Cheap vacation alternative to Destin, FL

In My Humble Opinion
1

Welllll… I’m trying to plan a vacation and I’m looking at Destin, FL. I have some membership reward points from my credit card to spend on a hotel. I just called the CC company to find out about using them ETC. They mentioned that there is also Miramar Beach which is close to Destin and a little more private. I did a google earth search to check out the area (It’s a great way to use it!) and I noticed a LOT of areas that are similar to both.

So, on a somewhat conservative spending level, what beaches/areas around Destin are worth staying at. All I’m really looking at in terms of price is hotel since we’ll have our own rental car. It only seems to make sense to stay a little outside of destin since I’m sure destin hotels are more expensive.

So, what advice do you have for this just-graduated-on-a-budget-guy who is going with a girlfriend and looking for a non-party atmosphere that is relaxed and laid back?

Hotels and beaches both welcome :slight_smile:

2

You might save some money by booking a room in Niceville, FL. It’s a little further off the beach, over on the far side of Eglin AFB, but the rooms are cheaper. You’d be within about a 30 minute drive from the beaches. Also may want to check about off-season rates, which I’d imagine will be starting next month, or early October…

3

Pensacola Beach is just as beautiful as Destin (similar-white sand, turquoise water) and there’s much less of the “carnival” feeling Destin is known for. Hotels on the beach are probably less expensive too. The city of Pensacola is ten miles away, has lots of charater and history and a charming downtown. Better variaty of restaurants too.

4

We generally stay in Seaside, but I have no idea what vacation rentals cost there. It’s an interesting mixed-use, planend community. There’s a Wikipedia article about it. Good white sand beach access, walkable neighborhoods with shops and restaurants. Wahtever you do, be sure you’re on the gulf, instead of a bayou “beach”. The bayous have always been boggy and they are getting grosser.

Tabby

5

Check. I will request the Gulf. This is all great and I’m looking into everything. I like the non-carnival atmosphere… I’m pretty easy going, a few days on a nice beach. Just a chance to get away and free my mind.

6

Destin definitely has the prettiest beaches I have ever encountered the the U.S. I don’t that Pensacola matches that snow white sand and clear blue water. I think Destin is still the top locale on the Redneck Riviera for my dollar.

7

Well, if you’d posted this a few months ago, I could have offered you free accomodations in Niceville, which, with the Mid-Bay bridge is usually just a few minutes from Destin.

However, I’m…a bit away from there right now. :slight_smile:

There’s a lot of good advice in the posts above. I’ll only add one thing. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Destin is usually a gridlocked parking lot. Highway 98 simply can not handle the traffic. We almost never went into Destin proper during the summer months. We’d take the Mid-Bay bridge to Highway 98 and turn LEFT, towards Sandestin, Seaside, Blue Mountain Beach, or whatever. Never right, towards downtown Destin.

Looking to the east, Panama City Beach looks great, but I do not recommend it. It used to be the Spring Break center of the world. Trust me, while it’s still OK, it is nowhere near what it used to be in the 19602 and 1970s. You’d probably be disappointed. YMMV

If you do wind up in Destin, McGuire’s is a good place to eat, as is The Lucky Snapper, and Harbor Docks. Warning about Harbor Docks: They allow very loud cell phone and walkie-talkie “TOOTLE-BEeep” conversations with no concern for the other diners. Also the Bonefish Grill. Great food, but your evening may be ruined by some butthead. In Seaside, Kate and Allies has a great reputation, but is in reality overpriced and not really worth it. In Destin proper, stay away from Captain Kidds (noisy, mediocre food, and out of control).

Fudpuckers is highly recommended, but there’s probably gonna be a wait to get in. Prices good, food better…feel free to write your name on the table/wall/whatever.

Pensacola Beach has some great dining places, too, but I don’t know what’s out there very well. If you wind up there, though, be SURE to tour Ft. Pickens, mm’Kay?

8

Ow. Forgot to mention, in the Sandestin area, condo rentals are very popular and “relatively” inexpensive compared to hotels. My niece & her family rented one this summer at a good rate and it was a very nice place. It was across the street from the beach, but you had a view of the Gulf from the balcony. Very nice, so do consider that. It was very laid back.

9

You could head further east, out to my neck of the woods–2 hours from Destin.
Gorgeous, uncrowded white-sand beaches and emerald Gulf: we got it.
Wildlife galore: sea turtles, bald eagles, great blue herons, tarpon, dolphins, we have it all.
What we don’t have are shopping malls or movie theaters.
We do have a few dining choices, some cutesy shopping, and lodging.
I think this place is how Destin probably was 30 years ago.

10

If you don’t care about staying right on the beach you can find reasonably-priced accommodations in any of the areas not on the island. Ft. Walton is just a 5 minute drive from Okaloosa Island, and another 10 minutes to Destin.

11

It’s been awhile, but we used to stay at Grayton Beach, Florida. It had an awesome beach and was light years away from the crowds. I hope it hasn’t changed…

12

Have you considered Desitin, FL? It’s cheap and quiet, but there’s nothing much to do except get heat rash.

13

That sounds delicious!

I’m looking into all of these, believe me.
Another thing to consider is driving/flying. we are considering both now as we figured out the gas prices from illinois to FL will be comparable.

Is it feasible or realistic to fly down and still be able to enjoy everything in the area if we flew down or would you suggest driving?

14

If you fly you’ll need a rental car. All these places suffer from major urban sprawl with no public transportation.

15

Not to throw a damper on your plans, but there are a couple of things to consider carefully here.

  1. Read up on Undertow, sometimes called Riptide. It’s a dangerous condition along the beaches that kills several people every year.

  2. There are significant numbers of large sharks in the area, often unseen in and among the swimmers. They rarely attack people, but it does happen.

16

Not to mention the occasional hurricane.