Bikini Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida: Fun Times in the Redneck Riviera

Sometimes we’re able to mix business and pleasure. If you end up in south Georgia or Alabama, why not take your Friday travel day as a beach day?

I’m at the Bikini Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. I thought about naming PCB Tangier, USA, because the skyline reminds me of that of Tangier when seen from the ferry over the Strait of Gibraltar. Not for any good reason, except it is covered with high rise buildings as far as the eye can see.

This hotel is one of the several budget accommodations in this area. If you can afford more than budget lodging, I suggest going to Pensacola Beach or Navarre Beach or even Destin. The first two are much less crowded, and separated by the Gulf Islands National Seashore. This is an amazing escape from the crowded beaches, provided it has re-opened after the most recent hurricane devastation in the area. The one great thing about Panama City Beach, besides the budget accomodations? St. Andrew’s State Park

If budget lodging is what you need, then this place is a find. I don’t have an alarm clock, there is no free ice and my in-room safe doesn’t work, but for $89.00 per night, you can deal with just about anything.

I called PCB the Tangier of the south. It seems more like an aging showgirl or Fremont Street in Las Vegas or Jack Ruby’s concubine, who still sits at the Grassy Knoll. It’s just seen better days.