What’s included with your stay — and what costs extra
Your nightly rate covers your room, access to the fitness center, two outdoor pools (including the Grotto Pool and a year‑round heated pool), pool and beach towels, enhanced Wi‑Fi (via the resort fee), kids' activities and daily entertainment (the resort charges a mandatory daily resort fee). Extra costs commonly include on‑site dining and drinks, the cooked‑to‑order breakfast fee, self‑parking, pet fees, refundable deposits, and a card‑transaction surcharge.
In this guide
What’s included with every stay
Room rate inclusions vary by booking channel, but guests at The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach receive free in‑room WiFi (enhanced Wi‑Fi is covered through the resort fee), access to the on‑site fitness center, and use of guest laundry, ice machines, the business center and the on‑site gift shop (The Island Market).
The resort operates two outdoor pools (the heated pool and the Grotto Pool with seasonal swim‑up bar) plus an outdoor hot tub, and guests have direct access to roughly 600 feet of private Gulf beach with available beach‑chair and umbrella rentals included in resort programming as noted below.
- 24‑hour front desk and security
- Fitness center access (included)
- Pool and beach towels (covered by resort fee)
- Kids' activities and daily entertainment (covered by resort fee)
- Free in‑room Wi‑Fi; enhanced Wi‑Fi covered by resort fee
| Included item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pools & hot tub | Two outdoor pools (heated pool + Grotto Pool) and outdoor whirlpool; Grotto Pool swim‑up bar operates seasonally |
| Beach access | About 600 feet of private Gulf beach; chair/umbrella rentals available on site |
| Resort services | 24‑hour front desk, guest laundry, business center, ATM, gift shop |
Mandatory resort fee and small surcharges
The property charges a mandatory daily resort fee that covers enhanced Wi‑Fi, private beach access, daily entertainment/live music and kids' activities, as well as pool/beach towels. The exact dollar amount varies by listing and booking channel.
In addition to the resort fee, the property applies a card‑transaction surcharge on card payments (reported at roughly 2.5%–3%). Be prepared for that extra percentage when paying with a credit or debit card.
- Mandatory daily resort fee (amount varies by listing) — covers enhanced Wi‑Fi, beach access, entertainment/kids' activities, towels
- Card-transaction surcharge ~2.5%–3% on card payments
| Fee | What it covers/notes |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | Enhanced Wi‑Fi, beach access, daily entertainment, kids' activities, pool/beach towels; amount varies by source |
| Card surcharge | Approximately 2.5%–3% on card transactions |
Meals, bars and food costs
The Island Resort is not an all‑inclusive property; on‑site restaurants and bars charge à la carte. Sea Oats Kitchen & Bar serves breakfast and dinner; other options include Cabana Cantina & Tequileria (poolside Mexican), The Beach Bar (pizza and drinks), the seasonal Grotto Bar (swim‑up drinks), and food trucks The Frosty Palm and Sizzle & Smash.
The resort publishes a cooked‑to‑order breakfast fee (example figures shown on some booking sites). Other dining items and bar drinks are priced separately and will appear on your bill or room folio.
- Sea Oats Kitchen & Bar — breakfast and dinner (reservations via OpenTable available)
- Cabana Cantina & Tequileria — poolside Mexican (food 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; bar 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.)
- The Beach Bar (Tripp Tide) — beach bar with pizza and live music (11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.)
- Grotto Bar — seasonal swim‑up bar (hours vary)
- Food trucks: The Frosty Palm (treats/milkshakes) and Sizzle & Smash (burgers/po'boys)
| Typical on‑site dining | When it’s usually open |
|---|---|
| Cabana Cantina & Tequileria | Food 11:00–5:00; bar 11:00–8:00 |
| The Beach Bar | Daily 11:00–8:00 |
| Sea Oats Kitchen & Bar | Breakfast 7:00–11:00; Dinner 5:00–10:00 (per OpenTable listing) |
Parking, pets and deposits — expected extra charges
Self‑parking is available for a daily fee (the property lists $15/day; some promotions include parking). The resort is pet‑friendly for dogs with a flat pet fee: $75 per stay for stays up to four nights and $125 per stay for five nights or more; guests must sign a pet agreement with rules and possible fines.
The hotel may require a refundable deposit at check‑in (reported across sources in the $150–$250 range per accommodation per stay) and a separate breakage deposit for guests under age 25 in a similar range — ask your booking channel for the amount that will appear on your authorization.
- Self‑parking: daily fee (listed at $15/day); some packages include complimentary parking
- Pet fee: $75 per stay (≤4 nights) or $125 per stay (≥5 nights); pet agreement required
- Refundable security/breakage deposit: reported between $150–$250 per stay (varies by booking)
| Charge | Typical amount / notes |
|---|---|
| Self‑parking | $15/day (select promotions may include parking) |
| Pet fee | $75 per stay (≤4 nights); $125 per stay (5+ nights) |
| Refundable deposit | Reported $150–$250 per accommodation per stay (varies) |
Room types and what’s included in rooms
The resort lists these room types (names must be requested exactly as shown): Standard Room, Room, Junior Suite, with Sofa bed, Junior Suite, Multiple Beds, Room, Pool View, Standard Room, Courtyard View, Junior Suite, Multiple Beds, Pool View, and Room (Gulf View). All guest rooms include free Wi‑Fi, with enhanced Wi‑Fi via the resort fee; ADA‑accessible rooms are available.
Standard in‑room amenities and services (housekeeping, linens, towels) are included with your stay. If you need a specific view or building (The Beach House vs. Sunrise/Sunset/Sunshine), request it at booking; room location and view affect rate but are not guaranteed.
- In‑room Wi‑Fi (free) — enhanced Wi‑Fi through resort fee
- Housekeeping and standard toiletries included
- ADA‑accessible rooms and public spaces available
| Room name (exact) | Beds (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Standard Room | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Junior Suite, with Sofa bed | 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed |
| Room (Gulf View) | 2 Queen Beds |
Pools, beach and activities — included vs. paid extras
Pools, the hot tub and basic beach access are part of the guest experience; daily entertainment and kids' activities are covered by the resort fee. The Grotto Pool's swim‑up bar operates seasonally and charges for drinks; poolside dining is charged separately.
On‑site recreation such as mini golf and fishing is available to guests, but some activities or equipment rentals (for example, beach chair/umbrella rentals if not covered by a specific package) and off‑site excursions may carry extra fees or require reservations.
- Pools & hot tub — included (Grotto Pool swim‑up drinks are paid)
- Kids' activities and live music — included via resort fee
- Mini golf and on‑site fishing — available; check with concierge for any rental or program fees
| Activity | Included or extra? |
|---|---|
| Grotto swim‑up drinks | Extra — paid at the bar |
| Kids' activities and live music | Included via mandatory resort fee |
| Mini golf / fishing | Available on site; ask concierge about fees or sign‑up |
