GOLF: We played at two courses that were both inexpensive and challenging. Tomoka Oaks is within a 10-minute drive. Twilight pricing begins at 4pm and you can comfortably fit in 18 holes for only $15. The course provided a challenge through the narrow fairways lined with trees and wooded areas (oaks). Daytona Beach and Country Club was also a good course and within at 15-minute drive. It's a public course. The afternoon fee was $28 starting at noon. The course design included water on almost every hole. Mini-golf is within a block walk of the resort. There are two courses with caves, waterfalls, and a pirate theme. Cost is $9.

RESTAURANTS: Barnacles is well advertised and has a fun atmosphere. Prices are reasonable (about $15 per entree) and the food was very good. We ordered stuffed shrimp, which was heavy on the butter, and mahi-mahi, which was perfectly cooked. Some other guests were having issues with the crab claws. Park's Seafood has absolutely wonderful food!!! Highly recommended. It's located in Daytona Beach. The price was great. Entrees come with mullet dip and crackers, soup, salad, and entree. Price is also about $15 per entree. I had the crab claws, which were fantastic.

Best Things About the Resort:
Amenities and Activities: All basic needs are met with some extra perks. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool and hot tub. Non-owners can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, bikes, etc. for $5/day (free for owners). Barbeque gas grills are available for guest use, and we observed many families taking advantage of the grills. A restaurant is on the resort and open for breakfast and lunch only. The restaurant serves only your most basic meal, such as a tuna sandwich with fries or hot dogs. Prices are reasonable. A turkey sandwich runs around $4.95, fries are extra. There is no alcohol served by the restaurant and no bar at the resort. Alcoholic beverages are allowed in the pool area and beach as long as there are no glass containers. The Maverick also has two shuffleboards, and tournaments are held throughout the week. Craft activities are held daily, such as make your own jewelry, picture frame, etc. The resort gives you an activities packet when you check in. They offer golf packages that include lunch, a casino cruise, makeovers held at the resort, and one could always call for an in-room massage ($65/hour). The resort has an activities director who is very nice and always willing to explain what is being offered. We took advantage of the CASINO CRUISE for $6 (yes, $6). The package included transportation in a chartered bus (the nice ones with TV and air-conditioning), the entrance fee for the boat, and a buffet on the boat (which was only finger sandwiches, chips, veggies, and muffins). The cruise is on the Sterling, and departs from Port Canaveral, about a 1.5-hour ride from the resort. There was a drawing at the end of the cruise for a free diamond necklace (we didn't win). The experience was well worth the $6, especially since we won some money on the slots and blackjack tables.

Resort Experience:
The room contained a mini-kitchen that included everything necessary to make a meal. There was a refrigerator, two-burner stove, microwave, sink, and plenty of cupboard space. The room also had cookware, utensils, and four place settings. The room was very clean, and they exterminate weekly. There was a slight odor the first day, which we corrected with an air freshener. Housekeeping only cleans upon request for $2. Our housekeeper was mediocre. She missed the sink and improperly exchanged our towels, forgetting the washcloths but giving us extra hand towels. The flooring of the unit was brand new and beautiful. The décor and color scheme is teal and pink (appropriate for the beach). The bed is queen-sized, relatively firm, and comfortable. There is plenty of space for clothing, but little space to store large items, as there are only two narrow closets. The unit had a fun retractable wood and window apparatus between the bed and living room, allowing one to pull out the windows and create a bedroom. The "bedroom" had the most magnificent view of the ocean. There is a large window and glass door leading out to a balcony. (All units have oceanfront balconies.) We spent most of our mornings and evenings drinking coffee or wine on the balcony and watching the breakers. The atmosphere was perfect for relaxation.

Our unit (201) was far away from the pool and we could not hear any of the pool activity. Unfortunately, we were able to hear the guests at the neighboring hotel who would constantly walk across the parking lot of the Maverick and use our facilities. The Maverick encourages guests to report any suspicious persons and we reported the neighboring hotel guests after they began to spit on the parking lot, jump up and down on pool chairs, and swing around the cigarette canisters. However, the resort did little. We read that the resort is considering installing a security system. Regarding the timeshare sales pitch, just say no and they will not call again.

Overall, the Maverick exceeded all of our expectations, especially since they are not of any RCI distinction. The Maverick is working on becoming a Resort of International distinction in the near future. I personally feel that they need to upgrade their facilities a lot more. We found the hallways and stairwells to have some form of light odor that was sometimes unpleasant. The resort also had men and women’s saunas that were great, but the area they were in contained one very old exercise bike and one shower. I guess it is their attempt at a gym.

This resort was absolutely perfect for a beach vacation. I would highly recommend this place to friends and family. We went in with low expectations and were extremely delighted with our experience. I would only not recommend this resort to those persons who demand luxury. For those with families, this would be a great resort. As a couple without children, we were able to find peace, quite, and relaxation.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good