Surf & Sand Hotel

The Travelodge Pensacola Beach is a four-floor chain hotel with a lime-green and cream exterior and a picturesque setting on the edge of Little Sabine Bay, complete with docked boats on jetties. Guests can lounge on the sand overlooking the inlet, but those who want to swim should cross the street to Pensacola Beach. There, the hotel has a small, private beach that offers lounge chairs on the sand, palm trees, stand-up paddleboarding lessons, and a sandy playground. Also overlooking the water is a wooden terrace with a barbecue grill. On-site, the outdoor pool offers simple patio furniture on the deck, which is partially shaded by palms and overlooking the bay. The hotel’s exterior hallways -- which face the parking lot or bay -- and yellow room doors fit with the relaxing, waterfront vibe. Interior decor is cheerful, though dated, with bright tropical prints, yellow walls, grayish tile floors, and some coastal touches, like faux driftwood in a vase. The lobby also has a flat-screen TV and free coffee. Rooms are accessible by staircases or two elevators, and guests tend to range in age, with some families --  though the rowdy spring break scene in the hotel bar can prove undesirable for some. 

The hotel is on Santa Rosa Island, near Highway 399 and on the edge of Little Sabine Bay. Across the street are Pensacola Beach and the boardwalk, where there are restaurants and bars. Within a few minutes on foot, guests can reach Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier and shops on the Quietwater Beach Boardwalk. Nearby activities -- including boating, parasailing, jet-skiing, and fishing -- are also easily reached on foot within five to 10 minutes. It’s a half-hour drive to the Naval Aviation Museum and the Pensacola Lighthouse, and the Pensacola International Airport is a 20-minute drive. 

Rooms are decorated in a typical chain hotel style, with shades of pale yellow and neutral beige, or turquoise and pale green. The wooden floors are a nice touch, though guests complain that these, and other aspects of the rooms, are often unclean or in need of updating. Features include TVs with satellite channels (some are tube-style), air-conditioning, microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, irons and ironing boards, desks, and balconies or patios with parking lot or bay views. Bathrooms are basic with shower/tub combos and toiletries. Suites have hairdryers, closets, and seating areas with couches. Guests can request cribs and rollaway beds, ADA accessible rooms, or adjoining rooms.

The beach across the street, and the on-site pool with bay views are the hotel's best features. Otherwise, there's free breakfast, which includes cereal, toast, and various pastries like donuts and bagels. The cheerful breakfast room has flat-screen TVs, large windows facing the parking lot, and an ATM machine. There's a single PC computer for guest use, though only for 15 minutes at a time. The hotel has a meeting room, and printing and faxing services can be requested. It’s a beachy, casual vibe in the Pelican Lounge bar, which has a marine mural, flat-screen TVs, shuffleboard, and arcade game machines. Two coin-operated washers and two dryers are also on-site. Wi-Fi and parking are free.