33 Best Hotels in The Panhandle, Florida

No detail has been overlooked—from the grand foyer to the beautifully appointed rooms decorated in soothing coastal shades—making this the ultimate resort for luxury and tranquility. Many rooms have a superb view of Henderson Beach State Park's 208 acres of unspoiled natural beauty. Other rooms offer express service to the hotel's Salamander Spa, with an extensive menu of treatments to revive body and soul. Thirteen local artists were commissioned to create 465 custom pieces of art that decorate the hotel. Sister properties include the one- and two-bedroom Henderson Loft Condos and the Henderson Park Inn, a 36-room hotel on the beachfront adjacent to the park. The Inn is adults-only and its amenities include a breakfast buffet, box lunch, happy hour, and access to the pools and other services at the resort hotel.

At the crown jewel of the area's latest—and largest—planned resort community, nature meets seaside chic in dune-level bungalows that have private courtyards with outdoor showers and upper rooms that have huge balconies and walk-in showers with windows overlooking the Gulf so you can see the sea while you scrub. Standard rooms come with a king-size bed and a queen sleeper sofa, but consider one of the three rotunda rooms for something larger and more spectacular. Included in the room rate are parking, Wi-Fi, one hour of canoeing, one hour of tennis, and bicycle use.

This urban-chic hotel provides the tree-lined downtown district with a bit of trendy fun courtesy of loft-style rooms with bright, minimalist decor. The hotel encourages travelers to get social in the w xyz bar, which buzzes after dark, or around the pool table in the re:mix lounge. Guest rooms are on the small side but have great amenities for the techie—a plug-and-play connectivity station and complimentary Wi-Fi—as well as bathrooms with rain shower heads.

Of the properties in the Sandestin resort complex, this hotel offers the best value, with the lowest rates and plenty of amenities, including free bicycles, bodyboard and kayak rentals, fitness center access, and tennis court time.

Back-to-nature enthusiasts love these two-bedroom, tin-roofed duplexes—each named after a different species of tree and each sleeping up to six—set among the state park's sand pines and scrub oaks, a five-minute walk from the beach via a private boardwalk. Although the cabins are basic, they do have central heat and air-conditioning and full-size kitchens. Gas fireplaces, barbecue grills, and screen porches are homey touches.

Old-world charm and lovely architecture make perfect partners at this resort in a unique “planned village community” with lots of amenities, including four swimming pools, two hot tubs, two tennis courts, a playground, and a full-service spa and salon. Rosemary Beach is 2 miles away, and it's a 6-mile drive to Panama City Beach’s Pier Park.

These four elegant suites, on the second story of the former offices of the French consul, range in size from 650 to 1,650 square feet and combine a 19th-century feel with 21st-century luxury. Antique architectural details add more than a hint of charm, and full kitchens and full-size washers and dryers make living easy. The two front units share an expansive balcony, where you can take in the constant parade of fishing vessels headed out to the Intracoastal Waterway. The homelike amenities make this a popular spot for families, larger groups, and even wedding parties, and discounts are given for stays longer than two nights. The Grady Market, a locally owned art-and-clothing boutique, occupies the building's first floor.

A combination of neighboring homes and a carriage house, this entire complex was created with Victorian flair. Seventeen fireplaces and an ornate oak staircase with leaded-glass windows on the landing lend authenticity to this restored 1905 mansion. Of the 23 rooms in the collection, no two guest rooms are alike, but all are appointed with Victorian-era settees and four-poster or sleigh king beds. A full breakfast is served in the dining room, an afternoon social includes tea and cookies, and occasionally the inn offers weekday specials. You can also stay in the villa or a renovated carriage house. Popular for weddings and receptions, these may be the most elegant homes in Apalachicola. Free tours are offered in the afternoon if the accommodations are not in use.

You can sleep at least four and as many as eight in the luxurious one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments at this high-rise resort on Panama City Beach. There are lots of on-site activities and amenities, including eleven pools; four whirlpool tubs; shuffleboard, pickleball, and tennis court; a par-3 golf course; and sunsets galore.

Even locals seek out the views at this harbor-front destination-within-a-destination that has luxurious accommodations, as well as amenities like a spa, marina, health club, and indoor/outdoor pools. Guest rooms, from suites to four bedrooms, have balconies with panoramic views. The HarborWalk Village, just steps away, offers oodles of activities and entertainment for the whole family, including shops, restaurants, water sports, thrill rides, fishing charter boats, pirate and dolphin-watching boat tours, and nightlife.

One of a few inns on the National Register of Historic Places still operating as a full-service facility, this turn-of-the-20th-century hostelry in the heart of downtown is easily identified by its wraparound porches, intricate fretwork, and widow's walk. Each room is uniquely decorated, and all were recently renovated. For an authentic Apalachicola experience, enjoy waking up here and starting the day with a complimentary breakfast on the veranda, or try dinner or brunch at the on-site restaurant, The Franklin. Wind down after a day of exploring at The Parlor Bar, where you'll find music, craft cocktails, local brews, and bar bites.

During the week, this newly renovated hotel—housed in a former livery stable and featuring contemporary-meets-the-past decor—buzzes with politicians, press, lobbyists, and other business travelers; on weekends, it's booked with visitors who want to explore downtown and/or have a romantic getaway. The complete remodel added a new second-floor patio lounge (a place to see and be seen) overlooking Adams Street.

Right on the Gulf, this hotel offers incredible views at one of the beach's most affordable prices. It also offers award-winning cuisine at H20 Restaurant, buzzing nightlife at Latitudes Beach Bar, and a number of beach and family-friendly amenities, including a grab-and-go deli for taking food to the beach and two- and three-bedroom suites facing the Gulf. Off-season, you can enjoy the heated indoor pool.

Although it adheres to the Hilton standards of comfort and service, this family-friendly hotel, which has been run by the same owners for more than 30 years, is constantly refreshing its facilities and expanding its amenities. In the resort's Emerald Tower, every room is a junior suite with a separate bunk bed area, and throughout the summer there are activities and camps (for a fee) to keep kids busy. You won't get bored thanks to the breathtaking Gulf views and the six on-site restaurants that serve everything from sushi to steak. The resort's Serenity by the Sea Spa is one of the region's best.

This clean and modern property is within walking distance of Downtown museums, shopping, dining, and nightlife and is only a short drive to Pensacola Beach.

Located directly on the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico, this family-friendly resort has enough activities to keep all ages entertained—including one of the best pools in the area.

Known for its 250-foot lazy river and cascading waterfall, this Gulf-front hotel is one of the most family-friendly on the beach. It has stylish guest rooms done in a cool and vibrant color scheme inspired by the ocean. For families, or adult travelers who are still kids at heart, the hotel offers Kidsuites with a PlayStation, as well as an indoor game room and such amenities as seasonal movies and children's activities. After sunset, the friendly staff mixes up concoctions at a four-story tiki bar.

Set in a renovated, landmark, 1951 property, this chic boutique property sets the standard for small-hotel luxury in downtown Tallahassee. Sleek guest rooms have the latest technology and sumputuous touches such as spa-like showers with pebbled floors and rain-shower heads. Dining at the casual LeRoc or Shula's 347 Grill steak house is a treat; the top-floor Level 8 Lounge offers a panoramic view of downtown and Florida State University at night.

Not only does this boutique property, the newest hotel within the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort complex, have coastal chic written all over it, but its sleek rooms have Gulf or Choctawhatchee Bay views. The vistas are also spectacular from the Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge, which serves creative cocktails, as well as salads and other quick bites. At Ovide, chef Hugh Acheson uses French techniques and seasonal local ingredients to prepare inspired dishes at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Close to Florida State and Florida A&M universities, this seven-story, industrial-chic hotel is popular with visitors in town for game day or a campus tour. The Hotel Indigo chain is known for incorporating local flavor into its designs, and this property is no exception: the neighborhood in which it's set was once a business center connected to the nearby railroad, and the use of wood, metal, and leather in the lobby nod to the area's past, as does the wall art, which incorporates items such as railroad spikes and toy train tracks. The sunny and spacious rooms carry on the theme, but tend to have a modern feel with some rustic touches.

At this family-friendly beachside resort, activity revolves around a 194,000-gallon pool (allegedly the area's largest) with a spectacular swim-through waterfall and a bar in the Grotto's rock wall. There's even a mermaid named Misty. There are several on-site dining options.

This tropical getaway, inspired by the lyrics of Jimmy Buffett, gives you the relaxed, fun Margaritaville experience with the amenities of a top-notch hotel. Directly on the Gulf, the hotel offers both Gulf and bay views from oversized guest rooms.

If you like your inns small, warm, and cozy, with the bay on one side and a short two-block walk to the downtown historic area on the other, this is the one for you. Each room is named for a prominent historical figure and has antiques and period pieces tied to the city’s storied past. The recently remodeled hotel also has a Bridal Suite and 24-hour business center.

No detail was overlooked in the creation of this hotel, which offers luxury, elegance, and comfort. It is also home to Havana Beach Bar & Grill, which has earned AAA's Four Diamond rating and Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence.

One of Southern Living's 10 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Florida, these vacation-rental condos are luxuriously appointed and feature both sound and Gulf views. Each tower has its own private pool in addition to the larger resort pool, where you can have drinks and food brought right to your lounge chair. 

Chic, understated European style combines with Gulf-front views at this intimate inn in the heart of Rosemary Beach. Rooms are a bit snug, but the restaurants, shops, and activities within walking distance make up for it. Breakfast is served in the owners' The Summer Kitchen Cafe (continental included or a discount for a full cooked breakfast). Although kids are allowed, the inn isn't particularly family friendly.

Accommodations here include high-rise condo units and low-rise townhouse villas; some are directly on the beach, and others are just a short walk (or golf-cart ride) away. Convenient to the properties are the Dunes Putting Course, a basketball court, and winding paths. There is a tunnel underneath the highway for those who might want to walk or bike to the bayside amenities.

Although Sandestin’s lakes make its four golf courses challenging, they also provide serene natural settings for its villa communities, where properties come in a variety of sizes and configurations. Many are even right on a course—perfect those who plan to spend a lot of time teeing off. Choose from villas in communities that include Baypine Cottages, The Bungalos, Crystal Cove, Crystal Lake, Laurel Grove, Magnolia Bay, Prestwick Place, Turnberry Villas, and Villa Lago.

This resort with 1,000 feet of beachfront on the quieter end of Panama City Beach has something for everyone and enough amenities and activities to keep you busy for days without ever leaving the property. Accommodations range from studios for two to beach houses that can sleep 16 people. There are multiple indoor and outdoor pools, some heated, as well as sizeable water slides and lazy rivers. It's a kid's dream, with on-site mini golf, a games arcade, and a playground. In summer, special activities include games, karaoke, sunset s'mores, and foam parties.