The Henderson, A Salamander Beach Resort and Spa Review

Mandatory tip! Ridiculous. Tip should be based on service performed. If the spa sets a mandatory tip amount on a $150 massage then apparently they are not paying their massauses enough money. I tip. I have no problem with tipping. Tipped 38% for dinner last night because I had an excellent waitress. But I should be able to decide the tip amount based on the service I received. Not happy with the mandatory tipping amount required! Nor was I happy with paying for services I did not receive.

Attended my cousin's wedding on in the courtyard and the reception in the ballroom on 4/13/19. Everything was beautiful.

Not family friendly and not what I expected for cleanliness. Bottle of bourbon and wine out in the open that did not fit into the minibar- they won't remove it from room unless you pay $25. With teen boys, I don't want any alcohol accessible.
Also, dirty black towel in vanity area that was embroidered "refresh", and open, used lotion in bath toiletries. Housekeeping obviously doesn't pay any attention to detail and this says "lazy" staff. Front desk staff rude and argumentative. At similar resorts, I've always come to expect helpful and accommodating staff- not the case here. I won't be back. This is the second Salamander I've visited, and neither even compared to even any Starwood properties I've visited recently.

best place I've ever vacationed with my family. 6 Stars

it's a spectacular location what a beautiful private beach. The staff was very friendly in the food they served was outstanding. Stayed here for a wedding and everything was perfect.

We had a great stay at the Henderson in October 2020. Although it was only for one night, we got a good feel for the hospitality they offer. Every employee from valet, concierge, bell hop, and restaurant employees were extremely friendly. The room was spacious and clean and the bed and pillows were amazing. The pool was very nice as well. Would definitely return.

Beautiful! I was able to see the sunset and gym is Excellent. They have two section pool area one is an adult pool and family. Beach is within walking distance.

Typical resort restaurant. Food was good, a little pricey for the area.

I haven't stayed at this hotel but I looked it up and scroll through some pictures and it was was really a legendary nice hotel I remembered being to destin FL for 10 years back in 2009 I really want to go back on vacation hopefully to get back on vacation in 2020 so I give this place and destin Florida a 5 Star

A lot of construction was a bit of an eye sore. This is a newer resort which still has kinks to work out. We were here for a wedding not to get away. The staff was excellent.

The hotel was was very nice. Very clean. Everyone was nice and helpful. We were placed in a room that was handicapped...Everytime we went to take a shower, we got water all over the floor.
Our other problem was that their view bill option was not working. But I was able to see the customer bill before mine. He paid 229.00 a night and I paid 450.00 plus a 29.00 special channel rate. I did not get this type of service of 479.00 a night then add the taxes. I will never stay at the Henderson again.

We had a wonderful stay. Check in was quick and informative. We got a room with a view of the pool area and some slither of beach view between the cracks of the buildings.
There is valet and a small gate self parking lot, fees do apply but you do have in-and-out privileges. Our room was clean and beautifully set up. They had 3 options for housecleaning and we opted for only daily trash and towel exchange. Complimentary crib was provided upon request and delivered to our room. They also included Infant shampoo and lotion toiletry, which was super nice and unexpected. I did bring our own bedsheet for the crib, which I applied over their sheet.
We had room service one day which was very timely and decent. We also had pool side service dining for lunch on 2 occasions. It did take some effort in locating a server. We rented chairs for the beach and enjoyed the private beach access. Felt safe and didn't feel overlapped as some public beaches.
Their Sprinkle shop that served Starbucks, ice cream, and sandwiches was a hit for our family. Awesomely brewed and quick service coffee. Kids enjoyed the ice cream. Hubs loved their sandwiches and breakfast options.
Overall we had a great vacation during these unpredictable times. We did take the necessary precautions but also enjoyed ourselves the best we could. The hotel was very accommodating and we wild recommended others to stay here as a resort/ hotel accommodation.

The property is top notch, however there are multiple helicopter tour companies nearby that fly over the beach about every 5-10 minutes. Very loud and annoying when you are trying to enjoy the beach!

Customer service was poor. The "amenities" advertised were not available a lot of the time. They do not even allow one to bring their own waters to the beach. The experience at this resort was unpleasant. I really wish we would have just stayed elsewhere. I would not recommend staying here. This review is not reflective of the area. We have been coming to the Destin/South Walton area for years and always love it. The Henderson simply under delivered and was over-priced.

best vacation ever. our apt was not ready and they treated us with appetizers, sandwiches, drinks you named it they got it. 2 pools, for adults and the family was like a river pool ending in a big one
beach was a block away and it was great. $$$$

The property is beautiful and in a nice area. One star because of the proximity to this annoying tour helicopters buzzing by every 5-10 minutes.

Very nice resort with multiple restaurants, treatment spa, spacious fitness center, and pool deck. The staff was very helpful in accommodating any concerns or requests. The one thing missing in my opinion, would be to have had a pianist playing in the main lobby. Otherwise a great stay!

Absolutely beautiful and the perfect place for a wedding. The staff are amazing and make sure all needs are taken care of. Huge thanks to the Henderson Resort for making my son (Cory)and his new wife my daughter in law (Taylor)'s wedding a day we will never forget.

This is a very nice place to visit. Great staff too!

A newly built and beautiful Resort located in walking distance to the beach.

A nice resort with a lot of issues. Short staffed. Serval services were not open. Our room was only serviced half the time. Next door construction ruins the pool area. No beach service available.

The job is great ...people great to fun all the time. Working with the guess

Wonderful time here. Very beautiful place for retreating and vacationing

Overall, a wonderful addition to Florida's Emerald Coast. From the entry drive up to the welcoming front enterance, through your reception and stay, the staff at The Henderson goes out of their way to make you feel special.
The resort and owner's units display a relaxed elegance in keeping with the 4-Diamond designation that was awarded to this Salamander property. The facilities are top notch, and the bar staff (both at the Horizons Lounge and pool side) are phenominal! Kudos to Mike at the pool bar - that man is everywhere at once, yet always seems to have time to say hello and call you out by name!
Even the maintanence team are fun to talk to in the morning while they're getting the pools ready for the day.
Best part of the stay for us was their oyster grilling on Thursday afternoons. Live music, happy hour drinks, and $1 grilled oysters on the veranda off of the main hall. Only wished they'd start the event a little later. 4:00PM to 7:00PM is too hot. No matter though, the staff was running out ice cold beers and cocktails, and the guy on the guitar was great! We'll definately be back!

This is an amazing resort! It's very clean, elegant decor, wonderful food and amenities. The staff is wonderful- very helpful, kind and welcoming. This is by far the best accommodations we have had!

Excellent hotel. Friendly staff and good service. Facilities of the best

I had the most enjoyable experience here with my girl. What an absolutely beautiful place! We had a lovely spa day with fabulous massages, relaxing in the jacuzzi, salt room and steam room. Even took a wonderful dip in the pool. All staff went above and beyond to make this a lovely day for us. We will definitely be back soon. Best spa on the Emerald Coast!

Wendy at the front desk found out it was our honeymoon and upgraded our room. She had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries sent to our room with a handwritten note. John who was bar tending at Horizons bought our first round of drinks. Can t say enough about the staff!!!!

The Henderson is a great place for families and couples to vacation. Wonderful amenities and services! We will definitely return!

Perfectly located in the middle of everything Destin offers. Very spacious rooms and excellent accommodations. Would go back every year if possible.

The hotel, pools, bars & drinks were outstanding! The only thing that could be improved was the spa treatment for my wife. Massage was great but the manicure/pedicure was overpriced and the person doing the service was not experienced (slow, sloppy), making it not worth the price.

We had a wonderful sushi dinner for our anniversary at the sushi bar. Very hospital service and would highly recommend for others to try!

Family friendly resort. Very kind staff and fun times for all.

This was by far the best hotel/resort experience we've had. Incredible customer service, super accommodating, beautiful resort, and gorgeous private beach! Loved it!

Beautiful resort and wonderful staff!! Visited for our 2nd anniversary. The variety of activities and amenities allowed us to enjoy ourselves along with our 8 month old! I also loved the vegetarian meal options! Great atmosphere. The Spa is also AMAZING!

Very nice place, clean, and friendly staffs! Nicole was the best front desk staff and Wayne was awesome shuttle driver!

Fantastic Christmas buffet..., the prime rib & the vanilla ice cream was 5 star , just like the resort itself...!!

Beautiful location. The staff was excellent, really well trained. The maids even filled the ice bucket during turn down service. A small but significant detail, at least to me... nice touch!

Excellent and super friendly staff. Especially Nicole ( the front desk manager) and Tony. They were both so great. We got double booked for an Airbnb and they were so nice to us and helped us get rooms next to each other. We were a group of 12 and they treated us like we were family.

My stay was literally perfect. Treat yourself to services at the spa and be sure to take advantage of the spa area. It's magic.

This hotel is beautiful! The roof top bar staff are really friendly. And the vide is very nice and chill

Great location! We had our annual awards conference here and it turned out great. Beautiful location and great staff. Thanks

I came here with a Groupon, I went to the Salamander Spa. It was quite the enjoyable experience, the environment was fancy and quaint. The relaxing aura that was provided made my day spa amazing it was completely worth the trip and the price that you pay does show with the service that was given. Well deserved.

I was visiting another family that was staying at the resort. We all went down to the adult pool. While we were chatting a young man came up to our table and said is there anything i can do for you. We were all blown away because never expected anyone to go out of their way to see that we had all that we needed. We said we would like to get a drink and he said hold on will take care of that. He sent a waiter over took our order and a few minutes latter the young man came back and said do you need anything else. We said no but thank him for his thoughtfulness and caring. We chatted how it was so awesome to see someone really caring for the guests. The young man had a smile, was very out going, showed confidence in what he was doing. We found out latter his name was Harrison Schuler. This is a very high class place and the resort hires the best and if they have more people like Harrison than they will be a great success. I usually do not write reviews but in this case just wanted to acknowledge our very pleasant experience. If you want to go to a first class resort and be treat special than this place is where to go. william russell

Beautiful resort. Clean, sterile rooms. Room service had great tasting breakfast. I had the English muffin with egg, cheese, and bacon. Highly recommended.

Not worth 318 dollars for a facial, manicure and pedicure.

I would rate this place descent. This hotel is about making themselves money. They control everything from renting Movies to making it impossible to use your own device to watch tv. You almost feel forced into buying everything here. It s a 50/50 hotel at that not worth the charge. Do not stay here if your planning a romantic getaways we had to deal with drunk people blaring loud music and a dog barking.

Great place. Top notch service and great views of the park and gulf.

Accommodations are wonderful. Staff are friendly. They are always ready to help with a smile. The people treat guests like they matter and you can tell they like their jobs and the company. Amenities are great. Views are beautiful.
The place is pet friendly! I don't just mean they allow pets. There is a good dog walk area and the staff generally want to take a moment to pet the dogs and make them feel at home as well. Love it.

Very nice. I do like the fact they have an adult pool area and a family pool area. Nice new resort. Clean and exceptionally staffed.

Beautiful, clean, luxurious....but mostly, phenomenal staff! Everyone was so perfect!

Everything about this resort is breathtaking! We took a group of 13 people for a work event and every single person was blown away, not one single complaint. The grounds are extremely clean & well kept, as with the pools, rooms, and gathering areas. The endless amenities are unbeatable - complimentary shuttle service within a 5-mile radius, amazing fitness center, adult only pool, lazy river with floaties, a quick couple minute walk to be on the beach where you can use complimentary kayaks & body boards. Extremely friendly staff, concierge, etc. Honestly can t recommend this resort enough!

Stayed here for a conference last year - the room was luxurious and the view fantastic. The conference room itself was perfect for our event. The only downside was, on the day of our event, there weren t enough entrees prepared and many of us had to wait a long time for something to be cooked. The staff were apologetic and worked to correct the issue. Other than that, our stay was very pleasant.

Decent location and property but so far not impressed in the off season with service for instance no room service, restaurant closures... half the amenities for the same price. I would not recommend especially during the winter months.

I love the aesthetic of this hotel. My husband comes down here for biz and I always "tag along". The water views are nice and The Henderson Park is just across the balcony in view. It is a comfortable king room and the staff is very welcoming.
Alex, in the Horizon Bar eatery always remembers us and has a great talent for easy conversation.

Great property. Great staff. Great spa and restaurant

Everything was great! The pools and the close proximity to the beach we're very good. Everything clean and accommodating! Would recommend and probably come back.

Entire staff and amenities are excellent. First time ever being there. Hope to return.

SMALL OLD CLUB, FEELING. VERY PERSONAL SERVICE, Very one is nice and helpful. Your on the beach some of GREATNESS SUNSETS in Destin. This is a TRUE Five STAR PROPERTIE.
ENJOY YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY STAYING THERE.

One of the best places I've stayed on the Gulf. The location is excellent. Right NEXT to Henderson State park. I wish we had stayed longer. The lazy River pool is great. Even the shower in the room was a "10". It is a walk to the beach but I didn't end up minding since everything else was perfect.

I have to say, this place is outstanding! It's such a beautiful place! I am so pleased with the fact that everyone on staff has so much enthusiasm to be there for all guests. Happiness all around!

Beautiful place. Absolutely stunning. Nothing like it in the area. Great deals in season and off season as well

The most enjoyable and charming resort I have ever experienced. The staff are trained to make every guest feel exceptionally special.

I gave this place 5 stars although, I have never stayed here. The Salamander Spa and the restaurants are where this rating comes from. The ladies in the Spa are simply amazing and are willing to work with you on anything and adjust things to accommodate you. The restaurants; the food is really unique and the bar staff knows how to take care of you. Another plus is the valet service. You can pull up and those gents take care of your car and mine have always been parked in the shade so always cool on our hot days. So bring some extra cash for the valets!!

I love this place, they are expanding can t wait to come back.

Great food, rooms, employees and overall amazing place to vacation!

The Henderson is a GORGEOUS venue plus they have an amazing team to work with! I love photographing at the Henderson because it's truly an all-in-1 wedding/elopement venue. The spa is wonderful as well! I highly reccommend the Henderson.

Absolutely the best experience we have had from the time we walked in to the time we left and the Director or Front Desk Operations, Laura came running out with my shoes I forgot in the room.

Breakfast was amazing. The fitness center had only the best of each item. We were so impressed.

The spa was stunning and so peaceful, but the staff made the experience more than anything.

From the Valet to Dottie at the Front Desk. We walked in with a mini Christmas tree around 11pm Friday evening to stay for a long weekend, the next morning we heard a knock and Laura the Director of Front Desk Operations went above and beyond to get us lights to make our tree more festive while being there.

We were blown away by these standards. We can t thank them enough for making our stay so special.

Probably the best resort in Destin,Fl sadly my experience wasn t the best because of their administration.
Location 4/5 no beachfront but walk to the beach.
Amenities 5/5 price includes yoga classes, gym, bike rental, some days free coffee, pool classes. Nice jacuzzi and adult pool.
Bar 4/5 Good service, needs more tap beers.
Room 5/5 new, clean, sleek, high quality linen and towels.
Service 4/5 cleaning ladies amazing, front desk were ok, over the phone too long for someone to answer.
Price 3/5 ridiculous overpriced, room price
Is fair since everything is high quality but food in the resort is way overpriced and is not good.
Administration 0/5 they charged us the double of what it was suppose to, which required us to call multiple times and people insisted the charges were correct. After weeks and multiple calls someone from administration called us review the charges and corrected stating I m sorry it was a computer mistake.
Overall: amazing hotel poorly managed. Need to train their people better to avoid this mistakes and to serve better.

I will not be returning to Destin beaches after listening to this helicopter buzz by all day long - every day. The noise this helicopter generates completely diminishes the relaxing feeling of being at the beach. My family is annoyed seeing and hearing this helicopter every 10 minutes! I am a visitor from the Atlanta area and I will not be back.