Caribbean

The pool was nice, but its chairs were weathered and broken and need replacing. The ocean was beautiful, though the pool was overdue for a cleaning. The view was pleasant, but the two neighboring condos partly blocked the sunrises and sunsets, and the boardwalk was completely out of commission, making beach access somewhat difficult. We were in unit 302, a quaint, small condo, but it was noticeably dirty when we arrived. I had to spend an hour and a half cleaning before we could even put our bags down. It needs a deep clean, updates, and a few repairs. The door knobs and hand rails were dirty. All in all, the vacation was great, but the unit could have been better for the price, and the condo itself needs updating.

We paid over a thousand dollars for this stay and got a $100 refund as compensation, as though that would let them wash their hands of the problem. It was a vacation from hell. I don't recommend this property or Vacasa. -10 out of 10. My family stayed in Unit 802 over Labor Day weekend, 08/30/2024 through 09/02/2024. We saw two German cockroaches as soon as we entered. I contacted the host right away. They said an exterminator would come, but none ever showed up. We kept seeing nymph German roaches throughout our stay, which suggests an infestation. These pests can carry harmful bacteria and diseases, and if they get into your belongings and come home with you, they multiply quickly. Be very careful.

Room 503 had one good point, its location. The condo was dirty, and my wife and I had to clean it when we arrived. We had our dog with us since it's pet friendly. On our third day, they called to say exterminators might come that day or the next, but they didn't know when or what chemical would be sprayed. My wife and I took turns sitting with the dog for several hours. Six hours into this mess, she called to say it was ruining our vacation and ask for information. The woman then said never mind, they weren't coming that week. There were bugs that needed exterminating. We stayed six days and were left with one dish tab, one trash bag, and one roll of toilet paper per bathroom. All the dishes needed to be washed again, and the mattress was old, sagging, and lumpy.

The building gets loud, so it won't suit an older couple hoping for a restful beach trip. Quiet hours are 10 pm - 8 am, but they're not enforced. Be prepared for Creed blasting from the pool at midnight, with drunken karaoke along with it. There are a lot of options in Gulf Shores, and I'd book somewhere else if I could. For context, we're a couple in our late 30s or early 40s with two pre-teen kids and two small dogs. Parking is limited, especially if your rental doesn't pay for covered spaces, and there's little to no shade. I have a disability, and the two marked spots were often occupied. Overflow parking is a badly paved or gravel lot across the main road, with no pedestrian crossing. There's just one elevator, and it's hot and humid from poor ventilation and smells horrible. Get ready to hold your breath. Only two small carts are provided for bringing things up. People use them for garbage and who knows what else, so they're pretty dirty. There's no trash chute or recycling, so all rubbish has to be carried to the dumpster. I'd keep Clorox wipes on hand to clean the carts before putting anything you don't want soiled on them. The small patch of grass out front by the road is for dogs. There are doggy bags and a trash can at the end of the parking lot, but some people don't clean up after their dogs, so watch your step. The indoor pool is rarely used, while the spacious outdoor pool can get busy. The pool restrooms are nasty and need a good cleaning.