The Oasis at Orange Beach

At Phoenix west II, now known as Oasis, another stay with Brett/Robinson was a triumph. The BR and Oasis association staff were professional, welcoming, and hospitable. Security was thorough and kind. We stayed in unit 1011. It’s glorious in size, wonderfully decorated, and has superb Gulf views. The seating stood out to me: the unit sleeps 8, but the table seats more than 8, with more spots at the kitchen bar. The outdoor balcony was outstanding for sunrise views, with two lounge chairs, a dining table, and two regular chairs, so everyone in our group could sit outside comfortably at once. Marble and other decorations catch the exterior lighting beautifully. Sunrises fill the living areas and bedrooms with vibrant tones, while sunsets bring purple hues and deep reds. There are four bedrooms, four full baths, and a half bath. Each bedroom has its own restroom, which is very convenient, and a small balcony that lets in lots of natural light. Some units have 5 full baths, but the one we rented had the 4 1/2 bath configuration. There were so many amenities to use. My favorite was the hot tubs on the 14th floor facing west. You can relax in the warm bubbling water at sunset and look out at the sun going down. After twilight, the city lights glow. From up there, you get a perfect view down the beach toward the neighboring Gulf Tower's. Guests have access to a lazy river, water slide, outdoor pool, adult only pool, children’s splash pad, large indoor pool, hot tubs, tennis and basketball courts, racquetball courts, a large grilling area, and a vast weight room on the 15th floor. One thing people don’t seem to talk about is the big back hallways, with windows wrapping around to the west and north. If your unit doesn’t face west or north, you can still head back there to look at the sunset through the massive windows. I’ll post photos of these unique features in this review. The lobby is also impressive if you appreciate architecture, with proud columns and towering ceilings. It spans three stories: the 1st floor, the 2nd floor with the grand staircase, and openings on the 3rd floor where you can look down into the lobby. Vending machines there have drinks and snacks for waiting guests. The Oasis Cafe and bar is one of the more unique amenities on site. I didn’t get to buy a drink because my father used the wet bar in our unit to provide drinks for the family. I did order the Oasis Burger. It was quite expensive, but a hefty burger with large fried potato slices on the side. My only complaint about the Cafe was the demeanor of one employee. I won’t take off a star for it, though: the food she made was tasty and deserves more business, which I’ll give it when I return. A chef’s skills shouldn’t be judged by their lack of gratitude or unsmiling expression. People complain about the elevators, but even 20 elevators at this property would mean a wait during the 4rth of July or Memorial Day. Any property in this area deals with that, and it doesn’t deserve a lower rating. Oasis has 6 elevators, more than other condos, and they’re very fast when they aren’t crowded with tenants. A large party staying on a high floor could have a problem.

The pools and lazy river were a highlight, family friendly but still relaxing, and beach access was excellent. The water was gorgeous in late August. Our spacious condo had three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a great balcony view. We loved the stay at The Oasis in Orange Beach, especially since most of the activities we enjoy are closer to Orange Beach than Gulf Shores. Check-in was easy. The $60 parking fee per car and our door code cutting off 10 minutes before checkout were small drawbacks. It’s a wonderful place for families and multi-generational groups.

We stayed in a condo at The Oasis building from July 9- July 13. The condo itself was beautiful and spacious, easily fitting our party of 9, and our host was extremely pleasant, attentive, and quick to reply to emails. The building, though, was a complete nightmare. The elevator waits were extremely long, up to 30-45 minutes just to get on. It was easily a 30 minute wait whether checking in, heading to the beach, or coming back upstairs after a day there. Our group was caught in 2 confrontations over getting on an elevator, and we weren’t the aggressors either time. Another woman shoved me aside to get into one. I’d also venture that having 6 elevators for the innumerable people trying to go up and down was probably a code violation. Because of the elevator situation, we and numerous other guests won’t return to The Oasis. We also had 2 Autistic individuals, a toddler, and a pregnant lady in our party, and stayed on the 23rd floor. There’s no way we could have evacuated the building safely in an emergency.

The rooms were roomy and clean, with gorgeous beach views, and it was easy to get around the property. The staff were friendly and helpful, too. We were a family of 8 at The Oasis at Orange Beach (formerly Phoenix West II), and the easy, direct beach access made it a great place for a relaxing, fun vacation. We especially loved the lazy river, my favorite, along with the adult pool, kids’ splash pad, indoor pool, hot tubs, sauna, and gym. The game room had arcade games, and the basketball and pickleball courts kept my nephew busy for hours. We used the outdoor grills for easy, fun family dinners, and Oasis Beachside Café and Bar downstairs was handy for food or a drink. The only small snag was the elevator waits, which got a bit long during busy Memorial Day weekend. We had a fantastic stay and would come back. It’s a fun, comfortable beach option for families or groups.