Hotel guide · Open Sands

Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort

118 rental homes around a lazy river and water slides on Front Beach Road. Beach Villas sit on the sand; homes on the north side of the road reach the beach by a crosswalk.

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Check prices on Expedia
Checked November 2, 2026
Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort
Photo: Expedia

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At a glance

  • BeachVillas on the sand, others cross
  • PoolsLazy river and slides
  • Homes1 to 6 bedrooms, kitchen in each
  • Parking1 to 4 passes by home
  • PetsNot allowed
  • Check-in / out4 pm / 10 am, booker 21+
  • Card hold$300 to $2,000 (check before you book)
  • On siteRestaurant, café, market
Our take

Who it suits

The resort is made for groups and families. Every home has a kitchen, and the resort has a 425-foot lazy river, water slides, a restaurant and a market. The person booking must be 21, the card hold is higher under 25, and you get your home's number only at check-in.

Good for

  • A group that wants a house, from a 1-bedroom bungalow to a 6-bedroom villa
  • Kids: a lazy river and water slides (48 inches to ride)
  • Beach chairs included with Waterside Retreats and Beach Villas
  • Cooking in your own kitchen

Skip if

  • You want to be on the sand but won't book a Beach Villa
  • You're bringing a pet; an unauthorized pet costs a $1,000 to $2,500 cleaning fee
  • You want to grill; grills are only allowed at Beach Villas
  • The person booking is under 21
Location

What's nearby

13646 Front Beach Road in the Open Sands area (Expedia lists 101 Banana Wind Way)

  • Russell-Fields City Pier1.6 mi35 min on foot
  • Pier Park2.2 miby car
  • St. Andrews State Park8.6 miby car
  • Airport (ECP)16.2 miby car
Before you book

House rules and extra costs

House rules

Check-in
From 4 pmYour home's number is assigned at check-in
Check-out
By 10 am
Minimum age
21 to bookAll ages welcome
Pets
Not allowedRegistered service animals only
Vehicles
Passes by home1 to 4; no RVs or trailers

What you may pay on top

  • Card holdHigher under 25. Expedia lists $500, or $2,000 under 25$300–$2,000by home and age
  • Extra parking passIf available$30a day
  • Early check-in or late check-outIf available$250–$350
  • Extra beach chair set$65a day
  • Cleaning and damage warranty feeNot publisheda reservation

At the resort

  • Kitchen in every home
  • 425-foot lazy river and water slides
  • Restaurant, café and 24-hour market
  • Arcade and 24-hour fitness center
  • Beach chairs: Waterside Retreats and Beach Villas (check with the hotel)
  • Grills, except at Beach Villas (not available)
  • Airport shuttle (not available)
Full notes from the hotel's pages
Address
13646 Front Beach Road in the Open Sands area (Expedia lists 101 Banana Wind Way)
Homes
118 homes: Surf Bungalows (1 bedroom and a loft, up to 6 guests), Resort Cottages (up to 12), Waterside Retreats (up to 14) and Beach Villas (up to 6 bedrooms, up to 16). Your home's number is assigned at check-in
Beach
580 feet of beachfront, open around the clock. Beach Villas are on the sand; homes on the north side of Front Beach Road use a crosswalk with safety lights
Pools
The zero-entry Oasis Pool, a 425-foot lazy river and the H2O slides (48 inches to ride). The FAQ says both that the pools are heated year-round and that they're heated seasonally
Kitchen
Every home has a kitchen with basic cookware and dishes, plus linens, towels and starter toiletries
Food and drink
License to Chill restaurant and bar; Joe Merchant's Provisions for coffee, deli food and a 24-hour market; the Salty Rim pool bar in season
Also
Fin City Arcade and a 24-hour fitness center. No airport shuttle
Beach chairs
Waterside Retreats include one set (umbrella and two chairs), Beach Villas one large-umbrella set. Extra sets $65 a day. Service 9 am to 5 pm, March through October
Parking
Passes by home: Surf Bungalow 1, Resort Cottage 3, Waterside Retreat 3, Beach Villa 4. Extra passes $30 a day if available. No RVs or trailers. Expedia lists free self-parking
Pets
Not allowed; only service animals registered with the resort. An unauthorized pet costs the full card hold plus a $1,000 (Surf Bungalow) or $2,500 cleaning fee
Age
The person booking must be 21. All ages are welcome
Check-in / out
4 pm / 10 am. Early check-in and late check-out cost $250 to $350, if available
Card hold
By home, under 25 / 25 and older: Surf Bungalow $500 / $300, Resort Cottage $1,000 / $500, Waterside Retreat $1,500 / $750, Beach Villa $2,000 / $1,000. Expedia lists a $500 breakage deposit, or $2,000 for guests under 25
Other fees
A cleaning fee and a Limited Damage Warranty fee per reservation; the policy page doesn't give the amounts. Smoking is banned everywhere, balconies included
Booking direct
Deposits become non-refundable 45 days before arrival or 48 hours after booking, whichever is later; full payment is due 30 days before arrival
Alternatives

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This resort in our guides: Beachfront hotels · Where to stay: Open Sands · Thunder Beach · Gulf Coast Jam · Spring break