Destin West?

Is anyone familiar with this resort? We will be in Destn with our 3 yr old, so I really like the idea of the big pools and lazy river. BUT, we really want to be beachside with gulfviews. From what I can tell, some have ';bayviews'; so I%26#39;m really looking for specific info on what condo to book (i.e. what floor, what part of the building etc).

Any info??

Thanks!

Destin West?

A helpful website is destinresorts.com. That is Dale E Peterson rental co. Look at Okaloosa Island %26amp; Destin West Gulfront. There are virtual tours of the rooms %26amp; can give you more specific info. Looks like a great place.

Destin West?

Destin West Sandpiper is a very nice condo. My husband and I stayed here back in 2005 and it was near about brand new. The condos are nice sizes and the pools are to die for. I loved the lazy river and waterfall pool. The Destin West Pelican, Sandpiper, and Heron are bay side and the Destin West is beach side. All you have to do is drive across the street if you stay bay side and park in the Destin West parking lot to go to the beach. You can use their facilities as well. We booked with Dale Peterson as well. I hope this helps. I would love to go back and hope to very soon!

Cases

I want a case like on the advert on this Orlando forum page. You know, leather case with stickers placed strategically onto the sides telling the rest of the passengers where you have been recently.

Can anyone tell me where in Orlando you can buy these little flags or pictures of Orlando and do they come with adhesive.

If not it is easy to purchase a Pritt Stick from the Dollar shop

Cases

Such stickers may be purchased at souvenir shops, %26amp; are self adhesive. Only purchase 1 sticker from each destination, or you will appear a fool with an assortment of orlando stickers on your precious bag. Also, place the stickers randomly about the bag, posed on-angle, to give the appearance of ';devil may care attitude.'; Most importantly, inform your wife of your special up-coming purchase, so she may pick a seat on the aircraft well away from you %26amp; your little bag.

Cases

I%26#39;m still looking for a sticker that says ';My other case is a Pierre Cardin Chateau';

Orlando will be my first, because I haven%26#39;t done it before.

Is there a special way to put the first one on?

Do you put it right in the middle and then future ones can be slapped on anywhere or should i just pop it in in the top right hand corner?

I bet you have had loads in the past - to the point where you are scraping them off.

My case is in great condition do you think I should cover it in a bubble wrap for the journey?

vegas I am surprised at you!

Needing stickers to show off! How ostentatious, how crass!

Surely people can tell by the look on your face, the tone of your voice, your manner of walking, in fact your whole demeanour that you are a well travelled sophisticat.

Personally, I don%26#39;t think you should use the case until you have at least 3 stickers. otherwise, you%26#39;ll look like that kid on the first day of school, with his brand new shoes, %26amp; Incredible Hulk lunch box. Wait to get a few more, or get someone to get you one from their destination. Too bad nick left in a huff, or he could have fetched you one from Vegas. That%26#39;s not cheating because you%26#39;ve been there, you just lacked the good sense to buy yourself a sticker.

How would anyone ever see your luggage, anyway? Doesn%26#39;t your valet follow behind in the other limo so you don%26#39;t have to deal with such pedestrian issues?

Why does everyone say Nick is gone? I thought he was in Las Vegas and then driving to the Grand Canyon and then to LA for a Lakers game.

Oh yes we are well aware of the whole itinerary.

No Butlers,valets or au pairs. I fetch and carry around here.

It%26#39;s just that all of you have these lovely retro leather cases covered in stickers and i want to be the same as you guys. I think I know the sticker that Nick would bring back - and it aint %26#39; had a lovely time at the Luxor%26#39; . Hope he does though.

Where should I stick it?

I know a great Tanner who%26#39;s been %26#39;collecting%26#39; at Barmvitzvahs.

He%26#39;s going to make you a small purse, which he guarantees will turn into a case once you%26#39;ve stroked it!

Vegas, I believe the semigirl would like to tell you where to stick it!

How busy will the parks/hotels be in early March?

I am wondering if we are getting too close to the busy season if we go then or if we are better off waiting until after spring break? My concern would be if we push to close to May it starts to get really hot then. With two young kids, we are trying to avoid the peak crowds and crazy heat if possible. Beginning to wonder if this is a good idea after all :)

Thanks!

How busy will the parks/hotels be in early March?

The 3rd week of March through the 3rd week of April is considered peak spring break period. If you vacation the first two weeks of March you should be O.K. the parks won%26#39;t be at low capacity but you should find the crowds manageable. As far as temps are concerned your going at a good time as you don%26#39;t have to worry about the oppressive heat and humidity that the summer months bring! Generally the temps are in the high 70%26#39;s.

How busy will the parks/hotels be in early March?

The only thing working against you is the ESPN weekend at WDW the first weekend of March.

Since many sports celebrities will be all over WDW that weekend, I would expect it to be pretty crowded those days. Otherwise, the first of March will be much better than later in the month.

The further in the month of March you get, the more crowds arrive. Also, March is spring training baseball month and the Atlanta Braves have spring training there at Disney, so that brings in even more people.

We usually go the second week of March and it is always pretty darn crowded that week. Weather, however, is usually very nice.

Thanks to both of you for the great information. I had no idea about the ESPN weekend. Dh would probably think it was cool but I would rather avoid the crowds. I also did not know that Atlanta did their ST there either. Being from NY I can tell you we are not Braves fans - lol :). I am really hoping if we go during the week it will help. Thx again.

Hello!

I`m from Brazil and I`ll be at Orlando on March,10 tru March16. Considering the spring break, would you people tell it is bad time? I know the parks will be crowded, but my question is: Will it be the worst period to go? If I anticipate one week and arrive at Orlando on March, 3 and stay until March 10, will it be less crowded? THANK YOU ALL!!! I DO NEED A HELP ON THIS MATTER!!!

It%26#39;s going to be crowded Dedeca however the massive crowds don%26#39;t arrive until the third week in March.

Thank you healin1! So, I think I麓m going to reeschedule my arrival date in Orlando for March, 3, I guess it麓s the best option I have right now. THANK YOU!!!

Last Question.... What do you guys think about the following days: February 24 thru March 03. Do you think Parks will be ';less crowded';???? I have to pay USD 150,00 to tranfer my flight date once I have already booked and pay for it, and I want to do it it right. If I could, I would postpone my vacation from April 15 ahead, but I can麓t. Thank you all!!!! Dedeca :-)

Just FYI the spring break for High Schools in Canada is the week of March 11th to 17th. As well the PGA Bay Hill Invitational is also that same week.

Thank you JMSH!!!! If I decide to go earlier these dates, I guess I麓ll be fine!!!! :-X

If this is any indication - the moderates %26amp; value resorts are nearly fully booked from March 5 - 12.

Disney Magic Express

Hi, just wanted to ask if you can still use the Magic Express when you are hiring a car. Can you use it to look after your bags while you go out and sort your rental car or do you have to take the bus as well?

Disney Magic Express

Pretty sure if you book Magical Express, you have to ride the bus to the Disney resort.

Disney Magic Express

If you don%26#39;t take the bus,you can%26#39;t transport your luggage on it.

If you do the ME can you pick up and take on your own luggage? Don%26#39;t want to wait 3-hours to have it delivered to resort.

Thanks guys, ultra helpful as always!!! ruleoffour, I%26#39;m nearly sure you can take the Magic Express but take your own luggage as I%26#39;ve read people in reviews doing that rather than wait for the luggage to be delivered.

Yes you can take your own luggage on the ME bus,just don%26#39;t put the tags on it and get it from baggage claim as you usually would,take it out to the bus and the driver will put it underneath the bus. Much MUCH better than waiting for your bags to show up...whenever. It%26#39;s certainly more convenient to just check them at your home airport and then have them show up in your room but it is much better and less stressful in my opinion to skip this ';convenience'; and have all your stuff with you when you want it,not when Disney (actually Mears) gets around to delivering it.

Thanks, good to know... especially since we%26#39;ll be arriving so late at night.

Then absolutely take your own luggage or you will have some polite bellhop knocking on your door at 3 am.

One thought is to use the Magical Express and then only rent your car for the days you%26#39;ll actually need it.

Here%26#39;s a link with good information: http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/dme.html

Hotel for Bachelorette Party

We%26#39;re planning a bachelorette party weekend in South Beach in June07 and need recomendations on where to stay. We were originally going to stay at the Fountainbleau in a 2 bedroom suite, but we found out that the hotel is undergoing renovations until 2008. Is there anything comprable to Fountainbleau? We prefer to stay in a suite so we can all be together.

Any suggestions would be great!

Hotel for Bachelorette Party

I am not sure if the Bentlies or the Strand have two bedrooms

but they would be more than comprable. One of the

nicest suites at the Savoy is their Oceanfront two bedroom

suite. The Savoy has a great pool and beach setup. It is located

south of fifth on Ocean Drive and walkable to all the good

clubs and restaurants. There have been a few recent reviews

on this site of the Fountainbleu that did not mind the construction.

You can call the hotel and see if the construction will be

more of a problem in June. Hope this helps.

Hotel for Bachelorette Party

Hello Belle 1004,

Actually, unless it was by design, I would not have recommended the Fontainebleau as it%26#39;s some two miles from what most consider South Beach and quite frankly, too stuffy for a bachelorette party (at least it was the last time I stayed there which admittedly was before it%26#39;s new owners). However it is very big and not much charm.

The good news is rates for hotels is about at their lowest in June. (The bad news is that there is a reason - and that is because it is HOT during the day - more on that later).

To get the most out of SoBe, you really want to be in SoBe. Being able to walk out your hotel%26#39;s front door and be in the action as well as being able to walk out your hotel%26#39;s back door and be on the beach is HUGE.

Hotels south of say 22nd Street and north of say 5th Street all are in the South Beach area. You could stay south of 5th Street but the walk to areas such as Lincoln Road and some of the popular clubs may get a little old.

A hotel comparable in SoBe most comparable to the Bleau would be Loews. It is very large - and like Bleau, doesn%26#39;t really have that SoBe charm or Art Deco feel to it. Don%26#39;t get me wrong, it%26#39;s a very nice 4-star hotel and a quality product but not unlike any 4-star hotel in any other city USA. It%26#39;s more of a family and convention hotel that is more conservative than many of the SoBe hotels (for example, topfree sunbathing in their pool area is not allowed).

As I typically don%26#39;t stay in suites, I can%26#39;t speak to what hotels in SoBe have suites that sleep more than four. However my guess is several hotels have rooms with adjoining inside door to combine two rooms. Oh... before I forget, also know that many hotels in SoBe charge a fair amount more for putting more than two (2) guests in one room.

One option that I think would be very cool if you could get enough rooms at the DoubleTree Surfcomber - 2nd Floor - Ocean View - South Building. There are four (or maybe five) rooms (some connected with an inside door) that all share a common outdoor balcony looking over the pool/courtyard/beach/ocean. It%26#39;s not a suite per se, but you would have a common (albeit outdoor) area. Mmmm - just an idea.

Other hotels you might consider include Royal Palm, Ritz-Carlton and Sagamore. If money is no concern, also check out Delano and Shore Club. All of these hotels are directly on the ocean and easy walking distance to fun clubs, restaurants, Lincoln Road Mall, Ocean Drive, liquor stores, CVS and Walgreen%26#39;s, etc.

There are also lots of great hotels on Ocean Drive. They are across the street from the beach so a very short walk. That beach tends to be a little more public as the beach area behind the hotels I mentioned earlier are mostly (but not all) hotel guests.

We ran into a bachelorette party at Jazid (great dance jazz club) that last time we were there. They were having a great time and I know you all will as well!

Cheers!

Belle%26gt;

You want to be on South Beach - not at the F%26#39;bleau.

The Hilton Grand Vacation on Ocean has 2 bedroom suites. The suites at Casa Grande on Ocean are also big - as are the Strand... (www.thestrandoceandrive.com)

NOW%26gt;%26gt; the best insider tip I can offer is that the Bentley has a penthouse (#4) with 2 bedrooms and a sleeper in the living room that%26#39;ll be great for your girls to party!! Just call the front desk and ask for Dominick%26#39;s cell phone number to get the hook up.

http://www.thebentleyhotel.com/

Bentley Hotel

877.236.8510 Toll Free

305.538.1700 Phone

305.532.4865 Fax

Info and pix here:

tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34439-d8697鈥?/a>

Take everone to Taverna Opa one night to eat, drink and dance on the tables with the hot Greek waiter boyz... Brunch on Sunday at Nemo (100 Collins) and hit Big Pink for great diner/comfort food all day and night.

The Bentley is on 5th which is near all the good clubs (Opium/Prive, Nikki, Fifth) PLUS you get to use the beach facilities at the sister hotel ';Bentley Beach Club'; on South Pointe - about 3 blocks away and adjoining Nikki Beach Club. The beach club has a gym, a big pool, 2 plunge tubs (hot %26amp; cold) - and the Bentley has a rooftop pool deck with a jacuzzi...

The Beach Club has a penthouse as well that%26#39;s awesome...

Pix:

thebentleybeachhotel.com/acc-penthouse.asp

Have a GREAT TIME!!

AG

I planned a bachelorette party in South Beach last June. We initally wanted a suite as well, but couldn%26#39;t find one that wasn%26#39;t either too well or out of our price range. We ended up at the Royal Palm, which we loved. The location is great, and while we didn%26#39;t get a suite (though I believe they do have them), we were able to get 3 adjoining rooms. Its close to Lincoln Road and everything on Ocean Drive, and we greatly preferred the hotel beach over the public beaches. Though if money is no object, I second the Shore Club! :-) No matter what, you%26#39;ll have a great time in SOBE...we had a blast!

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Emerald Shores Hotel

I have booked a room at the Emerald Shores Hotel for race week, just wondering if I made a good decision or not? The fact that they have availability this late makes me second guess my decision! Any feedback would be great.

Thanks

Emerald Shores Hotel

Did you follow the other post by BToledo? Some info about Emerald Shores is there. It is a newer property, I don%26#39;t think you will regret your decision. They are located in Daytona Beach Shores, you can get to the track from the shores using some alternate routes than the main one from the middle of Daytona. Don%26#39;t second guess it, just relax and have a great time.

Emerald Shores Hotel

Emerald Shores is a very decent property.

It is south right across the street from Cow Licks Ice Cream.

It is being renovated now -- so do not be surprised at minor construction going on there.

I am not sure how many of the ';Hotel Rooms'; have now been converted to condos...

The amenities are medi-orce.

The balconies are standing room only.

The prices of the newly renovated condos are higher than re-sale down the street.

I personally thought that the old rooms --- were better appointed than the renovated ones.

They are putting granite counter tops in and not re-doing the cabinets..

Like lining a sow%26#39;s ear with silk. (IMHO) Granite is a B%26amp;^%* to keep looking spot free.

You will be windexing all day...on your vacation LOL

I personally would not purchase there....but I would stay there if only looking for a decent place to crash if the price is fair.

Renata

Emerald Shores is not a newer property----it is an older property current being converted to condos.

They are renovating all the rooms and have made sure that the building and all of the amenities there are in top shape in order to sell the condos....

You will see the resort at it%26#39;s best!!

Renata

The Emerald Shore is three years old. That is new. They are upgrading some of the rooms. They have redone the lobby. The pool is small. Nice mid-price property.

neutrogena

Daytona 500 hotels

Yes, I know this is a hopeless cause, but can anyone tell me where I can still find a hotel somewhat near Daytona for the the weekend of the Daytona 500? We got some extra tickets last minute and now my brother in law wants to come. What towns should we start looking in? I still see things in available in Orlando but I thought maybe there was a better direction to stay so that the drive in on Sunday won%26#39;t be so bad?

Any thought or suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Daytona 500 hotels

At this point in time I would head for the Orlando/Sanford area hotels. In order out of Daytona look for Deland, Deltona, Sanford, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, Maitland then Orlando.

Pack your patience and you%26#39;ll have a great time!!!

Daytona 500 hotels

hi smartypants, saw your post and if you will call the famous shores motel, daytona beach shores asap they still have rooms available (i just talked to them) 386-767-2943. i work across the street and live close by and have heard nothing but good. the guy i talked to said they have a three day minimum but alot around here have a 9 day min so 3 is a good thing. anyway give them a call. hope it helps. dave

Hawaiian Inn Resort still had a few rooms

386-255-5411

Renata

The Daytona Beach Official site daytonabeach.com has a booking engine and there are some rooms available.