Sugar Sands By The Sea

Like so many hotels in the area, the Sugar Sands Inn and Suites is a homey affair that's showing its age. The hotel consists of two light-yellow, five-story beachfront towers and matching apartments just across the road. Outside, tall palm trees make a tropical welcome, while inside the lobby, framed pictures of sea creatures and a vivid blue front desk hint at an ocean theme. The hotel is in a quiet area and thus attracts mostly families and couples -- this isn't a spring break, party-hard destination by any stretch of the imagination (though spring breakers are welcome here). There's not a lot of indoor common space for guests to hang out -- just a few tables in the lobby -- but the outdoor areas all offer nice ocean views. With that in mind -- and given the outdoor grills and kitchen facilities in every room -- this hotel is best suited to travelers who want a little independence at reasonable rates right on the beach.

The majority of the rooms at Sugar Sands Inn and Suites are located directly on a sandy beach, while the remainder are just across State Road 30. The area is mostly residential, with condos and small beach hotels nearby. The wilder area of Panama City Beach -- the part of town where most of the spring breakers cluster -- is about 15 minutes east from here, meaning the immediate area stays relatively quiet. Pier Park is around an 11-minute drive and has shopping outlets, restaurants, and an IMAX cinema. It will take just over 10 minutes to reach by car to reach Gulf World Marine Park, while Panama City Beach Winery is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is within a 25-minute drive.  

Rooms at Sugar Sands Inn and Suites have a seaside vibe with white furnishings, beachy photographs, and sunny color schemes. That being said, the look isn't exactly contemporary, and the ubiquitous tropical- and floral-printed bedspreads on all beds hearken back to an earlier decade. Some of the furniture has seen better days, and most of the loveseats and chairs that we saw were sagging. Drop-tile ceilings also looked in need of some attention in certain units, with chips and rusty frames. Rooms have a budget look about them, with metal shelving exposed in many rooms, meaning things like ironing boards are hung on the wall and visible from the beds. 

There are a variety of room types at the hotel, but all of the beachfront rooms have furnished balconies offering excellent ocean views. All rooms come with either kitchens or kitchenettes, which are handy for saving money on eating out at restaurants for every meal. Kitchen/kitchenette features vary, but can include microwaves, full-sized refrigerators, ovens, coffeemakers, and limited cookware/serving ware. Additional features include air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs. Rooms are also available with separate bedrooms and living rooms -- some include multiple bedrooms. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos or walk-in showers, and basic toiletries and makeup remover towelettes are a nice touch. 

The hotel’s best feature is its location on a flat, sandy beach. The property has a seasonally heated outdoor pool and a whirlpool with lounge chairs on a brick deck. There's also a picnic area with picnic tables and charcoal grills. A white, wooden gazebo with bench seating offers a covered spot to take in the ocean views. There are vending machines and an ATM machine in the lobby, and coin-operated laundry machines are available on-site. Parking and Wi-Fi are free.