6 Best 5 Star Hotels in Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach on Florida’s eastern coast has long been the holiday destination of choice for spring breakers, rev heads, and leather-clad bikers. It’s also famously the birthplace of NASCAR racing. Even today, Daytona Beach specializes in two kinds of enjoyment, which are race cars and sun-kissed beach play. The miles of sparkling golden shoreline are what makes Daytona such a fabulous location for a luxurious getaway. Of course, there are many amazing 5 star hotels in Daytona Beach, too, which only further its reputation as an indulgent holiday destination for everyone, right from couples to families. Not only do these hotels sit in absolutely enviable locations, but they boast exquisite amenities, right from sea-facing infinity pools to some of the world’s most famous restaurants. So, here’s a guide to the most luxurious hotels in Daytona Beach, both off and on the sand.

Fountain Beach Resort Daytona Beach

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We begin with the Fountain Beach Resort Daytona Beach. The location of this hotel doesn’t get any better; it sits right next to the vehicular access of Daytona Beach! In fact, the sun terrace with the beach access is not as much by the beach as right on the sands. We mean, take a look at this gorgeous photograph! In fact, the Pier and the Boardwalk Amusement Area are just a short walk away.

The heated outdoor sea-facing pool deck is perhaps the highlight and absolute standout at this hotel. In fact, we could alternate between swimming in the ocean and swimming at the pool, thanks to the pool deck’s location right on the sand. The fitness center aside, the hotel boasts a Tiki Bar and an Oasis restaurant that offers amazing drinks and food with oceanfront views. Plus, there’s even a library and a sauna available! In the evenings, we would sip on cocktails and savor appetizers while listening to local entertainment.

The rooms and suites at this hotel were no less amazing, especially since they came with seating areas, cable TVs, microwaves, and balconies with partial and complete views of the beach and the ocean. The best ones are the oceanfront rooms, which you can enjoy sitting on the alfresco seating on the balconies.

The Shores Resort & Spa

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Best hotel for couples. As the name implies, the luxurious Shores Resort & Spa sits right on the Atlantic shoreline. While the waves lap at the sugar-sand beach on one side, the Halifax River, teeming with amazing marine life, sits on the other. The modern deep ocean blue and golden sunset-yellow façade drew us in. On the inside, the resort is comfortable and quietly luxurious, exuding understated elegance.

“We loved the location of the hotel and the fact that it sat right on the beach and came with a ton of amenities.”

WOW Travel

The hallmark throughout is impeccable service, with a dedicated concierge providing us with everything from spa bookings to local knowledge. The pool deck is a water lover’s dream, especially since it sits right on the sands of the beach out front. So, we could choose between swimming in the sea and swimming in the cool, azure waters. In the evenings, we’d luxuriate at the beachside fire cauldrons and roast s’mores and marshmallows. Do you love adventure? Keep active by hiring paddleboards, surfboards, and bikes, and the resort even offered surfing lessons right out front at the beach. Of course, there’s the oceanfront restaurant serving all meals, while the oceanview lounge serves the most delicious cocktails.

The rooms and suites are spread across the central tower and the terraced wings, each with view options of the Halifax River or partial or sweeping views of the ocean. Plush pillowtop beds aside, the rooms also have balconies and lanais and Italian marble showers. That’s why it’s one of the best oceanfront hotels in Daytona Beach, FL.

Plaza Resort & Spa

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Imagine staying in what was one of Florida’s earliest grand hotels with structures dating back to 1909; that’s the Plaza Resort & Spa, which continues to be one of the best luxury hotels in Daytona Beach. While the lobby, with its grand columns and dramatic ocean views and the 1920s speakeasy-style bar, harks back to its glory era, the location is utterly modern. The hotel sits in what is the real heart of Daytona Beach, surrounded by the Pier, the Boardwalk, and tons of shops, bars, and restaurants.

Since it’s been open round-the-year since 1925, many staffers have double-digit years of service to their credit, which is why they’re immensely proud of the house they work in and took a personal interest in keeping us comfortable. The 25-meter swimming pool was our favorite hangout, after which we’d head to the spa for a massage and a treatment. Moreover, the hotel has one of the best dining operations in the city, with the restaurant serving all meals plus delicious seafood. There’s even a beautiful deli and a full bar with sweeping and unobstructed ocean views. Did you know that the hotel even has daybeds and towel service on the beach? Yep.

We had the choice of 300+ rooms and suites, including inland and full ocean view ones, complete with furnished balconies. Our favorite, which we chose, was the oceanfront one with a whirlpool tub and a kitchenette where we could whip up meals on the fly. The rooms also have 42-inch TVs, coffeemakers, microwaves, and fridges.

Daytona Grande Oceanfront Resort

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We were looking for swanky oceanfront digs in Daytona Beach, and that’s why we chose the Daytona Grande Oceanfront Resort. This resort is different from other luxurious Daytona Beach beachfront resorts as it sits in a modern, single-storeyed structure rather than sprawled across the sand. But that didn’t make it any less luxurious.

This resort excelled in terms of amenities. The standout amenity was the outdoor swimming pool on a pool deck facing the ocean. There was even a shared lounge and a fitness center for everyone, whether we wanted to unwind and lounge or work out. While there’s a single restaurant on the property, the Abalone, it serves delicious continental breakfast spreads and dinner too. Plus, there was room service, too, for when we didn’t want to step out of the rooms. That would happen, as the rooms were all gorgeously minimalistic, with wooden floors and all-white furnishings with pops of color. Thanks to free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen cable TV, a coffeemaker, and a fridge, our stay was made all the more comfortable. The best bit? Our room had a balcony with views of the beach and the ocean.

Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach

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Best hotel for families. It’s hard to have a list of luxurious Daytona Beach hotels without the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach on it, right? We loved the location on the northern fringes of all the Daytona Beach action. So, we loved the fact that we were away from all the hustle-bustle while also being able to take long beach walks to get to them.

We especially love the rock memorabilia and unique décor; think of items from everybody, ranging from Bette Midler and Elvis to Rihanna and Taylor Swift. In fact, we don’t think we’ve ever been asked what music we’d like in our room at check-in. Heck, there was even a ‘vibe manager’ who’d set the tone of the hotel with the mood, ambiance, and music throughout and even conduct memorabilia tours. Did you know you can have a guitar delivered to your room? Check out the Sound of Your Stay.

The pool deck, with a massive outdoor oceanfront pool, a guitar-shaped kids pool, a splash play area, and fire pits, is superb and one of our favorite areas on the property. Did you know that the pool had underwater speakers to complete the all-encompassing music theme? There is even a full children’s club where the kids would hang out as we relaxed at the decadent spa. Private beach access, a coffee bar, two pool bars, and a main restaurant complete the offerings here. 

200 rooms with city/ocean views all have a sleek contemporary style with huge TVs, coffeemakers, luxe bathrooms, and huge full-wall rock murals. While the ocean-view rooms have huge balconies, the 14 concierge-level Rock Royalty suites are extremely special, with double-sided fireplaces and a whole lot of extra amenities.

The Daytona, Autograph Collection

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Best overall. Sitting atop the list is The Daytona Autograph Collection, a haven for racing fans as it sits right next to the Daytona Speedway. This hotel from Marriott’s luxurious Autograph Collection boasts a boutique hotel ambiance and fun race car decor. And even though we’re not NASCAR fans, it was so fun and cool to see cars everywhere, both indoors and outdoors.

We loved the amazing outdoor swimming pool and terrace, which was the perfect place to unwind and relax after a day of exploring Daytona Beach. For those who love adventure, there are free bikes that you can borrow and cycle around the neighborhood. A fitness center aside, there’s even a fantastic restaurant that serves American and à la carte breakfasts, along with vegan and vegetarian options. Did we mention the hot tub? Yes.

We loved the vibe of the rooms, which were larger than we expected. The balcony had superb city views, while the flatscreen TV, coffeemaker, and a luxurious bathroom with a rain shower. Whoever said you had to be on the beach to have fun?

Our Verdict!

While we love all our recommendations for luxurious Daytona Beach hotels, these are our absolute favorites:

• Best overall: The Daytona, Autograph Collection
• Best hotel for couples: The Shores Resort & Spa
• Best hotels for families: Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach

Where to Stay in Daytona Beach?

Daytona Beach is home to some of the most gorgeous stretches of sand on Florida’s Atlantic coast. So, it’s no surprise that some of the best areas to stay are beachfront ones. Moreover, they offer a fantastic mix of bustling action and a quiet, secluded seashore, and they offer beach access at most street ends as well. 

The first up is the Seabreeze Historic District, which is home to more than 600 historic structures as well as some of the most luxurious beachfront hotels around. We loved strolling along the Boardwalk, the Daytona Beach Main Street Pier, and the sandy Daytona Beach, which has been nicknamed “The World’s Most Famous Beach.” 

Secondly, there is the Daytona Beach Shores, which is located just south of the Seabreeze Historic District. It’s home to the second-largest pocket of amazingly luxurious beachfront hotels. Next up are Ormond Beach and Ormond-By-The-Sea, which sit just north of the Seabreeze Historic District. Not only do they have 5 star oceanfront hotels in Daytona Beach, Florida, but they also have stunning seaside state parks. Finally, we have the New Smyrna Beach, which is surfer central with some of the best surfable waves in the region.

Which neighborhood has the most 5-star stays in Daytona Beach?

They’re spread across the town, right from the beachfront to inland ones, near the international airport.

Are all 5-star Daytona Beach stays on the beach?

Not all of them, no. For instance, the Daytona Autograph Collection sits inland near the international airport.

Is there a family-friendly luxury hotel in Daytona Beach?

Yes, like the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach and even the Fountain Beach Resort Daytona Beach.