DESTINATIONS FLORIDA | THE US
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Embassy Suites by Hilton Next to Pier Park’s shopping and entertainment complex, and over the road from the beach – 175 out of 255 rooms have Gulf of Mexico views – Embassy Suites by Hilton is in the perfect location for clients who like to be in the thick of the action. The all-suite accommodation has an outdoor pool and fitness centre, and all rates include breakfast. A King Studio Suite starts at £108 per night.
hilton.com
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Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort With pretty, pastel-coloured accommodation ranging from Surf Bungalows sleeping up to six to Beach Villas that can accommodate 18, this resort is ideal for groups of family or friends who’d like their own space but the convenience of hotel facilities. Within the beachside resort, there’s a pool, lazy river, waterslides and the poolside Salty Rim Grill and Bar. Surf Bungalows lead in at $420 per night.
margaritavilleresorts.com
travelweekly.co.uk
SELECT YOUR STYLE My sky-high sightseeing with Panhandle Helicopter is an ideal way to get an overview of this laid-back destination and its places to stay, eat and drink along main strip Front Beach Road. Here, guests can drink in ocean views and put their toes in fine, golden sand lapped by aquamarine waves. Clients can choose their own holiday style along this beachfront stretch. If they like to be in the heart of the action, there’s the Pier Park outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment centre, with its combination of high-rise condos, big-brand beachfront hotels and pastel-coloured, two-storey beach houses. In the east of the resort near County Pier, there are
big resorts on the sand, including the picture-perfect Margaritaville Cottage Resort and plenty of attractions, plus great places to eat and drink. West of City Pier is a quieter affair with private rentals and the much-loved Thomas Donuts, where residents and holidaymakers queue up for glazed and filled treats.
where life centres on the 27-mile stretch of powdery, white sand. Less familiar for Brits than other parts of Florida, it’s starting to get noticed by UK agents due to its varied accommodation, fun tourist attractions, food and drink scene, wildlife and, of course, its beaches.
And those who like to immerse themselves in nature can try glamping in the serene St Andrews State Park.
ISLAND ADVENTURE Beyond St Andrews State Park and across Saint Andrew Bay is uninhabited Shell Island – seven miles of untouched sand. I’m on my way for a three-hour cruise with Island Time Sailing when, as if ready for our arrival, a pod of dolphins pops up in front of our catamaran to frolic in the twinkling water. With one of the highest concentrations of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the world, Panama City Beach offers almost guaranteed sightings. We’re also treated to a flyover by two squadrons
of brown pelicans, which skim the water next to us, before we jump off to explore Shell Island. We’re the only group in sight and it feels like our own desert island adventure with nothing but immaculate shell-strewn sand and sparkling sea. As we climb back on board after a swim, the friendly crew offers up the company’s signature rum punch – and Panama City Beach’s chilled way of life is in full swing. This warm, laid-back welcome is one I feel
throughout my trip, especially in Andy’s Flour Power, where owner John Certo greets us at 9am, recommending the restaurant’s famous breakfast martini alongside bright-green pistachio muffins, ²
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Sunset cruise with Island Time Sailing; a bottlenose dolphin; Thomas Donuts; an airboating trip in the West Bay area of Panama City Beach PICTURES: Visit Panama City Beach/Michael Booini; Boo Media
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