Explore top 2026 5 Star Hotels in Shell Island

"Staff was excellent at check-in and the breakfast buffet is awesome and maintained well. The room we had had windows facing the street. The room was stuffy and smelled. It was a damp smell that would not go away, even with the air unit running constant. The bathroom could use some paint. Our first hour in the room was interrupted when a cockroach went running by our 10 year old's feet while on the toilet. It was just one, but I let the front desk know about it. The front desk sent maintenance to our room within 20 minutes. He explained that it was not an "actual cockroach, but rather a palmetto bug. (cockroach looking enough for me!) Anyhow, we are pretty easy going people and do get that these bugs will show up on beachfront properties on occasion. The maintenance guy had a insecticide with him and asked if we wanted the bathroom treated, to which we said yes. He told us to wait 5-10 minutes before using the bathroom. About 2 minutes after he left the room, we all started coughing and had a tickle in our throat. We ended up having to leave the room for an hour or so just so we could stop hacking. So...I don't think what he sprayed was safe to be breathing in. The pool and hot tub were fairly clean and the view from the pool is amazing. We have two kiddos that love to swim, so we were at the pool twice a day for 4 days. All but one time, there were no pool towels left. The only other complaint I have is the price for parking. To park in the ramp, it costs $22 per night. "

"Charged us extra $25 each night because we were under 21 even though website said minimum check in age 18. they were doing construction the whole time on the room next door to us so we could not spend time in the room during the day. Fire drill had fire alarms going off several times throughout one of the days. Last but not least, we had put do not disturb sign on door handle; staff then took it off and proceeded to go inside of our room and clean. We never got another one back and they kept going in for room service. "

"room was not clean when we checked in and took about an hour maybe longer to actually get the room cleaned, had to go the the front desk 3 times about it because no cleaners were coming or they just weren’t cleaning it. the manager did take care of us he was very kind, definitely need to hire better workers though"

"Room wasn't ready until 6:30PM. Hot tub was out of order."

"Very clean! No weird smells. Very friendly staff!"

"I had a great stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Panama City Beach – Beachfront. The location is outstanding, with direct beach access and beautiful views that really make the experience special. The room was clean, comfortable, and well maintained. Everything was in good working order, and housekeeping clearly pays attention to detail. The staff throughout the hotel were friendly, professional, and consistently helpful, which made a noticeable difference. Breakfast was fresh and well stocked, with a good variety of options to start the day. The overall property felt well managed, safe, and welcoming. What stood out most was how smooth and easy everything was—from check-in to check-out. It’s clear the team takes pride in delivering a quality guest experience. I travel fairly often and would definitely return to this location when back in the area. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a reliable, beachfront stay in Panama City Beach."