My wife and I booked this hotel for a night in Destin. We were traveling with our dog, so we were looking for a nice hotel that is pet-friendly. That’s exactly what we found. The property is new looking and beautiful, with comfortable rooms and good service. The only caveat is the $75 (the hotel reserves the right to charge up to $100), non-refundable pet fee. The fee applies to all pets, even fish. We booked through the Marriott website, and nowhere in the booking process are you informed about the fee. The sites main page just says, “Pet-friendly hotel in Destin, Florida with access to Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, fees may apply.” I made the mistake of thinking that the “fees may apply” referred to access to the Resort. If you dig deeper into the site (which you don’t need to do in order to book a room), you’ll find that the fees are for pets, and there’s no “may” about it. If you’re staying several days, the fee is really no big deal. However, it turns a one-night stay from $104 (before tax) to $198 (after tax). And yes, you pay full taxes on the fee itself. I know that I should have read every word of the website, but I wish Marriott was more up-front about the fact that there is a non-negotiable pet fee.

We stayed here for a weekend getaway -- sort of a last minute thing for $105 AAA. The hotel is only about a year old and is really beautiful. The rooms are spotless and the kitchens better than mine at home! The bathrooms are immaculate and the HVAC quiet room units. The breakfast was awesome -- plenty of choices and the constantly being refilled. There is a free shuttle that takes you around Sandestin Resort (the Residence Inn is right outside that resort). You can also drive your car around the complex (after getting a pass from the security gate) but parking can be a challenge on the weekends. The great outlet mall is about a mile west and there is a new Fresh Market further west on 98 in Destin to stock up on goodies. Be sure to have brunch at the Another Half Broken Egg. The only minuses are the beds, which feel and sound as if you are sleeping on a soft cardboard box and the fact that you are nowhere near the beach.

What a great hotel! We booked a two room suite for a very reasonable price. The suite has a full kitchen, which is great for an extended stay. It turned out to be unnecessary, as the complimentary breakfast is one one of the best spreads I've ever seen. And there are so many great restaurants close by - why cook?

We also traveled with our two Yorkies, and when this hotel says pet friendly, they really mean it. I have never been treated better when traveling with the dogs.

The staff is excellent, really friendly and professional, and the amenities can't be beat. It's worth staying here just for the tram service and access to the Sandestin Resort facilities. We are moving to the area and will definately stay here on an extended basis until we find a house.

I know I'm gushing, but I truly adore this place. I travel a great deal for work, and I will now start looking for Residence Inns to stay in.

My husband I first intended to just stay one night. But when we got here and saw what the resort, inclusive of the hotel, had to offer, we immediately booked another night. The studios are quiet and well equipped and clean! We headed straight to the beach and ate at the Hilton, which is all part of the golf resort complex. The location and value are excellent. The golf resorts hosts a village of restaurants and night life as well as a bit of shopping. The hotel is located just a few short miles to the outlet shopping as well. There are tons of restaurants nearby so variety isn't an issue.