The Islander

The Islander is a seven-story condominium resort directly on the Gulf at 502 Gulf Shore Drive, at the northern end of the beach on Holiday Isle in Destin. It sits next door to Holiday Surf & Racquet Club, and a private, ADA-compliant walkover on the east side of the property leads guests from the grounds to the sand. The resort describes its spot as the northernmost point of beach on Holiday Isle.

Every unit at The Islander is a two-bedroom, two-bath condo. The primary bedroom has a king bed, and the second bedroom varies by unit, with twin beds, bunk beds or a full, queen or king bed. Units have full kitchens and balconies facing the Gulf, and higher-tier Gold and Platinum units add walk-in showers. Rentals are handled through the Islander Owners Association, which runs a front desk open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Renters must be 25 or older to book.

The grounds include two pools with two hot tubs, pool lifts for accessibility, tennis and pickleball courts, shuffleboard, a basketball half-court and a fitness room, with sports equipment available at the front desk. Beach service with an attendant runs daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season, and complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas are included for stays of 14 days or less from March through October. A coin-operated laundry is on the second floor, towels are exchanged twice a week, and the parking lot has security gates and keyless entry to the building.

Holiday Isle’s location suits beach-focused trips. The Destin jetties, the East Pass and Norriego Point are at the island’s west end, and Crab Island is just across the pass for boaters. Destin Harbor, HarborWalk Village and the charter fishing fleet are a short drive or bike ride across the Marler Bridge, and Big Kahuna’s, The Track and Destin Commons are about 10 minutes east.

The Islander suits families and small groups who want a consistent two-bedroom layout, a staffed desk with long hours, two pools and courts, and a quieter island setting close to the harbor. Because condos are individually owned and some are managed by outside companies, service and finishes can vary, so booking through the association’s front desk is the simplest way to confirm beach service and unit details. The unit tiers help with planning, since Gold and Platinum condos carry newer finishes such as walk-in showers, and the flexible second-bedroom setups let families choose bunks for kids or a larger bed for another couple. The front desk’s long hours, from early morning to late evening, make arrival day easier than at buildings that rely on lockboxes. The age-25 booking rule and the security-gated parking lot also point to a property geared toward families and couples rather than large party groups.