Originally Posted by
solarbear
The gulf coast isn't any farther for us, and I haven't actually been anywhere on the gulf coast except central Florida, but I've gotten the impression from others that there isn't much in the way of real beaches, mostly just rocks and swamp. Where do you like to stay on the gulf?
The stretch from Orange Beach, AL to Panama City Beach, FL has lovely white sand beaches, with water that gets clearer the further east you go. We like Pensacola Beach and Navarre, but sadly the beachfront Springhills in both those spots are now category 6. Your certs will go farther on the east coast. I'm not aware of any remaining beachfront category 5 hotels that include balcony rooms in their reward redemptions, anywhere in that area.