

How old are your kids & what week will you be going? We normally go during the last week of "spring break". It is not too bad. Mostly high schoolers, some college kids. As another poster said, Thomas Dr, & Front Beach Rd can be S-L-O-W with back up. We always take the back road & miss the traffic. (Back Beach Rd, I think is the name). Runs parallel to Front Beach without all the traffic. Never have any problems.

We have always stayed at "The Summit". It is on Thomas Dr, next to Club Lavela. A little older but still nice. Security it tight. All rooms face the beach, 2 large pools, kiddie pool, 2 hot tubs, kiddie playground. We have never had a problem. I have even seen them kick kids out of their rooms & send them packing, for not abiding by their rules. The security there doesn't mess around.

You can check out rooms/rates on VBRO - Grand Lagoon Beach / The Summit.
I love the place.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Why would anybody want to bring their precious family to PCB for spring break is beyond me. I live here in Panama City, and the last place we go during spring break is over the bridge to the beach. It is quite the rowdy place, not family friendly at all during spring break. Sandestin and Destin are just as bad. If you don't want your precious kids to be exposed to the evils of society don't come to PCB for spring break. My children are not allowed to go there and it is just a 20 minute drive from our home.

 

[Macsmomma]

We have stayed at the Edgewater and had a great time. Very nice condos. We rented from the owner. Pam Dees condo rentals. If you google the name it will pull up her website. Very easy to deal with.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Why would anybody want to bring their precious family to PCB for spring break is beyond me. I live here in Panama City, and the last place we go during spring break is over the bridge to the beach. It is quite the rowdy place, not family friendly at all during spring break. Sandestin and Destin are just as bad. If you don't want your precious kids to be exposed to the evils of society don't come to PCB for spring break. My children are not allowed to go there and it is just a 20 minute drive from our home.

Has Destin really gotten that bad? I haven't been to Destin during Spring Break, but during the summer and it was very pleasant, but someone here said that t had gotten bad. Guess I am glad we decided on Disney again, although, not over Spring Break.

Suzanne

 

[B714210]

Wow! Thanks for all of your replies and info. My family will be my husband, myself, my 14 year old son and maybe 19 year old son, if he can get time off from school/work. We will be going around March 27- April 5.
We were choosing PCB because several friends told us about the beautiful beaches and that there were lots of available condos. We chose to go there because we are driving from WI, and wanted to get to the beach ASAP. It seems to be the closest, well known beach, but maybe not. Now I wonder about it. We are hoping to take it easy, and do most of our own cooking, so restaurant wait times wouldn't really bother us.
I can deal with crowds- I am a Disney fan, naturally.
But, I don't want like strippers outside my balcony or puking college students on the beach.
I guess my swimming head will start the search again. Thanks for the heads up about VRBO, I did look there, and that's where I found what seems like a million listings.
Any other advice- please post, I'll keep checking.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Wow! Thanks for all of your replies and info. My family will be my husband, myself, my 14 year old son and maybe 19 year old son, if he can get time off from school/work. We will be going around March 27- April 5.
We were choosing PCB because several friends told us about the beautiful beaches and that there were lots of available condos. We chose to go there because we are driving from WI, and wanted to get to the beach ASAP. It seems to be the closest, well known beach, but maybe not. Now I wonder about it. We are hoping to take it easy, and do most of our own cooking, so restaurant wait times wouldn't really bother us.
I can deal with crowds- I am a Disney fan, naturally.
But, I don't want like strippers outside my balcony or puking college students on the beach.
I guess my swimming head will start the search again. Thanks for the heads up about VRBO, I did look there, and that's where I found what seems like a million listings.
Any other advice- please post, I'll keep checking.

Seeing as PCB has it's very own cop show (well several of the popular spring break beach areas across the US have it), Beach Patrol-PCB, I think I would stay really far away from there. The things some of those kids do are crazy

Suzanne

 

[DisneyShannon]

I live on the beach here in Panama City Beach. I can say Edgewater is very nice, but stay away from the Sandpiper Beacon it is a dump. Splash is REAL NICE. You will love Pier Park for eating and shopping. I love it myself. Try to stay away from Thomas Drive that is where all the night clubs are, and the college kids flock there. Girls gone wild is no longer allowed to come here. They told them years ago not to come back, when they did they arrested all the crew and owner of Girls Gone Wild. They are still battleing it over in court. I love it here. It is a beautiful place and a safe place to live. I will try to answer all your questions.

 

[eatatmidnight]

Since you are coming from WI, have you considered Gulfport/Biloxi in Mississippi or Mobile and Gulf Shores in Alabama? You could hit I-55 in Chicago or Springfield, Illinois and take it all the way to the gulf. I do not know about the "party scene" in any of those towns.

 

[tazdeb]

My son went to PCB a few spring breaks ago during late March and said it was cold. I know you can't count on the weather but I think the average daily high for that time of year is only the low 70's. Warmer than WI but not steamy.

 

[Mkgaapril]

We go there and stay in my cousins condo. many of the condo owners list on VRBO. Some have great deals, some want to charge entirely to much. His place is in Calypso. (I think that is the spelling...it will list with all the others in vrbo..) its very, very nice, on the beach, and next to everything.
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/north-west/panama-city-beach/open-sands (this one has several in the area..second one is calypso http://www.vrbo.com/38043 I think you can even get deals on price line or one of them with these units. all are different and many different floor plans. walking distance to new shopping, several pools, grocery store up the street....I highly recommend the unit. (I didn't list my cousins-he lists his kinda high and I know he is rented out for next few months...)Good luck...

 

[Mkgaapril]

Many of the condo owners will not rent to people under 25, that helps keep it family friendly.

 

[B714210]

Thank-you to all the posters who chimed in with advice. My husband and I have been discussing what to do. Does anyone know what the crowds will be like the week before Easter? We live in a college town, (UW-Madison) and they are on break 2 weeks before Easter. So we wonder, will the college folks be heading north and we will be contending with more families? Or is it wild and crazy no matter what throughout the season. Also, anyone know about any diving opportunities, or fishing or golfing? I have been searching condos all over the Gulf Coast and now I am REALLY confused!

 

[webprinter]

We own a floating week at the Landmark Holiday Beach Resort which is also a VRI resort. We were there a couple years ago on spring break. We had our daughter with us who was 16 or 17 at the time. It was very busy but the Landmark is down a ways from the "action". Plus, you have to have someone in your group who is over 25 to check in. All their units are on the beach and every unit has a beachfront unit. It was redone over the past few years and is okay. Not brand new, but decent. The carpet, furniture, everything was redone. As long as you stay down the beach it isn't too bad. It was busy in town, but we really didn't see too many kids on the beach where we are. It is a beautiful beach. It wasn't overly warm but our DD tanned on the beach in a swimsuit. I think it was in the upper 60s to around 70 when we were there in March.

 

[Mas17]

Thats the same week we're going. The last week of March into April. It is the 2nd to last week of "spring breakers". There will be mostly high schoolers & familes, mixed in with some college kids. Still a little crazy. We'll be at The Summit.

Bev
GO COLTS!!