Families are among the many loyal guests at this beloved oceanfront hotel in Daytona Beach Shores, an area that lies about five miles south of Daytona Beach’s Main Street and is pleasantly removed from the raucous side of town. The hotel’s name might lead you to imagine a bed and breakfast of sorts, but Bahama House is actually a 10-story building located right on the ocean. Every room is angled to have a full or partial ocean view, complete with a private balcony. Rooms are extremely spacious, too, with several options for full kitchens and connecting configurations.

There’s a pool and hot tub directly facing the ocean, making it convenient to hop between the beach and the poolside lounge area throughout the day. And while there’s not a whole lot in the way of attractions and restaurants in the hotel’s immediate surroundings, you’re just a short drive away from several attractions, such as the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse (Florida’s tallest!) and the Daytona International Speedway. You’re also just one hour from Orlando, and can take an easy day trip to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. For a family beach vacation to remember — right on the oceanfront and with lots of room to spread out and make yourself at home — this family-owned hotel is hard to beat.

The sheer spaciousness of all 95 rooms in the 10-story hotel is what first impresses families upon check-in here. And the added bonus comes in the interesting angle at which the hotel is built, making it possible to have ocean views even from the rooms on the side of the hotel. In addition to ocean views, every room here has a balcony, too. Granite countertops, flat-screen TV's and complimentary Wi-Fi are also standard in all rooms.

All of the Full Oceanfront Rooms are actually efficiencies with two queen beds and full kitchens outfitted with two-burner stoves, ovens, toasters, full-size refrigerators and all the utensils you need for cooking meals. The same room set-up is available in the oceanview category, too, which is cheaper than oceanfront, but still offers you a balcony with a view of the Atlantic. Standard Oceanview Rooms have two queen beds and all come with microwaves, mini-fridges and coffee makers. You can also choose from a King Efficiency in the oceanview category, which gives you a king bed and a full kitchen. Only a few connecting rooms are available, and are all on the oceanview side of the building rather than oceanfront. Options include connecting an Oceanview Room with two queen beds to a King Efficiency with a full kitchen, or connecting a room with two queens to another standard two queen room (there's no full kitchen in either).

Rollaway beds can be brought into any room for an additional nightly fee. The hotel does not have provide play yards or cribs, however, so you'll want to bring your own.

Tip: While all of the rooms have ocean views, you'll get the most stunning views the higher you are (which also removes you from pool noise) -- the seventh floor and higher give the most impressive ocean views.

Beach and Pool
It's all about beach and pool fun at this oceanfront address. Spend your mornings on the sand, splashing in the shallow tidal areas or, for the bigger kids, boogie boarding or skim boarding in the surf. Plan a picnic on the beach for lunch. Then retreat to the hotel's pool or hot tub, which are open around the clock and heated during the winter months. There are no lifeguards on duty.

Note: People are allowed to drive cars on the beach, a tradition that dates back to the drag racing days here. There's plenty of room for laying out your lounge chairs and towels in the area of sand east of the "traffic lanes" (closer to the water), and while the speed limit is only 10 mph, you'll want to keep a close eye on your kids as they run between the pool and the beach.

There are lounge chairs for guest use by the pool area, and a kiosk that operates down on the beach during the busier summer months (from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend) can rent you lounge chairs and umbrellas for the day.

The hotel's complimentary breakfast is the only meal served in the hotel (7:30 to 9:30 a.m. daily), in a pleasant dining room off the lobby. Since there isn't a hotel kitchen, hot items are not served, but you can count on the usual buffet-style spread of danishes, fruits, cereals, yogurts, coffee and juices. There is a microwave and a toaster in the breakfast room. It's just enough to get your day started right. One high chair is available for use in the breakfast area.

All About the Extras
While there's no onsite fitness center, parents appreciate free nightly cocktail happy hours held in the Grand Bahama Room, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with mixed drinks, wine, beer, sodas and kid-friendly snacks for guests.

Laundry
A coin laundry machine is available on the second floor. You can buy detergent at the front desk.

Parking
Self-parking is free for guests in a lighted outdoor parking lot or an underground lot.

The Art of Smart Timing
Spring break brings big crowds to Daytona Beach and this hotel, and prices will be higher during this time. The summer months are also quite busy, with many Floridians taking in-state vacations, so consider booking in advance if you plan to travel at this time of year (basically anytime between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend). October and November are lovely months to visit, as crowds are down and the beach is less crowded, but still warm and beautiful. April and May are equally agreeable.

During the holidays, the hotel offers themed events, such as visits from the Easter Bunny and activities with Santa Claus.

Getting There
All of the major car rental companies have kiosks at Daytona International Airport, though you'll likely find cheaper flights into Orlando International Airport, which is about one hour and 15 minutes away from the hotel and also has all of the major car rentals available in the terminal for bookings.

Getting Around
Shuttle services are not offered between Daytona International Airport (about 20 minutes away) and the hotel. If you plan to stay more than a few days, you'll probably want a rental car for making grocery store runs and visiting the area's attractions. The city bus stops near the hotel and makes regular runs to downtown Daytona Beach, where you'll find lots of restaurants and shopping.

For Mom and Dad
Bahama House doesn't offer a babysitting service, but if your kids are old enough to look after themselves, plan to steal a night away for a romantic dinner at Azure, the restaurant at the nearby upscale resort, The Shores. The restaurant's oceanfront location is spectacular and Florida seafood favorites, such as cobia and grouper, are often on the menu. For something more casual in the same location, the hotel's Tiki Bar on the pool deck does delicious cocktails and is adjacent to an inviting area with a firepit and Adirondack chairs for kicking back with a cold one. The Indulge Spa at the Shores resort is another destination worthy of some parents-only time, with lavish 80-minute-long couples massages on the menu.