The Best Resorts in Daytona Beach, Florida

Looking for a beach break with a side of pampering? The Shores Resort, right on the beach off Atlantic Avenue, has an acclaimed spa that offers customised treatments using organic blends of herbs and minerals. Try a warm bamboo massage or the soothing ritual bath followed by a mud wrap, and continue relaxing in a private beachside cabana or at the pool deck, which has its own hot tub. Rooms are just as luxe, with outdoor areas and ocean views.

Families will love this fun resort, which is set on a wide stretch of sand just across from Daytona Lagoon waterpark and arcade. The resort has plenty to keep everyone entertained, including a heated pool with a separate kids’ area overlooking the beach. Adults can get laps in at the olympic-style pool or head to the spa while children join the D-Dawgs Kidzone. Family-sized suites have their own terraces and there are seven restaurants with child-friendly options.

Looking for an affordable self-catering holiday? Avoid Daytona’s crowds and head 4mi (6.4km) north to Ormond Beach. Stay in a beachfront studio or one-bed apartment, complete with balcony and full kitchen for home-cooked meals. There are also three gas grills near the heated pool and jacuzzi, perfect for summer BBQs. Play some shuffleboard or hang out in the activity room which is packed with games, plus there’s evening music nights and socials.

Drive directly onto Daytona Beach to access Grand Seas Resort. You’ll be well-placed for lazy seaside days, with snacks and drinks from the beachside cafe. When you’re not soaking up the sun and Daytona vibes at the beach, lounge by the resort’s extensive pool collection, which includes a heated indoor area with slides. Rooms come beachfront-condo style in vibrant colours with up to two bedrooms, kitchens and some with jacuzzi tubs.

There’s an old Florida feel at Perry’s, a beachfront resort that’s been a Daytona Beach staple for over 75 years. Picture a tropical Tiki bar serving cocktails, a huge lawn with BBQ grills and complimentary home-made donuts for breakfast. There’s nothing pretentious about the refurbished rooms, many of which include kitchenettes. Families hang out on the resort’s lawn and putting green or by the pools, two of which lie in the covered garden atrium.

Fountain Beach Resort, just minutes from restaurants, amusements and Ocean Walk Shoppes, enjoys a prime position in Daytona. Plush suites have kitchenettes and balconies to showcase the ocean views. Most of the action is centred around the resort’s sun deck, which has a seasonally heated pool and hot tub surrounded by swaying palms. There’s also daily entertainment during high season and typical American cuisine at the Oasis Tiki Bar & Grill.

Kids under 12 stay and eat for free when they share their parents’ room at this popular Holiday Inn. The child-friendly features continue with kids play rooms, splash parks and an activities club with its own dolphin mascot. Make sandcastles on Daytona Beach, just steps from the hotel, and gather around flickering fire pits on the pool deck in the evenings. Suites are ideal for families, with separate bedroom and living spaces, kitchens and balconies.

This peaceful resort, tucked away from Daytona’s louder hotels at the quieter end of Daytona Beach, boasts a nostalgic, 1950s feel. Come to savour ocean views from the 400ft (122m) beachfront lawn, scattered with loungers and BBQs, and relax by the large pools. Old-fashioned fun comes in the form of shuffleboard and beach volleyball tournaments. There’s also a generous free breakfast and the option to self-cater by booking a kitchen suite.

Check into the Plaza Resort and Spa, which dates back to 1888 and lies just five minutes from the pier, to experience a slice of Daytona Beach history. Although it’s been refurbished, the hotel retains a luxury vintage feel with grand lobby columns and a 1920s speakeasy-style bar. Modern touches include a chic spa, 82ft (25m) pool and whirlpool suites. Meanwhile, don’t miss the Plaza’s restaurant, which is loved by locals and tourists for its seafood and steaks.

Come to the Hampton Inn for a low-key beach break and opt for a sea-view room for your own balcony. This quiet Daytona resort, a mile from the teeming boardwalk, backs right onto soft sands but lies away from the tourist crowds. Its main draw is a sun deck with heated pools, hot tubs and night-time fire pits for star-gazing sessions. Breakfast is complimentary and includes a decorate-your-own waffles station.