HOTEL EFFIE REVIEW
WHERE? Hotel Effie | Sandestin, Florida
WHEN? May 2023
WHY? 10 Year Wedding Anniversary Vacation
ACCOMMODATIONS: 7 Nights in the Executive Double Queen Suite
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Hotel Effie for inviting us and making our stay delightful!
7 Nights in Sandestin/30A, Florida
It’s no secret that we love heading to warmer weather when it comes to vacations. For our 10-year wedding anniversary, we decided to explore the 30A area of Florida! I’ve seen so many travel bloggers share the beauty of the area, and we just had to see it for ourselves!
Checking into Hotel Effie / Accommodations:
We headed to Hotel Effie from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) in our Jeep Destin Jeep Wrangler Rental! As we entered the Sandestin area, we were in awe. It was so expansive and idyllic for a perfect getaway. We parked at the Hotel Effie entrance and unloaded our belongings.
As we walked into the lobby, we were met with a gorgeous, elegant display of floral bouquets and gorgeous architectural features.
We grabbed a complimentary drink (lemonade, water, tea, or cocktail) and proceeded to check in. We were told our suite was on the top floor which made us very excited to see the views!
As we walked towards the elevator, we passed the Lobby Bar and the restaurant, Ovide, which was on our list of places to visit during our trip. The elevator lobby is stunning with beautiful stonework. Everything was simply elegant. There is also a section with Grandma Effie’s photo and rocking chairs to remember the hotel’s namesake, which is so sweet!
Some overall Hotel Effie amenities are:
- Complimentary access to all Hotel Effie activations
- Complimentary access to all Hotel Effie Wellness Activities
- Access to Hotel Effie’s 24 hour Fitness Center – located on the 3rd floor
- High-Speed WiFi
- Complimentary use of two Hotel Effie beach towels
- Complimentary in-room coffee
- Welcome cocktail, available from 2-7pm
- Access to Spa Lilliana
Amenities that Hotel Effie guests have on the larger Sandestin Resort:
- Two complimentary 4-hour bicycle rentals each day
- One-hour free kayak rentals, weather permitting
- One-hour of boogie boards, weather permitting
- Complimentary use of the Sandestin Shuttle
- Access to the Sandestin Beach
- Access to the following resort amenities:
- Four Championship Golf Courses
- 15 Tennis Courts (Clay and hard courts)
- Four Resort Pools
- Jolee Island
- Miles of Jogging/biking trails
- Basketball Courts
- Baytown Wharf & Marina – we loved visiting Baytown Wharf & Marina. You can walk out of the side of Hotel Effie straight into the pathway to Baytown Wharf. Little shops, restaurants, activities, and pubs line the streets with events always happening. If at any point you don’t have plans, take a walk to Baytown Wharf to fill the time and enjoy a wonderful stroll while you’re at it!
Whew! That is a huge list of amenities! It’s no wonder why this is a highly-rated place for couples and families! It has everything you’d want and need for an amazing vacation! 🙂
Some amenities of our Hotel Effie Executive Double Queen Suite are:
- 875 sq ft
- Accommodates 2-4 guests
- Private balcony
- Wet bar
- Bay View
- Pillow top mattress
- Hydration stations on each guest floor
- Powder room
- Luxurious linens
- Custom robe & slippers
- Mini Fridge
- In-room safe
- Steamer
- Lavazza espresso machine: coffee & tea
- In-room dining (upon request)
Here’s a quick video tour of our Hotel Effie Executive Double Queen Suite!
Our suite was so lovely! From the spaciousness to the cleanliness, to the absolutely beautiful views, we truly had it all! It was also really neat having two bathrooms (I’ve never had that in a hotel before!) It was super helpful for getting ready at any time of the day! We highly recommend a suite at Hotel Effie!
Ovide Restaurant at Hotel Effie
We had the pleasure of dining at Ovide, Hotel Effie’s restaurant. The food was seriously incredible. Our server was so friendly and had the best recommendations. We had:
- Appetizers: Oysters Rockefeller & Caesar Salad
- Beverage: l’ovide (Citrus Vodka) & Sunset Swing
- Entree: 8-ounce Tenderloin & Pan-Roasted Grouper
- Dessert: Blackberry Cobbler & Raspberry Sorbet
Everything was cooked to perfection. We haven’t had such a delicious dinner in a long time! If you’re in the area, we highly recommend you stop at Ovide for a cocktail and/or dinner!
Spa Liliana
At Hotel Effie’s Spa Liliana, we were thoroughly pampered and left extremely relaxed! We arrived early to enjoy the relaxation room. We had our comfy robes & slippers on, sipped on some tea, had some almonds as a snack, and sat quietly and listened to the relaxing spa music in the dimly lit room. When it was time for our couples massage, we were so excited! I explained to my masseuse that I wanted a very relaxing massage with medium pressure. Kevin was more open with his massage and the masseuse gave him a deep tissue version. We left feeling so relaxed with our stress melted away.
Spa Liliana has many treatments to choose from and I know you’ll find one that you’d enjoy. It’s definitely worth it to “Treat yo self!” 😉
The Verdict
As you can see, our stay was truly what we needed: relaxing, full of light adventure, and fun! Hotel Effie has gorgeous, modern accommodations and a wonderful staff. We’ve already been giving out recommendations to our friends and family to stay here! And honestly, I can see us coming back with our daughters – it’s simply a beautiful place perfect for a warm-weather vacation!
Perfect for: Couples and families with children of any age!
Overview of Hotel Effie, Sandestin, Florida
Overview of Sandestin + 30A Florida
Hope you enjoyed this review!
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You have shared some wonderful tips and recommendations on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in this beautiful area. I loved your photos and videos of the Hotel Effie, it looks like a luxurious and comfortable place to relax and enjoy.