Pros: The Pros: The resort area was pretty, though it was advertised as beachfront and we were over a mile from the beach (and on the opposite side of Hwy 98, so we had to drive, park and then walk another quarter mile from the parking lot to the beach.) We were placed at the Bayside, which had a nice view of the bay and the golf course. The room was basically a nice hotel room, with a mini fridge, older microwave, sink, and Keurig coffee maker which was super! However, with four people but only two coffee cups (and only two K-cups for coffee brewing), additional cups would have been appreciated. Also, the tile floors helped with a clean environment. We would have loved extra time to enjoy the included bike rentals and kayak rental, as the walking/bike paths all over the resort were lovely and family friendly. This is a great bonus! Also, the beach snack shack was convenient (but pricey, as you would expect) for hot dogs, drinks, and balls/beach toys. The beach was very clean, but the overpriced resort chairs/umbrellas took up most of the prime open space, as per the norm. Volleyball courts and parasialing rentals were nearby, so there was plenty to do.
Cons: The Cons: Upon arrival, the welcome center was not clearly marked and therefore difficult to find - because the resort was advertised as beachfront, we went to the beachside gate first and were directed across the street to check in. Then we waited over 30 minutes to get our room keys, though I had already confirmed our room on kayak. The registration desk was only staffed with one person who was friendly, but not very efficient. She also told me I owed a slightly higher hotel fee than my kayak receipt said, but she corrected it to the amount per the kayak quote when I showed her my email receipt. Once in the room, (which was thankfully clean despite poor reviews I had read previously), we realized at bedtime that night that our shower faucet handle didnt work, so we had to call for maintenance (who showed up after 11 p.m.) to fix the problem, which he did quickly. While it was a late hour and the kids were asleep, I was grateful he worked past hours to fix our shower! Also, the two outdoor pools were slightly disappointing - I thought they were adverised as heated, but they were freezing! It was convenient to have restrooms near the beachside pool, and it was handy to have several outdoor showers, though one of the showers didn't work. Also, the beachside pool concierge was never open during our stay for towels, and neither was the ice cream vendor station at the Elephant Walk. Lastly, we ended driving 15+ minutes into Destin each night for family-friendly dining options. I'm sure an adults-only group would enjoy this resort much more than a family with young children. Overall, it wasn't worth the extra money to stay here as opposed to a decent hotel a few blocks off the beach! The false "beachfront" advertisement was irritating, and the resort seemed to be understaffed.