Destin, Florida

[stratman560]

Hey guys. Spending a few nights in Destin, Florida. Any suggestions on the best hotel, etc.? Something on the beach would be cool..... Any of you guys regulars down there? Fill me in. Thanks.

 

[pushntin]

sandestin Hilton is very nice and on the beach with some good rates this time of year. Great food in that area. Go to Baytowne! Great time. They will give you a ride if you don't have a car.

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

If you've never been there, be extremely vigilant. It is probably THE most dangerous airport in the system. No tower, yahoos in bug smashers everywhere. No radio calls, etc. Plenty of guys with little to no situational awareness.

 

[Edmo]

Not to mention the Herc's to the west and the myriad of fighters coming off of Eglin at any given time. But I agree, seems like theres a fair share of weekend bug-smashers, so make sure TCAS is working and get a full traffic report before you switch over.

 

[kswhite]

Sandestin (east of the airport on 98 by about 15 minutes) is beautiful but more costly then then Holiday Inn or other hotels of that caliber. I'd suggest, to get in the car and drive east (there's plenty of hotels west too) and find something that jumps out at you because you can't go wrong. There's a million hotels.

And DTS and surrounding areas is very dangerous. Watch the banner towers and site see'ers along the coast line.

 

[CandlerWun]

I will back up the earlier comments about this airport being dangerous. It has got to be my least-favorite routine destination for the reasons already listed. The close proximity of Eglin AFB creates a compressed maneuvering area for landings on the southeast runway (14?), a real problem if you're in a faster airplane and have a light single in front of you (not uncommon)...you can't extend the downwind for spacing so you just have to make some S-turns or be creative in other ways.

The other thing that always irritated me about this airport, but that does seem to be better as of late, is that the FBO would always use the CTAF to give airplanes parking instructions, take fuel orders, etc., totally tying up the frequency with their unprofessional communications. Sometimes it's helpful in a place like that to be able to just ask the other airplanes what they intend to do.

Finally, the other thing that sucks is that the place has a mix of controlled and uncontrolled field procedures in that the airport itself is uncontrolled, but you must receive departure authorization from Eglin departure before takeoff.

The town is nice, but the airport is a total fiasco. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

Josh M.

 

[willNOTfly4free]

I will back up the earlier comments about this airport being dangerous. It has got to be my least-favorite routine destination for the reasons already listed. The close proximity of Eglin AFB creates a compressed maneuvering area for landings on the southeast runway (14?), a real problem if you're in a faster airplane and have a light single in front of you (not uncommon)...you can't extend the downwind for spacing so you just have to make some S-turns or be creative in other ways.

The other thing that always irritated me about this airport, but that does seem to be better as of late, is that the FBO would always use the CTAF to give airplanes parking instructions, take fuel orders, etc., totally tying up the frequency with their unprofessional communications. Sometimes it's helpful in a place like that to be able to just ask the other airplanes what they intend to do.

Finally, the other thing that sucks is that the place has a mix of controlled and uncontrolled field procedures in that the airport itself is uncontrolled, but you must receive departure authorization from Eglin departure before takeoff.

The town is nice, but the airport is a total fiasco. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

I will second that. DTS is a regular trip for myself, and none of these comments are exaggerated. Be safe going in there.

 

[tracearabians]

If you've never been there, be extremely vigilant. It is probably THE most dangerous airport in the system. No tower, yahoos in bug smashers everywhere. No radio calls, etc. Plenty of guys with little to no situational awareness.

Amen to that brother ! This place needs a tower in the worst way !!!

 

[tracearabians]

Hey guys. Spending a few nights in Destin, Florida. Any suggestions on the best hotel, etc.? Something on the beach would be cool..... Any of you guys regulars down there? Fill me in. Thanks.

If you want a great steak one night , go to The Copper Grill . A little pricey but very, very good !

 

[Flyingdutchman]

We always stayed in Sandestin... lots of old old rich super rich money... If your between 21 and 35 id say go to the Swamp on a fr or sat night to stare at the women.

have fun! and please keep your eyes open below 5000'.... way to much PPL/GA traffic around there.

FD

 

[Mentorplt]

Also look out for cars all over the ramp. These rich people do not give way to airplanes and every Tom, Dick and Harry drives on the ramp. Should be named the Destin Zoo.

MP

 

[Flyingdutchman]

H3 on the runway, go around!!!!!! postive rate, check trust, flaps 5 gear up

 

[FallingForward]

Anyone know if George Scholemp is still working there?

 

[viper01]

Old George is still there.

 

[Len]

Speaking of zoo! I once saw a dog take a crap on the ramp. Another time I watched a kid take a leak on the floor in the FBO.

 

[aufan]

Eat at AJ's or The Backporch....I would say AJ's is better...great seafood

 

[FallingForward]

Eat at the Rib Shack... Oh wait it burned down.

 

[Flyingdutchman]

Speaking of zoo! I once saw a dog take a crap on the ramp. Another time I watched a kid take a leak on the floor in the FBO.

so what !!! it was a 12 hour duty day !!! and I didnt feel like cleaning my toilet in my super king air!

FD

 

[alaskaborn]

Destin gives a two hour crew car. They have three cars, but good luck getting one during the lunch hour. They also have Enterprise on site. We always try to eat as soon as we get there, avoiding "the Back Porch" because it's WAY too casual for us in our ties and jackets. I like staying at the Hampton Inn when we do an overnight because it's a little less expensive than the Holiday Inn, they are only about a half block from the beach, and I like their breakfast better.

Totally agreed with keeping eyes open for traffic at this place. Eglin likes to keep you at 5 or 6000 until you are 4 miles from the field. Once you get down into the pattern, the obnoxious absence of quality radio calls can make your blood boil. WHY does Greenwood, Mississippi, have a tower and nothing at Destin? One only needs to compare the two airports (KDTS & KGWO) on flightaware.com to see what a ridiculous waste that is!