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Step back in time with one of original hangouts: Chateau Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort. Sitting on nearly 500 feet of pristine beachfront property, The Chateau is a great family-friendly destination. With easy access to the beach, your family can have fun alternating between swimming in the gulf, lounging on our tanning deck, grabbing a drink from our poolside tiki bar (open seasonally) and relaxing in our pool. Our tiki bar offers Barefoot Restaurants’ entire drink menu, as well as selected food items. Our pool features a chair lift and is heated seasonally. The Chateau’s proximity to the M.B. Miller County Pier makes us the hotel of choice for beginner and advanced fishermen alike. Want to take a break from the beach? Head right down the road to Shipwreck Island Water Park, which was voted the 3rd best water park in the country for 2018.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Ocean View
Great View
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
12525 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407-3306
Chateau Beachfront Hotel, A By The Sea Resort
3.5 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Chateau Beachfront Resort, BW Signature Collection, offers a prime beachfront location near the pier and local dining that many guests appreciate. However, opinions on value are less favorable, with dissatisfaction over hidden fees and pricing inconsistencies. While some guests praise clean and well-appointed rooms, others experience uncleanliness and maintenance issues, alongside inconsistent housekeeping.
The amenities and atmosphere garner mixed reviews, with criticisms focusing on the pool area's ambiance and room cleanliness. Service quality varies, contributing to a polarized guest satisfaction.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Uninviting
Rooms
Unkempt
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming
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The staff was very helpful and polite upon arrival . I have been here numerous times z the improvements included showers by the beach and the pool to rinse off sand . All rooms pretty much gave the beautiful ocean . Changes that could improve as you pay a 24 resort fee -larger towels by the pool as well as have the pool open later than 8:30 . Hotel is in a safe area . The new addition of LOUD music by the pool was not a good idea .
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visit PCB three times a year and every time I try to go to a new location the last time I came here was eight years ago the remodel that they just did was very obvious however, whoever they hired to do the job did a crappy job and you do not get that all new feeling The bathroom was the worst. I hate it even taking a shower with it being Florida I know Palmetto bugs are a thing, but I literally had to kill five baby roaches coming from the door. The room itself was nice nothing fancy. Would I stay here again. if the price was right beachfront view without having to pay all those resort fees is what I appreciate
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We Enjoyed a Great stay! CLEAN ROOMS, No BUGS, No Funky Smell! Good Location. No Crowded Beach like some high rises as it is only 4 Floors. Nice Tiki Bar with 2 Big screen TV’s. Tiki hut on beach to rent Umbrella and Lounge chairs and Sea Do’s. Negatives were if you wanted ice, you had to purchase bagged ice for $6.00. It is an older hotel and mostly updated. The office is in a sep building in the parking lot and reeks of cigars.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where to even start with this terrible stay !! First we accidentally went to the wrong property and the clerk at that property guided us to the right place, with a warning..she said make sure you check your bedding and don't even bring in your luggage before you inspect the room. Her exacts words were "we locals call that place SH*^&&Y Chateau" Upon arrival we inspected everything, first off a crusty towel hung from the AC unit, second no towels were in the room, third the bedding was disgusting full of stains. We asked the staff to change our bedding and provide some clean amenities, they reluctantly complied only to come back to our room to a very mediocre clean job at best. The bedding was still stained and the toilet and shower still had remains, hairs of previous guests. We were only there for one night and it being late and we just wanted dinner we chose to ride it out. We went to dinner around 7-8pm, returned to the Hotel slept "with one eye open" and very uncomfortably, the only joy was the doors open listening to the ocean. With that said, the doors were open all night and various times throughout the night we could smell smoke, cigarettes or weed or whatever. Well to our surprise we awoke with a $250.00 smoking charge. What ??? Upon checking out we raised hell and obviously we did not smoke in our room, we were literally in it for a few hours. They would not take off the charge granted we asked for proof that they could not provide. DO NOT STAY HERE
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Dirty, dingy, horrible customer service! Scammed out of money. Worst hotel experience in my life...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Marketing Activation, Owner at Chateau Beachfront Hotel, A By The Sea Resort
Responded 10 Jan 2025
Thank you for the comments regarding your recent stay with us. We are sorry that we were unable to meet your expectations during your stay. Guest satisfaction is something we strive for every day and your feedback is very much appreciated. Please know we use all feedback, both positive and constructive when reviewing the services and accommodations we provide to our guests. If we can be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to let us know.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What a dump!!! They should remove the word resort from the name of this hotel. It is certainly not a resort! Our room wasn't as clean as it should have been and the bathroom had a sewage smell the entire time. I had to flush the toilet several time just to get paper to go down. The maid never once came to our room to clean or bring towels or any other toiletries. We had to hunt down bath towels and anything else we needed. They have a ice machine that you have to pay for and it was broken most of the time I was there. The entire property is old, dirty and hasn't been taken care of very well! Also, I believe this place may have roaches. I don't mean Florida bugs but roaches some has packed in with them from their home!
The pool is small and was green the entire time we were there. There was rarely ever pool towels and the ones you could find were thin and old. There are not enough chairs in the pool area for the amount of people staying in the hotel. There is a pool bar that makes decent drinks but they're very expensive and the pool atmosphere is not conducive to hanging around the pool to enjoy your drink! Also, the showers to wash sand off didn't work very well and no one bothered to clean the sand up. The beach location is great and is walking distance of the pier and other amenities. The restaurant next door Harpoon Harry's is delicious! There is a Hooter's next door to Harry's and both are within walking distance.
Overall I would not come back to this hotel. It is old, dirty and just plain junkie! It is entirely too expensive for what you are getting! This place shouldn't cost more than $50 a night...maybe $75 for a room with a kitchen. If you can afford better... stay somewhere else! Also, do not be fooled by the pictures because this place isn't nice at all!!! ***STAY AWAY***
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Worst place EVER!!!! The only reason I gave it a 1 Star is because there was nothing lower! Shower Fawcett broken any laying on side of tub upon arrival, visibly cracked tiles in shower, had to beg for clean towels and NO ONE would fix shower or give us the towels (oh, we are having an issue with our service), room never cleaned and didn’t follow their own hotel policies!
Instead of Chateau by the Sea, it needs to be renamed CRAP by the Sea!!! We only stay at BW hotels and we have never stayed at one that was this horrible! BEWARE!!!!
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Marketing Activation, Owner at Chateau Beachfront Hotel, A By The Sea Resort
Responded 9 Jan 2025
Thank you for the comments regarding your recent stay with us. We are sorry that we were unable to meet your expectations during your stay. Guest satisfaction is something we strive for every day and your feedback is very much appreciated. Please know we use all feedback, both positive and constructive when reviewing the services and accommodations we provide to our guests. If we can be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to let us know.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Horrible we didn't get the room we selected in the reservation we got a a room that costed $600 less as a free upgrade but wasn't about to correct the price till I spent hours complaining about it mind you our reservation was for a bedroom suite and we were given 2queen beds side by side with small kitchenette. I have teenage boys 14 & 15 no chance of celebrating our engagement while there. Our room had palmetto roaches the wifi wouldn't sat connected and we had to ask multiple times a day for towels because housekeeping wouldn't bring them in fact the entire trip housekeeping never came to our room ever to clean or anything and forget the free continental breakfast that most best Western are known for you'll pay astronomical prices for breakfast
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Don't show up until 4pm your room will not be ready bring your own cleaning supplies and towels...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have travelled 60 countries and I feel that I've been defrauded. The images of the Chateau Beachfront Hotel are not the same quality and do not represent what you get. To make things worse the refund policy expires before you get to the hotel. We were able to see the room prior to our check-in by one hour or so, we then identified the problem to both Expedia and the Hotel staff. Expedia emailed me this: We wanted to follow up after our last conversation, where you asked us to reach out to your property for a refund.
We've attempted to contact Chateau Beachfront Resort, BW Signature Collection to request a refund
Unfortunately, after multiple tries, we weren't able to obtain any approval from the property manager to waive the change fee. This means the current rules and restrictions for your booking apply and a refund can't be granted.
We're really sorry about this we always try to contact suppliers and advocate for our travelers in these situations. Properties often have strict policies around refunds, and there's nothing more we can do in this case.
Again, we're sorry that a refund wasn't possible. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
It is apparent to both myself and Expedia that be very weary about what you purchase up front, read the terms and conditions and do not book unless you can get a refund after you've seen what you purchased.
I plan on taking further action.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nothing signature about this place. Pictures are very deceiving. We were there for 6 nights. We were told house keeping would pull trash daily and clean every 4 days. No one ever came the whole time we were there. Can’t get ahold of housekeeping. Trash everywhere. Old lard buckets full of trash and towels throughout the property. Plenty of staff throughout the property, most are younger males on their phones. We had a large roach in our bathroom light. We walked to front desk to notify them since they never answered phone calls. They sent down 2 people to remove the bug. They threw it in the toilet and didn’t even bother to flush the toilet. We got tired of begging for toilet paper and someone to clean our room so we went to Walmart and bought supplies to clean our own room.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Find somewhere else to stay.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In comparison to other beachfront hotels, this hotel was very reasonably priced for a midweek stay. We were skeptical because the reviews arranged wildly, but our experience was very good! Contrary to many of the reviews, our room was clean, and we had a beautiful view of the pool and Gulf. One word of warning: do not be fooled by the price stated on the Best Western website when paying online. Even though you are booking online, there is a disclaimer that says the hotel is individually owned and operated and can charge you more during check-in. Strongly suggest you call the hotel and get the quote and get the name of the person before reserving the room and paying online. Two employees, Andrea and Karla were both very friendly, helpful and professional. Our only disappointment was that the tiki bar was supposed to be open until sunset, but closed about an hour beforehand.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Call the hotel for an actual price quote before booking and paying online!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Panama City Beach area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 329 - RM 693 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaFlorida PanhandlePanama City Beach
NUMBER OF ROOMS
151
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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