Palms Resort #1503 Jr. 2BR

We had a great time with our floaties in the pools, and they were spotless. The gardens looked lovely, and all the restrooms were clean. From the 15th floor, we also had awesome views. Just be ready for a hike to your car, though it’s nice that the garage is covered and has elevators. I hadn’t considered the road and airplane noise, and you don’t get that calming sound of the ocean. There’s plenty for kids to do in the enclosed pool area. I wish they had sun umbrellas, since shade was hard to find and everyone was after it. With all the cement, bringing your own umbrella isn’t an option. It’s a really nice place.

The condo itself made for a relaxing stay. It was spacious, well kept, and cozy, and we had no complaints about it. The disappointment was that the hot tub stayed closed for our whole visit, and the Bistro, Coffeehouse, and Bar were all closed “until further notice” when we checked in. We’d enjoyed those spots on earlier trips, including Thanksgiving dinner, and have come back for Thanksgiving, Spring Break, and Summer over the years. Those food and relaxing options are a big part of why we return and recommend Palms of Destin, so having them unavailable took away from the value and enjoyment of this stay. We hope they reopen soon. Without them, a visit that could have been perfect was noticeably worse.

My only complaint about this amazing place is bartender Amanda. We’d been served every day until our last one, when Amanda refused my 26-year-old brother a drink, saying she thought his ID was fake. He offered another form of identification, but she wouldn’t even look at it or serve him. The manager said she didn’t have to serve him if she didn’t want to, which was ridiculous and completely unprofessional. It absolutely ruined my vacation.

The front desk staff were kind and informative, and went out of their way to help when I left my phone in an Uber. I was panicking, but they stayed calm, let me use their cell phone to call the driver, and did all they could. I really appreciated that. The grounds were beautiful and clean, and my room had a nice pool view. My Airbnb was gorgeous, with a partial ocean view and a great spot in the heart of Destin, near shops, beaches, and restaurants. I was there in April, my first time at this resort though I’d been to Destin before. Only one elevator was working, which was inconvenient at times. You have to be patient in situations like that.