10 Top-Rated Resorts in Florida Panhandle, Florida

May 27, 2023 Leonarda Pillsbury

The Florida Panhandle is known for its quaint beach towns and interesting attractions, many of which are money-saving and family friendly. Come to the Florida Panhandle and relax on glorious beaches, shop to your heart’s content and dance the night away. Santa Rosa Island is great for kids and offers a wide array of both beach-based and water-based activities. Families will enjoy a day away to tour the 150-year-old Pensacola Lighthouse. The Florida Panhandle offers exciting nightlife. Panama City, Destin and Pensacola all have numerous bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes. Panama City is home to Club La Vela, the largest nightclub in the U.S. The Florida Panhandle is a shopaholic’s dream. It offers specialty stores, antique stores and shopping malls. For those renting a home or condo, a trip to Joe Patti’s seafood market in Pensacola is a must. The market specializes in fine wine and cheese, and beautifully presented handmade chocolates to take home to friends and relatives as gifts. Mon Père et Moi in Tallahassee is also worth a visit.
Things to do in Florida Panhandle

1. Staybridge Suites Tallahassee I-10 East, an IHG Hotel

1600 Summit Lake Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32317-7935
Excellent
68%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 583 reviews

Staybridge Suites Tallahassee I-10 East, an IHG Hotel

Tallahassee Green Lodge Staybridge Suites Welcomes You. The Staybridge Suites Hotel is located near I10 and Highway 90 at exit 209B in Tallahassee, Florida. We are close to both Tallahassee hospitals, Tallahassee Memorial and Capital Regional Medical Center, and just 20 minutes from the Tallahassee Regional Airport. Our hotel is located close to several destinations such as Antique Car Museum, Governors Square Mall, Florida Capitol, Florida State University FSU, Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida A&M University FAMU, Tallahassee Community College TCC. The Staybridge Suites Tallahassee Hotel is near major corporations and state agencies such as Mainline Information System, IBM, URS, AHCA, Department of Agriculture Department of Education and more. The Staybridge Suites offers all of the conveniences of home to suit your extended stay or short term hotel needs.

Very nice hotel!

Reviewed By Indiejmom

This lovely hotel is conveniently located within a mile of I-10 in Tallahassee, FL. It is clean, quiet, and very nice! The employees were friendly, the room was clean and well equipped with amenities. We have stayed at over 20 hotels on our recent trip, and this was one of our favorite stays. Highly recommend.

2. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy West, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, FL 32550-7226
Excellent
58%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
8%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 2684 reviews

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is an award-winning Northwest Florida Golf and Beach Resort. The 2,400-acre resort has become THE destination for memorable vacations on the Emerald Coast. With nearly 1300 vacation rentals ranging from studios to 4-bedroom units, condos, homes, villas and penthouses, there's truly something for everyone. In addition the south side of the property fortunately situated on the sugar-white sands and emerald-green waters of Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast, guests may enjoy beach-to-bay onsite dining, retail, entertainment, golf, tennis and other activities without leaving the gates of the resort. Guests staying with Sandestin enjoy complimentary use of bicycles, boogie boards, kayaks, tennis, access to the fitness center and a resort-wide tram service. Distinct experiential areas of the resort include Beachside, Bayside, Lakeside and the Village stretching from our postcard-perfect sugar-white sandy beaches of Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast to the tranquil shorelines of the Choctawhatchee Bay and a lively 226-slip marina.

Doctor

Reviewed By 863swapand

Pilot house room was terrible. Dingy and weird Oder. Very outdated. However my desk attendant Alston Cardoz was amazing and worked to make great accommodation at Osprey which was a phenomenal place. Overall experience 5. Just avoid pilot house if possible.

3. Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

4000 Sandestin Blvd S, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, FL 32550-4214 1 (855) 605-0316
Excellent
49%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
7%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 3661 reviews

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Daily Resort Charge will be added to the room rate and includes: Wi-Fi; self-parking; fitness center; yoga classes at Serenity by the Sea Spa; transportation throughout resort & to Silver Sands; board & beach games; discounted resort activities; kids 12 and under eat free breakfast; shopping pass. Check in to Northwest Florida's largest full-service beachfront resort, and get away from it all. The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa combines oversized accommodations, world-class amenities and excellence in service against a sparkling backdrop of sugar-white sand and emerald-green water. The Hilton Sandestin Beach features 509 guest rooms, some featuring private bunk-bed alcoves for children, five on site dining venues including a distinguished AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse, an 14,500 sq. ft. state-of-the-art spa and fitness center, endless recreation options, and access to championship golf courses.

Great stay

Reviewed By Michelle H

Our room was great! Lots of room. The hotel was extremely crowded, but we only stayed 1 night because the hotel was booked all week. It was a Friday, so I understand that’s why it was so crowded. Love the breakfast.

4. The Henderson Beach Resort

200 Henderson Resort Way, FL 32541-3471 1 (855) 944-5937
Excellent
73%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 998 reviews

The Henderson Beach Resort

Reminiscent of a luxurious grand seaside manner of yesteryear, Henderson Beach Resort, a Salamander Beach & Spa Resort, seamlessly blends modern conveniences with the nostalgia of days gone by - all set against a backdrop of the authentic bustling beach town of Destin located on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. With reverence to its humble beginnings and nautical history as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village," The Henderson beautifully captures the timeless romance of traditional coastal architecture and complements it with spectacular sunset celebrations, sumptuous sea-to-table cuisine and toes-in-the-sand hospitality - all delivered with five-star level service. Nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and 200 acres of pristine nature preserve, this gracious, four-story 170-room resort hotel is the ultimate beach retreat for both leisure and business travel.

Honeymoon

Reviewed By Kristin M

We stayed here at The Henderson for the first part of our Honeymoon. We didn't have great weather, so we got a lot of experience with the spa, dining, and in room dining services. The pool and beach when we were able to go were very nice. The adult only pool looked wonderful. The lazy river was fun.

5. Holiday Inn Resort - Panama City Beach

11127 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32407-3529 1 (877) 878-9726
Excellent
66%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3292 reviews

Holiday Inn Resort - Panama City Beach

Located on the sugar white sands of Panama City Beach, our Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach offers gulf front rooms, lush tropical gardens, a variety of dining options, outstanding entertainment, & superior service; all of which add up to the perfect destination vacation! Our resort's unique combination of location, activities, & amenities allows guests to have everything they need for a great beach vacation right onsite! Our pool deck features a lagoon style pool with a cascading waterfall, fountain pool, lazy river, over-sized hot tub, spacious SeaGlass Bar & Grill, seasonal entertainment, free kids' activities, & a kids' water playground Aqualand. Park your car & never leave the property - we're centrally located near Pier Park, Shipwreck Island Waterpark, Gulf World Marine Park, & St. Andrews State Park. Combine business with pleasure when you take advantage of our well-appointed meeting space on the gulf coast.

Not Worth the Money

Reviewed By 992rustyw

So, we’re here now 5/29/2022. The property is great and the beach atmosphere/jibe is very fun. Lots of fun entertainment via music or kid’s games to keep everyone amused. Based on what you pay for a room I’d rate them a 5. This is a great resort for all RED NECKS. They have a full size frig in your room for all your food. They allow coolers and carry bags of food at the pool. I was told that any activity at the pool by adults and kids is OK as long as you don’t dive in or jump in on someone. Throwing footballs, tennis, nerf and water type balls in the pool are a CONSANT approved splash or impacted hazard to everyone. The food and drinks are all AWESOME but the service can be terrible. Service throughout the entire food and beverage staff is VERY slow and you’re treated like you’re just another stupid tourist they’ll never see again. Once you order, you’re at their mercy. No matter what you’re told or what you see there is NO regular food or beverage service around the pool. Though the rules read no outside food or beverages allowed around the pool that’s a LIE, therefore, rule abiding paying customers are overlooked. We were told they simply only walk around the pool when they aren’t busy somewhere else. On more than one occasion they took our order but never returned. We saw one of them later and they apologized and explained to us that they are told to do that. This happened several times. Food and beverage prices are extravagant here. Go on line and check out the menu of each restaurant. LOL the breakfast buffet is like $44.00 a person. Acholic drinks are all $15 plus. Most meals and just a few drinks during the day will cost you well over $100.00 a day each. Do the math 3 meals and drinks will cost you a minimum of around $400.00 a day. Be sure and put that in your budget before you book a room here. Soooo, with the full size frig in your room don’t ever buy any food or drinks from the hotel. This is a top 10 place to stock up the full-size refrigerator in your room and hang out with a bunch of rednecks around a pool. Not that anyone who stays here more once would need to know but they don’t even offer valet or concierge service.

6. The Island Resort At Fort Walton Beach

1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Excellent
29%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
11%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 2988 reviews

The Island Resort At Fort Walton Beach

On Okaloosa Island, this beachfront hotel is a 9-minute walk from Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and an 3.6 miles from the Emerald Coast Science Center. The relaxed rooms and suites have complimentary WiFi and flat-screen TVs, plus mini-fridges, microwaves and coffeemakers. Some offer beach views or pool access. Kids 17 and under stay free with an adult. Parking is free and the property has direct beach access. Amenities include a lounge bar and a casual restaurant, as well as an outdoor pool, a kids' pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center. There's also a guest laundry and meeting rooms with 14,000 square feet of meeting space.

The island resort

Reviewed By tlowe54

Our stay was awesome! Our family loved staying here! Clean, the staff was nice, a lot to do and very convenient and not to mention it’s a private resort! The pools are cool we loved them! It’s also convenient to other places!!!! We will be back

7. Best Western Navarre Waterfront

8697 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre, FL 32566-2162 1 (800) 568-8520
Excellent
65%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 884 reviews

Best Western Navarre Waterfront

Located in Navarre,FL, the Best Western Navarre Waterfront is sure to provide a peaceful and comforting home away from home for any traveler. Each Best Western hotel provides free internet access, giving guests the opportunity to check emails and surf the web, all from the comforts of their room or the business center. With cleanliness and value being our top priority, we ensure a restful and productive stay. On top of that, our superior customer service will ensure that we meet all your needs and go beyond your expectations.

Excellent! Great location

Reviewed By hoghead215

Hotel was very clean and staff were super friendly. The location is perfect just minutes from the beach and from restaurants and shopping! The view is amazing and right next door to a restaurant fun kid friendly activities

8. Holiday Inn Express Pensacola Beach, an IHG Hotel

333 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 1 (877) 366-2602
Excellent
82%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 1073 reviews

Holiday Inn Express Pensacola Beach, an IHG Hotel

Official site of Holiday Inn Express Pensacola Beach, an IHG Hotel. Stay Smart, rest, and recharge at Holiday Inn Express - Best Price Guarantee.

I love HIEs

Reviewed By HGAL2015

We stayed in Sept. 2014 last time. We came May 8-15 this 2022. This property has been remodeled and It looks great. The people that do the house keeping does a great job. We stayed for a week and was taken care of new clean towels and picking up our garbage every after 2 days. They did a great jobs. House keeping need a raise. The morning breakfast was great. They cooked great and keep the dining area clean. They need a raise too. The floors all over the motel was clean. All of the workers do great. They worked all day. We will come back soon this year and not waiting for 8 years. This Holiday Inn Express in Pensacola Beach on 333 Fort Pickens Road has be the best we stayed,,,, CLEAN !!!

9. Beachside Resort Panama City Beach

21905 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413-1205
Excellent
40%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
6%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 777 reviews

Beachside Resort Panama City Beach

Beachside Resort is a beachfront hotel on the quiet end of Panama City Beach, Fla., boasting 147 recently renovated rooms, a seasonally heated beachfront swimming pool and hot tub, free Wi-Fi, guest laundry, beach service and a popular poolside bar, The Reef.

"Hot" tub was tepid

Reviewed By 375neerk

The rooms are decent enough and mostly clean, the view is AMAZING, it's really ON the beach. But, if like us, you are looking for a hotel with a HOT tub, this one was NOT hot, it was barely warm. When we asked an employee if the heat can be raised he replied they cannot because other guests do not follow the rules and allow their young children in the hot tub and he cannot be responsible for potentially harming a child. WHAT the whaaa?! So, rather than finding a way to ENFORCE the rules (which are started clearly enough on a sign and are quite standard rules for all hot tubs and pools) they would rather allow paying guests be disappointed, we chose THIS hotel over others in the area BECAUSE they have a hot tub.

10. Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach

2 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 1 (855) 605-0317
Excellent
54%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
5%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 2278 reviews

Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach

The Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach Gulf Front is located on the famous white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Our Hampton is situated in the center of all island attractions and is within walking distance of fine and casual dining, water activities, nightlife, shopping, Fishing Pier and Boardwalk. The Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach Gulf Front features a variety of amenities to cater to the busy executive, leisure traveler or vacationing family. We offer complimentary Hot On The House Breakfast -everyday, Hampton On the Run breakfast bags -Monday through Friday, Gilligan's Tiki Bar -seasonal and Tiki Island Gold and Family Friendly Arcade. We also offer USA Today, business center and an exercise room.

Great staff and location for kids

Reviewed By Dwayne H

Mandi Madison & Biko McGruder were very helpful during our stay. she was able to help with our room upgrade! The hidden feature is ice cream in the same parking lot for the kids! Two nice pools and lots of shade round out the beach area.

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