The Palms 505 by RedAwning

The beach and location were beautiful, and the condo itself was stunning inside. The exterior looks a bit dated, but the inside didn’t disappoint. Parking underneath was a little tricky, though that’s a minor complaint. Can’t wait to return.

We chose The Palms for July 4th week in 2018 because it’s a smaller condo building than most, with, I believe, 23 units. We’d stayed at the Blue Dolphin just down the street for about 17 years, but couldn’t stay there that week, or at all that summer, because of construction, no pool access, and balcony rebuilding. We had room 406. It was clean and nicely decorated, though a bit dated, and entry was by digital code. The Gulf of Mexico view was right there, and you could step onto the furnished balcony from either the living room or master bedroom. It wasn’t huge, but big enough. I think the building is concrete because we heard nothing from upstairs, next door, or below. At the Blue Dolphin, which isn’t concrete, we could always hear people around us. It’s worth checking what a building is made of, since it can mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and a nightmare. We could see ourselves returning to The Palms, but room 406 seemed kind of pricey compared with updated rooms elsewhere. The pool was so small, almost like an oversized hot tub, and anyone with kids will probably be at that pool. The king bed in the master wasn’t comfortable, though maybe that’s just me and just this room.

The balcony has a fantastic view, and the beach is incredibly easy to get to. The rooms are cute, and the kitchens have all the basics, from utensils to cooking appliances.

We come back to The Palms 602 every year because it’s PERFECT. It’s unlike any condo we’ve stayed in, and as long as we can, this will be the only place we stay.