Pensacola - Where to stay and what to do

[StitchesGr8Fan]

We have an event next summer at the Pensacola Bay Center. The event is 5 days so we will stay 7 nights. I need help finding a good place to stay.

Here is what I mean by good:
-Clean
-Safe
-Fridge in the room
-Laundry On-site
-Not dated and gross
-Decent pool

I’m so used to DVC and have gotten spoiled with 1- and 2- bedroom villas. Even in Missouri we stayed at a Marriott villa and it was lovely.

People have told me to AirBnB it, but I can’t risk anything going wrong when it is just me and my child and I’ve heard stories of reservations being cancelled, accommodations not matching listings, difficulties getting keys, having to clean like you are housekeeping, ridiculous fees. I need recommendations on where to stay.

Also, any good activities for a 10 year old? We will have down time so we need something to do besides sitting in the room.

 

[Wendy31]

DH & I really like the Margaritaville Beach Resort, but it’s on Pensacola Beach - I don’t know where the Pensacola Bay Center is located in relation to the resort & how close you’re wanting to stay to the Center.

The resort is clean & updated, & I’ve always felt super-safe there. The rooms each have a small fridge - maybe a microwave too, can’t remember. The employees are really efficient & very nice as well.

There are two restaurants on-site which is nice too - one is inside the actual hotel part, & one is a Tiki Bar & Restaurant next to the hotel. The pool is nothing particularly special but it’s nice & clean, & there’s a snack bar at the pool.

It’s smaller than some of the other Margaritaville hotels & has maybe a little bit more of a boutique hotel feel to it. It’s also more quiet & relaxed/calm.

 

[luvmyfam444]

anything on the beach is great or in Gulf Breeze. The beach would take you about 20 mins to get to the Bay Center & GB about 10. I haven't stayed in the hotels since I'm local. I have been inside Holiday Inn with other people. Summer will be crazy expensive though - $400 a night on average. If it is the week of the 4th or the week after it is super high (Blue Angels Weekend). I don't have time to Google hotels @ the moment but I can tell you to stay out of the west side of town & near the Bay center. You can message me if you want to run specific addresses by me & I can tell you if they are on the good side of town. There are Hampton, Hyatt & something else near the airport which would be a good location - but about 25 min drive down to Bay center

 

[luvmyfam444]

oh I forgot what to do - if you have a DOD card then the Naval Air Museum. Ck the Blue Angels practice schedule when you are here too.

 

[DisneyLover83]

At the beach we've had good experiences at the Hampton Inn - Pensacola Beach (stays in 2019 & 2021), there is a newer Home2Suites in Gulf Breeze (stayed 2020), or Homewood Suites near the Cordova Mall in Pensacola (last stayed 2016).

I've had family recommend the Residence Inn near the hospital and mall area.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, a lot of condo complexes now list on Expedia and Orbitz, and that way the terms are hotel-style (though usually the cancellation policies are rather draconian.)

 

[LovesTimone]

Stay out on the beach... nicer hotels, trolley for transportation, lots of great restaurants... for a week I would look a booking a apartment or condo, lots of pretty nice spots...

Do not stay close to Bay Center...

 

[Minniebee]

I highly recommend the Naval Aviation museum on the Naval Air Station. It's a wonderful museum with so many different aircrafts and if you time it right you can watch the Blue Angels practice while you are there.
The beaches in that area are among the best in the country so definitely make time to spend some time there! Pensacola Beach is closest of course, or you have Orange Beach and Gulf Shores an hour west and Ft Walton/Destin an hour east-all are really beautiful. Florida and Alabama have some state park/recreation areas all along the coast with facilities and beach access if you don't stay right on the beach.
Mobile is also about an hour away and it is a beautiful, historic city. The USS Alabama in Mobile Bay is a WWII era battleship that we love to visit.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Agreed with others on the Naval Aviation museum--no DoD ID necessary, it's at NAS Pensacola but open to the public and free.

If you have the capability to cook your own meals, there's a great seafood market, Joe Patti's Seafood. Tremendous selection and reasonable prices. When we rent a condo on the beach we usually go there on arrival day and pick up a bunch to cook.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Agreed with others on the Naval Aviation museum--no DoD ID necessary, it's at NAS Pensacola but open to the public and free.

If you have the capability to cook your own meals, there's a great seafood market, Joe Patti's Seafood. Tremendous selection and reasonable prices. When we rent a condo on the beach we usually go there on arrival day and pick up a bunch to cook.

no, it has been closed since the terrorist attack in 2019 unless you have the DoD ID

 

[Minniebee]

no, it has been closed since the terrorist attack in 2019 unless you have the DoD ID

Oh, wow, I didn't realize this when I made the recommendation. Our last visit was shortly before the attack. Thanks for the update/correction!

 

[AaronB]

Has been a few years since I have been there, but when I stayed at the Springhill Suites on Pensacola Beach it was nice. The only thing I don't know was if it had onsite laundry. Pool and other amenities were nice though.

 

[leeniewdw]

We've stayed in the Santa Rosa Dunes condos on Pensacola Beach a number of times. The exterior is not impressive (they have been around a long time) but if you look online VRBO, AirBNB, you can see interiors. Santa Rosa Dunes are on the sound side, but an easy walk across the beach and a gigantic pool (that is rarely used). You can walk to Peg Leg Petes and a quick drive to many other restaurants (though depending on timing, there's a trolley).

I can't imagine staying in the area for 5 days and not staying in P'Cola Beach.