14 Best Hotels in The Panhandle, Florida

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This hotel offers a bit of style in a central location—amid the Downtown action but within a reasonable distance of the beaches—for a great price. The staff is friendly, the rooms and lobby have a hip, retro-modern feel to them, and the patio has a cool, throwback fountain to congregate around before heading Downtown to dine or shop.