8743 Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, Florida, United States | (888) 654-4528
Located right on the beach with gulf-facing rooms that have amazing views of the water
Condo-style rooms with ocean views from the balcony
Two outdoor pools and two hot tubs with free lounge chairs, plus an indoor whirlpool tub
Bikini Bob’s restaurant offers cheap bites
Fitness center, tennis courts, shuffle board, and basketball court
For kids there's an arcade and playground on the beach
Free Wi-Fi is available in some areas of the hotel
Free parking
Rooms can be rented for short or long stays
On-site grills and picnic tables
Many rooms need renovating
Past guests report mold and cleanliness issues
Fee for lounges on the beach
Music from nearby restaurants and bars can get loud
The Summit Condominiums is a 137-room condo complex located on the beach in Panama City. The units can be rented out by companies and private owners, and unlike a standard hotel, this can make for some inconsistencies. Guests complain about outdated rooms in need of repair, unattractive linens, and cleaning standards that can vary from room to room, along with the decor. Most guests seem to agree, though, that the location and outdoor amenities (sandy beach, several pools, beachfront bar) are great.
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Scene
Mid-range condo complex with two pools located directly on the beach
The Summit Condominiums is not a traditional hotel but a condo complex whose rooms can be rented for a night or an entire season. The property is situated on a stretch of white-sand Panama City Beach that looks out onto the Gulf of Mexico.The lobby is large with glass tile ceilings, and the check-in desk is separated from the main area by large windows and glass doors. The main views outside include the pools, the palm-tree lined walkways, and the resort’s main attraction: the beach.The fitness center could use some updating with its stained green carpeting and bulky old fitness equipment squeezed into a tiny space. The computer lab and meeting spaces are large and light, and the brightly colored Summit Tiki Bar and the pool deck are favorite places to hang out.
Location
Located on the beach across the road from several fast-food restaurants
Guests can walk out the hotel doors and onto the beach. Less than a five minute walk across the street is Hammerhead Fred’s restaurant, Subway, and Pizza Hut. A five-minute drive away is Hershey's Beach Ice Cream Shop, Angelo’s Steak Pit, Pineapple Willy’s, and Dirty Dick's Crab House. Rentals for pontoon boats, parasailing, banana boats, Jet Skis, and dolphin tours are all located within five minutes' walking distance of the resort on the beach. Free parking is plentiful.
Rooms
There are one-, two- and three-bedroom units available to rent
The one- and two-bedroom units can accommodate up to six people, and the three bedroom units sleep up to eight people. Though each of the units vary wildly in terms of maintenance and decor (the condos are privately owned) they all have balconies and nice gulf views. Every unit has a vacuum, a dishwasher, a full-size refrigerator, and an alarm clock -- that's all that's guaranteed. Some have laundry facilities and full kitchens. Each condo is supposed to have working TV sets, cookware, dishware, and utensils, but not all do. Some rooms have free Wi-Fi. Past guests have reported everything from broken dryers to mold, so be cautious (and realistic) when choosing a room.
Features
A condo complex with the amenities of a beach hotel
The features at The Summit Condominiums help make up for some of the issues with the condos. There's a poolside tiki bar, Bikini Bob’s restaurant with quick bites (open seasonally), and a convenience store selling packaged snacks and ice cream. A cramped fitness center includes treadmills, bicycles, and weight-lifting equipment. There are two outdoor pools, two outdoor hot tubs, and an indoor whirlpool tub. Lounge chairs are free at the pool and are available to rent on the sandy beach. Picnic tables and a BBQ grill are convenient for outdoor picnics. Kids appreciate the arcade, tennis courts, a shuffleboard court, and basketball courts. Free computers are available to use in the computer lab.