South Beach Resort Hotel

The rooms feel dated and smell musty. I'm trying to reach the hotel to ask if they found my daughter's glasses, but nobody answers the phone. Service is lacking if you can't get hold of anyone, and I don't see how people could make a reservation by phone. For the price, I wouldn't spend my time staying here again.

The pool was the biggest concern for me. A child had an accident in it our first night; staff scooped it out with a skimmer and brush, but I didn't see chemicals or shock treatment used afterward. We waited by the pool for hours to see if anyone would come sanitize it, and nobody did. There were no clear closure signs, just the jets turned off, which left me questioning how clean the property's other pools were too. The so-called “private beach” wasn't relaxing either. When we went, two big rotting catfish were on shore and the smell was awful. I did appreciate that the room was clean when we first walked in. Still, the rooms are extremely dated, and oddly there's no microwave or mini-fridge unless you pay $10 a night to rent one. Those are standard in most places now. The place has potential, but needs updates and better maintenance to be worth a stay.

My son got married at one of the gazebos, and it made a beautiful backdrop. We had planned a casual family dinner afterward, but rain came, and the staff let us move into the breakfast area. Their kindness made the whole experience much better, and we're grateful. We hope to return for a family reunion. We all live in different states, so Ohio was a halfway point for my son's small, casual wedding near the water. We felt lucky to find South Beach Resort. As people arrived throughout the day, staff greeted everyone with smiles and a warm welcome. The hotel was clean and comfortable. The rooms were a bit dated, so I gave a four-star rating, but they were clean. I shared some suggestions after we left, including getting better pillows, which would help comfort. I'd booked a queen room with a bay-view balcony, but we were given a first-floor room with a patio. I was initially disappointed because I wanted to sit outside and watch the water in the morning. Staff were kindly trying to rearrange rooms without my knowing, but by the time a room with a view opened up, my family had settled in and would've disowned me if I made them move, lol. The view from our room was of the beach volleyball pit, with the water blocked by the fun pirate ship playground. Still, it was a short walk from the patio to one of the pier gazebos, where we could enjoy the water. I really appreciated that staff tried to accommodate me.

The people working here are warm, friendly, and welcoming, and the rooms are clean. The standout amenities are the kids' pool with several water play features, the roomy pier or jetty where many anglers had fresh catches, and a nice beach that wasn't crowded when I saw it. I can imagine it getting busy with too many families. If you have kids or enjoy fishing and swimming, this could be a good fit. Rooms are standard, but there's no microwave or fridge, and you can hear kids and other guests through the walls. That's only an issue if you're a light sleeper. Breakfast is continental, with no restaurant or bar on site. Most island spots aren't too far by car.