Embarc/HGVC SANDESTIN GOLF & BEACH RESORT
8626 Baytowne Ave West, Miramar Beach, Florida, 32550, United States
Phone: 1.850.622.3400
Fax: 1.850.622.4764
Email:
SandestinFrontDesk@hgv.com
Back from our first trip to HGVC Sandestin (Embarc) and wanted to provide a more complete review. First, we are HGVC Legacy so booked this through Destination Xchange (DEX) EU. DEX is the exchange system in Diamond but there are different versions based on what you own. Since we own at Craig Lodges and the HOA worked out a deal with DEX EU last year to allow members to exchange our weeks in it, that gives us access to the Diamond, Embarc, and other partner properties via DEX EU.
HGVC Sandestin is a nice property. The rooms are dated but the overall property is nice. They do have a scheduled renovation and have a renovated room which are in the below pictures. The property is in a gated community, Baytowne, much like Sea Pines in Hilton Head. They have two smaller pools, two hot tubs, hammocks, sand volleyball, outdoor games like corn hole, and 3 grills in a nice grill area. They are next to Jolee Island, that is a nature reserve with trails and there is direct access from the property to the bridge to it.
Members, which are owners and folks who exchange into it via DEX, get 4 hours of free bike rental, 1 hour of free kayaks, 1 hour of free boogie board, fishing rods, and free chairs/umbrellas at the beach per day. You also get free tennis and pickleball time at the local tennis club in Baytowne. There are restaurants and bars within Baytowne so you don't need to leave the community to get food but also a Publix that is near the entrance so a quick drive to get there without going out to the main road.
The bike trails are nice and you can ride to the beach going through a tunnel to the beach so you don't need to cross the busy highway out front. There is an automatic coffee/espresso machine in the lobby for free coffee. They have a gym, game room, and theater. They have set movies/game but if nothing is on and others aren't there, you can request a movie to be shown. They also have a kiosk to get movies for your room.
The pool area was very quiet and always a place to sit. I asked others if it is busier in the peak season and they said not really. It was sold out when we were there but you would not have known it. There are 77 rooms but I rarely saw more than one or two families in the pool at any one time.
The rooms are odd. Our 2 bedroom premier (Jolee Island) unit has 2 balconies. One overlooking the pool from the living room and another off the master bedroom facing Jolee Island. There are many varieties of 1 and 2 bedrooms though. Some don't have balconies, washer and dryers (we did), facing the resort, facing the bay, etc. There are washer and dryers in the common areas though. We like a washer/dryer so we would probably go back to this same unit..plus we like the balconies facing the bay.
The beach is an easy trip over. You can walk, ride bikes, take the shuttle, or drive. White sand but can be busy. There were 20 sets of umbrella/chairs when we were there. If they run out, you may be able to ask the chair concierge hut about more, not sure though.
We were surprised by the dated rooms but they were not terrible. The positives about the property outweigh the negatives with the rooms. We definitely plan to go back. It is an easy drive from ATL and we can envision going for back to back weeks to stay longer...using it as a beach house.
Sandestin Resort Map
Sandestin Room Codes
Sandestin Room Descriptions
Sandestin Resort Activities
