Sandestin is such a big complex of hotels, shopping
malls, and of course, Emerald Coast Beaches, so there has to be a number of
different ways to get around, right? In this article, we are going to take a
look at some of the incredible options that guests have for transportation!

Resort Transport: Buses (AKA “The Village Loop Route…”)

For starters, the most common form of transportation involves traveling by bus.
Most, if not all, of the condo/hotels have bus depots; in fact, some of the
resort’s areas like Baytown Village have multiple pickup and drop-off locations
to fit the size of the resort! There are a few things that you should know
about the buses. First of all, each shuttle that comes by your pickup location
is designated for a specific location or group of locations. To know which
location a particular shuttle is going to, look at the top of the windshield to
see what the sign says or just ask the driver. If you are going to the beach,
be sure not to get on a shuttle that is headed to Baytown Village by mistake!
There is a designated beach transport service called the “Express Beach Route.”
However, this service generally operates to and from the Grand Sandestin and
the Bayside Inn. They call the vehicles “trolleys,” but they look much like
Disneyworld’s buses. This might make you think twice about booking your stay at
one of the hotels that are not the Grand Sandestin or Bayside Inn, but have no
worries, there is a plan B. The Express Beach Route does have an “on-call”
service for guests not staying at the Grand Sandestin or Bayside Inn. You can
dial “0” from any location for the Express Beach Route, but depending on, well,
I guess what season it is, there is “Limited Seasonal Service” for guests
staying outside this route. Finally, if you are anywhere at the resort, you can
dial “0” for “The Transportation on-Call Service.” Evidently, this service is
not designated for beach or general transport. It is, however, designated for
tee times, tennis court times, and spa appointments. This Resort has grown
exponentially by exceeding expectations, so it would not surprise me if they
would step outside the advertised service and accommodate special arrangements.

Second, the buses will always deliver passengers first, so if you are getting
ready to board, know that those that need to get off will be let off first.
Also, people needing special assistance will be taken care of first.

Third, when you are leaving the Emerald Coast Beaches at the end of a long
summer day heading to your trolley pickup location, know that there may be a
LOT of people getting on that trolley also. When you are waiting in line,
remember why you came and try to be patient. Talk about the fun things you did
that day. Remember all of the good times you had. Don’t let a long line
influence you to do or say something you will regret tomorrow.

Finally, these are the three main transportation methods, so you may want to
consider including the family car or a local taxi service,
especially if you want to leave the resort and venture out in to the Destin
nightlife. There are two main night clubs around Destin that people go to for
entertainment. Please, don’t take the family car if drinking. Often, people
will include a trip to AJ’s or Nightown in Destin. AJ’s and Nightown are both
centrally located and you can easily take a taxi from one to the other. AJ’s is
actually a restaurant by day, and the food is excellent. Nightown, however, is
just a nightclub, so you may want to eat beforehand. The best way, and most
cost effective, is to find a taxi or limousine service that will more or less
be your designated cab service for the evening. You can find a cab service or
limousine service online to save on rates. The limousine
service has its pros and cons, but just be ready to put down a deposit, and
tell your friends not to break anything or get tipsy enough to make a mess of the
carpet. The easiest way is just to be sure and let the driver know if you need
to stop. In many cases it is quicker to get to the clubs by walking across
highway 98. This is not recommended for safety reasons. A person was killed
crossing this street before at night. It is very congested and dangerous.
Waiting five minutes for your cab is well worth it.