Hotel Effie Sandestin, Autograph Collection

Nice hotel. I didn't receive a suite upgrade for Titanium status/special occasion trip, but did receive a room with a soaking tub per my request. Room was comfortable with sufficient set up for working remotely. I appreciated the welcome amenity and birthday wishes.||Didn't use any aspect of the $45 resort fee. Please consider an ethical practice of charging people for only what they use.||Service at breakfast was very good with excellent options and variety. Food quality was good. I would have really loved the additional option of being able to order smoothies and fresh pressed juices.||The live music was very good. I didn't have time to sit and enjoy it which was a shame but when passing through the lobby to get to the elevators it was enjoyable.

We stayed 5 nights in December, and could not be happier with the service and amenities. The staff was unbelievably helpful and attentive, even for the special requests we had throughout the week. Over the course of our stay, we spent time at the lobby bar, the rooftop bar/pool, the restaurant, and the spa. All were amazing and exceeded expectations. We stayed at Hotel Effie expecting to mostly spend time at the surrounding bars, restaurants, and golf courses, but found ourselves enjoying most of our time at the hotel itself. As someone who has spent years staying at Marriott properties, I could not recommend Hotel Effie more.

I work in the hotel industry and I have a certain understanding about how service should be for a top tier hotel and this was not up to those standards at all. I will start by saying The hotel is very pretty and clean. The toffee is incredible. Some of the staff are very good at there jobs and I appreciate that. Those being the manager at the front desk and the concierge he was extremely cheerful and really seemed to want to help so thank you. Also room service individual was very nice. Hence the 3 stars otherwise it would be a 2. But here is my experience and as to why I rate it as low as I do. First upon arrival the valet was reading a book and not ushering me or coming up to address me. I had to roll down my window and ask for assistance. I asked what the self parking option was and he sent me a 1/4 mile away into a field when there was actually a self parking option right next to the hotel. That I was paying for. Second. Upon checking in with someone I was not instructed about my benefits until I asked and a manager came over. The manager was incredibly nice I did appreciate that and helpful. Even upgraded my room. She was also incredibly communicative via text. A+. Third. when getting service I felt like I was constantly trying to find help. We had to come back twice to finally get a someone to help us. The restaurant was impossible to find a hostess. And the only helpful individual at the restaurant was an Asian man who was very friendly and went out of his way to assist us. Fourth- room service was nice but it was hard to get ahold of I had to call twice then called down to the front desk to get connected. Took 10 minutes to get someone. Fifth and the reason I'm writing this review, I was charged 300 dollars for some unknown thing. I have no receipt in regards to this charge. I wouldn't have wrote this review if it was just the above mentioned frustrations. I understand hotels have bad days but the cumulative errors forced me to air my grievances

We loved this hotel! The front desk were super friendly and professional. The room was brand new, very spacious, and perfectly sound-isolated, so we finally had a great sleep 😴 Breakfast was amazing—fresh, varied, and truly delicious. As Europeans, it’s often hard to find good breakfasts in the US, but here it exceeded our expectations 🥹 We also tried their restaurant for dinner and absolutely loved it. The rooftop bar is a wonderful bonus—the sunset views are stunning, and the atmosphere is perfect for relaxing in the evening. Every day they serve freshly baked cookies for guests, and honestly, those cookies are worth dying for! The hotel is located in a secure residential area, has a big parking lot, and overall feels very safe and comfortable. Everything about this place made our stay unforgettable.

We stayed in Effie for one night! Large room , nice amenities, nice staff! Location is confuse, hard to find the hotel tower! Far from the beach, shuttle runs every half an hour, but makes so many stops, that it took 30 minutes to the shore!|What annoyed me is the resort fee! We were supposed to pay $45 for night to have beach chairs, umbrellas , towels , but we stayed in low season , in a Winter windy and foggy day! We were guests for less than 24 Hours and they charged me this amount of money for things that I havent use! I asked for the front desk agent to waive me of this fez, but, she claimed that it was the hotel policy and she couldnt do so! Too much useless money! The hotel should review this high fee for Winter months!

Have you ever had an experience so good that when it was time for check out you didn't want to leave?....So we didn't!!! We stayed 2 extra nights past our planned departure and that still didn't feel long enough. The location is perfect, its own little town with bars, and eateries, candy stores and something for the entire family. The rooms were immaculate, the service top notch and the experience 5 STAR!!!|We came here on our honeymoon after having a destination wedding at a mansion which although everything was perfect when we arrived at Hotel Effie and experience the hospitality we questioned if we should have came here from the beginning(lol). We were greeted by Tatiana and Carlos with warm smiles and a willingness to help. Even the other front desk workers not checking us in spoke to us and share where they were from as this place is so diverse and rich with culture.|Then we met Gumby who promptly gathered our bags and took us to our room. He was personable and full of personality.|Shalimar the bartender and now adopted friend for life is a breath of fresh air. I don't drink and my husband loves wine but I didn't feel out of place as i do at some bars. Though she was the bartender she made us feel we were guests at her house and she offered him a drink, as a result I was able to sit at the bar with my now husband and have conversations with him her and several guests. Thanks for making a welcoming home like environment.|These last 2 people we met on our final night at bingo...and although we didn't win anything, our hearts and our bellies were full. Alex and Laurel (both are managers) shouted us out as being newlyweds on our honeymoon and the entire bingo group celebrated and cheered. We also had some of the best Chocolate cake we have tasted in a LONG TIME ( and I bake). Laurel wanted to see us off before we left so we stopped by the quaint and very intentionally decorated and coffee shop and bakery on property. The smells, the smiles and the baked goods made the early departure more bearable. |Is this the cheapest hotel in the area, absolutely not...but if you are seeking the comforts of home, great ambiance, happy hour food deals, and an experience HOTEL EFFIE is where you want to go. Note we did come in the off season (November) and I know it is quite busy during spring and summer but I know the staff will work to ensure you have an amazing time. If you want a more laid back less crowded experience Fall is PERFECT!!! Our Anniversary date is 11/15/26, and my husband and i are not strangers to travel domestically nor internationally but we are planning a couples trip so the couples that attended our wedding can have the opportunity to Experience this hidden gem....Thank you Hotel Effie. See you soon.

Everything about this hotel is amazing! I haven’t been to the beach in about 8 years, but this experience makes me want to come back sooner. The staff are so incredible friendly and the bedrooms are so clean and nice. Colby assisted me and 2 other girls to the beach on a golf cart at 7pm, and came back to pick us up even when it wasn’t on route for him. Thank you for the amazing service that you all provide! If I were to recommend a hotel, it would be this one hands down! Thank you!

We were very happy with our 8-day visit to the hotel while we visited the region. The building is beautiful and well-appointed, and the accommodations are great. Although it was, in December, too cool for us to enjoy the swimming pool, it is a marvelous place to visit on the roof, and we visited in a couple times during our stay. Certainly, however, our most positive impression of the hotel was its staff. They are friendly yet professional at every turn. From the front desk to the valets, from the manager to the housekeepers, we encountered people who truly want to provide a positive experience for its guests.

We live next door and always hang out at the lobby bar and the rooftop Ara bar. Great food and views of the bay fromAra.

Gorgeous hotel,wonderful staff and great service. Unfortunately for allergy prone people, it should be named Parade of Dogs Hotel. Forget enjoying a drink in the lobby without when the parade starts. Dogs on every level, so don't fall for the lower level only, or "service dog" excuse. Great place if you need your dog with you. They will make lots if friends. Cinnamon rolls in the coffee shop are fabulous!!! Dogs allowed in there too. To dog lovers....yes, we checked out early. This review is just a warning to others who aren't aware of the abundance of dog's. We're still laughing at the situation we ended up in!

Hotel Eiffe offers top notch hospitality and really gives you the feel of staying in a 5-star hotel. The star of the place is Gumby, who works as the bellman. From the moment we arrived until the second we left, he welcomed us, gave us recommendations, helped with our bags, etc. He is so personable and an amazing reflection of this hotel. If you can request him, definitely do it, he is a true gentleman. The lobby is beautiful, with many places to sit along with a bar for drinks. The hotel has a restaurant on-site that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also have a rooftop pool that opens at 8 a.m. every day. The rooms are spacious and clean. The hotel is in a perfect location within Baytowne Wharf and a perfect walking distance to the restaurants and shops without being too close that you hear the noise. I can't say enough good things about this hotel and especially Gumby. Next time I visit 30A, this is where I will come back.

We visited the bar 2x during our recent visit to Sandestin. The first time we just had drinks and they were delicious!!! I had the Blue Magnolia and my husband had the Old Fashioned. We visited a second time and had drinks but also decided to try some food and it didn't disappoint. I forgot to take pictures of the food but we thoroughly enjoyed the Blackened Mahi sandwich, smash-burger and wings! Both times we stopped by we had Shalimar as our bartender and she provided great service and was very friendly and welcoming!

I first decided to do a staycation in the local area and decided to check out the app resort pass. After scrolling I decided to go with Hotel Effie. Booking was easy! After arrival valet parking was nice. The hotel entrance was amazing. Once I made it to the roof to their was amazing views. I would totally go again!

The eggs Benedict was a huge disappointment yesterday. For some unknown reasons chef replaced the pork belly (as described on menu), with some type of smoked pork shoulder. This totally removed the flavor of the tiny serving of the hollandaise. The service was great, atmosphere nice.

0/5 booked through AMEX and this is not a FHR. The only thing "fine" about this hotel was the spa. The spa was great. Upon check in, we did not receive information the way we do with every other AMEX FHR. You usually get an envelope with all the perks. We got no envelope, no room upgrade was even looked for. The lady asked if we wanted to use the 4pm check out and we said yes. Following day, we ate breakfast at Ovide. Food was decent. I then went to the spa which was great. When I got back to the room we were told by house keeping we needed to leave. That we did not have late check out. A woman spoke with a man on a walkie talkie and they both agreed we did not have late check out and needed to leave the room. I went to the front desk and asked to speak with a manager. It took nearly an hour to find a manager. When I did speak with the manager, he waived my resort fee and said I could go back to my room. We had already gotten dressed and packed, we were not going back. It was insane. Time to pay. There was no charge or credit for breakfast. The lady was arguing with me that I clearly didn't have breakfast and now I have a feeling, even though we should get a $40 credit towards breakfast, I'll be charged and have to dispute it. Second, the resort fee was $45 and the credit was $40. I asked her to please waive the full free based on manager approval. I also had to ask for my $100 resort credit to be applied and then asked what the $1 charity charge was and then asked for that to be removed. Excuse my language, but what in the actual fuck is going on at this hotel. There were 2 other people checking out at the same time as me each having one of the same problems I was. One with breakfast missing and challenging the charity fee, one being kicked out of their room. Additionally, I see reviews here commenting on similar experiences. Do yourself a favor, don't stay here expecting this to be a typical AMEX fine hotels and resorts stay.

There was live music every night. The aroma of the hotel was amazing. It smacks you dead in the face when you walk in. Our room was clean for the most part. There was a piece of hair on my bed. There is a daily parking fee. They also have a shuttle that will take you to the beach. This was my first resort that I've been to where you have to open the door yourself. The airport is about 40m away. I would recommend using Uber or Lyft vs. paying $400 for a rental plus daily parking (which is what we did). The resort is in walking distance to many restaurants. The grounds were clean. The staff were all nice. Overall, I enjoyed my stay. They also offer robes in the room. I went to celebrate my 40th birthday.

I need to start this review by saying I travel all over the world for work and stay in some really beautiful hotels. So I likely notice things that others might not even register. Our check in was super easy. The young lady at the front desk was very friendly and helpful. She offered us an arrival cocktail, which was great. The employees that we interacted with were wonderful. Especially the valet guys. And the amazing servers that worked the business dinners we attended. You don't have a choice about whether or not you valet your car. That is an additional $25 per night. They did have our car available pretty quickly whenever we needed it. Our room was large and well laid out. There was a chaise lounge by the window. The bed was comfortable. The windows were big but the view wasn't great. Our view was the top of a striped roof and weren't high enough up to have a good bay view. The rooftop pool did have a great view. You could rent one of four cabanas. And there was a giant jenga set and chess set. The pool area is only for registered guests but the bar is open to anyone. The rooftop bar is next to the pool and gets very crowded. Our friends on the 9th floor heard the music at night in their room, but we were on the 6th floor and it was quiet. The things I noticed that others might not. It was nice that there were two robes. The towels weren't super thick or plush. The shower had a small rainwater head and the pressure was not good and made the shower not great. The tile in the shower was attractive and I liked that there was a glass door. I also liked that they had full sized toiletries. It would have been nice to have a bar of soap. There was body wash and liquid hand soap, but not a bar of soap. Two of us were occupying the room. You could hang a towel on the bar by the shower and there was one extra hook in the bathroom. It would have been nice to have an additional hook or place to hang wet towels. The hotel is only a few years old but there was a place in the bathroom where the wallpaper was no longer flush. It was right beside the sink so it was noticeable. The room decor was pretty standard but reminded me more of a middle tier hotel versus a luxury hotel. As I've left the property now, I couldn't even tell you what it was so definitely not memorable. There was live music in the lobby every evening. Each night there was someone playing a guitar and singing by the lobby bar. There were comfortable seating areas in the lobby. And the flower arrangements in the lobby were beautiful. They always had water and either lemonade or tea in a container by the reception desk. They served cookies in the early evening. All nice touches. We had a perfectly enjoyable time at the hotel. Just wasn't a stay that would rank as luxury, in my opinion.

This is a beautiful building and area, and our room was very nice. BUT, the hotel is run like a Motel 6. We are very loyal to Marriott and have had generally good luck with their Autograph collection, of which this is one. We are retired but still run up about 25-30 night stays a year which gives us some status with Bonvoy. We are attracted to hotels that have rooftop bars and pools, as does the Effie. They advertise this as an amenity. We checked in around 4 PM, and asked how to get up to the rooftop bar. At that point they advised for the first time that the rooftop was closing at 5 PM for a charity event. We were told we could still go as long as we bought a very expensive charity ticket. They told me there were other pools we could go to in the area. We decided we would stay at the hotel for dinner and went down for a drink at the very nice restaurant bar. After sitting there for awhile and seeing nobody, a waitress approached and told us the bar was closed because they had no bartender. She said we could go to a table and she would bring us a drink from the lobby bar. The lobby bar is a bit sterile, but we decided to go there and have a drink instead. The bartender there was busily fashioning a belt from zip ties to hold up his rather shabby blue jeans, but he finally got to us. I ordered a martini and was told he would have to serve it to me in a highball glass because their last martini glass had broken the night before. Apparently, nobody at this hotel has heard of Amazon. We then went to dinner and ordered food. Before it came I asked for a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. There were about 7 or 8 red wines by the glass on the menu, but as I learned after picking several others, only one Pinot Noir was available - nothing else. At that point we gave up and went next door to the very fun Baytown Village entertainment Mecca. On our way out, the desk clerk asked my wife how our stay was, and she said it was almost comically bad. I was loading the car outside and the manager approached and apologized for our inconveniences. He offered to comp me for one night's valet fee. I laughed and said well, I guess that is better than nothing, but not much. This hotel is clearly focused on meetings and events. The other guests are mostly an inconvenience. If you are just a traveler like we were, avoid it. There are better choices.

Beautiful hotel in a convenient location. Away from the busy "strip" Shuttle buses will take you to the beach. Although while we were here- a little short handed on shuttles. Rooftop pool and bar very nice. Excellent restaurant!

Always have a quality experience here. Nice people. Great massage therapists! Cindy and Cara for the win. Solid 4.5

Great hotel with very attentive staff. I used hotels.com to book, so I was a little surprised upon arrival that they charge an addition daily fee per guest. Room was very spacious.

We recently stayed at Hotel Effie for just one night. Overall, we had an ok stay. However, the hotel is listed on Amex Travel under Fine Hotel & Resorts, but it did not exude the level of luxury that other FHR do. Check in was quick and ok. The girl was polite, but not very welcoming. Just perfunctory. I've read about a welcome cocktail in other reviews, but none were offered. There was peeling wallpaper in the hallway and paint peeling from fixtures in the bath. The towels were basic. There's just one hook in the bathroom to hang your towel and it's way across the room, not even next to the shower for easy access. Our room was clean and the bed was comfortable. Just basic. Don't know if the a/c is on motion sensor but it was really warm overnight. The ice machine is the size of something that you would find in an office break room. We had to go to two different floors looking for ice, because our floor was out. The roof top pool is nice. The pool was heated, which was perfect since it was a bit cool out. We had a few drinks at the pool bar, plus I ordered a charcuterie board. I specified no blue cheese since I have had allergic reactions after eating it in the past. They brought it out with blue cheese and the bartender asked if I still wanted it. I declined and asked for a tray without blue cheese and perhaps double up on another type of cheese. We were getting ready to go back to our room since it was getting windy & chilly and asked for it to-go. He was very nice and accommodating, and I can't fault him since he did not prepare the tray. When we opened the box in the room, it looked like they had just dumped the contents of the tray in there. Literally. It was a mess. We picked through it a bit, not too happy with it. A couple of slices of meats, 2 cheeses, a couple of berries and 3 giant slices of not very appetizing pâté. Everything on top of each other, literally thrown in. A bit later, I start getting itchy around my neck & chest. Upon further inspection, I find blue cheese all over the Brie and the bottom of the box. Fortunately, my allergy is not life threatening just itchiness and stuff. We also had breakfast at Ovide. My husband was happy with his shrimp & grits. I ordered the 2 egg entree with bacon & and biscuit. I asked for crispy, well done bacon and received the total opposite. After my experience with the charcuterie the day before, I didn't want to send it back. The potatoes were nothing to write home about, sort of what you can find at budget hotel free buffets. The saving grace was the biscuit. Really fresh and delicious. OJ was probably Tropicana at $7 a glass. Now, the additional fees are out of control. I've been against these resort/destination fees since the whole nonsense started. The hotel amenities should be included in the price of your room period. Here at Hotel Effie, they give you a list outlining what the resort fee includes. Not a single one applied to us! We use our hotspots because we do not like using public Wi-Fi. We did not use the beach, shuttle, golf, etc. Bike rentals between 9am&4pm sound good in theory, and may be useful for longer stays. But when you arrive around 3pm and leave by 11 the next day, it really can't be used. I figured we'd get 2 cookies for our $40+. Went down around 5:30ish. All gone, come back tomorrow. If that's part of the fee, there should be cookies available for everyone and perhaps should be delivered to your room each evening. Oh,and they add $1 charge to your bill for charity, without notice or your consent. It's just a buck, but it's the principle. They collect this money, then make a tax deductible donation with everyone's money. Staff was fine, none really stood out. We were there for just one night, so didn't interact with many staff members. We stay in varying hotel classes. From luxury to mid range. This stay was pretty basic. Perhaps leaning more towards boutique than luxury. The vibe just didn't meet the level that they claim to be.

Stayed 3/24-3/27/22 Wonderful hotel, from valet to checkout the team here is top notch. The bartenders, pool and housekeeping teams were all fantastic. We literally never heard a "no". Room a good size with large windows. Nice size bathroom with shower. King size bed w/ pillow top mattress. Hotel lobby was warm and open. A bar to the right as you walk in as well as their signature restaurant on site. Rooftop pool was perfect, very relaxing and some great views. Highly recommend giving this place a look, no where better in Sandestin, FL

Very beautiful hotel but the service is below average. The front desk was very unhelpful during check-in and were clueless on how to rent chairs & umbrellas from the beach. They should spend more time upskilling their staff rather than the features.

This hotel is as nice as most Four Seasons Hotels. My family and I just returned from a brief stay but it was one of many visits at Hotel Effie. First off, the rooms are lovely. They are not big but they are elegant, comfortable, and well appointed. The beds are comfy and the rooms are super clean. The place is ultra modern and the lobby is always beautifully decorated and often, there's a one or two person band. They welcome you with a cocktail. The staff is wonderfully kind and seem truly committed to making sure the stay is great. They don't nickel and dime you - I requested a noon check out and it was immediate, "no problem" which we appreciated. I had several interactions with staff and each one didn't get an A, they got an A + and that rarely happens. This hotel is the most stylish, elegant but approachable, and impressive hotel I have ever stayed at in my life. It's not expensive, the gulf coast has so much to do, and I didn't even cover the stunning rooftop pool with a bar that overlooks the bay and the gulf. I really love this hotel and the history with the name of it being "Effie", it's so very obvious that they want to honor her legacy and they have done a phenomenal job at doing it. I hope to get back soon and often. I traveled with my 10 year old son, my 20 year old daughter, and my wife - and everyone's review was the same - a first class hotel that will be a memorable trip for years to come!

It was a warm welcome at the front door. ALL the staff were very friendly and helpful. Everyone greeted you with a smile. The hotel rooms were great. The service and food at the restaurant was wonderful. The bellman and valet were super nice and prompt. The front desk people could not have been more helpful and kind. The lobby and hotel always had a pleasant smell. The musicians were good and the music was nice. Just an amazing stay. The spa treatments were great and the staff were very nice, The following people did an outstanding job. Front Desk - Sophie, Imani, Gentlemen from Hungary, Nogah & Jo Valet - Connor, Gabriel, Dakota, Harrison, Tony & Jace Room Service - Eleshia, William Bellman - Chris, Conner Spa - April, Brandon,Cathy, Cindy Ovide - Joshua, Ashely, Sara, William

Love everything about this hotel but the rooftop pool is where it's at. The pool the bar and amazing appetizers. The staff as well are all so professional and so nice.

Stayed here in December and got a room for around. $250 for a Saturday night that came with a free bottle of wine and $25 towards our valet parking. The location of the hotel makes this place a catch because you're so close to the boardwalk area attractions. Staff was friendly, restaurant breakfast was perfect! Can recommend this place if you're in the area.

We were staying in a condo in Sandestin and decided to stop into Effie for some drinks and live music at the lobby bar. I read through many of the comments for this place and honestly they make me laugh. We've come here several times and have never stayed the night and all the staff has been fabulous. The food at Ovide is phenomenal and the drinks are on par as well. If you are looking to save a few bucks, this isn't the place or probably even the area for you. This hotel is high end with high end prices. You should expect it. Also, high end does equal valet. There's not much parking so as it is so let the nice guys run in the heat for your car. It has a roof top pool with a bar and fun law games but, guess what, it's pricey up there too. So the lesson here is you are going to pay a lot to enjoy all that this place has to offer and if you want something cheaper, rent a condo in Baytowne village and walk over to enjoy all the hotel has.

It has been a long, difficult time, where going to the beaches of Florida panhandle meant staying in aging three star properties. In the recent five years, that has changed dramatically. With exciting additions like Hotel Effie, Pearl, Watercolors and Henderson, the coast transformed into a more beautiful place. Hotel Effie, having opened about a year ago, is a stunning property. Although travel sites seem to be marking it as a five star property, it absolutely is not. Yes, the design is exquisite, with fresh flowers in the lobby and attentive valet. However, there are many elements here that are just lacking. Service all around is sporadic. Having stayed here a total of a dozen nights, I can surely affirm that this is a good four star property. Many of the staff are extremely untrained, being confused about basic requests. Although the text messaging system for requests is cool, no matter how requests are made, often they just don't get honored. For example, a request of slippers took over an hour with multiple follow ups. Similar things occurred on numerous occasions with various basic requests. Some elemental basics like a caffeine free tea, are simply unavailable at the hotel, neither in the room or as part of a request. Other odd things consistently happen, such as coffee shop being closed on a Sunday morning and nobody at Ovide being able to make a latte, with only black coffee by the pour being available. Despite the extremely loose and sporadic service levels, the hotel has many positives. The valet crew is excellent. The rooms are gorgeously appointed. The Ovide restaurant has excellent food and jazz is wonderful. The rooftop with a DJ is very fun. Without a question, Effie is a property I can recommend, if the price is right. It is important to have the right expectations that this is not a five star hotel. With that said, it is miles ahead of its nearby run down Hilton property and despite being away from the beach, it is unquestionably worth it to stay at Effie instead.

Because I frequent luxury hotels, I have a keen eye on all things detail. I was overall disappointed in this hotel as it was not a luxury but a mid-level hotel. The pros: 1. Lobby smelled great. I wish I could purchase the fragrance for my home. 2. The Ovide restaurant located in the hotel was delicious. The decor and music is very intimate and inviting. We had the collard greens, grouper, pork chop, short ribs, and blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. The restaurant staff was incredible and very attentive. I particularly enjoyed our server Ashley for breakfast. 3. While we didn't bring our car, the valets were very friendly and willing to help. 4. The room was a good size and very modern. I did like the bathroom & the shower. 5. They did have robes, but they weren't plush. The opportunities for improvement. 1. The check-in process was incredibly slow. We had to wait a good 20 minutes before we were acknowledged. The front desk attendant was on a phone call for 20 minutes before acknowledging us. 2. We booked a bay view room. The view of the bay is very limited and not at all like the photos on the website. The majority of the view is a parking lot. 3. The room was not clean. Stains on the chaise lounge chair, roaches in the room, and dirty sheets. Not the type of room one would expect at a luxury hotel. I brought it to the attention of the front desk and it was noted. I was told that the room would be deep cleaned, but only the linen was refreshed. 4. With the exception of the restaurant staff and beach transportation staff, I didn't feel welcomed at the hotel, which is unacceptable for a "luxury" hotel. 5. The hotel is not on the beach. You have to take a 10-minute complimentary shuttle to the beach and pay $60+ tax to reserve beach chairs & towels on top of the $40.00 per night resort charge. After you exit the shuttle, you have to walk almost a mile to the hotel's designated beach area. Overall, a solid c for a luxury hotel. But a solid b for a mid-level hotel. 6.

Okay so I'm still here with the most ridiculous service ever, with maximum prices! Here is our poolside cheese board for 40 dollars, 58 dollar craft mimosas that we had to tell the staff how to make, no one knows what they are doing here and everything takes so long! This place is appalling to say the least if you're normal to any kind of hospitality for vacation.

My boyfriend and I did a quick weekend getaway from PCB and stayed at Hotel Effie. It truly felt like we were on vacation, despite only being an hour from home. Effie has the true feel of a resort, with upscale features and luxurious design. The staff was friendly and polished. They were extremely accommodating and helpful. They allowed us to check in early and walked us through the rentals in Baytowne Wharf that were complimentary with our stay. Had we intended to spend more time there, we likely would have ridden bikes or gone paddle boarding. It was a nice addition we will take advantage of in the future. Our room was lovely. We had a king with a view and balcony. You can't sit on the balcony, but it was nice to wake up with a gorgeous view of the water and golf course. The only downside to the room was some features weren't working on the iPad. Only the Home Screen worked. You can't beat the rooftop pool and bar! Gorgeous panoramic views, a heated pool, comfortable seating and cabanas, a game area and strong drinks with great bartenders. We spent our entire afternoon there relaxing! We also dined at Ovide, the hotel restaurant. I did a separate review on this that you'll find on Ovide's Yelp page, but that added positively to our experience! I highly recommend. Effie is also in a great location, being right at the Wharf. You can easily take advantage of all Baytowne has to offer, while not having to stray far from the hotel. At the same time, the hotel is so nice, we almost didn't want to leave!

From checking to check out, the worst hotel experience. The staff were incompetent. The worst part was that I was over billed on my bank statement. I was promised an email receipt I never received. When I called they said that their system showed that I was a no show and the name of the person in the room I stayed in was under a different name. I am still working to resolve. The last call I made , the staff (Juan) hung up on me without any resolution regarding over billing and reimbursement of the incidental charge. Never again!

Stunning boutique hotel with a great rooftop pool and bar. The restaurant has the best biscuits with amazing homemade jam! Best I have ever had! Highly recommend!

Lovely in every way. Staff was 5 stars. Cara at the spa had goddess hands and massage was amazing. Private shuttles to beaches. Hotel food was great. Lobby bar and rooftop pool bar. Hotel is in a great area. Loved my stay. Will go back!

I had the best experience on my getaway. The front desk manager Jo Brown was the reason She listened and corrected a mistake without a finch. The accommodations were outstanding. My room is up to date and clean. What a pleasure. I will visit again and again. Mainly if your questioning whether to stay here. Question no more it's amazing and you will be t treated like royalty. Don't miss visiting Destin and staying at the EFFIE!!!

Horrible experience at the rooftop bar. There's a kid that works as a bar back at the rooftop bar who is absolutely rude, unprofessional, delusional and disrespectful. It's clear he has never worked for a fine dining establishment. He purposely skipped over us and another party who had been waiting for 10 minutes to place an order and when we asked him why he was taking other people's orders that had come in after, he started calling us names and said "too bad you'll just have to wait." It's sad as we live in the community but we won't be going back ever again. He then called security and tried to have us thrown out. Didn't work. Do yourself a favor and skip this place. The people are rude.

We paid over 1,200 for two nights stay and guess what...no daily room cleaning. We don't get beds made, no new coffee pods, no clean coffee cups....nothing. It was not an oversight....this is their business model now. Amazing this hotel can, in good conscience, treat its customers this way.

Me and my wife went here for our anniversary. It was the worse experience we ever had. We traveled from Denver Colorado to here by car for a week stay. And every night we were their they had some type of party or gathering down stairs in the lobby area to late hours of the night. When we also arrived they told us that their was only valet parking available for the guest. In addition to get in to the place due to the other amenities there right next to the hotel makes it literally a pain to get in and get out. For food, emergencies, sight seeing, or anything. There was a large amount of traffic every time me and my wife wanted to venture off away from the hotel. A valet staff had to retrieve our car every time, even if we just wanted to get something out of the car. And every time they had their hand out to be tipped. In a week stay we tripped the valet over 300$ And once it was time to leave that morning our car was already parked in the front of the hotel which was very weird! Than the valet told us our keys were at the front desk. My wife went to get the keys, she had to stand in a long line, for 20mins for them to tell her their were valet parking fee's, resort fees of over 200$ more that was not in the contract or communicated to us when we booked the room or when we checked in. So what they were doing was holding our car hostage, which is criminal, that's why the valet informed us our keys were at the front desk. For these hidden resort fees and valet fees. Scam artists. Indeed.

Oh how I loved our stay at Hotel Effie. We've been home nearly 2 weeks and I still think about it every day. It was nearly a 5 star experience, and I'm hesitant to say what I didn't like because they are brand new! And, the room prices were a full $100 less than I would've expected, per night! But... I didn't like that there isn't a gift store, I would've loved to buy bottled water (even though there is filtered water on the floors and a carafe in the rooms). The only restaurant is probably the most expensive in the Destin/Sandestin area... so that's a drawback. (Although the service was perfect and the food mostly great!) The rooftop pool/bar had live music on the weekend, and we couldn't hear it in our room at all. But... it was way overcrowded. Extremely overcrowded. The rails around the sides are pretty low so I couldn't help but worry about someone tumbling off. The pluses are, obviously the "new". Also, excellent mattresses. I'm a terrible sleeper, but not here! They should sell their bedding and mattresses like Hilton does. We had a 9th floor coming near room that was "bay view". Even though the next door condo construction was between us and the uncharged bay view, it was still a beautiful view. All of the employees were gracious and efficient. The hotel had diffusers everywhere pimping out a refreshing lavender scent. I loved this so much, I ordered Pura as soon as we got home, lol. The lighting in the bathrooms was so awesome, but speaking of lighting... you put your room key in a slot by the door that makes the lights work. Brilliant savings of electricity for those folks that leave everything on in hotel rooms! Except... I hike Mike was showering I grabbed the keycard without thinking to go down the hall for filtered water... left him in the dark bathroom lololol. So... in summary... we've been going to Destin for decades. We even owned a home there at one point. This visit though... superb! I honestly can't wait to go back!

Wonderful stay at the Effie! Elizabeth was fantastic and super helpful with all out questions. Shout out to miles who gave us assistance with the room tablet and our bags. High quality staff experience. The room was well appointed and the roof top bar/pool was great way to end the day. Had breakfast in hotel which was a bit pricy but great! Would love to stay again!

Beautiful looking hotel that shows a lot of promise, but so noisy! We booked a room with a balcony and all times of day into the late night we heard the parking valets hitting the panic button on key fobs to find cars in the parking lot. We weren't here on a particularly busy time and it was still so incredibly annoying we won't stay again. While most of the time you aren't in your room, I worked from the room part of the day and the beeping/alarms drove me nuts. The rooftop bar is very nice for a cocktail or two, but I can't recommend booking a room. Pricing is on par (~$500-$600/night) with the Hilton on the beach side. Did I mention the noise of the valet key fobs??? During the summer/holidays the panic button noise must make people leap from the balconies (or never book a balcony room). If management reads this - try numbered spots or license plate and parking lot location like other valet services.

What a glorious day it was at the Effie and Olvide section of the hotel yesterday. A few months ago, I reached out to the Effie to have someone assist me with a fun day baby shower for my daughter. As a family, we needed a bit of gaiety. We had just had criminal activity in our Sandestin home and felt so traumatized. Additionally, my daughter suffered a miscarriage and this pregnancy required a high risk doctor. Enter a breath of fresh air- Jennifer Torres! Jennifer was thoughtful, gracious and compassionate. She arranged to have my hard working daughter and her husband stay in the Presidential Suite and allowed us to surprise my daughter with her military spouse friends (who go through their own stresses!). Jennifer agreed to a jeweler to attend the room so the young wives could select some items to purchase. Jennifer had mimosas galore too. Then the women retreated to the Olvide - decorated by the staff. The staff was so impressive. They were cognizant that many of the guests were also pregnant and could not have been nicer to them. They helped with pictures. Aaron, Ashley, Sarah, Ashley's spouse, son and Nick on the outside were fabulous. The young man - Kai? - at the reception desk was tremendously helpful too. We settled in for a wonderful brunch prepared by the chef who came introduced himself. Nick on the exterior was helpful after the long day. The entire staff went above and beyond. Thank you Ashley for your patent worthy girlie drink. We needed good food, a good hotel stay and good laughter and camaraderie for our souls and got it. Thank you! And thanks for filling in as the "photographer" too! See you in the near future for another event and dinner with my husband!

Amazing hotel! Worth every cent. The amenities and customer service are impeccable. The shuttles transport you to and from the beach.

This was my second stay but my first trip to the rooftop pool and it was amazing! Beautiful pool, spectacular views, great amenities and incredible staff. Also, Special thanks to Svenita for going above and beyond to take care of guests! Excellent customer service!

Better costumer service it was awful Let me start by saying that I have had the worst experience by far at this resort starting at arrival the front desk didn't have any internet and they lost my credit card. they had a lot of people in line and the desk attendant that checked me in was feed up from the start there was people complaining all around me didn't think anything of it just precede to the desk attendant she explained the internet issue and she told me that she needed to make a copy of my credit card and ID so she can charge me later due to me having a balance I said ok not a problem it took her a minute to come back and she was saying that she didn't know what she was going to do I noticed that she had a copy and my ID but no credit card she explained that she had dropped my card in to the box where they drop the copies to be shred and that they need it to call someone to open it and that she was sorry I told her that I needed my credit due to have many reservations tide into it and without it would be a big inconvenience I needed my card today she told me again that she was sorry but she couldn't get it at that point I told her I needed to speak to her manager she told me you know what here and hand me the copy of my credit card you can use the numbers on this copy I'm not going to charge you anything here just go I said but I need my key cards to get in my room I'm tired and want to rest she gave me 2 key cards and told me where to go when I got to the hotel the vale guy asked what I was doing I said I was trying to park I showed him my key card and he said that I needed a QR code which I didn't receive so I went back to the office spoke to a different guy thinking that maybe it will be different I explained my situation and that I need it a QR code to get in touch the garage to park he pulled out his phone and had me take a picture of a QR code that he had and told me quick take a picture don't tell anyone again I was tired all I wanted was to rest so I went back to the garage entry and try this picture but it didn't work so I had to go back to the office get in line again to try and resolve the issue only this time the same girl that check me in pull me out of the line and said you are here for your credit card. I thought that they already got it and said yes but she said, unfortunately, housekeeping already left for the day and they wouldn't be back till tomorrow I told her again I needed to speak to her manager and that I need it a QR code to get into the garage she said I can't give you one because we don't have internet I said I still need to speak to the manager once he came out he explained to me again about my credit card but this time he said that he had to call a company to come and open the documents to be shred box and it could take a few days possibly tomorrow morning I told him what im I suppose to do in the meantime he smiled and said you don't have another card I said yes I do but I have all of my reservations on that one credit card. what if is not here tomorrow what then he said well you can just cancel it so you can feel better so I called and attempt to freeze my card but couldn't had to cancel it than the manager was able to give me a QR code but didn't get my card at that point I express myself that I felt like I'm being lied to he said no I will get you card as soon as possible so went ahead to my room and rested the next morning my card was delivered tried calling the credit card company back and see if they could reinstate my card but they said no that a new card was in the mail the rest of the day I had 2 reservations that got canceled due to my credit card this was very inconvenient for me due to lost the reservations and the deposit they had changed now I'm at a lost of money later that day I decided to go see the fireworks at beach side and find out that I couldn't get in with out a parking pass that I didn't get at check in the security guard told me where do you think you going I said to see the fireworks he said this a private are and you need to be a guest I showed him the key card and he ask me all kinds of questions to Establish that I wasn't Lying he said they didn't give you a pass at the front desk they where supposed to set you up shook he's head and give me one on my last day when I thought I was done when coming back from the pool my key cards don't work had to go back to the front desk and found out that I still had a balance and that they had canceled my key cards I had to pay cash so I can return to my room this is insane I will never come back again will never recommend this place to anyone Worst experience ever

Why stay anywhere else! This hotel just opened and had already won my heart. The staff is impeccable and everyone treated us so well. I went for my grandmas birthday along with my mother. Best girls trip! Sofia knew it was my grandmas birthday and had a bottle of champagne waiting for us when we arrived late. She is such a beautiful soul for doing this! It was so unexpected and we were so grateful. The only reason why I didn't give 5 stars is because of the parking/valet situation. They have got to come up with something better. There is no self parking and you will wait at least 30 minutes even when you call from your room before coming down.

I will NEVER stay at this hotel Again! Apparently they have a curfew that you can't call pass a certain time. Front desk staff is very rude constantly hangs up on you. I would rather stay at a motel 6 than stay here ever again!!!

Hotel Iffie I can't lie I was so excited to stay here but with each day of my stay my optimism declined. The property is beautiful, especially the common areas of the lower level lobby - it's the only thing that appears to be luxury as the rooms are plain. The rooftop pool is sub par, I've seen better in Dallas. It's really small and the cabanas rent for $300 a day. Upon arrival, the front desk had trouble locating our reservation. She asked if we were sure we were in the right place. While waiting on the tram on several occasions, I noticed this to be a trend with guests of color. We also were the only guests asked to show a room key to the tram driver in order to be dropped back off at the 'motel.. The first room we were taken to smelled of mold and had a water stain on the restroom ceiling. We moved to the 8th floor, dogs barking, pet urine odor. We stayed in a king "deluxe" room. The room is definitely low budget with the nicest feature being the shower. Everything from the toilet tissue to the bedding itself felt cheap. The beds squeaked with the smallest movement. The rooms are poorly lit. We requested room service; they left all of the trash, and replaced the sheets with yellow stained ones . Room service finally came after 3 hours at 9:45 to start trying to "clean". Speaking to other guests, we weren't the only ones with concerns of cleanliness. I spoke to someone at the front desk, and they apologized saying the hotel is new so they are still learning. Room service is only for breakfast including $9 cereal. Valet parking is $25 a day and required ( they put our info wrong in the system). They offer 3 trams that are supposed to route the hotel in 30 min increments, come at their leisure, and once you wait an hour or more and finally see it, don't get your hopes up because it only seats 14 people. The village is cute, but once you walk it several times it's meh. I wanted to love it, but nope.

Checked in on Wednesday afternoon, still here currently, and there has not been a single nice thing to say yet. (Request for negative star ratings.) The first night I was rudely told that my dog had to leave or I would be kicked out (this after paying their $150 pet fee). I had to drive 10 hours roundtrip to bring my dog to family in Louisiana or be kicked out. Housekeeping NEVER comes to the rooms, even if you request them. The ice maker, which they have to service the entire floor makes 6 cubes per hour. We stopped to get coffee downstairs, which took over 30 minutes, and we were second in line. We had to forego eating dinner one night because the "tablet" did not have the proper menu for the overpriced restaurant and not a single person was able to help us on the staff. You are forced to use valet unless, in the words of the valet attendant, "you have to use valet or walk half a mile to get here." The valet app does not work, except to take payments. If you request your car from the app you still have to go down, wait 10 minutes to be acknowledged, then tell them your tag number. The beds are insanely hard, and if you go to beach do not expect them to clean them in the event sand gets around as it tends to do. I've called twice for fresh towels, never received them. I will be going to the rooftop pool later to bring towels down for my shower. The rooms stays overly humid, unless you have it below 64F, then it is just freezing cold. (I'm from the New Orleans area, I know what humidity is already, and for a "luxary" hotel my clothes shouldn't get wetter the longer they hang in the room). The beach is a 5 minute ride as advertised, however they do not tell you that you have to wait 30 minutes for a tram and hope you are one of the first 10 there or you'll be waiting 1-2 hours. The rooftop bar, as advertised, had food offered as long as you are ok eating one of the three pre-made items they keep chilled in the bar fridge. The entire hotel staff appears to be completely clueless when asked even the most basic question. The only part of this hotel that is luxurious is its price tag. So, bring plenty of cash, and expect massive bills in the end. Just don't expect to be treated as such. You are an inconvenience to them and they could not care less about your stay.

You get a 2....work ethic of your young staff is sub par. Some would not even make eye contact, then some acted annoyed at your questions. Train your staff to respect their guests, we're paying for it! Asian staff excellent. Food excellent! Rooftop Pool rules need to be enforced. Lots of pool attendees not wearing wrist bands. The pretty young lady parked outside the elevators is not doing her job. People eating food while in the pool...a lady actually floating her chips and dip in the pool on a tray! Drinking in the pool, not poolside. Why have rules if they are not enforced? TV kept losing Wi-Fi. Had to have tech come up twice to reset and he was not timely. If you're going to shuttle guests to the beach choose a section that is pleasant not Crammed in like sardines....not enough bottled water to drink and no where to rinse your feet. So, we tracked sand into the hotel then our rooms. Waiting for the shuttle next to an overflowing stinky garbage can in the heat with flies swarming was not pleasant. You could use some benches to sit on while waiting for transportation outside. We had no help loading our luggage into our vehicle. The hotel booked a fishing charter for us. The charter cost if we would have booked it would have been $150 per person for 4 hours-you charged us $330 per person! That's over double the amount! Explain that! What a rip off! And we had to bring our own water! This hotel is lacking in so many areas. Overall very unprofessional. I felt like you just hired what you could get and they lack training and discipline. I did not feel welcomed, I felt like I was tolerated. A smile would go a long way from your staff. Would not recommend staying here. The Southern Orthopedic Association is use to stellar hotels, this is not one of them. Not impressed.

This is a review of the restaurant in the lobby. Don't do it. Try to get into Tommy Bahama restaurant instead but make reservations. Behold my Red snapper dinner. There is not even 1/4 cup of cooked rice with this $34 meal and one half of one baby bok choy. I think the homeless shelter will serve more food than this

This place is ridiculously expensive. We had come by a great deal with an AMEX card and decided to take a little adventure. It's a pain to get back here you are kinda trapped in an odd community but it's cool because you don't have to leave. You can walk down to the shopping and touristy San Destin boardwalk easily. The rooftop pool is pretty cool and has a nice little bar. Everything back here is super expensive but it is a fun experience. The rooms are nice but small for the price. We got a balcony room over the water but the view is kinda blocked by trees. Everywhere inside is gorgeous and clean. Staff is super nice. They do have a shuttle that will take you to the beach if you want. You have to use their valet and it's $25. The hotel is gorgeous! This would be a great place to get married and take some beautiful pictures. All in all I don't think it's worth what they charge but if you have the AMEX and looking for a FHR to use it on this was cool!

Hotel Effie in Sandestin is where we stayed. They hosted the warrior beach retreat for combat wounded warriors and their spouses. The staff at this hotel is incredible. They were friendly efficient and it was definitely a five star hotel. Valet - Connor, Gabriel, Dakota, Harrison, Tony Front desk-Imani,Nogah,Sophie Room service - Eleshia, William Bellman - Conner, Chris Spa April -Director Brandon - Assistant Cathy Slade Sam Cindy Lisa Cara Donna Riann Ovide restaurant Joshua Ashley

I wanted to really like this hotel. Booked a 5 night stay Sunday thru Friday morning. Room was greatly discounted - king deluxe room for less than $170 a night. Nightmare started immediately. We arrived at 4:30 for check in. Our room wasn't ready until 7. No explanation given. They didn't really care or offer any comp at the restaurant or bar. Just sit in the lobby and wait they said. Noises in the room are never ending. I'd have to guess the hotel was built with thin walls. Hall noises were ever present but the thing that really annoyed was the sound of water/shower throughout the night and the sound of shutting off the shower. You'd have thought the whole hotel was showering above our room one by one. Hotel is severely short staffed. The work situation in the Destin area is pretty poor. Restaurants/hotels offering $15-$20 dollars an hour for the lowest positions and they still cannot fill the positions. This is the explanation for the large amount of foreign (often Eastern European) young adults working in the area. It's a cottage industry where the employer sponsors them for work on the US, pays them less than they would pay Americans, puts them up in condos/apartments and then takes 20% of their pay for that. Hotel Effie seems to be involved in this. One bright spot was the valet service. These guys huddle and are friendly and courteous. Overall I do not recommend Hotel Effie. It's a new hotel and hasn't ironed out their operation.

Only steps from Baytowne Wharf, Upscale, modern, yet, inviting, Hotel Effie is THE SPOT to stay in Sandestin. She is adorned with Ara Rooftop Bar where a luxurious rooftop pool meets the sky, cabanas, and a stunning almost 360 view of the entire Sandestin grounds. Stop by for a fantastic Toasted Coconut daiquiri and catch the sunset from multiple views! Downstairs, you should also visit the newest and hands-down best restaurant in Sandestin, Ovide. From Atlanta Chef, Hugh Acheson, this lavish dining spot has wonderfully crafted cocktails like the grapefruit forward Sun Kissed or our favorite cocktail, Shore Leave. They have fantastic dishes like the stellar filet mignon, flavorful blackened mahi mahi, uniquely good farm egg, rich prime beef tartare. We'd recommend anything on this menu, it's that good.