Holiday Surf & Racquet Club

Holiday Surf & Racquet Club is a seven-story condominium resort directly on the Gulf at 510 Gulf Shore Drive on Holiday Isle, the peninsula that separates Destin Harbor from the open Gulf. The building was designed so that every unit has a view of the Gulf and the beach, and a boardwalk leads from the grounds to the private beach, with outdoor showers along the way.

The resort offers one- and two-bedroom condos that sleep from two to eight guests, grouped into tiers (Standard, Premium, Luxury and Luxury Plus) based on updates and finishes. Units have kitchens and Gulf-facing balconies, and two elevators serve the floors. An on-site front desk handles check-in and rentals, and the property also has on-site maintenance and a beach team. Guests who book directly receive complimentary beach service with chairs and an umbrella from March 1 through October 31.

As the name suggests, recreation goes beyond the beach. There are lighted tennis courts, shuffleboard, a fitness room, dry saunas and a game room, plus a seasonally heated, kidney-shaped pool with a sundeck. Barbecue grills, laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi and a car-wash area round out the amenities, and parking is on site. There is no restaurant in the building, but the restaurants and bars of Destin Harbor and HarborWalk Village are a short drive or bike ride across the Marler Bridge.

Holiday Isle is one of the more relaxed parts of Destin, with low-rise and mid-rise condos, quieter streets and wide beaches. The Destin jetties and the East Pass, where boats head out to the Gulf, are at the western tip of the island, and Norriego Point is a popular spot for wading and watching boat traffic. Crab Island, Destin’s sandbar party spot, sits just across the pass. Big Kahuna’s, The Track and Destin Commons are about 10 minutes east by car.

Holiday Surf & Racquet Club suits families and couples who want a mid-size building with Gulf views from every unit, a staffed desk, a pool and tennis, and easy access to the harbor without staying in the busiest part of town. Some units are also listed by outside agencies, so booking direct is the simplest way to confirm beach service and check-in details. The tier system helps with planning, since the higher Luxury and Luxury Plus tiers reflect more recent updates and finishes. One-bedroom condos work for couples or a parent with a child, and two-bedroom units sleep up to eight for larger families. Because the building is only seven stories with two elevators, getting from the room to the pool or beach is quick, which matters with small children and a load of beach gear. The lighted courts also allow tennis in the cooler evening hours, and the game room and saunas give options on a rainy day.