3rd night free at Florida's Sandestin Resort

Sprawled across 2,400 acres on Florida's Gulf Coast, the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort comprises 30 village neighborhoods, whose 1,800 lodging options range from high-rise beachfront condos and docksidevillas to bayfront condos and golf-course townhomes. There's a pedestrian village with shops, restaurants, nightly entertainment, and the Baytowne Adventure Zone with ziplines, a ropes course, and a eurobungy. The resort also boasts four golf courses, 15 tennis courts, multiple swimming pools, miles of bike and jogging paths, half a dozen kids' play areas, a five-acre nature park, a fitness center and spa, plus a seven-mile beach. Need more? You'll also find free rentals of kayaks and boogie boards at the beach, a kids' club, and a dedicated teen pool area.

Through late December, Sandestin's Best Time to Be at the Beach promo offers families a third night for free. When we test-booked a three-night stay in October, we found promo rates that are identical to the resort's regular rates.(That's important, because resorts often hike up the nightly rate on a promotion to recoup some of the cost of the "free" night. Not the case here.) More good news: The deal delivers a 33% savings across the board so you can grab a two-bedroom beachwalk townhouse for $146 a night (instead of $219) or a fully-equipped two-bedroom condo (with private beach and pool) for $272 a night instead of $409.

The Best Time to Be at the Beach promo runs through December 26. As usual, there are some blackout dates, the offer is subject to availability, and rates don't include taxes or fees. Book online or call 800/622-1038, and use promo code FREE3.