15100 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, Florida, United States | (586) 210-9239
Walking distance to the beach and family attractions
Condo-style units, all with kitchens or kitchenettes
Pool with Gulf of Mexico views
Children eat for free at Sharky's restaurant across the street
Kids' club during the summer season
Fitness center with variety of machines
Free Wi-Fi and parking
Guest reception across the street
Lots of extra fees on top of the room rate
Slow elevators
Origin at Seahaven is a mid-range seaside condo resort, with 329 units spread over 17 floors. Guest rooms include kitchens or kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, and DVD players and some have washers and dryers. Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant is across the road and there's a great outdoor pool on-site that has views of the ocean. However, there are a few problems with this property. The front desk is managed by Emerald View Resorts, not Seahaven, and Seahaven's front desk is in a separate building across the street. There are extra fees on top of the normal rates, including a room charge, a cleaning fee, a damage waiver fee, and even a booking fee. Most of the fees are due to the fact that the hotel is popular with Spring Breakers, who are known to cause damage to rooms. There have also been complaints of guests needing towels and not being able to get hold of any, as well as basic necessities like toilet paper not being replaced. The parking is free -- but the lot is often full and guests have to find space in the overflow parking lot which is further away. Travelers may wish to compare rates at the nearby Legacy by the Sea & Beachbreak, which have comparable rates, are right on the beach, and have better guest satisfaction overall.
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Scene
Beach-themed property with lots of rules
Origin at Seahaven is an all-condo property that's popular with families and groups -- including Spring Breakers. The lobby has a beachy feel, with potted palm trees and wooden flooring that resembles decking. On the walls are beachy artifacts such as framed shells and starfish, which add to the seaside vibe. Funkily colored spotlights and a large parasol hang over the front desk. A coffeemaker is provided for guests in the corner. There's a private boardwalk to the beach from the parking lot and outdoor showers for rinsing off sand. Other public spaces include the outdoor pool and hot tub at the center of the U-shaped property, which looks out on the Gulf of Mexico. Guests can seek shade under the fronds of palm trees, but the property lacks parasols to keep out the rays.
Location
Close to a cluster of family attractions, with a restaurant across the road
Origin is right on the beach near a number of restaurants. Pier Park, which is about a 15-minute walk or a five-minute drive from the hotel, has small boutiques, restaurants, large department stores, a movie theater, and an amusement park. The Gulf World Marine Park is about a five-minute stroll from the lobby door, and has dolphin shows and shark feeding. Hidden Lagoon Golf and Racetrack is a 10-minute walk away and has mini-golf and a go-kart track. Shipwreck Island Waterpark is about a 10-minute drive away and has log flumes, waterslides, and a lazy river. Frank Brown Park is a 15-minute drive away, and has picnic areas, trails, and a saltwater fishing pier, as well as tennis courts and soccer fields.
Rooms
Large, bright condos with well-stocked kitchens that have washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers.
Origin offers Efficiencies, Studios, and One- to Four-Bedroom Condos. Units have a neutral decor with cream walls and plain carpets. Rooms are bright and airy, and most have views onto the seafront. Artwork on the walls tends to be seaside themed. The big wooden beds have funky bedspreads. Air-conditioning and powerful ceiling fans keep things cool. Some guests have complained about the quality of the sofa beds, saying that they are uncomfortable. Large balconies feature in some of the rooms, but they're spartan and don't have any plants to soften the scene.All units include kitchens or kitchenettes and are well-stocked, with dishwashers as well as extras such as pizza cutters and blenders. Some also have washing machines and dryers. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos combo and are modern, although be prepared to buy your own toilet paper if the supplies run out, as the housekeeping staff reportedly aren't great at restocking necessities.
Features
Free kids' club in the summer months, fitness center, and an on-site movie theater
The hotel is affiliated with Sharky's Restaurant across the road, which has a free kids' club in the summer months and a pirate ship playground to keep the little ones amused. Kids eat free when accompanied by paying adults. The outdoor swimming pool and hot tub overlook the Gulf of Mexico. The fitness center is located in a bright room just off the swimming pool area and offers a range of cardio and weight machines along with free weights, but children under 15 are not allowed to enter unless accompanied by an adult. There's also a movie theater that has a reasonably sized screen, but there are better options at nearby Pier Park. Of course, the best feature is the white sandy beach
