Daytona Beach hotels

Any conversation about luxury hotels in Daytona Beach must start with The Daytona, a Marriott Autograph Collection resort that set a new deluxe benchmark in this upbeat destination when it opened in 2019.
From signature cocktails to sumptuous rooms, The Daytona is all about elevated quality and service, with a contemporary vibe that perfectly complements the upscale shops and restaurants of the One Daytona complex of which it is part, and the famous Daytona International Speedway, which sits on the other side of Highway 92. The 144 rooms are decorated in subtle tones highlighted by automotive decor, while the resort-style pool – complete with private cabanas – adds the right air of vacation indulgence.
The clincher for us is Sir Malcolm’s, the restaurant named for world land speed record holder Sir Malcolm Campbell, boasting a mouth-watering contemporary American cuisine menu that ticks all the boxes for memorable dining.

The idea of pairing a famous location with an iconic entertainment brand sounds like hotel heaven – and that’s exactly what results from plonking the Hard Rock Hotel right on the Daytona beachfront. It hits the top of the charts for a prime position on Highway A1A and the main beach, and is only a 20-minute rock-and-stroll from the signature Main Street Pier.
The hotel’s super-chic style is perfectly suited to this lively destination, with its upscale vibe packed with rock memorabilia and superb creature comforts, like the oceanfront pool, Rock Spa and Salon, glitzy outdoor Wave Terrace, and amenity-laden Roxity Youth Club for children.
We love the fact you can even borrow a guitar and play it in your room to fully live the rockstar lifestyle, while the dining lives up to celebrity standards, too, with indoor/outdoor restaurant Sessions serving up some of the best food on the seafront.

You know those high-rise, faux-glitzy corporate hotels with resort fees and other sneaky charges? Bahama House isn’t one of them. Instead, this lovely 10-story family-owned resort offers a fully family-friendly approach that really appeals to our sense of vacation relaxation, providing a bright, airy atmosphere that blends perfectly into its oceanfront location just south of the iconic Main Street Pier.
Rooms are equally sleek and inviting, with balconies and sweeping ocean views, plus kitchenettes (in the majority) and masses of living space. The chic oceanfront pool and Whirlpool tub provide the perfect introduction to the outdoor aspect, with the beach just literal steps away.
Extra value includes free Wi-Fi, parking, breakfast, and a daily Happy Hour in the Grand Bahama Room. Other dining choices are within 10 minutes’ walk or a five-minute drive, including the classic style of the Daytona Diner and seafood-centric Crabby’s Oceanside, which we adore at sundown.

Luxury hotels come in all shapes and sizes along 23-mile Daytona Beach, with the boutique end of the scale beautifully supplied by the Nautilus Inn, a local fixture since the 1960s and lovingly maintained ever since.
With just 99 rooms and a true individual style, the Nautilus scores for both its glorious beachfront location and sun deck and pool, complete with Whirlpool tub and loungers to soak up the seaside ambiance. Rooms – all with balconies – feature full kitchens, in addition to a generous amount of living space. A handy marketplace supplies drinks, snacks, and quick meals, with a Winn Dixie supermarket less than a mile away and plenty of nearby restaurant choices.
And – while this isn’t necessarily us on vacation – this is the place for early risers, with an uninterrupted view of the daily sunrise sensation that kicks Daytona Beach into gear every morning.

According to the ‘Veness Manual of Hotel Style’ (a best-selling book just waiting to be published), beachfront vacation hot-spots should be bright, bubbly, and welcoming, with direct beach access, comfortable pool loungers, and the chance to raise an alcoholic libation or two at sundown.
The Hilton Garden Inn Daytona Beach Oceanfront ticks all these boxes, and more, as a lovely choice on the northern stretch of this famous beach. It occupies an idyllic location along seafront Highway A1A, maintains high standards of service and style, and the bar staff know how to put together a good margarita.
The amenities, which include a fitness room, pool deck, and in-house restaurant, are equally sharp. Should you need further options still, the Bellair Plaza across the street adds a Publix supermarket and several restaurants, notably the fun style of Big Tuna’s Beach Bar and Grill.

To some, hotel luxury means having a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. To others, it might be the simple pleasure of a good book and a balcony overlooking the sea. If, like us, you tend towards the latter, we can thoroughly recommend the Tropical Winds Oceanfront Hotel.
It boasts plenty of hearty creature comforts, like the chic pool deck that overlooks the beach, comfortable sun-loungers, and even an indoor pool, but it is most notable for its great location and the pleasure of balcony views that go straight to the ocean horizon.
To that end, rooms are chic and cheerful, with a choice of full kitchen and kitchenette. There are plenty of nearby restaurant options – including the Latin-Caribbean fusion cuisine of Chucherias Fine Dining – but Tropical Winds also boasts the casually charming Poolside Cafe for breakfast and lunch.

When you absolutely must be at the center of the Daytona Beach scene, with the full array of amenities practically on tap, the Daytona Grande is the deluxe hotel for you. This towering monument to upscale style is in the heart of the Seabreeze Historic District, just a short walk from attractions like Main Street Pier, Daytona Lagoon water park, Ocean Walk Shoppes, and Daytona Beach Bandshell.
The glittering 27-story edifice also boasts plenty of its own services, including a fabulous infinity pool, state-of-the-art fitness center with glorious ocean views, and delectable dining. The latter includes the standout Abalone Restaurant, which features some of the freshest Florida seafood, while the accommodations include immaculate king and queen rooms and one- and two-bedroom suites.
The most impressive feature, though, is the sheer eye-catching nature of the resort, with thrilling design that incorporates bright, sleek decor and furnishings for a true luxury look.

Families are firmly the stock-in-trade of one of Daytona’s most imposing resorts, as the Wyndham Ocean Walk is superbly geared for children and parents alike in a feature-packed hotel profile.
From the fabulous pool deck – with toddler pool, main pool with kids’ splash area, water slide, and lazy river, plus a separate indoor pool – to the activities center, volleyball court, and games arcade, this is Entertainment Central, as well as being just steps from the ocean and next door to the Ocean Walk Shoppes, with six restaurants and bars to choose from.
The hotel’s pool bar offers a blissful ocean overlook, while there is also a coffee shop, grab-and-go market, and lobby lounge. We especially like the flexibility of the accommodation choice here, from standard one-bed rooms to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites with full kitchens and expansive dining areas, while most also have that essential oceanfront feature: a balcony.

If you want the beach without the bustle, head for Daytona Beach Shores and the charming boutique style of the Oceanside Inn. Located in this southern stretch of the greater Daytona Beach area, the Oceanside is only a five-minute drive from the Main Street Pier hoopla but several light years in terms of its more laid-back ambiance.
There’s still the same gorgeous beachfront vibe, but the pace of vacation life here is slower and more low-key. Relative simplicity can also be a luxury commodity, with floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the 128 rooms to soak up that classic ocean vista, with key amenities like fridges, microwaves, and coffee machines, plus a fabulous pool deck – including a children’s pool – and picnic area overlooking the beach.
Our top tip here is to head south to the historic Racing’s North Turn beachfront restaurant to soak up some of Daytona’s racing heritage.

We fell in love with The Shores Resort & Spa about 15 years ago, and it is a luxury hotel love affair that still holds to this day. The casual, refined elegance, the richly-furnished bar area, the impeccable indoor/outdoor dining, and the supreme position on the seafront at Daytona Beach Shores add up to a resort experience par excellence.
The hotel’s stepped profile makes for an eye-pleasing backdrop to the brilliant blue sea, with the superb pool deck perfectly placed between the two for maximum sun-lounging effect.
Dining is always a pleasure at Azure Oceanfront American Kitchen – don’t miss the Lump Crab Bucatini and fresh Florida Grouper among some mouth-watering entrees – as is the laid-back Tiki Hut Barefoot Beach Bar, where the cocktails are the ideal complement to the magnificent sunsets. The holistic wellness treatments at the Spa are the icing on a particularly delightful cake.