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Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin boasts stunning white sand beaches, gem-hued waters, and a secluded feel that makes it easy to vacation while social distancing.
Billed as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village," Destin is named for a northeastern fishing captain who settled there, and is relatively uncrowded outside of tourist season in winter and early spring. The local population checks in at just over 14,000.
Five beachfront parks, including Henderson Beach State Park, provide friendly spaces to swim, fish, bike, hike, camp, explore, and more in safe, socially distanced family/friend huddles that will easily appeal to US travelers looking to stick closer to home with domestic options.
And if you're wondering if it's safe to travel and stay in hotels, it's important to understand the risks. Without a vaccine, there is no firm guarantee on safety, and it's crucial to follow guidelines from organizations such as the CDC and WHO, and wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing.
Additionally, check current state travel restrictions before booking. In Florida, a mandatory 14-day quarantine has been lifted for travelers arriving from Louisiana but is still in effect for those coming by plane from the tri-state area. New COVID-19 outbreaks may cause policy changes, and some lodgings could require proof of in-state quarantine or refuse to accommodate clientele from certain areas. For up-to-date COVID-19 information, check the city website.
However, hotels, restaurants, gyms, salons and spas, retail locations, marinas, and parks in Destin are now allowed to operate (although not all choose to), with social distancing and disinfecting guidelines in accordance to the Plan for Florida's Recovery Phase 2.
It's also hurricane season, and experts at the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center warn that this year could be busier than average, with a possibility of 13-19 named storms, of which 1o could become hurricanes. Those of us who live in the storm belt year-round know these prognostications aren't set in stone, still, travelers should always keep an eye on the Atlantic while booking arrangements.
But if weather and pandemic allow, Destin is a tranquil small-town escape. It's only about an eight-square-mile town, so the number of finer hotels is limited (there are a couple more if you include neighboring Fort Walton Beach). For the uninitiated, it can be difficult to distinguish between a hotel and a rental or managed property, because, the latter often bear names with "resort" or "spa." One good clue: If you can't book for just a few nights, you're looking at a managed property with minimum-stay requirements.
Our best Destin hotels all offer more flexible bookings and have weathered both hurricanes and repeat visits with grace, receiving the best reviews from trusted traveler sites such as Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Trip Advisor.
Prices begin at $139 in the hottest part of the summer and after school has begun, but rise several hundred dollars per night when the fishing and seafood festivals kick in during October, and after hurricane season ends on November 30. Florida also institutes a resort tax on top of hotel room fees.
To learn about other safe vacation ideas during COVID that are close to home, click on a link below to jump directly to more coverage:These are the best hotels in Destin, Florida sorted by price from low to high.