Oceanna 18

We would have stayed in Unit number 19 for a third time, but unpaid balances on the condo forced us to find somewhere else at the last minute. I paid the deposit and thankfully no more. I found out there was no beach access, walkway, sidewalks, laundry room, or pool access until the balance was paid off. We would have had access only to the condo, one parking space, and the stairs to the room. Beach access was the whole point of booking a beach condo, and the owner never told me about the situation. I was grateful someone else reached out to warn me. I was told the owner had let several people come down without explaining the financial situation between her and the condo. She blames everyone else and says she won’t refund my deposit. She is still taking bookings and money, even though she hasn’t talked to the HOA about setting up a payment plan for the past due balance. Don’t book number 19 unless you have proof the balances are paid, and watch out before booking with this girl. My heart goes out to the families who drove hours and then found none of the listed amenities available. If I’m paying that much, I expect beach access and the amenities in the description.

The grounds and pool were pristine, and everyone staying there was friendly. We loved the quiet beach, unlike the rowdy high rise sections of Panama City Beach. From our Airbnb listing, we could walk to the beach in 30 seconds after waking up. We can’t wait to come back on our next trip.

In unit 5, which we rented for the weekend through Airbnb, the kitchen was very pretty, the living room was OK, and the bedroom was nice. The shower had tons of water pressure, though there wasn’t much control over the hot or cold, but it got the job done. Keep in mind these units are privately owned, so each room and owner is different. The beds were my main complaint. My back has never hurt more, and the sleeper sofa wasn’t even fit for kids. I’d suggest a big sectional in the corner so two or three people could stretch out without pulling anything out, with a matching ottoman that could make it a bed. The table in the hallway takes up space and makes it hard for bigger people or wheelchair users to get around. The bathroom vanity also makes it hard to get into the shower.

The beach sand was softer and cleaner than almost any beach I’ve been to, and for that alone I’d highly recommend this place. We stayed in the beachfront building, so the walkway to the beach was clear and clean, and the walk wasn’t bad. The condo was tiny, but exactly what we expected for the price. The room and facility were clean and nice for the price, and we rented from someone local to my home area whom I went to school with. Parking was confusing, and I still don’t know if it’s OK to park behind the office building since I never spoke to staff. The pool had way too many chemicals and burned our eyes. My biggest reason for giving four stars instead of five is that the pool depth markers were way off. Each one was actually 6-8 inches deeper than marked, and the slope was pretty intense, making it hard to stand. That’s a safety issue, and they should post it at the pool.