Laketown Wharf by Book That Condo

Waiting for the elevators made us late for reservations, and at times we considered staying in our room just to avoid the hassle. We were there in mid-July with our family, and there are only a few elevators for this huge condo development. With beach gear, kids, luggage, groceries, or coolers in hand, waiting 30 minutes in the heat and humidity to reach a room on the 18th floor is miserable. Then you have to do it again every time you leave. It may sound petty, but it really isn’t. I’d read reviews mentioning the elevators and ignored them. I wish I hadn’t; the problem is bad enough to ruin your day and means we won’t return. The other amenities were nice. Staff in the lobby and parking garage were rude, though they’ve probably dealt with plenty of difficult vacationers, so I’ll give them a little leeway. The stay was a B+, but the elevators brought it down to a D.

The views are awesome, and the young women at the front desk are super helpful. The elevators are awful.

The condo itself was lovely, and the owners gave very clear, detailed directions for finding it. No issues with the unit. I’d stay here again, but I’d rather not deal with the lobby staff. When I asked for the beach access code, nobody greeted me. They looked at me like I didn’t belong there. The woman said it should have been in my confirmation email. I told her I couldn’t find it, and she replied, “Well, it’s 1234.” The way she said it felt rude and off-putting, like I was bothering her. Maybe I’d interrupted her day. 🤷‍♀️

The suite was clean and well stocked, and the balcony view made it a lovely place to relax with a drink in the morning or evening. It’s centrally located for most attractions, with Walmart and a souvenir shop right across the street, so family essentials are just minutes away. Great location and a great stay, aside from two frustrations: the elevators and wristbands. The elevators are awkwardly spaced, leaving a long walk to many rooms, and during busy periods like lunch or check-in and checkout, lines for the small elevators were common. I understand needing wristbands for guest facilities, but the parking pass should be enough for a guest vehicle entering the grounds. The gate guard required wristbands for everyone in the car even though our pass was clearly visible and I, the driver, was wearing mine. My daughter had left hers in the room and was still checked inside the vehicle. That felt excessive, especially since people who aren’t guests can enter the grounds through a wide-open public gate before the vehicle gate.