HOW TO VISIT FLORIDA’S EMERALD COAST WITH POINTS AND MILES
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The gorgeous Florida Emerald Coast
Are you looking for a great beach vacation without needing a passport? When we moved to Texas ten years ago and asked friends where they go for vacation, everyone said the Florida Gulf Coast (aka the Redneck Riviera). Honestly, I had never really thought about going to a Florida beach because it was so cheap to go to Mexico, but at just a little under a 9 hour drive from the Dallas area, we were pleasantly surprised to find miles and miles of sugar white sand and turquoise water so clear you could see the bottom 100 yards out. We were hooked and it’s a vacation we try to do every other year.
Thankfully for us there are quite a few chain hotels along the Florida gulf coast which meant we could save thousands of dollars by using our points. Just like any other popular vacation spot, the key to finding award availability is to book early.
WHERE IS IT?
The Emerald Coast is in the Florida Panhandle and ranges from the Gulf Shores of Alabama (yes, Alabama has beaches with white sand and turquoise water) to Panama City Beach and all points in between. While we have only ever driven, you can fly into Pensacola or Panama City Beach.
Located in the Florida Panhandle, the Emerald Coast ranges from Gulf Shores Alabama to Panama City Beach
While there are endless chain hotels along the gulf coast, this guide will cover our favorites and will only include hotels and resorts that are directly on the beach.
HYATT
Hyatt is my absolute favorite points hotel. I was so excited to see this one open last year and I can’t imagine it will remain as a Category 4 for long. Book this before rates go up! (UPDATE: The Hyatt Place Panama City Beach changed from a Category 4 to a Category 5 on March 26, 2024)
Panama City Beach, FL
Run, don’t walk to book this brand new beachfront hotel in Panama City Beach
Hyatt Place Panama City Beach - opened in August 2022, this new beachfront hotel has a resort style pool and lazy river.
Award nights start at 17k points a night and summer peak rates at just 23k points a night (cash rate starts at $553/night)
Standard award night is for a two queen plus sofa room
You can book a 1-bedroom suite with living room for just 23k points/night
Destination fee is $19 per day
Free breakfast and free parking
HOW TO EARN HYATT POINTS
My favorite way to earn Hyatt points is through Chase Ultimate Rewards points. There are 5-6 cards that earn UR points, including three business cards.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (you must have the Ink Business Preferred or Chase Sapphire Preferred in order to transfer points from this card to Hyatt).
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card If you and your Player Two both get this card, you’ll have almost a free week at the beach.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card - while this card has a lower sign-up bonus, the annual free night award makes it a keeper in my eyes.
IHG - Intercontinental Hotel Group
I love IHG. I think their large footprint, big family rooms and free breakfast makes them a winner for families. But, this is not always the case in popular beach locations. Award nights are super high at their beachfront properties and I think they price too many people out. One brightside is the ability to book a “points+cash’ rate which I think brings the award of many rooms down to a more reasonable amount.
We loved the beach and lazy river pool at the the Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola!
Pensacola Beach, FL
Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach - I almost hesitated to include this because finding award availability is almost impossible. This was actually the first hotel we stayed at on our first trip to the Gulf Coast and we had a great time! Super cool pool with lazy river complete with mermaids and cabanas you can rent. If you have a stash of IHG points and this resort is high on your list, get ready to book almost 12 months in advance.
Award nights start at 50k points/night (winter rate) and go up to 88k points/night
Parking $15 daily
3 on-site restaurants
Holiday Inn Express: Pensacola Beach - Beachfront hotel with outdoor pool, steps from the beach. Every room has a view of the gulf and a private gulf front balcony! Let me tell you, there are some gorgeous sunsets here!
Award nights range from 40k points (off-peak) to 100k points/night (summer)
Free Parking
Full Free Breakfast
Destin, FL: Fort Walton, Beach, Florida
Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach
Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach - This great beachfront hotel has a heated, resort style lazy river pool with waterfall and hot tub, dive in bar and features dive in movies which is super cool! This hotel is almost booked solid for the entire year!
Award nights start at 25k points/ (off peak)
Parking fee: $10/day
2 on-site restaurants and poolside bar
Panama City Beach, Florida
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Panama City Beach - Beachfront - This hotel sits right on the beach with a cool lazy river and zero entry pool with a poolside bar. Standard award nights here fit families of six which you know I love!!
Standard room books for 75k points/night in peak summer time which is an oceanfront two queen room plus bunk beds
Free Breakfast
Daily Parking fee: $20
The Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach is a true resort in the heart of the Emerald Coast
Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach - This beachfront hotel offers a lagoon style pool with waterfall, lazy river and oversized hot tub. This property even has a kids water playland! Rooms have a full size refrigerator which is great. We always buy lots of drinks/fruit/snacks for the room and they usually don’t all fit in a dorm size refrigerator.
Standard room books from 27k points/night in winter to 74k points/night in summertime
Free onsite parking
Four onsite restaurants (kids under 12 eat free)
HOW TO EARN IHG POINTS
MARRIOTT
Marriott has a huge footprint here on the Gulf Coast, so this is just a snapshot of some of our favorite hotels here.
Pensacola Beach, Florida
SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach
SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach - This beachfront all-suite hotel is a perfect choice for families. Three swimming pools including a separate pool for the little ones and free breakfast moves this one to the top of my list.
Standard award suites start at 43k points in winter and up to 63k points/n in summer. Rooms include two queen beds plus sofa bed.
Free full breakfast
Free onsite parking
SpringHill Suites Navarre Beach - Just down the road from the Springhill Suites Pensacola Beach, this beachfront all-suites hotel is steps from the beach and has a zero entry pool with lazy river.
Standard award nights start at 60k points/night
Free breakfast
Free parking
Panama City Beach, Florida
The SpringHill Suites PCB has a great zero entry, lazy river pool with fantastic ocean views!
SpringHill Suites Panama City Beach - We stayed at this beachfront hotel a couple of years ago and had a great stay. Steps from the beach, great zero entry pool with lazy river and poolside cabanas you can reserve. We really felt like we were at a resort. Our room had bunk beds and an Xbox!
Standard award nights start at 43k points/night in winter and 63k points a night in peak summer (considering that cash rates start at over $600 in summer, this is a great use of your Marriott points).
Free breakfast with made to order menu items
Laundry on-site
Parking $20 a day
HOW TO EARN MARRIOTT POINTS
There are quite a few credit cards that earn Marriott Bonvoy points, but unless the offer is high enough to book at least two to three rooms, it’s not worth getting in my opinion. Always wait for the highest sign-up bonus.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card - Remember, you can top off the 50k night certs with points now. So, if a room books for 60k points you can use your free night certificate and top it off with points from your Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards points.
HILTON
As much as we love staying in Hilton properties, peak summer award rates can be crazy. Like over 192k points per night crazy. There are some good deals to be found. Search and book at least six months in advance to find the best availability and lower award rates.
Pensacola Beach, Florida
Hilton Pensacola Beach
Hilton Pensacola Beach - This beachfront hotel has two outdoor pools (one is a zero entry kids pool), hot tub and poolside dining is a fantastic property.
Award nights start at 53k points in the summer for a two queen room. Larger suites are available to book with points.
Parking is $15 a day
On site restaurant including outdoor dining
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Hampton Inn & Suites Orange Beach - Gulf Shores, Alabama
Hampton Inn & Suites Orange Beach/Gulf Front - Oceanfront property with private beach entrance. This hotel has a zero entry pool
Award nights start at 80k points/night in peak summer season
Free breakfast
Free on-site parking
Destin, Florida
Almost every room has a view of the gulf coast at the Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa - We stayed at this property in the summer of 2020. It's a huge resort with two outdoor pools and indoor pool, a huge outdoor restaurant/bar, multiple in house restaurants, sports bars and lounges. It does have a private beach which we appreciated. The beach ‘next door’ was so crowded, we were very thankful for the privacy. Unfortunately, all these good perks come with a high daily resort fee.
Award nights start at 80k points/night in peak summer season
Free breakfast for Hilton status members
On site self parking for $15 a day
Resort fee: $40/day
HOW TO EARN HILTON POINTS
FINAL THOUGHTS
Looking for dolphins from our balcony in Panama City Beach, Florida
The Florida Emerald Coast has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. White sugar sand and clear turquoise water. No matter if you take a short flight or road trip here, this is bound to become a favorite vacation destination for your family. Being able to use miles and points to offset the most expensive portion of a beach vacation (the hotel) means you can make this an annual trip for your family and have money to spend on adventures like a sunset dolphin cruise and renting jet skis!
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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
