I called to get reservations today for the week of IMF. I am looking at either the Sunbird or Top of the Gulf which are both “right next to the Boardwalk.” Does anyone have any recommendations on either of these two, or perhaps a different place. My goal is to be at the race transition start / transition area so that my wife and son can watch the swim from the hotel room and be in the middle of the action while I am logging the miles.
Thanks
---->Trent
Hi Trent,
In 2001, I stayed at the Sunbird - rented a condo from a private owner for I think $450 for the week. It is very close to the hoopla. The Boardwalk (host hotel) was slightly closer, but slightly more chaotic. I would say it’s about 1/3 mile walk on the beach from the Sunbird to the swim start.
Hope this helps.
Sheri
Sorry - I just reread this - if you want to see the swim from the hotel, I’d probably recommend the Boardwalk over the Sunbird; some of the rooms I think you’d be able to do that. I don’t know anything about Top of the Gulf.
Who did you go through to book the condo from a private owner?
Thanks for the help
----->Trent
http://www.floridavacations.com/fv/5757.html
I just hunted around online and found this guy - it was cheaper than a hotel (because we stayed a week), but it looks like he’s doing nightly rentals during that time frame now too. It’s nothing fancy, but clean, comfortable, great view of the beach, and close to event activities.
I stayed at the Americana . The race goes past it, it’s close, they have a shuttle, cheap.a couple pro’s stay there.
If your new to the area we tried to find places to eat in panama city beach without much luck, the last night we went into panama city and found many cool places.
GOOD LUCK
Good point on the food - we ate at Pineapple Willy’s, but their hours were very odd (off season). But - there is a grocery store within walking distance where we loaded up on food to cook and last minute forgotten items like vaseline. 
I stayed at the Sunbird this past year. Top notch place. I’d pick it over the Boardwalk ,if for nothing else , you can get away from the race a bit in the days prior. You can see the swim from most of the rooms, we had a great view and we were in the west tower.
The Boardwalk is a pit. Very tiny rooms with mass quantities of furniture - 2 queen beds PLUS a bunk bed and small “dining” table and two chairs in a regular size hotel room. I HATED it and will NEVER stay there again. There are two sections to the hotel and the only good place to see the swim is from the main section of the hotel, which is probably already completely booked.
We have stayed at the Top 'O the Gulf for the past two years. You can hear, but cannot see the swim start from the rooms You can’t beat the location and you can park at the building! The Boardwalk, you have to park and walk to the hotel. .
The building is old, the one room “condos” are for the most part a bit ragged. They do have kitchens. It seems like something is broken every time we stay there. Last year it was the elevator. The beach is great though.
If you want walking distance to race activities it is the best.