We’ve been offered the use of a friend’s vacation home in Panama City Beach. The idea is for our adult kids, their SO’s, DW and me to meet up for long weekend. March works best for kids’ work schedules, but I see that Panama City Beach is a big spring break destination. It appears that the second two weeks in March are the height of spring break. Thoughts?
How tolerant are you of noise, traffic and vomit?
To me it depend on how you foresee yourself spending the time. Is the house big and nice enough to accommodate everyone and you envision just hanging out there, cooking there, and going to the beach? What are the neighboring units like? Or will you be going out a lot to restaurants and bars? If its the former, yes you’ll have traffic coming and going, and more crowded beaches but it might be OK. Ask the generous friends what the reality of spring break there is. And know that spring break flights are already slim-pickings and expensive.
I am looking to go to Florida this spring and want to avoid spring break - which days do you think will be the height of the craziness?
All of March is nuts. Since Easter is late, the first 2 weeks of April will also be busy.
If you want to avoid spring break in Florida this year, you can’t go all of March and half of April.
Are you flying…because airfares during spring break times are like surge pricing.
I’m looking to go in February for that reason…after Presidents’ Day week.
Of course, for a free condo, I’d probably go. I’d just do a lot more things at the condo and avoid the amusement parks and other touristy areas. I used to live in Florida and life went on, even when it was spring break. Orlando is to be avoided.
Where in the Panama City area is it? There are some very lovely places on the panhandle of FL near Panama City, and there are some real cheesy areas of Panama City (otherwise known as the Redneck Riviera). There was also that horrible hurricane a year or so ago, so do check about whether that area has recovered.
I’ve done high school spring break in Florida many times. It’s getting worse: higher costs, rude people/students, way too busy everywhere. This year our break coincides with Easter week, one of the worst times to go. We’re heading to Arizona instead.
My parents owned a home in Panama City Beach just one block from the beach, until Dad passed away in 2010. During spring break traffic on Front Beach Road moves at a crawl. We were there one year during spring break; it was very tiresome. Better at other times!
If you live somewhere cold and the condo is free, why not? You can stock up on food on the way into town and just hang out with your family.
I’d go and make my “out and about” time in the morning (when the spring breakers will be crashed) and my eat out times morning breakfast/brunch or an early dinner.
Thanks, everyone, for all the insights. I’m conflicted.
Pros:
It’s a free place 2 blocks from the beach with plenty of beds.
I really like the idea of a family get together.
We still have good flight options available.
I’ve never witnessed a Florida spring break; here’s my chance.
Cons:
I’m not fond of noise, traffic, or vomit.
Our natural schedule is “up late, dine late”, so avoiding the masses will be difficult.
I would go for it, just remember to have lots of patience. I live in FL but our spring break crowd is mostly old people. Lots of them are here for the whole season so we deal with much heavier traffic from around Thanksgiving through April but nothing unbearable, just annoying.
The other drawback is eating out, restaurants tend to get very crowded so making reservations is important especially with a big crowd. We use Open Table if we are looking for a last minute reservation, we can usually find something even if it isn’t first choice. Of course with a house you can order out or make dinner some nights if you don’t mind doing that on vacation.
If you are two blocks from the beach you can walk so traffic there shouldn’t be a problem. The beach may be crowded but you can always keep walking until you find a quieter spot. Although I will say I have never been to PCB so I don’t know how big that beach is, ours is very wide and goes the entire length of the town so lots of room o spread out.
I think a chance to have a big family vacation like that with a free place to stay is a great opportunity!
We’ve decided to do it.
Good. I live in SE Fl, and my advice is consistent with momtogkc. We adjust to the snowbirds coming thru the winter months. There is never an issue eating out during the week, but weekends needs flexibility. The places we frequent are not the bars/ places that the younger crowd go to.
My view is skewed, as everyone I know that visits during school breaks is the child of someone. I’m glad to see my younger relatives or to meet friends’ children.
@bookworm agrees with me because we live in the same town! 
I’m glad you decided to do it, hop you have a great time! Maybe start looking into dinner reservations soon since there will be a lot of you.
I’ve been to Vero Beach, Florida, in March for the last three years. My cousin has a home there (John’s Island) and we have spent time on the beach, shopping in town, eating out, fishing trip, etc. Maybe it’s a place where kids on break don’t go, but it didn’t seem to be overly crowded.