Great Stay With Some Service & Logistics Gaps…read more
Overall, we had a genuinely great experience as first-time visitors traveling without kids but with service animals. The property shines in many areas, especially if you're looking for a relaxing resort atmosphere with beautiful water views, pet-friendly accommodations, and a fun, laid-back vibe. That said, there were a few frustrating misses that held this back from being a 5-star stay.
THE GOOD
* Beautiful beach & lagoon area - Easily one of the highlights of the property. Relaxing, scenic, and fun overall.
* Salt + Ash is a must - Exceptional food and one of the best dining experiences on property. The wine selection was top-notch and the beef tenderloin was outstanding. Easily our favorite restaurant.
* Incredible staff throughout the resort - Bell staff, valet, oceanfront servers, housekeeping crew, and pool staff were consistently kind, personable, and welcoming.
* Staff who go above and beyond - Huge shoutout to Joshua, who helped us secure chairs near the adult pool, and Danielle, who took time to chat, swap stories, and made us feel genuinely welcome. Hospitality like that sticks with you.
* Captain's Suite is worth the upgrade - Strongly recommend spending the extra money if budget allows. The added space made the trip: dining area, living room, fridge, two toilets, large balcony, and beautiful water views overlooking the pool and lagoon. It elevated the experience tremendously.
* Extremely pet & service animal friendly - This place deserves serious praise here. Few resorts feel this comfortable and accommodating for travelers with animals. Staff were respectful, welcoming, and there were no awkward restrictions or friction. If you travel with pets or service animals, this property stands out.
* Tiki Grill - Great atmosphere for drinks and relaxing. Perfect for unwinding poolside.
* 20% off dining on property helped offset costs - Appreciated perk considering resort pricing.
THE NOT-SO-GOOD
* Front desk communication & housekeeping logistics need work - This was our biggest frustration.
We stayed in a Captain's Suite and requested both a room cleaning and balcony cleaning (bird droppings had accumulated on the balcony) around 10 AM. The front desk wrote down our room number and assured us it would be taken care of.
When we returned around 3:30 PM, neither had been done. By after 4:30 PM, the room had finally been cleaned, but the balcony still hadn't been addressed.
When you pay extra for a premium room and oceanfront balcony experience, this feels disappointing. There also seems to be a mild pigeon issue, and balcony maintenance should really be part of a regular checklist. Some simple bird deterrents or more proactive cleaning would go a long way.
* Concierge/text support didn't materialize - We were told we'd receive a concierge-style welcome text shortly after check-in for support/questions. Unfortunately, we never received it. To make matters worse, the room phones didn't work, meaning concerns had to be addressed in person while waiting in the front desk line.
* Food quality was inconsistent - Salt + Ash was phenomenal, but not every dining experience matched that standard.
Tiki Grill: Great drinks and atmosphere, but the food was forgettable, under-seasoned, and not something we'd order again. Fine in a pinch.
Angler & Ale: Beautiful waterfront views and exceptional staff, but the food leaned heavily fried and felt more like average bar food than resort dining. Fish and chips were disappointing. Oddly enough, the banana split ended up redeeming the meal.
* Convenience store prices were shocking - Convenient? Yes. Affordable? Not even close. A few sodas and snacks escalated to $60+ surprisingly fast. I expected a slightly easier option versus restaurant pricing, but the markup felt extreme.
* Parking costs add up - Valet runs about $40/day and self-parking is roughly half, but expect around a 10-minute walk with luggage, making valet feel almost mandatory.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Despite some communication breakdowns and uneven food experiences, we truly enjoyed our stay. The Captain's Suite, peaceful balcony views, fire pit at night, lagoon, beach access, pickleball, and pet-friendly atmosphere made for memorable moments.
My advice: upgrade to the Captain's Suite, eat at Salt + Ash (seriously, get the beef tenderloin), enjoy the tiki drinks, walk the grounds, soak in the sun, and be selective about food choices elsewhere. Use the convenience store sparingly.
Fix the housekeeping/communication gaps, improve how guests can raise concerns without standing in line, and clean those balconies consistently--and this place could easily become a 5-star destination.