Grand Shores West

The hotel is in a great spot, just a few easy steps from the beach, with plenty of nearby places to explore and good restaurants. Service was good, and everyone was friendly. The pool area is big enough and has a good number of chairs. Our bedroom was a good size, and the renovated kitchen had new appliances and what we needed for a quick meal. The walls are thin, though. We could hear someone snoring in the next bedroom, lol! The room isn’t cleaned daily, but you can change towels if needed. With beach sand, I imagine it could get dirty fast, and cleaning costs $25. The bathroom could be better: it’s small, the paint is chipping, the tub is rusty, and there isn’t much room for toiletries. Parking out front and in back is limited, but there’s another lot across the road within walking distance. I’d come back and recommend the hotel.

The rooms were nice and the bed was comfortable, but we were very disgusted with the rest of our stay. I’m handicapped and on oxygen 24/7, yet there were only a couple of handicapped spots out back. If you’re lucky enough to get one, you know not to use your car. My fiancé had to park in the extra vehicle lot a block and a half away. If you want a cabana, you need to go out by 8 a.m. There was also a group smoking marijuana daily on the patio and beach, and nothing was done about it. We were there a week ago. Will I stay again? No. Recommend it? No.

Shaun is a true gem who loves what he does. He offers free cabanas, beach towels, and a small sailboat ride that you can sign up for at the front desk. We’d honestly come back next year just to see him. Get up early if you want a cabana. We loved the place. It’s not fancy or expensive, but it’s right by the beach, which was all we cared about. Parking was the only thing we didn’t like. Maybe it was because we were there during Memorial Day week, but most nights the lot was full. A few nights we found a nearby street spot, and on others we had to park very far away. Otherwise, I’d recommend it for anyone who isn’t looking for fancy amenities. It’s a great place to stay with kids.

The staff are fantastic and friendly. Sean, Jaime, and manager Sean are great folks. It’s a nice pool, with cabanas, BBQ grills, and a sailboat for timeshare owners, all right on the Gulf beach. The rooms are the reason for the three-star rating: they’re way outdated. Renovations are finally underway, but the kitchen is still old and everything feels sticky from age, not dirt. The cleaning crew does a great job. The pool closes at 11 PM, I believe, but kids leave their floats and inflatables behind, so it looks like a war zone in the morning. Still, I highly recommend this place. It’s not fancy, just a nice little hidden gem.