Topsider Resort

There are lots of spots to park a boat at the docks, and the beach is calm and very nice. The rooms have plenty of space for families. Larger boats need to launch from outside ramps, while small boats can use the concrete pad here. Bring mosquito spray and sunscreen, and come ready to have a good time. Restaurants and bars are conveniently close too.

The layout caught my interest: Topsiders Resort has 20 two-bedroom, two-bath units with kitchens and living rooms, and the whole house is raised on stilts. It dates back to the 1980s and has a small beach and dock. There's pretty much everything you might need, though the place feels very low-rent. I was told at the front desk that the stilt house was damaged by hurricane Irma.

The location is great and we had a relaxing stay, but the property needs a lot of work. Several large tree branches were dead, the landscaping looked terrible, and plants, trees, and bushes were still sitting in their shipping pots. The condos had poorly done renovations, with separating floors, mismatched paint, and furniture falling apart. Some units also had nonworking outdoor LED lights, which felt like a safety issue at night. Screws were sticking up all over the decking. I heard the place used to be beautiful, but it isn't anymore. Nothing was done about these problems while we were there. A property this large needs enough staff onsite, especially for groundskeeping, and definitely more maintenance staff onsite.

We love this place. Maria and her staff were excellent, and we made lots of new friends among the other guests. The updated condos were comfortable and in great shape. It's peaceful and quiet here, yet everything else is only a short drive away. We're even considering buying one for next year. We got married on the pier. We expected a small, private ceremony, but half the resort turned up. It was awesome and couldn't have been more perfect.