Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Set on 2,400 acres of manicured beachfront grounds, the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is organized like a little town that can be broken down into dozens of separate neighborhoods -- each with its own style, designated perks, and price range. This town-resort is brimming with family-friendly recreational activities ranging from extensive sports facilities, to water sports, an adventure park with ziplines, and a shopping mall complete with dozens of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. The sheer size of the property makes getting from point A to point B a bit of a nuisance sometimes, but there is resort-wide tram service for those who prefer not to walk as well as free bicycle rentals for four hours each day.
Though the Sandestin is a top pick for families due not only to its great features but also for its multi-room accommodation options with full kitchens, the property is also popular with business travelers attending conferences and corporate retreats on-site. Golfers are also drawn to the resort for its four excellent golf courses, while couples often have weddings in the outdoor or indoor venues. The vibe is lively and busy year-round, but there are also quieter areas -- in particular, the Bayside section closest to The Links golf course -- and the grounds are so big that only certain areas like the pools and the beach feel crowded in peak season.

The resort occupies a massive plot of land divided by Highway 98 -- which runs parallel to the coast all along the Florida Panhandle -- in Miramar Beach, one of the 15 beach neighborhoods in South Walton County. This part of the Panhandle is chock-full of large beachfront resorts, and the main draws here are the sugar-white sands of the Gulf of Mexico and the area’s excellent golf courses, four of which are located within the Sandestin complex. While few guests leave the resort during their stay, those wanting to explore the area are just a short drive from shops and family-friendly attractions. Destin Commons Mall, Big Kahuna’s Amusement Park, and Destin are each within a 20-minute drive of the hotel.
Three airports are within driving distance of the resort. from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is a 50-minute drive; Destin - Fort Walton Beach Airport is a 35-minute drive; and Pensacola International Airport is 95 minutes away by car.

The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort offers an impressive variety of room types, ranging from standard hotel rooms housed in towers to four-bedroom, stand-alone villas with porches and views. Rooms are divided into four main sections (or neighborhoods) named after their location within the resort -- Bayside, Lakeside, Beachside, and Village and Grand Complex -- but there can be several room types within the same neighborhood. Most of the vacation rentals are individually owned and decor and design vary, but the overarching style is rather classic, with heavy wooden furniture, wall-to-wall carpeting, and an earth palette. All but hotel rooms feature at least basic cooking facilities such as mini-fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers, and toasters, but larger units come with fully equipped kitchens and some even have laundry rooms. Other standard amenities include flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi.
Depending on the size of the group, budget, and preferences, families, couples, and groups can choose from a huge range of room types, including traditional Floridian stand-alone cottages with porches and lake views, condos looking out over the beach or the bay, and Asian- or Mediterranean-inspired villas with private driveways, patios, and access to a private pool shared with other units. Popular picks include the affordable Bayside Studios with either resort or bay views, and units in the 2006-opened Luau building (newest of the bunch), as it offers beachside condos with pretty vistas. The Westwinds tower has one- to three-bedroom condos by the beach, many providing stellar ocean vistas from their balcony.
Though most rooms are in good shape, there have been occasional complaints of maintenance lacking in some units, including faulty air-conditioners, worn furniture, and sagging mattresses. Housekeeping is not provided daily except in Premier units (but it is available for an extra charge), and some guests have found cleanliness to be just average, especially in the older units. Guests are advised to carefully pick their accommodations, as the property is huge and some buildings are far from dining, the beach, and the golf courses.

This town-like resort is brimming with things to do for guests of all types and ages. One of the main highlights here is the hotel’s four golf courses, all of which have been designed by renowned golf course designers. The resort encompasses a huge area abutting a seven-mile beach on one side and a vast bay on the other, offering plenty of opportunities to both relax in the sun or practice water sports. Kayaks, paddleboards, and other non-motorized water sports are included in the room rate, as is use of the resort’s 15 tennis courts and loaner bikes for four hours each day. Beach loungers, however, are an extra fee. The hotel-owned marina is home to 113 slips, the largest of which can accommodate boats of up to 140 feet. On-site, The Village of Baytowne Wharf is a shopping complex of multiple restaurants, galleries, boutique stores, nightlife options, and lineup of family-friendly outdoor festivals, live music, and fireworks. The over 20 dining options that range from a Mexican Cantina to pizzeria to seafood and oyster house to an ice cream shop.
The resort offers dozens of recreational activities for all ages. An adventure park with a zipline and rope bridges, plus race cars, an arcade, and a laser maze keeps kids busy, but use of the kids’ club is an extra fee. The spa offers body treatments and salon services in a pleasant space with a hydrotherapy area that guests can use free of charge when booking a massage. There is also a good fitness center with cardio and strength-training machines. This property has over 62,000 square feet of event and meeting space, with wedding venues that include beachfront, on a garden lawn, and a ballroom. Event planning services are available, as is tram service within the resort.
Wi-Fi and parking are free. Pets are not allowed.