Grotto on the Gulf

House was exactly as advertised. Easy walk on the boardwalk to access the beach. AC went out while we were there, but it was fixed within hours. Overall rest stay and perfect for large family or friend gatherings.

Loved the open space family area, older could use some upgrades. Any problems we had were promptly resolved.

This very spacious, more than adequate accommodation for a party of 4 adult couples and 5 young adults will not disappoint, but the phrase long in the tooth has to come to mind when asked about the condition of Grotto on the Gulf and how it's kept. We noticed right away that the hood above the stove didn't work...no light and no exhaust. Hosteeva did respond immediately and sent out a repairman who told us that electricity was getting to the hood, but it needed to be repaired by a proper appliance repair man...makes you wonder how many previous guests have reported the same problem.(So don't expect a working hood) Had to clean out a few kitchen cabinets and drawers before using. Had to clean some really nasty stuff off the wall in one of the bathrooms. Had some mold on our shower curtain...don't know about the others. Our bedside lamp wasn't plugged in and that's because the switch was broken. Sofas and chairs were tearing and had some holes, and the fascia was hanging on the balcony on the front of the building. Please owners!!! You need to invest some money in this otherwise lovely property soon!

We had a group of adults that stayed comfortably in this property for a long weekend. The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable, and the living space was perfect for meals and relaxing with a large group. We appreciated that the bedrooms were on a separate floor from the living space. We also used the hot tub after long days on the beach, which was the cherry on top of our stay! The kitchen was well equipped with two refrigerators, two dishwashers, and an ice machine, all of which we used. The neighborhood is gated with more than ample parking. The beach was also much more laid back than the traditional Gulf Shores area by the large condo complexes. We were able to walk out to the beach at 11 AM every day and get a spot for our group very easily. I would stay here again!

Our large group of 15 people with ages ranging from 4 yrs to 74 yrs enjoyed our stay at this property. We were gathered for our Family Thanksgiving/Christmas and celebrated three Birthdays as well. The house was large enough to accommodate everyone comfortably and afforded the opportunity for gathering together as well as having private time. Having 4 King Suites and each room with its own bathroom was a huge plus. We very much enjoyed the large kitchen space (two fridges, 2 dishwashers!) and being able to seat all the adults at one table was great. The kids enjoyed the beach access and made use of the pool at The Dunes as well. Having an elevator was a must for my mobility limited mother but also made loading and unloading a snap. The elevator does have some quirks about it that took some figuring out. We also enjoyed the ice maker and the extra parking. Some opportunities for improvement were noted however. The beach house was very clean but we found large amounts of broken glass in the living room and one of the kids cut her knee kneeling on the rug. Several of the balcony deadbolts and bedroom doors do not lock properly. The dryer took 3 cycles minimum to dry even the lightest load. The front and back porch lights need replacing. The bulbs under the kitchen sink and cabinets do not work. A note explaining the elevator functioning posted outside the elevator would be helpful. There are screw heads that stick up on the boardwalk that cause tripping.

Had a great time

The property was a great. We are looking for one just like it for next year.

The location of the property was great. The house could have been great if there weren't so many little issues that speak to the overall upkeep of the property. Having to call someone to come over and change light bulbs is ridiculous but he had to as there were whole areas that were not lit safely. Some still that way since the fixtures were broken. The hot tub is a joke. The guy that came to fix it a few days after we got there said it was long past needing to be replaced. It was never clean. According to the listing there were amenities available at the Dunes Condo resort. They had been closed by the health department for bacteria contamination. They must use the same cleaners you do. We had to mop the kitchen twice as it was so sticky our shoes stuck. Some of the shower curtains had noticeable mold and mildew on them and it would be really great if there were some rugs to use to keep from having to sweep sand. Perhaps 4 thousand plus a week isn't much to some people but it was to us and for that money I expected more of the house. I will say all the people that came to fix things were very nice but they shouldn't had to come. The listing says the house will sleep 22 people yet there were not enough bowls in the house to feed 8 people there were only 7 bowls; there were 9 spoons so there is that. The house needs some serious refreshing and a decent cleaning crew or you need to lower your price so people will lower their expectations.

Remote does not work in living room. Had to use Roku app on phone to watch TV. Sand in hot tub and low water level made it undesirable to use. Several bathroom sinks dripped.. Other than these few discrepancies, house was very comfortable and worked well for our big group.

The view is absolutely amazing, Could not have asked for a better location. The house was perfect for our multiple family vacation. Would definitely stay again!