Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach by IHG

We keep coming back, four years running now, and love the family feel and familiar faces. Blake tends the bar, is great with kids, and makes fun fruity virgin drinks for my daughter. Hailey and Sasha are a delight in the restaurant, and Maggy at reception is professional and so helpful. Sam at the pool tiki hut even helped inflate our floats and get us settled. Between the beach and pool, it's easy to relax here. I'd definitely recommend it for a vacation.

We had a quiet room and never heard noise outside, which was a nice surprise. The place was spotless, well located, and the staff were friendly. My diamond elite status was recognized, so parking was waived and breakfast for two was included. Families will enjoy the lazy river and pool, and the fire pits at night are a nice touch. The bar and restaurant serve good drinks and genuinely tasty food. The gym is a good size and well stocked. The buffet was standard IHG, while the made-to-order items were better. We'd be glad to return.

The service was excellent, the rooms were clean with good views, and there’s plenty of good food both at the hotel and nearby. The pool and beach are maintained well, except for trash guests leave behind. The hotel breakfast is the usual Holiday Inn fare, typically free elsewhere, but here it’s $20 per person and purchased from Cargill. The hotel doesn’t seem deeply cleaned: the removable showerhead hose had mold, and some towels had yellowish stains. The staff seemed to be the typical lazy 18-year-olds, though I did see one person who looked over 25. You can skip the VIP pool pass. Wristbands are barely enforced. Get to the pool early for a spot, since beachgoers use the chairs without staying at the hotels. The hot tub was best around 9-10 p.m. In my opinion, couples traveling should save a little more for an all-inclusive. Those are usually higher quality and won’t try to pull so much money from you in tips and fees.

The staff made me feel welcome throughout my stay. Jaxson at the front desk was pleasant to deal with, as was Heidi, the supervisor on duty. I stayed here once before, ten years ago, and this visit has me planning to return. It was a work trip, just one night. Before my flight the next afternoon, I stopped at Riptides for food. Brandon R was friendly and polite, and his suggestions led me to order the chicken bacon ranch wrap with tots and a crisp Diet Coke. Tashaina M cooked a fantastic meal, and Brandon’s service made it a great experience.