Ramada Plaza Beach Resort & Destin West Vacations Review

Condo was perfect, clean resort. Lots to do if you have children.

We have been coming here for 11 years and loved it every time. They should start remodeling because the building does look dated

Destin West is our go to place. We stayed staying at the Ramada in 1984, them once Destin West was built we switched to that resort. We love the lazy river and the beautiful white sand beaches. Between the amenities at Destin West and Ramada, as well as the boardwalk and Fudpuckers nearby, you really don't need a car!

Great room and pool. Service is nice. Lots to do for kids and adults.

I believe this is my 7th time starting here. I love this place and will always recommend it!

Resorts pictures are deceiving. This place is definitely showing its age. Pool and lazy river are older needs to be spruced up and should be just as asthetically appealing in person as in the resort pictures. Quite a bit of broken damaged equipment and lounge items at pool. Shower was covered in mold looked like it had not been consistently cleaned appropriately to control mold growth. I had to recall out housekeeping to clean and they could not clean it. Maintenance had to be called out to strip the caulking and re caulk the bottom edges. Shower door was full of rust mildew and shower caddy was full of rust. If I'm paying this much for the room they should not allow rusted material in the shower. I will not be staying here again not on the west side of Destin (Okaloosa). This place just wasn't worth it.

Awesome place! Lazy river was a blast for our girls! Rooms were great. Love the fishing dock, pool, and beach area

Love the place, beautiful sunrises and sunsets is a must see. White sand beach's is my favorite of all.

Beautiful scenery. The lazy river is great for just relaxing and decompressing.

Family friendly with the beach and a 700 foot lazy river! We will be back next year!

We had a PHENOMENAL time in our condo Osprey #401 ! It was extremely spacious, great views of the bay and from one of the rooms a great view of the ocean. The Lazy river and Pool were also amazing! Our kids had a great time and loved we could walk over to the beach in a safe manner with the bridge. Thank you for making our 1st visit to Destin so memorable, comfortable and convenient! We will definitely come back to stay at the Destin West Vacations!

The facility is great! The room we stayed in not so much. We were in the Heron 308 which is a bigger room b/c I had my whole crew with me. It was advertised as 3bd 2bth 1 king 1 queen and 2 sets of bunk beds. When we got there it was correct except for the queen was a full which was not going to work bc that room was sleeping a couple and their 2 yr old in the same bed. Also, that room is connected to the kitchen. There are shutters between the kitchen and the room so it does not have much privacy and no lock on the door. They have fixed the description now, but they did NOTHING, to make this right!!! NONE of the doors have locks on them (bathrooms with no locks really?) It was just a bad experience for us. Last year was great with a different room.

Pools and amenities were great. Mold was found on couch and under fridge. Dryer absolutely did not work and made clothes stink. The beach was consumed with pay for seating and only a little tiny area was left for everyone else. Would have chosen somewhere else in hindsight.

This is an awesome place to stay the rooms r excellent the lazy river is relaxing we r planning to stay here again love the kitchen we don't have to go out to eat we saved a lot of money that way

Clean pools/hot tubs, great view of the bay, private beach access and covered parking, very enjoyable resort

Great location , very nice condo and plenty to do right there on the spot.We had a ball , would love to go back.

Great for kids and adults to chill out on their vacation!

Loved it, great rooms, lazy river was awesome and cleaned every day and lots of balcony space.

My best friend had planned to get married at this resort and we got rooms on both sides. We arrived Saturday and everything was perfect, until the next day. We went to turn off the sink and the entire nozzle broke off so it made the kitchen sink unable to be used. We had planned to go to the beach that morning before the wedding so we headed down. The wedding planner calls and advises he is there and as her maid of honor I was to help him with the set up that the resort agreed would be ok to do at 10:30 with a spot reserved. We walked down the boardwalk as they advised and we were to set up on the right side since the left was a private beach. We arrive and the entire left side is full of people with with umbrellas all the way to the dunes. I call the front desk and they advised that they would call management but that I needed to ask the people if they would move myself to clear out a spot. Obviously people looked at me crazy since there was nowhere to really move. I spoke with the men working the chair and umbrella services for the hotel and they advised they had not been advised of a wedding and normally are given a heads up and have a spot cleared. An hour passes, at this point it s nearly 11:30 and nobody has called or showed up. I called again to the front desk and they asked if I had asked the guest to move and I advised they said no and was not taking me seriously. I demanded somebody come down and have the guest move and rope off a section to have it set up (that was all agreed on a month in advance). The 2 ladies working came down and had a small spot cleared but advised that they would call maintenance to get a rope and come rope off the section so we could not worry about others coming in and setting up. Another hour passes and now it is nearly 1. No rope, maintenance, or set up started. I call again and they advise it s illegal to rope off the beach but that if I bought the rope that I could do it myself. I advised the wedding is at 5:30 and we have to leave to get ready. Who was going to know who bought the damn rope? Just get it as a good customer service act at this point and fix the problem? Unfortunately I ended up having to get the bride involved. We headed to the front desk and they kept jumping around our issues and advising they would call but since it was Sunday there was nothing they could do. After 30+ mins we of getting no where, we left. I advised the front desk at this time that the sink had broken and was not able to be used. They advised somebody would be by to fix the issue. We finally got to the room to get the bride ready at 3 and had to rush to fit in time for pictures at 4:30 before the wedding. The wedding itself was beautiful except the bystanders that were all in the background of her pictures and the altar. With the honeymoon package, she was to receive a bottle of champagne and wine glasses that were not delivered to the room. We checked out Monday and guess who still had a broken sink? I would never recommend the resort for a wedding or vacation. If an issue occurs then it will not be handled, their responsibility or not. I was highly disappointed since I looked forward to the trip/day for my friend that turned into a nightmare.

Awesome resort! Well maintained with a family atmosphere. Love the lazy river!

Nice condo with great view. Lots if excitement. Several pools and the lazy river. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

The condo was perfect for our family! Our two girls (4 and 2) loved having their own room with the bunk room and adjoining bath. Unobstructed views of the gulf. Quick beach and pool access. Clean. Looking forward to our next trip!

We were scheduled to check in during Hurricane Irma! We figured everything would be ok up in the panhandle and decided to take a run for it....only to be stopped with them not allowing anyone in the state of Florida due to the hurricane and being under a state of emergency! Georgia also had mandatory evacuations so we couldn't stay there either until they allowed people into Florida so we traveled back home! When I called to speak to a manager about a refund I was told they wouldn't issue one unless it was within 30 days before check in....ummm how was I supposed to know there would be a hurricane and it's not my fault they wouldn't let us in the state of Florida! This vacation had been planned and paid for months ago! It was a much needed vacation after the passing of my father and for Birthday/anniversary! This was our first vacation and first time going to the beach!!!! They have been rude the whole time and I wouldn't want anyone else to risk losing money and the disappointment over something you personally had no control over!!! DONT BOOK HERE!!!!!

Nice place. We stayed Bayside and my family loved the Lazy River and pools. We went over to the beach side and spent time at the private beach which was great and at hotel next door.

PLEASE READ WHOLE REVIEW!

The resort and staff were amazing! Beach and pool access were very easy to walk to, and there were plenty of space for chairs, even on the busiest days! Access to the adjoining resorts pools and bars were a huge bonus!

The villa V409 was clean, stocked well with dishes, and cooking pans. Nice balcony area, and comfortable couch. It had a closet, which is a bonus imo.
The mattresses in the bedroom and couch however were horrible. They were old, coil style, covered in plastic, and need replacing badly!

So why only 4 stars?
There were minor incidents that could easily have been rectified. There was only 2 rolls of tp to last a family of 4, for a weeks stay. when I asked for an additional roll, I was told they only provided 2. Same response for additional trash bags. This would not be an issue, except we were not told this ahead of time, nor was it mentioned in the booking notes.

Beach chairs and umbrellas! Be prepared to pay $$$!!!
We were never told we would have to pay for them, or even told we had to reserve them!
The persons that managed them on the Beach are very rude.the company is LDV.
We walked down to the beach at 0800, there were probably 50 or more setup. We sat in a set towards the front of the beach. About an hour later, an employee told us we had to move, they were reserved. He told us that the reservation line had already booked all the chairs. When I asked where do we reserve, he pointed to the resort Beach access point. WE WALKED RIGHT BY THAT AREA TO GET HERE AND THERE IS NO LINE OR SIGNS STATING ANY OF THIS! BEWARE!
He then threatened us with security if we did not leave. I asked if we could rent the chairs and he said no, they were completely booked up. We setup towels behind the rows of chairs, and about 1100 he put up a daily rental sign. guess what? nobody ever sat in those chairs! BTW, 1/2 day is $25, full day $50 +taxes

The pools and lazy river area is awesome! (Bring your own tube or inflatable to avoid waiting for one)

I will definitely stay here again though!

We love this place! We stayed here for years and the lazy river bay side is the best. If you want to go the beach there is two poils on the beach side and a splash pad for little kids.

316 Gulfside had a fantastic view of the gulf and lovely outdoor furniture to enjoy. I felt for the cost of the week the unit needs some updating, and there was an odd smell that could not be remedied throughout our stay. Carpeting is difficult to keep clean through multiple rentals and there was carpeting in each of the bedrooms. The multiple fake plants throughout did not add to the decor, and were very dusty. Grout in the master bath and shower was dirty with mold in the shower caulking that was pulling away from the sides of the shower.
People staying with children, need to be aware that this unit is above the hot tub area where people party, very loudly, until at least 11pm each night, when the pool area technically closes. After the resort office closes there is no-one to contact with issues unless it's an emergency such as being locked out of your unit (it states this on the after hour voicemail). I also felt that I could hear the units around us more than other condo resorts we have stayed. The master bedroom shares the wall with the living room of the unit next door and we could hear full conversations and television shows. This made sleeping difficult for the entire family.
The proximity to gulf beach, daily chair service and clean pool area were positives, but the noise and outdated unit were not worth the cost of our stay and I would not choose again.

Beautiful paradise the beach super clean not much surf the super clear water perfect for kids too much relaxing perfect for the family

We have religiously chosen this venue as our family reunion retreat for about 8 years now. Each year we book 2 large condominiums to accommodate 20+ family members. We love the option to swim on the beach or in the lazy river and pools. They keep the condos in pristine condition and they make the check in and out clear and painless. The location is in the middle of a strip with just enough restaurants, but not too much clutter during the busy seasons. All amenities are kept clean and amid this pandemic, they have implemented many safety precautions to help us feel safe and as worry free as possible. There are many spots to enjoy if you are coming with a significant partner to get away, but plenty of things to do with family. They even have a private dock and you can go crab fishing if you bring a net and bucket.
There is plenty of nightlife options within walking distance. The pools and lazy river run late for some nice chill evenings with bbq grills all around. You can rent large umbrellas and chairs on the beach for a reasonable price if you are flying in.
We have 20+ people every year for many different interests and preferences and this is the only location we have found that makes everyone happy. I highly recommend!!

absolutely amazing, especially the lazy river. the condos are beautiful too.

We gave the Destin West resort another try this year (you can see my review from last year) but the rating has not changed from average. We even upgraded our accommodations to a nicer more expensive condo. We stayed on the gulf side in condo 408. The decor was much better than last year, the couch was comfy, lots of beach toys and beach chairs, and every room had a TV, but beds were TERRIBLE. My wife ended up sleeping in the bunk room on the bottom bunk because the mattress in the second bedroom was so terrible. My in laws were staying in the master and they said their mattress was also terrible. When stay in FL on vacation you spend most of your time outdoors, but when you are inside you except some comfort in the mattress. I decided to look for a tag to see when it was dated and the date on the mattress is 2/9/06. That is a over a 12 year old mattress,12 years old and you are paying over $1700 for a week stay. Most hotels change a mattress every 3-5 years. Last year the management response was I had high expectations, but a bed has to be the most important part of a condo, right? The kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed to cook and eat. There was some mismeasuring when putting in appliances. The dishwasher will not open all the way because it hits the bottom of the oven and the silverware drawer will not open all the way because it hits the dishwasher handle. Very weird they just didn t get appliances without handles and it would solve all the issues. Washer and dryer worked well. The cleaning of the condos needs a lot of improvement. We actually had to go buy a mop just like last year and clean the floors as soon as we walked in the door. When you are paying a $120 cleaning fee you expect it to be clean. This is not the case and was not the case last year also. I was hoping it was just a bad cleaner last year, but after a repeat this year we know it is whoever the rental company is using to clean the condos. The best things are the amenities. Access to the beach and all the pools are great and well maintained. I believe the maintenance department does a great job maintaining the grounds and equipment, keep up the great work. My biggest issues are the cleanliness and the mattresses in the condo and both of those things are very fixable by the owner and the rental company. I am not sure who controls garbage pick up of a dumpster that happened early every morning (Saturday was 5:52 AM,) but this 5 minute process if VERY noisy and hard to sleep through. It happens early every morning, but Saturday was the earliest so far this week.

Excellent location with great access to amazing beaches!

Really nice facilities right on the beach. They have have a nice lazy River, and several pools and hot tubs. The villas are nice studio-like rooms with a small kitchenette. Close to downtown Fort Walton Beach and a short drive from Destin. Great location and nice costumer service. Also military friendly.

Excellent location. Close to both Destin and Fort Walton. Great ammenties for younger children - lazy river and several pools.

The overpass is very convenient for crossing the street to get to the beach

place is nice...lazy river plus swim up bar grotto. restaurants and bars walking distance...love it

Love it! Our family has spent many years vacationing at the Destin West.

Best place for a family vacation relax chill and enjoy.

Condo was very nicely decorated. I was happy to use their beach toys/chairs/wagon and not have to pack that. It was a great relaxing weekend. We will definitely go back!!

Awesome place, best management and the location couldn't have been any better

Heron building, unit 303 - beautiful condo, resort amenities were all fantastic, lazy river was nice but chilly. Views and corner balcony were a huge plus. This unit was one of the nicer ones we have seen in our many trips to destin/ft walton beach. Only downfall was the early checkout time (10 am) which is extremely hard to do when you have four small kiddos travelling with you. Another plus is being walking distance to the boardwalk and a few good restaraunts. I would recommend the resort add some sort of signage for beach access from the bayside units.. We figured it out with some common sense, but a map or directions to the sky walk or something would've been nice and saved some time.

Can't beat the location. The staff is a friendly bunch

It was a great place to stay. Right off the beach with private access to the beach and a lazy river pool at the location with multiple pools and hot tubs. The rooms are are spacious. Very kid freiendly environment.

Beautiful views, staff and security present and friendly throughout the day and night, clean environment, great location for access to dining out, the boardwalk, beaches, piers, shopping, etc. Will definitely be back!

Second time visiting, love the amenities and options to visit both large pool and beach. Not far from any shopping, movies, or other activities we may want to do. Definitely a favorite places to stay.

Our family of 9 comes here, have for many years. We stay Bayside and absolutely love the quick access to the lazy river in a hot day. The trek to the beach is a bit of a doozy with lots of gear, but still manageable! We love the use of all the various hotels, especially the grotto pool and bar at the Ramada. the place is nice and clean and lots of fun for a week at the beach!

This was a great place to stay. Easy friendly check in and plenty of access to all amenities. You also had access to two other resorts' pools and such right next door. We had a great time with our family and would highly recommend it.

Been coming for years, best place to stay ever !!!!!

Clean, Cute.....However, there were barely any towels or wash cloths for our one week stay. Also, the Washer and dryer was falling apart. The kitchen WAS NOT well stocked with things to cook!!! We had to go out and buy cookware!!!! Not happy at all. I hope people check the ratings better than we did!

Nice place to stay. Everything we needed in the Condo. Furniture was a bit outdated and both TV,s were a bit small. Had Villa-Penthouse on the Gulf side, beautiful view. Road noise from Miracle Strip Pkwy was bad. Hot tub, pool was nice. 3rd time staying at Destin West. Great Value for the location.

This is our 2nd year at this complex, staying at a different condo tho and so much nicer. Just like home. There is so much to do here especially with the lazy river and 7 pools, gym very nice.

Very nice resort and family friendly. Everyone was really happy

Nice enough place. They have a cool jacuzzi area with a lazy river

Will not be a returning customer. The condo was old and most things didn't work. Never received the wifi password. The water from the faucet was dirty. Had metal flakes in it.

Visited a friend staying there. The rooms were clean and comfy.

Great place. Full kitchen, washer and dryer, and dishwasher. Stay here if staying on an extended visit!

Amazing view. But we where lied to about our room. Instead of having 3 rooms. We have one room with a bunk bed in the hallway. No closets. Instead of having a jacuzzi tub. We have a bath that no one can fit in. We paid $2000 for a $200 room.

Beautiful inside and out! Pools are amazing. Room was spacious and clean.

If you come here in summer, please be aware of the crowds! Not a peaceful resort. Well kept grounds and pool. We stayed Bayside, Heron 609. All the condos #*05-09 are farthest from the bay, #01-04 being closest. The Lanai level is nice, but you might hear crowd noise. Lots of amenities, esp. for kids. Fudpuckers next door w/ arcade.

I really enjoyed my stay here with my family. Everyone were so friendly and helpful. The condo was beautiful, had plenty of room, clean, outstanding view.

Very nice. Beautiful views, amazing weather, nice people, clean rooms, great board walk and shops. Overall amazing experience.

Decent amenities and fun outdoor stuff but lacks in creature comforts to feel like a resort, not worth $250 a night. Very convenient and lazy river and pools are nice for the kiddos.

I loved my time here, the lazy river is great to just chill out and relax in! The walk to the beach is a good little distance depending on which room you book in. The beach is pretty nice too!

Great little spot...with a great location! Plenty of public beach accesses & lots of fun stuff close to condo. Would definitely stay again!

I love living here. Beautiful condo, every amenity possible. Luxury plus!

The staff was very nice and helpful. The facility and the unit we were in were very nice. The family enjoyed all the different pool options and the gym was nice. My biggest problem is the beach, which is why I subtracted 1 star. The chair/umbrella vendor takes up the ENTIRE area setup for Destin West. If you do not want to rent a spot, you are forced to be back away from the ocean. I felt this was rude for Destin West to allow the vendor to do this. Do yourself a favor and walk down to the public beach area if you don't want to rent.

Condos are very clean. Lots of amenities for the kids and families. Love the lazy river and beach!!!

Stayed here for several years now and it continues to be awesome. The various pools and beach access create fun for a all ages.

Best amenities around!! Right next to a great little pizza place with some amazing drinks & a small beach for the kids. 7 pools, MOST fantastic pools AND longest lazy river I've ever been in!!