The Island Resort in Fort Walton Beach | Where to Stay in Destin Florida
We recently spent 2 days in this newly remodeled, beach front property getting the inside scoop on the rooms, pools, drinks, food and so much more. They’ve just completed a $15 million renovation – Like, WHAT! It was gorgeous and we can’t recommend it enough. The Island Resort in Fort Walton Beach has always been known for its beach front location, it has so much more to offer once you get inside. Whether you are traveling with your family, friends, or even just as a couple, The Island Resort in Fort Walton Beach has something for everyone.
We asked on our Instagram Story what the most important to you is when choosing where to stay. Let’s tackle your list:
LOCATION
This was easily number one on your list. In terms of location, The Island Resort in Fort Walto Beach checks all the boxes. It sits RIGHT on the beach – as in, you can walk out the back door of the resort, across a walkway and feel your toes in the sand within seconds. The Island boasts over 600 feet of private beaches just for you to enjoy. And because it’s so close, that also means the view from your beach front room is amazing.
Located on Okaloosa Island, it’s nestled next to the Boardwalk which boasts a variety of things to do. Not only is there a handful of restaurants within walking distance, but you can fish, walk the Pier or play volleyball out back. Head across the road for more restaurants, as well as a dinosaur themed adventure park with laser tag, mini golf, ropes course, arcade and a 4D movie theatre. You’re also just across the road from Island Watersports, where you can rent pontoon boats, jet-skis, paddleboards, and more.
Okaloosa Island is a quick 4 miles to the Destin Harbor as well, so you can enjoy all that Destin has to offer.
COMFORT/CLEANLINESS
We’re giving this one a 10/10. The rooms were cozy and welcoming, giving us that feeling of home. The updated décor really added a modern feel (hello, sliding barn door to our bathroom) and all the furniture was new and equally as comfortable. We had a great night’s sleep on our King Bed, and the only thing making us get up in the morning was that amazing view. The rest of the hotel was clean, easily accessible and the staff was SO friendly. The pool areas were clean, as were the restaurants and beach bar.
PRICE
Another one ranking high on your list of where to stay, price points here will vary with the season/month, as well as beach front or pool view room. Check their website for availability as well as the most recent price points for the dates of your stay.
AMENITIES
While it is located around so many fun things to do, another thing we loved about The Island by Hotel RL is how we felt like it offered so many things to do that we didn’t have to leave the property. Starting with two pools (one heated), a hot tub, a children’s splash pad, waterfalls and a swim up bar, we knew how to fill our days when we were tired of the sand – and the waterfalls made it extra fun for the kids to play in! Or hit the beach for the day, and book a chair/umbrella rental on the sand to make things super easy for you. The Tripp Tide Beach Bar has a huge selection of drinks to take to the beach, or grab a chair with a view and watch the sunset. Behind the resort is an area for mini golf, cornhole, and lounge chairs to hang and they’ve added a food truck for a quick breakfast, lunch, coffee or snack all morning / early afternoon. When it came to food, the pizza from the Fish House was SO delicious (in our top 3 picks locally) and the chicken sandwich + nachos from the Island Grille by the pool made a fabulous lunch stop.
The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach is a family friendly hotel, with many activities for children and families. On top of those, they offer a variety of events like a chance to meet Misty the Mermaid every Saturday and Sunday at the Grotto Pool, or a Pool Party DJ happening daily. For adults, there is a free yoga from 8am-9am on the lawn, live music at the Tripp Tide Beach Bar during sunset, AND you can enjoy the Boardwalk’s free Fireworks Show every Wednesday evening all summer!
A couple other fun things: Parking is FREE! Guests can also enjoy a newly renovated fitness center, access to guest laundry area, 24 hour front desk security and more. They also have meeting space for conferences, or a gorgeous lawn lined with palm trees that is perfect for weddings.
Bonus: SO MANY PHOTO SPOTS! If you love to post about your vacations like us, we found some killer spots for photos that can only be accessed on property. We felt totally safe and had a great weekend – If you can’t already tell, we were big fans of The Island by Hotel RL and would highly recommend them!
Want to find out more? Click here to see more photos, read more information and get your room booked. And then leave us a comment below and tell us what you loved about your stay!