If you’re planning a family vacation to Panama City Beach, Fl this year, one of the first choices you’ll need to make is where to stay.
Before you settle on a specific property, you should decide whether your family would be happier and more comfortable staying in a Hotel or a Condo (or a Beach House, but we’ll get to that later).
There are a few things that can determine whether a Hotel or a Condo is the best fit for you. But making the right decision here can have a huge impact on how much you enjoy your Panama City Beach vacation overall.
Panama City Beach Hotel Benefits
- Price. When compared to the cost of renting a private beachfront condo (or Beach House) a Hotel will usually work out much cheaper every time.
- Availability. With so many Hotels and Resorts to chose from in Panama City Beach, you shouldn’t run into any problems finding a place. Even during the busiest times of the year (Memorial Day weekend, July 4th) there’s so many Hotels, you’ll be able to find a place to stay.
- Choice. This is an extension of the point above. There are so many Hotels in Panama City Beach, that you benefit from a wide choice. It’s sort of like the cereal aisle. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find it here in Panama City Beach.
- Amenities. Staying in a Panama City Beach Hotel increases the likelihood that you’ll get more amenities included in the price of the stay. While a typical Panama City Beach Condo may have a single outdoor swimming pool and possibly a fitness center, that’s probably all. Hotels on the other hand, are more likely to have additional amenities, like indoor pools, hot tubs, places to eat, mini golf, lazy river etc. Great if you have any children or teens in your family.
- Entertainment. As with amenities, Condos typically lack the extras such as planned entertainment. Whereas a Hotel is more likely to have things going on for families to enjoy. If you are staying with children, then knowing your entertainment and amenities are built-in can save a lot of money over the length of your stay. Note; this is not a guarantee at all Panama City Beach Hotels, or even most. However, it is a guarantee that no Condo will include any extra planned entertainment.
- Location. With the exception of a few, almost all Panama City Beach Hotels are located directly beachfront. With Panama City Beach not being a huge, sprawling area, no matter where you stay, you are never too far from anything… Whether it’s Restaurants or Attractions etc.
- Customizability. If you chose to stay in a Hotel, you’ll likely have several different options to chose from room as far as your room size and sleeping plan. This is a great way to make sure you get exactly what you need, without having to pay for a lot of extra space or sleeping for people you may not have.
Panama City Beach Hotel Drawbacks
- Size. If space is one of the most important factors in where you stay, then the largest floor plans will typically be Condos and not Hotels. That’s not to say some Hotel suites cannot be spacious and sufficient. But as a rule of thumb, Condos do beat Hotels for space.
- (Noise) Volume. It’s an unfortunate reality, that not all other guests are as considerate of others as you would be. What other people find an acceptable volume, may be too loud. Whether this is around common areas like outdoor pools, or inside their rooms / walking through hallways.
Panama City Beach Condo Benefits
- Plenty of Choice. As with Hotels, Panama City Beach is home to a lot of condos for rent. What’s more, units that can be rented in the same complex can all have very different decor and pricing. So there really should be something for everybody.
- Privacy and Exclusivity. Condos are typically more spacious and you have the whole place to yourselves. It’s a home away from home, with amazing views, your own kitchen and living area. Unlike a Hotel, you don’t have so many common areas to share with other guests, so it can feel like you have the place to yourselves.
- More Living Space. This is a general rule of thumb. Typically, Condos will come with a larger floor space and more square footage than Hotel rooms. This is a general rule of thumb, but again, there are always exceptions to the rule and one example of this is the Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort. With 2 and 3 room suites that sleep up to 10 people, you can find Hotels that come with much more living space.
- Large balconies and floor-to-ceiling views. One of the main appeals of Condos in Panama City Beach is the spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico. While beachfront Hotels do offer stunning views and private balconies, Condos are typically associated with the best views and the largest balconies.
- Amazing Views. Condos in Panama City Beach offer some of the most spectacular views you’ll find. There’s no better way to start your day than waking up to stunning Gulf Coast views, watching pods of dolphins swim together. There’s also no better way to end the day than by enjoying a spectacular Florida sunset with a cool drink in your hand.
Panama City Beach Condo Drawbacks
- Lack of Amenities. When you rent a Condo, that’s typically all you can expect to get. The Condo. That’s the main drawback. No extras, no entertainment, and no service while you are there. If you are just visiting as a group of adults, then all you may need is a cooler full of ice and drinks and an outdoor pool, in which case a Condo is a perfect fit. However, if you are visiting with a family and there are children, then you may really need the extra fun things to do, to keep the little ones happy.
- No Entertainment. As mentioned above, Condo rentals do not come with any extras other than the Condo unit itself. So if you are staying with a younger family and value having things to do where you are staying, without having to leave and pay extra elsewhere to be entertained, then this is an important consideration.
- No Support or Guest Services. It is very unusual to find a Condo that also has guest services and housekeeping / maintenance on hand during your stay. So if you are unlucky and anything goes wrong, then typically you are on your own to deal with it. Leaking dishwasher / no hot water / no wifi etc. These are issues that could be easily resolved in a Hotel where there are a team of staff around the clock to help.
- Higher Cost. As a general rule of thumb, Condo rentals are typically more expensive than staying in a Hotel. Despite the lack of amenities and entertainment and guest service, the larger square footage and ability to sleep more does come at a higher cost. However, if you are splitting the cost of condo several ways (between two families, say), then this higher cost can be offset.
Summary
What it all boils down to, is that there are pros and cons no matter where you stay. If you are at least aware of these going into your decision making process, then you can make the most informed decision possible for your family.
Imagine being able to stay somehwere that had all the advantages of both Hotels AND Condos… Welcome to the Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort.
Finding somehwere that addresses all the typical drawbacks of a Condo, while still giving you all the benefits of a Hotel is the best of both Worlds. That’s very rare, and can be hard to find, but it does exist at the Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort.
The Sandpiper Beacon has 24 hour housekeeping, guest services and maintenance. Just in case. Plus lots of planned entertainment, and amenities built in, so you don’t have to leave the Hotel to find fun things for the kids to do. Multiple indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, hot tub, lazy river, mini golf, beachside Tiki Bar, family games and contests and more.
The Sandpiper Beacon also has 2 and 3 room suites that sleep up to 10 people, but also private Condos (right next door), Beach Houses, and Villas too.
If this is starting to sound too good to be true, you’ll understand why many guests have been staying for 15+ years, and cannot find anywhere else that offers so much value.
Start today, by looking at all the different rooms and suites (and Condos) available at the Hotel known as the “FUN Place!” to stay, in Panama City Beach.
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