Courtyard by Marriott Gulf Shores Craft Farms

The hotel itself was fine, but I’m warning people to watch their card charges closely. I stayed one Saturday night in March 2026 and paid in full through Priceline for the one night. Then I was charged again for that same night. I called to get it corrected, and the agent said she’d removed the extra charge. I thought that was sorted, since mistakes happen. The next morning, though, there was another $272 charge, even though the original room price was $199, plus another $20 incidental charge. When I called again, they said they would “investigate.” At that point, this was the third charge for the same room night. I booked through a third-party app, so be careful doing that here and check your card for at least a week after your stay. I think these repeated room charges are an unethical scam some independent hotel operators use, hoping guests won’t notice. This seems to be common at this particular Marriott in Foley, AL. If anyone else has had the same experience, please share it. A national law firm is apparently very interested in a class action, and I plan to contact them if this isn’t resolved. I’m not trying to be a Karen, just warning people to be careful.

The main drawback was the room’s dated tech. The TV was only 19 inches and sat on a stand, more like an old computer monitor than a modern hotel screen. There was no easy USB charging by the bed either. For comparison, even midrange hotels often have 43-55 inch TVs, and many now use 55-65 inch screens, with wall mounts, streaming, and charging nearby. The rooms haven’t caught up with what travelers expect. That’s a shame, because the rest of the property is run well. The lobby, bar, and shared spaces are welcoming, the pool is good, and the fitness area is solid. The location is handy too, about a minute or two from the Craft Farms golf clubhouse and around ten minutes from the beach, with shopping and Publix easy to reach. Everything felt professional and smooth. Kerry Ann at check-in was terrific, warm and helpful, and made arrival a pleasure. If ownership updated the TVs, mounted them on the wall, and added a few basic tech conveniences, this could be a top-tier stay for the area. Great staff and location, just dated rooms.

I travel a lot, and this was the first Marriott stay that didn’t meet the standard I’m used to. The room looked only half cleaned. The floor hadn’t been fully vacuumed, there were rings in the tub and around the commode, and the gray tile hadn’t been mopped properly, or dirty mops may have been used. It was really disheartening. I took photos and can make them available. At check-in, most of the staff were friendly, except for one person who I think may have been a manager. The elevator lights weren’t working right, so they’d put two portable lanterns inside, but it was still hard to see. I heard staff say the lights had been out for a few days. I wish they’d told me and the other guests so we could decide whether we still wanted to stay.

The rooms were shabby and smelled musty, and the AC rattled and shook all night. The pool was closed for maintenance on 5/30/26, and when I asked about late checkout, I was told noon. Then there was no complimentary coffee. They have a Starbucks cafe, so you have to pay for a cup. This isn’t up to Marriott standards. Marriott can do better, and there are plenty of other places nearby, so choose somewhere else.