I did a search and saw no mention of the Lake Town Wharf condos in Panama City for IM FL.
Thinking of staying the for 2010 IM FL. Looks close to start/finish, but looking for comments from anyone that has stayed there in the past
Thanks
If they are the ones I am thinking of, they are pretty new, finished maybe in the fall of 08, and huge, but they are not directly on the beach and they are still pretty pricey. I think you can get on the beach for a better price.
I had friends stay at Gulf Crest this year and they were brand new, cheap, and directly on the beach.
I got a Boardwalk condo on vbro.com and that was definitely the way to go for me.
I have not stayed there, but stayed at the Gulf Crest Condos in 2007. They were on the beach and located at the 1/25 mile mark of the run and 1 mile from the start.
Also, a friend stayed here for 2009 and I am considering it for 2010;
The “Sleep Inn” was a mile or less from the Boardwalk Resort, and real easy to get to. It was like the Hampton Inns, having a free breakfast, and free internet, etc and was $41.95 a night. To get to it, you go to the first stop light past “The Summit” condos, turn left onto “Joan”, and the “Sleep Inn” is on the right side probably less than a mile down “Joan”. Kevin S. www.roarkcycles.com
I stayed there last week for IM - Fantastic place well worth the money -great condo - huge full kitchen - granite etc - and great view from the 20th floor - we paid around $485 for 5 nights - and was worth the money for convenience etc - only about 300 yds from Boardwalk.
Also have a cool light show at 8 PM - kinda like mini Belargio.
Will use this place again if we go there. Hope this helps
I stayed at the shores of panama this year. nice place and good location.
~1 mile from the expo and finish line, 1/2 mile from Transition and swim start; 2 blocks from a super walmart.
When I do IMFL again will definately stay there again.
Graham, Did that cost include tax and cleaning? Do you still have the info on how you made the reservation, phone # or website? Thanks.
it looks way nice, they were being built in 2007. I heard there is a ton of vacant units that went on the auction block and only like 25% of them even sold. Like others said they aren’t on the beach but they are next door to waffle house. I stayed at the Summit, for 7 nights for 300 bucks. Hot tub was broke, no washer/dryer in the unit but it was fine and clean. Summit was sweet because of the finish line move, I just went right up to my unit and showered right away. One thing I would NOT do is book now for 2010. Save a few bucks and negotiate with a private owner a week or two before the race.
Plus, the condo market there is still shaking out to some degree, and I wouldn’t want to put a deposit in for a unit that ends up getting foreclosed on in April or something. You’ll still have plenty of rental options next October.
agreed. I didn’t reserve mine until late july or early august - PLENTY of space.
Ditto – I searched in August and September and found a new 2 BR fully loaded condo for $79 per night. It was #808 in Aqua which is further down the beach, but less than a 10 minute drive to the race area.
it looks way nice, they were being built in 2007. I heard there is a ton of vacant units that went on the auction block and only like 25% of them even sold. Like others said they aren’t on the beach but they are next door to waffle house. I stayed at the Summit, for 7 nights for 300 bucks. Hot tub was broke, no washer/dryer in the unit but it was fine and clean. Summit was sweet because of the finish line move, I just went right up to my unit and showered right away. One thing I would NOT do is book now for 2010. Save a few bucks and negotiate with a private owner a week or two before the race.
Thansk for the help everyone.
I stayed that The Summit in 2003 when I did IM.
I like that this is a newer place and only 300 yards from the start/finish. Is that about the same distance as The Summit?
Going through their system I can get a 2BR for 5 nights for $791. Which seems rather high for that time of the year.
Like others said they aren’t on the beach but they are next door to waffle house.
Isn’t everything in the South? 
It depends on if they are keeping the finish line at the Spinnaker - if so, it will be a decent walk back to the Warf after the race. Not super far, but the finish line this year moved to between the Summit and Spinnaker, so even a bit of a walk from the Boardwalk. (still beats any of the others that I have done though because my car is at least that far of a walk away and then I have still had to drive back to wherever I was staying…staying anywhere close in FL is great for your family/support too if you have any coming).
They moved the finish to the la vela/spinaker’s parking lot so it actually finished next to the summit the expo was also there. the swim start t1/t2 were at the BW as usual. Lake town would be closer to the start and farther form the finish from summit. It is probably and even split as far as distance goes. Summit was a 10 minute slow walk to the start via thomas drive. If you remember where you make the curve to come onto thomas drive from beach front road that is where this lake town place is.
Isn’t everything in the South?
touche’ good point
I had a buddy who stays at the Summit for a month and he walked in and negotiated - if you do not need the 2 bedroom the one bedroom has the usual queen size bed and right next to this room is a room with two full size bunk beds with its own bathroom. But I think they are up for haggling- everything was included for the price i gave - tax cleaning et. al. Hope this helps .