Romantic Gulf Coast Getaway at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa

Each year for our anniversary, my husband and I have intentions of taking a romantic getaway to a gulf coast beach. Life always seems to get in the way, but this year, the moon and stars aligned providing us the opportunity to run away for a long weekend of relaxation and romance. We were searching for a place that was on the beach, but also had a spa and room service. We found what we were looking for in the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, located on South Walton‘s Sandestin Beach.

It’s sometimes hard for parents to find time as a couple for a romantic getaway, but I’ve always stressed the importance of remembering that you were a couple before you became parents, and later on down the road it will be just the two of you again. It’s always nice to make that effort to reconnect, no matter how big or how small your budget might be. During the fall, there are plenty of travel deals to be found for a romantic getaway, including a beachfront destination.

We planned on two nights at the beach, with no agenda and no responsibilities. We packed our essentials: swimsuits, flipflops, a big hat, sunscreen, Community Coffee, and Abita Beer. All our gear was packed in our new truck and we headed east. We listened to XM Radio during the drive, singing and laughing at songs from the 70’s and 80’s. We finally settled on Margaritaville Radio to get us in the beach mood.

The Property

The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa is a full service hotel operated independently inside Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Sandestin Beach is one of the 15 beach neighborhoods of South Walton and offers a range of activities and attractions for all ages and interests. You get the Hilton Hotels and Resorts service with the advantage of being inside an amazing destination such as Sandestin.

The resort offers a number of restaurants onsite, including Seagar’s for fine dining, Hadashi Sushi Bar, casual dining at Sandcastles, Barefoot’s Beach Bar and Grill, Picnix Market, and The Coffee Shop. There’s also a conference area onsite, along with Serenity by the sea spa, resort golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, and even a shuttle for guests to explore the 2400 acre Sandestin Resort. Parking is available at $10 for self park and $20 for valet parking.

There are two towers, with one offering family friendly rooms and the other offering a quieter side. We stayed in the quieter tower located in the same building as the spa, in room 348.

Our Room

We stayed in an Executive Beachfront King room, which offered a wrap around balcony and views of the beach from all windows. The room was much more spacious than I anticipated, with a full seating area, dining area, comfortable king bed, and even an area with microwave and fridge. The bathroom area had two sinks, one inside the full bathroom and the other in a dressing area. I was excited to see the Peter Thomas Roth bath amenities in the room. The room was decorated in soothing beach tones. I just loved sitting on that balcony watching the clear aqua water kiss the white sandy shore.

Dining

Barefoot’s Bar and Grill is an poolside venue open until early evening that offers a view of the Gulf of Mexico. The lunch menu offers typical beach fare, including nachos, burgers, and fish tacos, along with a signature cocktail menu. We enjoyed a late lunch our first afternoon, which consisted of Baja Tacos, a cheeseburger, and some adult beverages. The food was good and the service was fast, even during a busy time of the day. The next day as we lounged by the pool, we sampled the Ultimate Nachos and had a few more frozen libations poolside.

Room service is something I don’t always indulge in, but since we were into the ultimate relaxing romantic getaway, we ordered a late night meal from room service. Our ordered was delivered in a timely manner and the food (crab cake sliders and a hot dog) was actually pretty darn good. The price wasn’t outrageous for room service, either.

The Spa

The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa offers an onside spa facility Serenity by the sea. It is located in the lower tower on the ground level and is a luxurious retreat. The spa offers separate men and women’s facilities with steam room, sauna, relaxation room, full dressing area, lockers, and whirlpool. I enjoyed a Spa Pedicure treatment which included use of the relaxation lounge and spa amenities, making for a very relaxing Saturday. This spa is popular with guests, so be sure to book your treatment in advanced. If you’d like to spend the day relaxing at the spa without a treatment, there is a $20 day use fee for hotel guests.

The Pool

There are two outdoor pools and one indoor pool at the Hilton Sandestin Beach. We checked out pool towels from the towel hut and claimed two pool loungers at the smaller outdoor pool. There are cabanas available for $139 per day, which includes luxury lounge chairs, shade, table and chairs, and a luxury ice chest. I was satisfied with my poolside retreat with its view of the Gulf.

The Beach

The reason for the romantic getaway was to relax at the beach. It was wonderful and peaceful to inhale the fresh coastal air, listen to the waves lap the shore, and watch dolphins swim in the clear water. Each morning I watched the sunrise as I sipped my morning coffee, and each evening we watched the sun set. One evening we set out, leaving footprints in the sand as we found our perfect little quiet area of the beach. The sun set as we sipped Champagne while the stars began to peek through the dusky sky.

Overall our romantic getaway at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa was all that I could imagine. We weren’t looking for adventure, even though those activities could be found onsite. We just wanted a quiet weekend away from the everyday craziness that is normal life. We did step off property one evening to explore the other beach neighborhoods of South Walton, but for me, I only wanted to sit on that balcony, sipping a glass of wine, and finding a few days of peacefulness.

To book your own romantic getaway at the Hilton Sandestin Beach, visit www.SandestinBeachHilton.com. There are a variety of packages available and if you are a Hilton HHonors member, you can use points for nights at this beachfront property. I recommend this property if you are looking to stay a few nights at the beach, can book at a good rate, or use your Hilton HHonors points for nights.

Disclosure: Our room was at a reduced rate and the spa treatment was compliments of the property. We planned on staying at this property regardless of any discounts offered.