Sandestin, Florida Beachfront Hotels

• Enjoy beach activities at Sandestin Resort in Destin, Florida. Tooga/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  The Sandestin Resort is on the eastern edge of Destin, Florida, and provides bayside villas on Choctawhatchee Bay, four 18-hole golf courses and access to beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. On-site shopping and dining opportunities are available at the Market Shops at Sandestin, an outdoor mall. Sandestin's lone beachfront hotel, the Hilton, is accessible from U.S. Highway 98 via South Sandestin Boulevard. This AAA, four-diamond hotel features restaurants, studio suites and spa services.

Accommodations

• All of the guest rooms and suites in the Hilton's two hotel towers have beach-themed, modern décor and private balconies that offer views of either the Gulf of Mexico or the Sandestin Resort. The standard guest rooms offer a sitting area with a sleeper sofa, while the junior suites include bunk beds by the suite's front door. The upscale parlor suites have a separate living room area, two bedrooms (one with bunk beds and a private balcony. The hotel's two Presidential Suites are on the top floors of both towers, and their private balconies provide Gulf of Mexico views. These suites have fully furnished kitchens.

Dining

• The Hilton is home to fine dining at Seagar's, which was given a four-diamond award by AAA. This upscale restaurant features more than 800 selections of red and white wines, while the menu offers steak and seafood entrees. Seagar's lounge area provides live piano music in its lounge area. Casual eateries at the Hilton include Sandcastles Restaurant, which serves American-style cuisine and features the Hadashi Sushi Bar in its lounge area. This restaurant provides patio seating with views of the hotel's outdoor swimming pool. The hotel also has a deli-style restaurant, Picnix Market, which serves sandwiches and ice cream treats.

Serenity by the Sea Spa

• The Serenity by the Sea Spa features 11,000 square-feet of space and includes a fitness center, private lockers, whirlpool tubs, sauna and hair salon. The spa offers separate lounging areas for men and women. Various massage packages include the "Millennium Man," which includes a 50-minute facial treatment and 50-minute massage for men, and "Total Indulgence," a package that includes lunch, 80-minute massage, manicure, pedicure and 50-minute facial. The various forms of therapies include hot stone massages--where hot stones are laid on your body--and bamboo massages--a technique that involves rolling or tapping bamboo sticks.

Recreation

• The Hilton features three swimming pools: two outdoor and one indoor. However, one of the outdoor swimming pools is connected to the indoor swimming pool. A video game room is available in the basement level of the hotel. The hotel's private beach has volleyball courts, and guests can rent beach chairs and umbrellas from the hotel. The Hilton's guest are within walking distance of the 18-hole Dunes golf course, which is on Sandestin Resort's property. Bicycling rentals are available at the Market Shops of Sandestin mall, a 10-minute walk from the hotel.