Gulf Hills Hotel & Resort

I want to warn people about my experience, while leaving them to make their own decision. My nine-year-old daughter and I spent one night in room #250 on Friday Feb. 27th. She had a lacrosse game in Ocean Springs the next morning, so we traveled from our house, which definitely did not have bed bugs, to the hotel and back. I’m fairly certain I was bitten by bed bugs there. While I was sleeping, I felt something crawl on my knee and bite me. I meant to check the mattress in the morning but forgot in the rush to get to her game on time. That day, we both noticed red spots on our necks that got progressively itchier, not like mosquito bites, which I know very well. Hers followed her shirt neckline. In the next few days, more spots appeared on our necks and behind our ears, looking exactly like bed bug bites. I called the hotel to report it and ask them to check. I believe they did, but they said they found no evidence. I was surprised because the hotel was very clean and looked recently renovated, though I know bed bugs can easily travel in with another guest. At the very least, it’s good practice to check the mattress and pillows under the sheets and cases for bug debris and the dark spots they leave when you first enter a new room.

We came down for a wedding, and they had fresh flowers and chocolate-covered strawberries waiting for my wife when we arrived. Nailed it! The restoration of this classic country club was incredible, and the interior design was thoughtfully done. Customer service was excellent. It’s a quiet little secret in Ocean Springs, and I highly recommend it.

The hospitality was truly amazing, and every interaction with the staff felt warm, helpful, and welcoming. But a plumbing problem took away from what could have been a perfect stay. The room looked perfect at first, then I found that the shower wasn’t draining properly. By the end, I was standing in a puddle. When my elderly father-in-law showered afterward, the floor was extremely slippery and he almost fell. He didn’t complain and even tried to fix it himself, but it clearly needed maintenance. I called the front desk. They were kind, but said maintenance wouldn’t be available until 9 AM the next morning. Since we were only there overnight, that wasn’t much help, especially as I usually shower twice a day. We stayed about a week ago, and I otherwise had a great experience, especially with the customer service. With better room inspections and follow-through on maintenance issues, this could easily become one of my top recommendations. Their hospitality has five-star potential.

It’s a great place to stay, very close to downtown Ocean Springs, and the service is excellent. Madison was working the desk when I checked in and was great. I had a small room problem, and it was fixed right away. There’s also a great little lounge in the main building, and the bartender was great. I’d definitely stay again.