Nice place to visit, for a week, then go home. - 10/10/2019

It's important to know there are two Daytonas. There's Daytona Beach, which is where, well, the beach is. Then there's Daytona on the mainland side of things. These are two very different things. Daytona is home of the racetrack and a big 'ol flea market. The downtown is pretty sad. There isn't much there. When we lived there, there was one real coffee house that we didn't like (Marly's), one Christian coffee house, some antique stores, a Christian Science Reading Room, a very small time theater of sorts, and a few restaurants that weren't much to write home about. The Popeye's was probably the best of the bunch. The local bus station was downtown too, which was basically a refugee camp for felons. This is not inaccurate, the wife and I rode the bus, and refused to catch it at the Votran station, preferring to catch it after it had swung out of there because the station was downright scary day or night. Politics are far right Tea party type, and the France family and the developers run the city, much to it's detriment. They even have developers on the Tourism board!!! There's a lot of poverty too, and blacks have a tough time of it due to the city's less than enlightened hiring practices. Lots of crime on the mainland side too. Plenty of rednecks. There are a few people downtown who think they're "hip", which is pretty sad because there is NO hip anything in Daytona. Please. Daytona Beach is just what it is. A beach town that has the view of the ocean blocked by huge hotels. All the mom and pop motel/hotels are about gone, and the beach boardwalk is essentially gone as well. Too bad, because in years past it was fun there. There is a large part of the city on the Daytona Beach side that is ghetto. How people can let prime real estate get this way is beyond me. Lots of tweakers and alcoholics. There are nice neighborhoods, but you have to travel down the beach in either direction away from the pier to find them. When the bike guys come, leave. Believe me, both Daytona and Daytona Beach are awful during those times and the noise is deafening. There is very little to do other than go to the beach and try not to get run over by the cars that are allowed to drive on the beach. Every year someone is run down. It's a real, real stupid idea, but that's what the locals hang their hat on, that they used to race on the beach. It was dumb then, and it's super dumb now. There is little mingling between races, and when I and the wife went anywhere (I'm white and she is black), we were always the only mixed race couple. I'm only giving two stars because the beach and water are so beautiful. But that alone isn't enough to live in Daytona unless you're a snowbird maybe.

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Perfect sized town. Lots of fun and beautiful. - 12/21/2018

I moved here in April of 2018 and I'm very happy. I live downtown on the Halifax river/Intracoastal Waterway, by the beautiful marina and the Chart House restaurant. I'm in a very friendly condo complex where permanent residents as well as snowbirds look out for one another. There are a lot of homeless and panhandlers around the heart of the city, but that seems like it's everywhere these days. The rent in Daytona is quite affordable compared to most cities. Adjacent areas, like Port Orange, and New Smyrna Beach, offer great schools, restaurants and shopping as well. There is a ton of fun stuff to do and water is everywhere. The weather is excellent except during July, August and September when it's pretty uncomfortable: for me anyway. It will never be "One of America's Great Cities", but I find it to be a nice, beautiful, affordable, fun town.

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Daytona Beach: best place in Central FL part 2 - 11/5/2017

They also built a Tanger Outlet Store with multiple shops. You can find things to do in Daytona Beach. I think the area gets a very bad rap at times due to Bike Week and Spring Break (which at times can get out of control). However, if you go during certain times of the year, you will have a great time. I am in my mid-thirties and I found better dating opportunities in Daytona Beach than I ever did in Orlando, FL. Men and women can find a good quality of potential mates during happy hour at restaurants and bars on Seabreeze Blvd, Main Street, A1A, Daytona Interational Speedway Blvd, and Beach Street. I would not recommend going to North Ridgewood Ave in Daytona Beach, because of the prostitution and the drug dealings that tend to go on. This is big at night and at times during the day. It's like Orlando with Orange Blossom Trail. Outside that, there is really nothing bad about the Daytona Beach area if you are looking for a great beach area to live or visit.

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Daytona Beach is the best place in Central FL - 11/5/2017

I moved here in 2016 from Orlando, FL. Prior to that, I would visit Daytona Beach, once a month from 2011 to 2016. When I left Orlando to go to Daytona Beach, I felt a very good vibe. The people in Daytona Beach are laid back and cool to a certain point. The cost of living is much cheaper than Orlando and Jacksonville. Rent in Orlando ranged from $900 to $1500 and I lived near Altamonte Springs. In Daytona Beach, you can find good apartments in the $780 to $900 range (especially in South Daytona). I have a few friends in Jacksonville that pay from $850 to $1200 in rent. The beach life is great. Bike Week is not bad (although not perfect). The Daytona 500 is legendary and the racetrack is a surreal experience and I am not into auto racing. If you like college football on a local level, there is Bethune-Cookman University. They are usually one of the top teams in the MEAC Conference. Along with Bethune-Cookman (named after former philanthropist and civil rights leader Mary M. Bethune), Embery-Riddle and Daytona State College are very good colleges/universities with Embery-Riddle best known for producing elite pilots. The LPGA International golf club is underrated compared to golf courses in Augusta and Jacksonville. Beach Street has good restaurants from Italian, Mexican, to Organic. They also have block parties for art events, breast cancer awareness, and more. The Daytona Tortugas are a very good minor league baseball team. They play at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark. It was named after him because Daytona Beach was the first Florida city to allow Jackie Robinson to play during spring training in 1946. Ocean Walk is the place to go and shop as well on A1A. The Ocean Center holds various events like comedy shows, ice skating events, concerts, cheerleader competitions, and more. The city is great because it's kind of laid back enough to relax compared to Jacksonville and Orlando (except during Bike Week, Daytona 500, and spring break), but big enough to where you can go out and have a good time and not be super bored. I would strongly recommend to at least visit the area and judge for yourself.

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I live @ Famous Shores Motel in an efficiency - 9/26/2017

Famous Shores Motel in Daytona Beach Shores is a nice place to stay. No bugs . It is a very very nice place to stay and reasonably priced Daytona Beach has become very depressed and run down. It's not that happy place you see in all the movies at all. I thought that I was coming to Daytona Beach baby!!! But instead it's just plain old Daytona Beach. The foreigners who owned the motels have bed bugs and they don't clean or take care of their rooms. And after Hurricane they pocket the FEMA money and do very little to repair their motel. In my opinion, if Americans and rambunctious foreigners owned all of these hotels or motels, this place would be a lot better. But the fact that they do price gouging and Bike Week price gouging during hurricanes is ridiculous. You pay $150 a night for this room that ain't worth 40 bucks. The township needs to start cracking down on a more colorful paint of the buildings, crack down on run down buildings and get rid of the damn motels of bed bugs. HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. DRUG USERS ARE OVER POWERING.

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I live @ Famous Shores Motel in an efficiency - 9/26/2017

Famous Shores Motel in Daytona Beach Shores is a nice place to stay. No bugs . Daytona Beach has become very depressed and run down. It's not that happy place you see in all the movies at all. I thought that I was coming to Daytona Beach baby!!! But instead it's just plain old Daytona Beach. The foreigners who owned the motels have bed bugs and they don't clean or take care of their rooms. And after Hurricane they pocket the FEMA money and do very little to repair their motel. In my opinion, if Americans and rambunctious foreigners owned all of these hotels or motels, this place would be a lot better. But the fact that they do price gouging and Bike Week price gouging during hurricanes is ridiculous. You pay $150 a night for this room that ain't worth 40 bucks. The township needs to start cracking down on a more colorful paint of the buildings, crack down on run down buildings and get rid of the damn motels of bed bugs. HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. DRUG USERS ARE OVER POWERING.

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I live here. - 9/26/2017

Daytona Beach Shores has become very depressed and run down. It's not that happy place you see all the movies at all. I thought that I was coming to Daytona Beach baby. But instead it's just plain old Daytona Beach. The dot heads who owned the motels have bed bugs and they don't clean or take care of their rooms. And after Hurricane to pocket the FEMA money and do very little to repair their house or motel. In my opinion if Americans owned all of these hotels or motels and the not lazy foreigners, this place would be a lot better. But the fact that they do price gouging and Bike Week price gouging during hurricanes is ridiculous. You pay $150 and night for this room that ain't worth 40 bucks. the township needs to start cracking down on a more colorful painting of buildings, let's run down buildings and get rid of the damn motels of bed bugs

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cost of living - 1/7/2014

looking to retire close to the beach

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Quality of Life - 7/30/2013

Excellent place to live

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Moveing from California to Daytona Beach - 4/10/2013

My family and i are looking to move from San Diego . I am retiring from the Military and looking to attend school in Daytona Beach. I have a son who is 11yrs and one on the way. I was just wanting to find out info about a good area to raise my family in that area of FL. I would like to be somewhat close to Embery Riddle since that is where i would be going to school can anyone give me good info on rentals and the school system. Or a surounding area. that would be better

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economy - 7/13/2010

Economy in this area is down due to the tourist not coming to the area. Being a tourist town really hurts the unemployment rate when there are no tourist to service.

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Crime and Living in Daytona Beach - 12/8/2009

I don't get it. I own a condo in Daytona and have been going down there for years. I also read the news journal every day. I see crime but not as much as these reviews are talking about. Daytona Beach is a beautiful city and a lovely place to live. I plan to live there in a couple of years.

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Living in Daytona Beach area - 8/1/2009

Daytona Beach is both a world class destination and fun place with Speedweeks, Bikeweek and a host of other events, and at the same time there are many quiet and private places in the most beautiful natural surroundings that difficult to find in other places in Florida. Today's realestate market opens the opportunities of a lifetime to own properties on the Atlantic Ocean or on the Halifax River at a fraction of their cost just a few years ago. Homes and condos for 30-50 cents on a dollar are not uncommon, but you need a knowledgeable guide as it does not matter how inexpensive you buy, if it is not bought right. People who are losing their properties did not think they would lose. And yet they lose. Here the experience, knowldge, dedication and integrity come into play. A play, where your goal is to win.

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horrible - 3/21/2009

Daytona beach is horrible! its dirty, its scummy, and crowded for how bad of a place it is. i spend at least 3 days a week there and am trying to relocate. its a hot headache

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Cesspool - 8/22/2008

Daytona Beach has some gorgeous natural beauty, and the weather is great, but it is basically a cesspool. The work ethic, and therefore the service you get here, is unbelievably poor. The pay here is horrendous and doesn't make up for the lower cost of living. We have been in what we thought were nice restaurants only to hear someone proudly belch as loudly as he could, I've had my car spat on in parking lots, people curse loudly even in higher end places....It's just a nasty place that has seemingly attracted some of the laziest, rudest, and crudest people you'd ever want to run into. I suppose that's what happens when biker and NASCAR events are what drives the so-called economy. Oh, and good luck finding anything out of the ordinary like decent Indian or other ethnic foods. Daytona Beach isn't real big on minorities, either. We're getting out while we still can.

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Daytona Beach - The World's Most Famous Beach A Gr - 5/17/2007

Recent news suggests Daytona Beach will continue to be a great location for tourism to thrive. A new police chief is moving quickly to assure visitors can enjoy a safe worry free vacation experience. New hotel projects and an expanding convention center are offering more entertainment and recreational opportunities for families and conventioneers. NASCAR just announced the new Daytona Live entertainment and office complex. Only an hour or less to Disney World, Sea World, Cape Canaveral, and St. Augustine, this metroplitan area of over 400,000 people provides the best beaches, marinas, and living options at an affordable price. Fly to Daytona International Airport or stop by on Interstate 95 and find out why Daytona is a great place to visit.

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Bullies in School - 4/20/2006

I moved to Daytona Beach from Southern California. I was very surprised to find that 90% of the students are of one race. I live in a low income area even though I am not low income. I have noticed a serious problem in how the school deals with problem students. There are many bullies in the school and the teachers and administrators are not vigilent about resolving these issues. This worries me a great deal. I have been accustomed to schools having a no tolerance policy in effect for bullies, drugs and weapons. Since all of these things can cause great harm to our children. Example of a recent incident: 1 P.E. Teacher, almost 60 students, 20 of which are normally segregated due to serious emotional and behavorial problems. 1 P.E. teacher was not adequate coverage for this many students especially considering the type of children that were to be cared for. One of these students bullied my son by choking him twice within 1 hour. I met with my son's teacher and the school psychologist the next day regarding this serious and violent incident and the Principal did not show up for the meeting. That was last week and I still have heard nothing as to how this was being resolved. I guess if you live in the poor part of town, this is the kind of behavior that is acceptable and are expected to show our children how to survive these assaults. I won't conform and I WILL fight for my childrens rights to feel safe while in school. Bonner Elementary on Bill Engram, Daytona Beach

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crime - 10/13/2005

go to crime rates and put daytona beach, FL up against so major cities and compare.....D.C., L.A. N.Y. we beat em all cause daytona is a pit where criminals breed and flourish. the population here is only about 80K but that rate is per capita so we still beat them all. the only ones i found to beat us in overall violent crime are detroit, atlanta, tampa and miami. so does that mean 3 of the 5 top rated crime ridden cities in america are in FL? we are also the most visited by tourists

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