Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort Review

Last month the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort invited me and my oldest daughter to attend their annual media trip for a two nights and three days with six other mom bloggers and their kids. L and I packed our bags and off we went on a jet plane!

Secretly I’ve cyber stalked the #HiltonSandestinMoms media trip on Twitter and Instagram and was so excited to finally have the opportunity to participate.

As a former resident (I grew up in Fort Walton Beach a short drive from Sandestin), it’s a dream of mine to become a brand ambassador and bring awareness to the area and what it has to offer. No matter where you live, Florida’s Emerald Coast and Panhandle should be on your bucket list! 

What makes Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa so special? For starters the the community surrounding the hotel is bordered by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the calm Choctawhatchee Bay on the other – providing visitors easy access to beach and water activities year round.

Named ‘Top 150 U.S. Resorts’ and ‘Top 20 Florida Golf Resorts’ by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, the Hilton has so much to offer families.

Traveling to Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort

LOCATION: What I love about the Hilton is the location and the proximity to shopping (world-class designer shops including The Market Shops at Sandestin, The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and Silver Sands Factory Stores, the largest designer outlet center in the country) along with award winning restaurants, fishing, golf, tennis and outdoor water activities.

Accessible by car or plane makes it such a hot spot for travelers. Located 25 minutes from Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) and one hour from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) or you can drive 2 hours from Mobile, 8 hours from Nashville, 10 hours from Houston, 6 hours from Atlanta and 4 1/2 hours from New Orleans and Birmingham.

We drive from Chicago, making it an easy two day road trip through Nashville or occasionally we will drive through Mississippi to see my family.

What about the weather?? Average temps are Winter 68ºF, Spring 79ºF, Summer 91ºF and Fall 80ºF. There are many occasions we have enjoyed many outdoor activities while visiting in November/December. It may not be swimsuit season but the area still has so much to offer.

EAT: With 7 food outlets (including in-room dining), there really is something for everyone! From a AAA Four-Diamond fine dining seafood and steakhouse, to a flip flop-friendly beach bar, the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa aims to please even the pickiest diner.

We had breakfast each morning at Sandcastle’s and I was amazed at all the options. Even my picky eater found things she loved. The first evening we had dinner overlooking the ocean at Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill, for lunch we grabbed sandwiches and ice cream at Picnix Poolside Market.

SO CHIC TIP: I highly recommend sending the kids to Kids Krew and plan a romantic date night at Segar’s (see info below).

Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood (AAA Four-Diamond)
Hadashi Sushi Bar
Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill
Sandcastle’s Restaurant
Picnix Poolside Market
The Coffee Shop, proudly serving Starbucks^® coffee
In-room dining available

SLEEP: Rarely do hotels offer this much space for sleeping rooms. We stayed in a Junior deluxe suite with bunk beds, media center, king bed (two double beds are available), plus a queen sleeper sofa. I loved that that the kids area was separate with their own TV!! It was so nice to come back from the beach and relax and have enough space to spread out.

Newly renovated, the resort offers 602 deluxe guest rooms and suites, located in the Emerald and Spa Towers. All guest rooms include balconies with partial or full gulf views and feature a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker with daily complimentary coffee, hair dryer, lighted makeup mirror, premium cable TV, and wireless Internet. Rooms on the first floor also feature a covered patio. (ADA-equipped rooms are also available).

Check out our sleeping room video for more details:

PLAY: This is why people come from hundreds of miles to the Hilton – it’s all about the sugar white beaches, pristine water and variety of activities. For the beach lover, the Hilton provides beach chairs, umbrellas and fun water sports such as stand-up paddle boards and kayaks.

photo credit: marvelousmommy.com

Rather spend some time poolside? Check out the three heated swimming pools (one indoor), one kid’s pool, and two whirlpools.

For the golfer, Hilton Sandestin Beach guests enjoy golf privileges at four championship Sandestin golf courses (Baytowne Golf Club, Burnt Pine Golf Club, Raven Golf Club, and The Links Course) as well as The Dunes putting course at Sandestin. Tennis lovers enjoy the Sandestin Tennis Center, with 12 HydroGrid clay and three hard courts and for people like me who workout on vacation, a top-of-the-line Fitness Center equipped with top-of-the-line Precor Fitness machines and full schedule of fitness classes includes favorites such as Yoga, Pilates and Belly-Ballet.

Want even more adventure? Snorkeling, dolphin watch cruises, boat rental,deep sea or inshore fishing, sailing, SCUBA and skin diving charters can all be easily arranged through the resort.

KIDS KREW: Traveling with two little ones, we prefer selecting properties that offer a kids club. We love traveling as a family but hubs and I need a little alone time.  The newly renovated Hilton’s Kid Krew will keep kids begging to come back. Available for kids ages 5-12, Kids Krew is a supervised program available in the mornings and evenings, offering a range of exciting activities for kids, including safari hunts, a camping adventure, karaoke, creative crafts, and more.

The Hilton thought of everything. Not only is the room super cool – equipped with a computer/iPad station and video game center -they even offer a late night program from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. hosting theme parties such as “Pirate Pandemonium” and “Pajama Party”, giving parents an opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s evening amenities.

During our visit all the kids spent a few hours doing activities while all the moms headed to the spa!

SPA: When you’ve had enough sun or just need time to relax, Serenity by the Sea is the place to be. Voted “Best Spa” since 2003 by Emerald Coast magazine readers, the newly-refreshed 11,000-square-foot facility, welcomes guests into a relaxing and upscale environment offering an extensive menu of services for men, women, and moms-to-be.

We enjoyed an afternoon of mani pedis, but there is no shortage of choices from body treatments, massage therapy, facials, waxing, nail treatments, hair services, and makeup application. I really want to go back soon!

BOOK YOUR STAY NOW!!

For a limited time (now through Sept. 30, 2014) you can access a sassy deal that includes:

• Upgraded Beach-view Accommodations at the Hilton Sandestin Beach
• Daily Breakfast for Two (2) Adults and One (1) Child* at Sandcastles Restaurant (located in the hotel)
• One (1) session for one (1) child to a Kid’s Krew activity**
• 10% off spa services at Serenity by the sea (located at the hotel)

*Additional Children’s buffet available for ages 6-12 at additional cost; children 5 and under are complimentary with a paid adult buffet.

RATES: Rates starting from only $276.00 per night; based on three (2)-night minimum consecutive stay; upgraded beach-view accommodations.

AVAILABILITY: The Mommy Blogger Special is available to book through Sept. 30, 2014; two (2)-night minimum consecutive stay required; reservations must be made three (3) days in advance; limited availability; not applicable to existing reservations or contracted groups; the Hilton Sandestin Beach reserves the right to modify or discontinue this package at any time at its sole discretion.

NOTE: This package is not bookable on-line.  Please call 1-800-559-1805 for rates and reservations and mention code “MB”.

Visit @HiltonSandestin.

We were provided complimentary accommodations and meals for the purposes of this review. All our sassy opinions are 100% honest and our own. If you have questions regarding the area or Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort, please send me a message or comment below. I am happy to help you make this your next family vacation!