Pros

  • Beachfront location with stunning views from many rooms
  • Spacious condos with full kitchens
  • Two outdoor pools and one indoor, plus four hot tubs
  • Private beach with direct access from property
  • Fitness center and spa with sauna and steam room
  • Family-friendly beach restaurant on-site
  • Barbecue grills on grounds
  • Free parking, Wi-Fi, and DVD rentals
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Cons

  • Property can feel overcrowded at times
  • Long waits for elevators
  • Spottier Wi-Fi on higher floors
  • Some units are a bit dated
  • Fees for housekeeping
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Bottom Line

The 30-story, mid-range Tidewater Beach Resort has 570 condos, all with free Wi-Fi, full kitchens, DVD players, and furnished balconies. The property provides fantastic views over the Gulf of Mexico along with direct access to a private stretch of beach. Condos are individually owned and rented out, so decor varies significantly from unit to unit, and though most rooms are bright and cheerful some can be a bit worn and outdated. There’s an array of facilities on-site, including indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a fitness center, and a beach restaurant for family meals. It’s worth noting, however, that many guests find the property overcrowded during peak times, with long waits for elevators and a jam-packed beach, and there are fees for things like housekeeping. Guests looking for a more standard hotel may want to try Holiday Inn Resort Panama Beach, which offers daily housekeeping and has a dedicated kids water area. 

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Kids Club
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

Tidewater Beach Resort

Scene

Popular and busy, but clean and well-maintained 

The Tidewater is generally clean and well-maintained time share condominium that doubles as a hotel. It has a busy, bustling feel and is popular with families and groups. Although this is a time share condo building, there are traditional public spaces usually found in a hotel, such as a welcoming lobby with a reception desk flanked by tourist information leaflets and seating areas. Many of the corridors are open-air, but those that are enclosed can feel humid and musty. A covered walkway takes guests to the parking garage, a useful feature that, like much of the property, gets quite full at times. There are several pools as well as a pool-side cafe and shop selling sundries, and the family-friendly Waves Bar & Grill is a simple space with bright furniture overlooking the beach. 

See More Scene

Location

Direct access to the beach and near top attractions

The resort is located on Panama City’s main street, Front Beach Road, which brings travelers up and down the Gulf of Mexico. Directly behind the property is the private, guest-only beach. In the immediate vicinity are residential properties, other high-rise condos, hotels, shops, and restaurants. Some of the area’s top tourist attractions are within easy reach, too. Pier Park and Russell-Fields Pier are both a 10- to 15-minute walk southeast, and the Gulf World Marine Park and the Museum of Man in the Sea are both a few minutes’ drive away in opposite directions. Shipwreck Island Water Park and Ripley's Believe It or Not! are both less than 15 minutes southeast by car, while Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is a 20-minute drive northeast. 

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Rooms

Spacious, bright, individually decorated condos

The 570 condos in the property are available in one-, two-, or three-bedroom configurations; each unit is individually decorated by the owner, so decor varies enormously, and some are outdated and show a good deal of wear and tear. All units are spacious and bright, with large windows, full kitchens, free local call access, and furnished balconies as well as DVD players and free Wi-Fi. The majority of units have fantastic views over the Gulf of Mexico and several have washer/dryers. Those on the higher floors have the best views, while those lower down tend to get better Wi-Fi signals and are easily accessible by stairs (as the elevators can be slow and crowded). Bathrooms have a homey style, and generally have tiled or vinyl flooring, modern fixtures, and bathtub/shower combos, though again, these features can vary. Toiletries are not provided and housekeeping is not provided, though for a fee cleaning can be had every other day. 

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Features

Private beach, numerous pools, and spa plus a family restaurant

The Tidewater has its own private stretch of sand and dedicated beach access directly behind the property. Beach chairs can be rented. During peak season, however, the beach gets very crowded and some feel the space isn't large enough to accommodate guests. The same can be said for aspects of the building itself; for example, despite there being seven elevators, there’s often a long wait to get on one, which leads to complaints. Still, the Tidewater does have a wide range of on-site facilities, including two lagoon pools with hot tubs, two indoor hot tubs, an indoor pool, a large fitness center, and a spa with sauna and steam room. All of these areas are clean and well-maintained, and the gym has a variety of equipment that includes free weights.

The lobby has a computer station and machines providing free, unlimited DVD rentals. Other entertainment includes a game room with arcade machines and a movie room. Wi-Fi is free throughout the building, with better signals on lower floors. Free parking in a covered garage and meeting rooms for business guests are also available. The on-site family-focused eatery is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a beach theme to complement its sea views. A coffee bar and small convenience store are additional perks, and during the summer guests can make use of a poolside tiki bar, barbecue grills, and a kids’ club (though there’s a daily fee for the latter).

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Tidewater Beach Resort

Scene

Popular and busy, but clean and well-maintained 

The Tidewater is generally clean and well-maintained time share condominium that doubles as a hotel. It has a busy, bustling feel and is popular with families and groups. Although this is a time share condo building, there are traditional public spaces usually found in a hotel, such as a welcoming lobby with a reception desk flanked by tourist information leaflets and seating areas. Many of the corridors are open-air, but those that are enclosed can feel humid and musty. A covered walkway takes guests to the parking garage, a useful feature that, like much of the property, gets quite full at times. There are several pools as well as a pool-side cafe and shop selling sundries, and the family-friendly Waves Bar & Grill is a simple space with bright furniture overlooking the beach. 

See More Scene

Location

Direct access to the beach and near top attractions

The resort is located on Panama City’s main street, Front Beach Road, which brings travelers up and down the Gulf of Mexico. Directly behind the property is the private, guest-only beach. In the immediate vicinity are residential properties, other high-rise condos, hotels, shops, and restaurants. Some of the area’s top tourist attractions are within easy reach, too. Pier Park and Russell-Fields Pier are both a 10- to 15-minute walk southeast, and the Gulf World Marine Park and the Museum of Man in the Sea are both a few minutes’ drive away in opposite directions. Shipwreck Island Water Park and Ripley's Believe It or Not! are both less than 15 minutes southeast by car, while Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is a 20-minute drive northeast. 

See More Location

Rooms

Spacious, bright, individually decorated condos

The 570 condos in the property are available in one-, two-, or three-bedroom configurations; each unit is individually decorated by the owner, so decor varies enormously, and some are outdated and show a good deal of wear and tear. All units are spacious and bright, with large windows, full kitchens, free local call access, and furnished balconies as well as DVD players and free Wi-Fi. The majority of units have fantastic views over the Gulf of Mexico and several have washer/dryers. Those on the higher floors have the best views, while those lower down tend to get better Wi-Fi signals and are easily accessible by stairs (as the elevators can be slow and crowded). Bathrooms have a homey style, and generally have tiled or vinyl flooring, modern fixtures, and bathtub/shower combos, though again, these features can vary. Toiletries are not provided and housekeeping is not provided, though for a fee cleaning can be had every other day. 

See More Rooms

Features

Private beach, numerous pools, and spa plus a family restaurant

The Tidewater has its own private stretch of sand and dedicated beach access directly behind the property. Beach chairs can be rented. During peak season, however, the beach gets very crowded and some feel the space isn't large enough to accommodate guests. The same can be said for aspects of the building itself; for example, despite there being seven elevators, there’s often a long wait to get on one, which leads to complaints. Still, the Tidewater does have a wide range of on-site facilities, including two lagoon pools with hot tubs, two indoor hot tubs, an indoor pool, a large fitness center, and a spa with sauna and steam room. All of these areas are clean and well-maintained, and the gym has a variety of equipment that includes free weights.

The lobby has a computer station and machines providing free, unlimited DVD rentals. Other entertainment includes a game room with arcade machines and a movie room. Wi-Fi is free throughout the building, with better signals on lower floors. Free parking in a covered garage and meeting rooms for business guests are also available. The on-site family-focused eatery is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a beach theme to complement its sea views. A coffee bar and small convenience store are additional perks, and during the summer guests can make use of a poolside tiki bar, barbecue grills, and a kids’ club (though there’s a daily fee for the latter).

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Fitness Center

  • Full Kitchen

  • Gameroom / Arcade

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Kids Club

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.