Hilton HHonors - Best beachfront hhonors property in the Southeast,

I'm trying to figure out where to escape for a beach vacation in the Southeast. I've been to the destin property and will miss the Hilton Head property. Where else have people had good experiences?

Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort

I really enjoyed my stay at the Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach. It's adjacent to a Hilton and both properties are located on the beach. There are 4 pools between the two properties.

I'm trying to figure out where to escape for a beach vacation in the Southeast. I've been to the destin property and will miss the Hilton Head property. Where else have people had good experiences?

Royale Palms (Hilton Resort) Myrtle Beach, SC.

There are 5 Hilton properties all in the same complex there called Kingston Plantation. The Royale Palms building is all 2 or 3 bedroom luxury condos.. And I think they have a handful of 1 King rooms.. You can use points/certs or you can pay cash (and get points back in return). Really a hidden gem as far as Hilton properties go in the Southeast.

I vote for Pensacola Hilton. Great rooms

Hilton Sandestin. Just checked out today. Beachfront on the Sandestin resort property. I can't imagine a better beach location in SE. Pensacola locations are nice hotels but the Destin resort beats it hands down.

What are you looking for? Party scene? Family activities? Great for singles? Quiet and secluded? Parking on the beach with your gut hanging out and drinking beer (Hilton Clearwater is nearby to Gandy Beach if this is the case :p)?

Hilton Bentley and Sandestin Hilton are both on the beach but one offers a great party scene with a lot of opportunities for singles while the other offers a family friendly environment with your typical tourist trap amenities (chain restaurants, Wings and other dumpy little beach stores, putt putt, etc)...

More details would be helpful as each location offers something different...

What are you looking for? Party scene? Family activities? Great for singles? Quiet and secluded? Parking on the beach with your gut hanging out and drinking beer (Hilton Clearwater is nearby to Gandy Beach if this is the case :p)?

Hilton Bentley and Sandestin Hilton are both on the beach but one offers a great party scene with a lot of opportunities for singles while the other offers a family friendly environment with your typical tourist trap amenities (chain restaurants, Wings and other dumpy little beach stores, putt putt, etc)...

More details would be helpful as each location offers something different...

Where is Gandy Beach? Never heard of it.

Hilton Sandestin. Just checked out today. Beachfront on the Sandestin resort property. I can't imagine a better beach location in SE. Pensacola locations are nice hotels but the Destin resort beats it hands down.

+1 - Frequent guest of both properties and the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa wins hands down. The Sandestin/Destin/Fort Walton Beach area is also much more lively when compared to Pensacola.

Call the Hotel for specials/packages that are better values than the Hilton.com rates.

HaHa Gandy Beach! Gandy "beach" is a strip of sand along Gandy Boulevard on the Pinellas side of Tampa Bay. It is an, um, interesting,mostly locals, weekend afternoon thing where you can back your car up to the water and essentially tailgate the beach. Bring your grill, your corn hole game, and your cooler of beer. I think it's also good for trailer jet-ski access. Not my idea of a perfect vacation, but it may work for you. I prefer Ft. Desoto or Clearwater proper for local beaches, but that's just me.

Where is Gandy Beach? Never heard of it.

Also know as The Redneck Riviera (http://www2.tbo.com/travel/travel/2009/may/22/no-frills-beach-bums-find-home-gandys-redneck-rivi-ar-86812/) and Tampa Bay's toilet ;)

Ahhhh...it is a causeway on Gandy Bridge. Have lived in Clearwater for 12 years and never heard a local speak of "Gandy Beach". Most of the causeways have places to fish or swim but they are not considered "beaches" by most.

Clearwater Beach is nice and the Clearwater Hilton sits on prime property with lots within walking distance.

i give another vote for Hilton Clearwater. Great property right on the beach and i always got a nice upgrade to a suite as a diamond ;)

Casa Marina Waldorf Astoria at Key West. About as South as you can get in the East. Mrs. Dot_Net and I had a wonderful tile there last year on a 1 week stay.

Hilton Bentley and Sandestin Hilton are both on the beach but one offers a great party scene with a lot of opportunities for singles while the other offers a family friendly environment with your typical tourist trap amenities (chain restaurants, Wings and other dumpy little beach stores, putt putt, etc)...

More details would be helpful as each location offers something different...

Which one is which?

I have a similar interest to this thread. I'd like a hotel walkable to the beach and the party-scene. I'd also like it to be pretty nice since I don't make that many hotel stays on my own dime and I should be diamond status by the time this trip would take place.

Hilton Garden Inn Kitty Hawk/Outer Banks, NC. Great hotel on the beach and plenty to do in the Outer Banks. Climb the Cape Hatteras light, drive down NC-12 and visit all the beaches, eat local seafood, see the Wright Brothers Memorial or just lay on the beach.

Boca Beach Club is the nicest Hilton family property in Florida on the beach. Used to travel FL for work extensively and Boca Beach Club is head and shoulders nicer than any other Hilton family property. Rooms are very modern and trendy. Bathrooms are the nicest of any hotel that I have stayed in. Great bathrobes and slippers in the room as well. All have rainfall showerheads that come from the ceiling and multiple car wash style body sprayers. Huge tubs for two and two sinks in vanity area. Pool area is very nice, fitness center is one of the nicest hotel fitness centers that I have seen. You also have a beautiful wooden boat shuttle or van to the Boca Raton Resort and charge priveliges at the main Resort. The main resort is very luxurious, but a bit more dressy and formal (located on the other side of the intercoastal waterway). The next group would be Hilton FLL Beach, Waldorf Astoria - Naples Grande, Key West Casa Marina, or Hilton Bentley. Then the Hilton Longboat Key, Hilton Clearwater Beach, The Reach, The Edgewater, The Doubletree North Redington Beach. The last group I would call traditional beach hotels, the group before would be luxury beach hotels, and the Boca Beach Club is really in a class by itself...

Another vote for Pensacola. Beautiful out-of-the-way beach!

Which one is which?

I have a similar interest to this thread. I'd like a hotel walkable to the beach and the party-scene. I'd also like it to be pretty nice since I don't make that many hotel stays on my own dime and I should be diamond status by the time this trip would take place.

I can't speak to the Hilton Bentley but the Hilton Sandestin is directly on the beach and has the "Sandestin Shuttle" service which takes you from the hotel across the street to a ton of places to eat, relax and party. The name of the area across the street is "The Village of Baytowne Wharf" -- list of establishments available at http://www.sandestin.com/ExploreSandestin/SandestinVillage.aspx. Map is at http://www.sandestin.com/ExploreSandestin/SandestinVillage/VillageMap.aspx -- the "tram stop" is where the shuttle drops you off.

We never have a dull time in Sandestin!

There are two Waldorf's in Naples, and both are excellent.

I can say the Bentley is nice and they treat diamonds well. If you want a more low key bed but still on the scene the HGVC in South Beach is excellent. Or you can go up the coast to Cocoa Beach. I had a good experience there but if you are looking for something besides hanging with the families on the beach it may not be for you.

For 2-4 days in very early April, which property would be best? I'd like it to be warm enough to swim (and the water to be nice for swimming).

I also need it to be one AA flight from DFW.

Doing searches on the Hilton site, I see:



Hilton Clearwater has rooms for $239 or 50k points
Hilton Fort Lauderdale has rooms for $332 or 50k points
Hilton Bentley has rooms for $479 or 50k points
Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach has rooms for $254 or 50k points
Boca Raton Resort and Club has rooms for $223 or 50k points


(DT Ocean Point North Miami Beach and Boca Beach Club are not available)

Of course, I'd also like a nice breakfast (ideally with lox/salmon), but the main point is a nice place to relax for a few days and swim in the water.

For 2-4 days in very early April, which property would be best? I'd like it to be warm enough to swim (and the water to be nice for swimming).

I also need it to be one AA flight from DFW.

Doing searches on the Hilton site, I see:



Hilton Clearwater has rooms for $239 or 50k points
Hilton Fort Lauderdale has rooms for $332 or 50k points
Hilton Bentley has rooms for $479 or 50k points
Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach has rooms for $254 or 50k points
Boca Raton Resort and Club has rooms for $223 or 50k points


(DT Ocean Point North Miami Beach and Boca Beach Club are not available)

Of course, I'd also like a nice breakfast (ideally with lox/salmon), but the main point is a nice place to relax for a few days and swim in the water.

Are you looking for April 2013? I think you might be a little early to get a grasp of what the rates will really be. For example, Boca Beach Club likely has availability, they just aren't booking those rooms yet.

I've stayed at the Beach Club and the Bentley. As one of the previous posters indicated, BBC is in a class of its own. Keep in mind Boca is a quieter setting, so if you are looking for a ton of tourist things, you will need a car to drive out and about. If you are looking to simply stay at the resort, then Boca Beach Club hands down. You can also use all the facilities of the sister resort, Boca Resort and Club. Their breakfast is outstanding (yes, they have cold salmon), though you will pay for it, even as a Diamond. In early April they might be coming off their high season so you could get a decent rate. High season the ocean view rooms go for $550+ fairly easily. Last year they had a points and money option which was a steal of a deal for me.

The Bentley was nice as well, located on the more quiet end of South Beach. They tend to provide nice upgrades. I have not stayed at the Ft. Lauderdale beach resort but have heard good things.

Are you looking for April 2013? I think you might be a little early to get a grasp of what the rates will really be. For example, Boca Beach Club likely has availability, they just aren't booking those rooms yet.

I've stayed at the Beach Club and the Bentley. As one of the previous posters indicated, BBC is in a class of its own. Keep in mind Boca is a quieter setting, so if you are looking for a ton of tourist things, you will need a car to drive out and about. If you are looking to simply stay at the resort, then Boca Beach Club hands down. You can also use all the facilities of the sister resort, Boca Resort and Club. Their breakfast is outstanding (yes, they have cold salmon), though you will pay for it, even as a Diamond. In early April they might be coming off their high season so you could get a decent rate. High season the ocean view rooms go for $550+ fairly easily. Last year they had a points and money option which was a steal of a deal for me.

The Bentley was nice as well, located on the more quiet end of South Beach. They tend to provide nice upgrades. I have not stayed at the Ft. Lauderdale beach resort but have heard good things.Thanks!

I am looking for April 2013, so maybe I can get a better rate or more availability later?

The thread on the Fort Lauderdale Hilton Beach Resort (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilton-hhonors/1249973-fort-lauderdale-hilton-beach-resort.html) has a report of their being salmon at breakfast (which is surprising for a domestic Hilton).

I've been advised that for April, the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area will have much warmer water than the Gulf (Clearwater) area; 75-78 average for Ft. Lauderdale/Miami and 68-70 average at Clearwater.

I can get flights to either MIA or FLL (MIA has better schedules).

I'm primarily interested in relaxing and swimming in the ocean, not partying or clubbing. If I can get by without a car (e.g., taxi to/from airport and walk to meals and things to see) that would be great.

Sounds like maybe the Ft. Lauderdale beach resort Hilton might be a good choice? Hilton Bentley might be more for partying? Or could I just ignore that and swim in the ocean (is it nice swimming there)? Boca Raton Resort sounds nice, but would need to buy breakfast (Google says $24) and might need a car, plus farther from an airport.