Beach Tower By The Sea

The motel is pretty, with an unusual blue roof that blends in flawlessly with the clear skies of the Emerald Coast. The entrance is decorated with two American flags and a pair of cast-iron benches sit at either side of the doors. Inside, the blue color scheme continues, but this shade is a robins-egg blue that makes the lobby look bright and beachy. To the right of the entrance there's an ATM and a rack of brochures on area attractions. A coffeemaker stands in the corner, for free caffeine pick-me-ups for weary travelers. It's not the most modern space, and the office ceiling tiles add to the old-fashioned vibe.

Other public spaces include a covered patio area with a selection of vending machines and a 50-inch flat-screen TV. As well as comfortable wicker seating, the patio area has a pleasant mural of a beach scene and potted aloe plants. The patio looks out onto the beach and a row of palm trees, and gets lovely sunset views in the evening. The motel is laid-back, but it's not not a party spot, making it popular with couples and families who are looking for relaxed and chilled-out accommodation. 

The motel is right next to a water-sports rental company, so guests can whizz up and down the seafront on jet-skis and even inflatable whales (a quirky take on the banana longboat). It's a 10-minute walk from Shipwreck Island Waterpark, which makes for a great day out for families and has wave pools, a lazy river, and a handful of other flume rides. A Hooters restaurant is a five-minute drive away, and a Burger King is about a 10-minute walk away. Publix Supermarket at Breakfast Point is a five-minute drive away, useful for stocking up on groceries for those staying in rooms with kitchenettes. Goofy Golf is a five-minute walk from the motel and has a decent mini-golf course. Half Hitch County Pier is also a five-minute stroll from the lobby door and is a good spot for fishing.  

The rooms are comfortable and clean, and have a neutral decor and wall-to-wall carpets. The queen-size beds are framed with simple wooden headboards, plush comforters, and good-quality throw cushions. Some rooms have flat-screen TVs, although a few still have dated tube-style TVs. All rooms have balconies with views of the beautiful palm-fringed beach and ocean, which is small but has space for a couple of chairs. Rooms with kitchenettes have microwaves, fridges, and ovens, plus stoves with unattractive tinfoil-lined burners. Bathrooms are small but have plenty of fluffy towels and free Oxygen-brand toiletries as well as shower/tub combos. All rooms come with coffeemakers and irons/ironing boards. Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the hotel. The bedroom furniture isn't anything fancy, but there's plenty of closet space in the big wardrobes.

Beach Tower Resort Motel has some lovely outdoor spaces, thanks to the new owners' renovations. Along with direct beach access, the motel offers an outdoor heated swimming pool with lounge chairs. The World's Smallest Beach Bar is a sweet little beach hut that serves frozen mixed drinks, wine, and beer, and guests can sit back and enjoy them in either the covered patio or on the blue benches that surround the tiki hut. However, it's only open in peak season and while there's no on-site restaurant, the owners have been known to occasionally barbecue for guests, free-of-charge, on special occasions and holidays. In the covered patio area there's a 50-inch wall-mounted flat-screen TV and the motel has free parking and coin-operated laundry facilities. Police officers, firefighters, and active military get a 10% discount off rack rates.