Been coming here for decades as a visitor - not an owner. Bottom line opinion is that Limetree…read moreResort provides a consistently excellent value. Yes, you can find fancier places with more amenities, but Limetree delivers what is important for a safe family friendly gulf beach experience. Read on to learn why......
Staff: office, maintenance and housekeeping staff were exceptional. They were always welcoming and helpful while their workspaces were totally professional - organized, neat and tidy.
Facility: Rental condos were exactly as described, stocked as promised and clean. FYI - Visitors in one unit (No 120) reportedly experienced a consistent humming from electrical systems adjacent. Also, the Internet was disrupted by the storm temporarily, but electricity and air conditioning were reliably constant. Washer/dryer units are available for no charge! During our stay, Hurricane Debby passed by, leaving about 17 inches of rain in one day with very gusty winds. Through the weather was dramatic, we never felt in danger. The building felt solid. Whew! We used the community gas grills, the shared PC, bought postcards, and generally enjoyed the same experience we've had over the years. Plenty of parking is available, and the activity center was refreshed where we played ping pong and reviewd books in the lending library.
Site: The beach was substantially augmented with crushed shell/sand. It held up to the storm surge like nothing ever happened. Spectacular sunsets were a treat. We saw dolphins, pelicans, gulls, lots of wading birds including a rosette spoonbill!
Entertainment: We loved the Tuesday evening one woman band. Beautiful versatile voice and musician - she had the kids, and some adults, up dancing at sunset. A magical treat!
Value: For a family friendly, safe, clean on-the-beach experience- it was amazing!
In summary - for the experience controlled/managed by the Limetree, the overall rating is a solid 5 (best). It's what we've come to expect after many years of visits. We hope they continue for our future generations.
However - there were some non-controllable factors that downgraded our visitor experience.
1) Temporarily, construction noise from a new development. Swiveling tower cranes, clanging metal, banging, truck traffic immediately adjacent to the Limetree on the north side occurs during the day. We experienced noise from about 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This was not a surprise because Limetree staff informed us of the work. Yet we were grateful to be on the south side of the facility - a little further away.
2) Other people: We were surprised to hear late night (after closing) loud pool parties on several evenings. They stopped before midnight but still it was not expected. We were also disappointed to see people pitch camp (umbrellas, chairs, etc.) between our rented cabanas and the beach - which obstructed our water view. Apparently, there is a public beach strip between Limetree property and the waterline available to anyone. Thus, Limetree could not force them to move, yet, we are used to a Limetree community of kindness - not competition. Thus, the atmosphere at times seemed less friendly this trip.
Like the uncontrollable weather, I don't allow these external issues affect the Limetree rating. We'll be back.