The Hilton Sandestin Resort is focused on providing families with the best vacation experience. The Gulfview rooms are minutes from the white sand beaches. It is known for being a family-friendly location, but the resort also welcomes weddings and business meetings. The staff can help plan indoor or outdoor events, arranging food, spa visits, and activities. They can help with planning, registration, transportation, audio-visual equipment, meals, and team building activities such as Beach Olympics.
This detailed review of the Hilton Sandestin Resort will showcase all its excellent features and the ease of access to all services the staff offers.
Accommodation type: 4-star hotel
No. of Rooms & Suites: 602
Pricing: starts at $159 for Guest Rooms, at $189 for Deluxe Junior Suites, at $339 for Ambassador Suites, and at $1,169 for a Presidential Suite
High season spring break to Labor Day
Nearest airport: Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS)
Suitable for: family vacations, destination weddings, and business meetings
Awards:
- Named one of the Top 20 Florida Golf Resorts by Condé Nast Traveler magazine.
- The Serenity by the Sea Spa named one of USA Today’s 10 Best 2015 Summer Spa Treatments Under the Sun.
- The Serenity by Sea Spa ranked 26th in the 2013 Readers’ Poll of Top 100 U.S. Resort Spas by Conde Nast Traveler.
Accommodation
The Hilton Sandestin Resort has been a family vacation destination for 30 years. With a renovation completed in 2015 and yearly refreshes, it is Northwest Florida’s largest full-service beachfront resort and remains the best in its class. It has two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, four golf courses, 15 tennis courts, a spa with two saunas and two whirlpools, WiFi, and a Connectivity Center. So, whether you want to enjoy the sun or stay indoors, there’s plenty of things for you to do.
The resort is also dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint and protecting the coastal wildlife, especially sea turtles. Their mascot, Sunny the Sea Turtle educates guests on the protection of marine life.
Facilities
The Resort offers a variety of room choices
- Guest Rooms
- Deluxe Junior Suites
- Parlour Suites
- Presidential Suites
Guests can indulge in any of eight dining choices.
- Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood
- Sandcastles Restaurant and Lounge
- Hadashi Sushi Bar
- Picnix Market
- The Coffee Shop
- Barefoot Beachside Bar & Grill
- The Sandbar
- In-room dining
Golfers can enjoy four courses and a putting course.
- Raven Golf Club
- Burnt Pine Golf Club
- Baytowne Golf Club
- The Links Golf Club
- The Dunes putting course
The Serenity by the Sea Spa has 16 spa rooms, a styling salon, a nail salon, and a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness center. In addition, The Serenity Lounge has zero-gravity chairs, a waterfall for relaxation, and refreshments. There are separate whirlpools, saunas, and steam rooms for men and women.
Complementary Activities
The Resort has two heated outdoor pools, one heated indoor pool, poolside cabanas, beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, pack and plays, and cribs. All rooms have refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers with coffee and tea, a wet bar, a hair dryer, iron and ironing board, a flat-screen television, in-room movies and games, multiple telephones, a safe, WiFi, and a private balcony. There is also free tram service around the resort so that transport is effortless.
However, there are events for the little ones to enjoy as well. Kids Krew and Kids Night Out are part of their family-friendly activities. Others include beach volleyball, biking, tennis, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, and boating.
Travel Options
There are three good options if you want to travel by plane. The closest airport is VPS Northwest Florida Regional Airport. It is 26 miles from the resort and offers service to/from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, and Washington DC. However, the second best is the ECP Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, 40 miles from the resort, and the third is the PNS International Airport Continental, which is 64 miles away.
Main Attractions around Hilton Sandestin Resort
To help with your vacation planning, the resort provides a list of upcoming events in the area. If you need transportation, taxis, and shuttle services are available.
Additionally, Highway 30A, located off of Highway 98, follows the beach and offers a lot of attractions to explore. Along the route are 13 communities that range from beach communities to artist colonies. So, take a drive and stop and explore along the way. There are plenty of free activities you can try.
The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park at Fort Walton Beach allows guests to feed and interact with a variety of marine life. Guests can feed fish and penguins, interact with seals, sea lions, and sea turtles, swim with dolphins, and snorkel with stingrays. The park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Address: 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
The Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park in Destin was recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the nation’s best waterparks. For some exhilarating fun, it offers water slides, waterfalls, and a wave pool. If that isn’t enough, it also has a Sky Coaster, a race track, miniature golf, and kiddie areas.
Address: 1007 US Highway 98, East Destin, Florida
The Track Family Recreation Center has a 75-foot bungee jump and SkyFlyer for those who want to experience skydiving. It also has go-carts, bumper cars, boat’s, a ferris wheel, a carousel, a train, arcade, and Kid’s Country. You can either enjoy the adventures made for thrill-seekers or the more mellow entertainment options.
Address: 1125 Highway 98, Destination, Florida
Final Words
The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa is located at 4000 Sandestin Boulevard South, Miramar Beach, Florida. It offers everything that makes a great Gulf Coast vacation, wedding, or meeting site. It’s a stunning location with a plethora of activities, so boredom is out of the question. If you’re looking for another family-friendly place in a more exotic location, you can try the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in Hawaii.