Courtyard by Marriott St. Augustine Beach

The Courtyard is the sensible beach base on Anastasia Island: a newer, well-run Marriott directly across the street from the beach at 605 A1A Beach Boulevard, a few blocks from the St. Johns County Ocean Pier and the restaurants, ice-cream shops and surf stores of St. Augustine Beach. Rooms follow the brand’s contemporary design, with good desks, comfortable beds and, on higher floors and ocean-facing sides, views over the dunes to the Atlantic; accessible rooms with roll-in showers are available. Downstairs, The Bistro serves breakfast and dinner with a full bar and Starbucks coffee drinks, a small market covers snacks and essentials, and the outdoor pool, with an accessible entry, is a relaxed place to end a beach day. The beach itself is a short walk across A1A, and the pier area, with its Wednesday farmers market and fishing, is easy to reach on foot. The location is also handy for the island’s attractions: Anastasia State Park, the Alligator Farm and the St. Augustine Lighthouse are all a few minutes north by car, and Fort Matanzas is a straightforward drive south. For the historic district, about fifteen minutes away, the Old Town Trolley stops at the hotel hourly, which lets you leave the car behind on an old-town day — a real advantage given downtown parking. It is a hotel built for practicality rather than atmosphere, but in a beach town full of aging motels it is a reliable, comfortable choice.

Practicalities: self-parking is on site at a daily charge, limited to one space per room, so large groups with several cars should plan ahead. Breakfast is available at The Bistro but is not included in standard rates. Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out at 11 a.m., the minimum check-in age is 21, the property is smoke-free and pets are not allowed (service animals excepted). Wi-Fi is free for Marriott Bonvoy members, and EV charging is available subject to availability.

Choosing a room: ask for an ocean-facing room on a higher floor for the view across the dunes; rooms on the A1A side hear some road noise, and lower floors face parking or neighboring buildings. Because the hotel is across the road from the beach rather than on it, you will cross A1A to reach the sand; use the crosswalks, especially with children.

Who it suits: families and couples who want a modern, mid-priced beach hotel with a pool and an easy link to the old town, and Marriott Bonvoy members. Winter brings lower rates and quieter beaches, except around Nights of Lights weekends and holidays. Swim with care — rip currents occur here, and lifeguards are seasonal.