You wake up in your beachfront condo on Okaloosa Island. The emerald Gulf of Mexico is right outside your window, shimmering in the morning light. You make a cup of coffee, step onto your balcony, and breathe in that salt air.
Then you walk down to the beach.
And your spot is already waiting for you.
Two perfectly positioned beach chairs. One large shade umbrella, open and ready. Right there on the sugar-white sand, facing the most beautiful water on the Gulf Coast.
You didn’t carry anything. You didn’t set up anything. You didn’t have to get there at sunrise to stake out a good location. You simply walked down, sat down, and let your vacation begin.
That is the Brooks & Shorey Resorts beach chair service. And once you have experienced it, you will never want to vacation any other way.
What Is the Brooks & Shorey Beach Chair Service?
Every daily and weekly guest who stays with Brooks & Shorey Resorts receives two complimentary beach chairs and one beach umbrella, set up for them on the beach by a professional service, as part of their complimentary guest package.
This service is available every single day from March 1 through October 31, which covers the entire spring, summer, and early fall vacation season on the Emerald Coast.
There is no reservation required. No daily check-in process. No scrambling in the morning. The professional beach service team handles everything. Your setup is placed on the beach, and all you have to do is show up.
It is, quite simply, one of the most beloved amenities that guests discover when they stay with us, and one of the most talked about when they come back to book again.
Why Does This Matter More Than You Think?
If you have never stayed in a beachfront property that includes beach chair service, you may be wondering how much it really changes a vacation.
The answer is: more than almost anything else.
Here is what most people do not realize until they are on Okaloosa Island and watching it happen around them: beach chair rentals at other properties and hotels along the Emerald Coast are not cheap. Depending on where you are staying and which vendor operates on your stretch of beach, paying for two chairs and an umbrella as an add-on service typically runs $40 to $65 per day, with some premium beachfront hotel vendors charging even more during peak summer season.
Think about what that means for a one-week vacation.
At $50 per day for a set of two chairs and one umbrella, a seven-night stay at a hotel or property that does not include beach service adds $350 to your vacation bill. That is before you account for tips to the attendants, which are expected when you rent from a beach vendor and can add another $5 to $10 per day on top of the rental rate.
With Brooks & Shorey Resorts, that entire cost is already taken care of. The beach chair service is part of your stay, not an extra line item, not an optional upgrade, not something you have to think about or budget for.
Over a seven-night stay, that is real money staying in your pocket. Money that goes toward a dinner at The Crab Trap, a dolphin cruise for the kids, a sunset at Boshamps, or simply more of the experience you came here for.
The Experience of Having Your Spot Ready
There is something genuinely magical about walking down to the beach and finding your setup already there.
It sounds like a small thing. It is not a small thing.
On a typical beach vacation without this service, the first 30 to 45 minutes of every beach day involves logistics. Who carries the chairs? Who carries the umbrella? Is the umbrella in the car? Did anyone grab the bag? Where is a good spot? Is this too far from the water? Too close? Can we find something with more shade? How do we set up the umbrella so it doesn’t blow over? Who is going back for the towels we forgot?
By the time you are finally settled, the kids are already restless and the relaxation has not yet begun.
With the Brooks & Shorey beach chair service, none of that exists.
Your walk to the beach is just a walk to the beach. You step onto the sand, find your chairs, sit down, and the vacation actually starts, not in 45 minutes, but immediately. The Gulf is in front of you. The sky is clear. The water is doing that emerald-green thing it does on Okaloosa Island that makes people stop and stare even after they have seen it a hundred times.
That is the experience this service delivers. The complete removal of friction between where you are and where you want to be.
Who Benefits Most from This Service?
The honest answer is: everyone. But some guests experience the difference more acutely than others.
Families with young children feel this most immediately. When you have a toddler, a seven-year-old, a beach bag the size of a small vehicle, and a husband who is already carrying the cooler, the idea of also managing beach chairs and a 9-foot umbrella is enough to make anyone reconsider the beach entirely. Knowing your setup is already there transforms the family beach morning from an ordeal into something everyone actually looks forward to.
Grandparents and older guests tell us this service changes what is possible for them. Carrying heavy beach chairs across soft sand is genuinely difficult for guests with any mobility limitations. Having professional attendants handle the setup means that grandparents who might otherwise skip the beach, or sit in a beach-adjacent area rather than actually on the sand, can be fully present with their grandchildren, in the exact spot they came to enjoy.
Couples on romantic getaways appreciate what this service communicates: that the details have been handled. There is something inherently luxurious about arriving at the beach and finding everything already arranged. It sets the tone for the entire vacation. This is a place where things are taken care of.
Guests flying in rather than driving particularly value this service because they simply cannot pack chairs and umbrellas on an airplane. Without the beach chair service, their options would be buying equipment they cannot take home or renting it daily at full vendor rates. Instead, they step off the plane, check in, and the next morning their beach setup is waiting, no purchases, no rentals, no logistics.
Groups of adults on friend trips or reunions love that there is no negotiation about who is responsible for the chairs. The service handles it. Everyone shows up at the same time and the day begins together.
What the Professional Beach Service Actually Looks Like
It is worth describing what “professional beach chair service” actually means on Okaloosa Island, because it is a more considered operation than most guests expect.
The beach attendants who set up and manage the chair areas on Okaloosa Island are experienced beach professionals who operate with a strong sense of spatial organization and hospitality. They arrive early, before the morning beach crowd, and systematically set up assigned areas along the beachfront.
The chairs themselves are proper wood-and-fabric beach chairs, not flimsy plastic folding chairs. They are designed for a full day of comfortable use. The umbrellas are large enough to provide genuine shade, which on the Gulf Coast in June is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
The setup is oriented thoughtfully toward the water, so that when you sit down, your sightline is the Gulf of Mexico. The chairs are positioned at a comfortable distance from neighboring setups so you have privacy and space.
When beach conditions change, a passing storm, a wind shift, the attendants monitor and manage the equipment. You do not have to worry about your umbrella becoming a hazard in a sudden gust. That is someone else’s responsibility.
This is what “professional service” means in practice: not just chairs on a beach, but an operation run by people who do this every day and do it well.
How This Service Connects to the Broader Brooks & Shorey Philosophy
The beach chair service is not just a nice amenity. It is an expression of what Brooks & Shorey Resorts believes a beachfront vacation should feel like.
For over 20 years, Brooks & Shorey has operated as a locally owned, locally run vacation rental company on Okaloosa Island, winning “Finest on the Emerald Coast” nine consecutive years in a row. That award does not happen by accident. It happens because of decisions made throughout every aspect of the guest experience, including the decision to absorb the cost of beach chair service so that guests never have to think about it.
The philosophy is simple: when you arrive at your beachfront condo on Okaloosa Island, we want the only thing you have to think about to be which part of the day you want to enjoy first.
The beach chair service is one part of that larger commitment. So is the fully equipped kitchen. The free dolphin cruise. The free round of golf. The complimentary DVD rentals. Together, these amenities add up to something larger than any individual perk, they add up to a vacation that feels genuinely taken care of.
A Morning That Only Happens Here
Let us put the beach chair service into its real context: a morning on Okaloosa Island.
You wake up before the kids. The condo is quiet. You make coffee and step onto the balcony.
The Gulf is glass-calm at this hour. The emerald water catches the early light and turns something between green and gold. A pelican glides low over the surface. Somewhere down the beach, a family of dolphins moves east along the shoreline, dorsal fins rising and falling in the mirror-flat water.
You go inside, wake up the family. Everyone gets ready in the loose, unhurried way that only happens on vacation mornings, nobody is checking the time, nobody is rushing.
You gather your towels, your sunscreen, your book. Nothing else. You take the elevator down.
You walk across the boardwalk and onto the sand.
Your chairs are there. Umbrella up, angled toward the water. Two chair widths between you and the next setup, enough space to feel like your own private stretch of beach.
You sit down. The Gulf is twenty feet in front of you. The kids run toward the water before you have even settled in.
That is the morning. That is what the beach chair service makes possible. Not just the chairs themselves, but the uninterrupted arrival at the exact experience you came for.
The Details: Everything You Need to Know
When is the service available? The beach chair service runs daily from March 1 through October 31. This covers spring break, Memorial Day weekend, all of summer, and early fall, the full active vacation season on the Emerald Coast.
What exactly is included? Every eligible stay includes two beach chairs and one beach umbrella, set up daily by a professional beach service.
Which guests receive this service? All daily and weekly guests staying with Brooks & Shorey Resorts receive the complimentary guest package, which includes beach chair service. Note that the guest package is not included with government contract bookings or monthly and snowbird rentals.
Do I need to do anything to activate the service? No. The setup is arranged as part of your stay. There is no daily check-in, no reservation system for the chairs, and no extra step required on your part.
What if I want additional chairs beyond the two included? Additional chairs beyond the complimentary two can be rented directly from the professional beach service vendors who operate on Okaloosa Island. This gives your group flexibility to expand your beach setup on days when more of your party wants to be out.
What properties include this service? All Brooks & Shorey condo properties on Okaloosa Island are covered by this service during the eligible season. You can browse all our beachfront and beach-view rentals here, from one-bedroom condos to four-bedroom units for large groups.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beach Chair Service on Okaloosa Island
Is beach chair service standard at all vacation rentals on Okaloosa Island? No. While beach chair service is one of the most sought-after amenities among Okaloosa Island guests, not every rental property includes it. Some properties offer it as a paid add-on, and some do not offer it at all. At Brooks & Shorey Resorts, beach chair service is included in the complimentary guest package for all eligible daily and weekly guests, no extra charge.
How much does it cost to rent beach chairs if they are not included? Beach chair rental vendors on Okaloosa Island typically charge between $40 and $65 per day for a standard setup of two chairs and one umbrella, depending on the vendor and season. At Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach, for example, the published rate through their vendor is $50 per day for two chairs and an umbrella. Some premium beachfront hotel vendors charge more. Over a seven-night stay, this can add $350 or more to your vacation budget.
What happens if it rains on a day I have beach chair service? The beach chair service operates based on beach conditions. On rainy or stormy days, beach operations may be limited or unavailable, the same would apply whether you owned chairs or rented them from a vendor. On those days, our guests typically enjoy the many indoor activities available nearby, including the Emerald Coast Science Center, the Indian Temple Mound Museum, and the historic Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Okaloosa Island.
Can I bring my own additional chairs and use them alongside the included service chairs? Yes. Many guests bring additional chairs for children or larger groups and use them alongside the two included service chairs. The professional beach vendors can advise on setup arrangements when you arrive.
Is tipping the beach attendants expected? Tipping the beach attendants who set up and maintain your chairs is a courteous and appreciated gesture, particularly for good service, favorable positioning, or extra assistance. While it is not required, beach service professionals work in demanding conditions and tips are a meaningful part of their compensation.
Can I choose my beach chair location? The beach service vendors manage the overall layout of the chair areas based on the number of guests and the available beach space. While specific chair placement cannot be guaranteed, the vendors are experienced at creating setups that give guests a quality beach experience. Arriving earlier in the morning generally gives you access to better-positioned setups.
Ready to Experience It for Yourself?
The Brooks & Shorey beach chair service is one of those amenities that guests describe the same way every time: they did not fully appreciate it until they had it, and now they cannot imagine a beach vacation without it.
It is the difference between a vacation where the logistics keep demanding your attention and a vacation where the only decision you have to make is whether you want to sit in the sun or the shade.
If you are planning a trip to Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island, we would love to have you experience this for yourself.
Browse our available beachfront condos, from intimate one-bedroom getaways to spacious four-bedroom condos for the whole family. Every eligible stay includes the complimentary guest package: beach chairs, umbrella, dolphin cruise, golf, and more.
Your spot on the beach is waiting. All you have to do is show up.
Check availability and book your Okaloosa Island condo →
Brooks & Shorey Resorts has been the locally owned, award-winning vacation rental company on Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, for over 20 years. Named “Finest on the Emerald Coast” nine consecutive years. Learn more about our full guest amenity package.