Sterling Shores 718 By Bliss Beach Rentals

We came from the Treasure Coast for a birthday and retirement celebration, but the guest quarters were dirty. The mattress was old and bouncy, there were no spare linens, and all the pillows were king-sized, old, hard, and dirty. The deck was sandy and filthy, with towels left out by previous guests. Service was terrible, basically nonexistent. We paid $1,280 for four nights. There was no quality or concern here.

Our remodeled condo was unit 804, with a huge balcony and a great Gulf view. We watched dolphins in the morning over coffee. Sterling Shores is my favorite area in Destin, where I've been coming since the 1970s. It's a beautiful family resort, with a big lagoon pool and a heated pool by the beach. Bathrooms are about 50 feet from the sand. Everything's close enough that you can get groceries and leave the car parked. Big Kahuna, the water park, and the Track are across the street; The Back Porch is next door, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is walkable. The place is hard to beat for families.

Our family had a mostly good stay at Sterling Shores, and we'd probably come back, though we'd choose a different unit. The grounds were beautiful, the pools were cleaned every morning and well maintained, and the location worked perfectly for us. We liked the gated, secure feel and saw security making rounds. It seemed very family-friendly, and The Back Porch was so close we could walk over for a good meal. We hadn't known there was active construction during our stay. We blame the Airbnb host for not telling us. It wasn't a major issue, but grinding near the condo could get loud. We also spotted one roach in the bathroom during our five days there. Room 306 felt dated and needed touch-ups, and the guest room was tiny, with no closet or dresser, so luggage took up the walking space.

The suites are spacious, with amazing views, and the amenities are first-rate. The beach is a five-minute walk away, and the pool area is clean and welcoming. Shops, entertainment, and restaurants are all easy to reach on foot.