Phoenix Orange Beach II #2505

The staff were really on top of things. Security made frequent rounds, and maintenance kept the glass clear and floors dry. I was impressed. The zero-depth pool is great for kids of all ages, though the outdoor pool isn’t usable in the off season, as you’d expect. They also close the indoor pool for thirty minutes if they hear thunder, which seemed curious to me. What really stood out about the location was how close the unit was to parking and the elevator. Park, open the door, and after a few steps you’re at the elevator, then only a few more to your unit. At some other places along the strip, you park far away and have to navigate a maze of long corridors.

We stayed in unit 1503 in mid March, booked through Brett Robinson. The building has great views and is nice, and there were some good parts to our stay: the unit was clean, though the walls had a lot of paint damage, which I think mostly came from luggage rubbing against them. Communication with Brett Robinson before and during the stay was excellent and responsive. The pools were nice, but the outdoor one was very cold since it isn’t heated this time of year. We had no elevator wait issues, despite reading complaints about other Phoenix properties. Security was often around, and the staff were friendly. The views were expansive, with a good look west at the sunset and far down the beach. But several details would make us unlikely to return, even though they seem like fairly easy fixes for the manager or owner. The beds were hard and uncomfortable. The master bedroom had one small set of drawers that fell out when opened, so we put our clothes in the bathroom cabinets. The second bedroom had cheap clear plastic drawers, the sort you’d get at Walmart. Kitchenware was also very basic and cheap, making real cooking difficult. The coffee maker did both kcups and pots, which was the bright spot. These things are disappointing in units selling for around 1.5 mil. We were given lots of bath towels but told they were only for use in the unit. We could get away with taking them to the pool, but were specifically told not to take them to the beach, frustrating when the unit’s main selling point is being on the beach. Besides towels and bath soaps, there was just one thin roll of toilet paper per bathroom, one spare trash bag for the whole unit, a sink sponge, and one pouch of dishwasher detergent. No dish soap, washing machine pods, or other niceties. I know that’s somewhat par for the course with corporate managed rentals, but it was disappointing. In that respect, there’s a big gap between caring Air BnB owners and corporate management companies, so that’s more of an industry criticism than one specific to Brett Robinson. Both bedrooms were at the back of the unit and had windows facing the common hallway, with plantation shutters that didn’t block the light fully. It was hard to sleep, and whenever we woke up we thought it was morning, even in the middle of the night. I’m guessing the windows are required by building code, but they should have blackout curtains. There were no umbrellas by the outdoor pool loungers, which seemed odd. My family has a history of skin cancer, so we bring small personal umbrellas that clamp to chairs for shade. When we put them up, security told us they weren’t allowed because they were a liability and could blow into someone, though he couldn’t really explain the details and it was a flat calm day. I’d never seen this rule listed, and there was no signage. It’s the first trip I’ve taken where umbrellas weren’t allowed, and it’s a reason I wouldn’t stay there again. The neighboring property has pool umbrellas, and management advertises beach umbrella rentals. The location itself isn’t walkable to shops and restaurants, and I don’t think much of Orange Beach is either. We drove to cross the street for ice cream, literally 500 feet away, since walking to a marked crosswalk would have been almost a mile. The other choice was running across a busy 5 lane road with our kids. For us, the deal-breakers are the lack of pool shade, the hard beds, and the hallway-facing bedroom windows that don’t let us get the rooms dark enough. If those things were fixed, we’d definitely consider coming back.

We were set up for the week with just speedos, T-shirts and flipflops. The building has covered parking, a gym facing the ocean, and a boardwalk with beach showers. There’s also an indoor pool and hot tub, plus an outdoor lazy river and slide. The beach chair rentals out front made things easy, since we didn’t have to haul our stuff each day. Staying late to watch the young men carry the chairs in was a nice bonus. Wonderful large tattooed men frequent this part of Orange Beach. We rented an end unit in the 27-story beachfront condo. The views were great and it was very comfortable. Zeke’s is right across the street, with fresh catch, steaks, wine and bourbon. The grills weren’t well maintained and you need to bring your own charcoal, so I’d skip them. My one complaint was the polyester bedding. I’d get too hot, then cold, so I drove to HomeGoods for cotton sheets and a quilt. A $2 million luxury condo with $20 sheets, go figure.

The big beachfront balcony had a breathtaking view, and we loved our week here. My husband and I brought our two grandsons, and there was plenty to do, with a pool, gym, saunas and hot tubs. Grocery stores and activities were nearby too. We’d happily come back.