Bay Town Inn — Hotel in Bay Saint Louis

My husband and I had plans to go to the Big Bend area of Florida for my birthday weekend but Hurricane Idalia had other ideas- a couple of days before we were to go, we looked for Plan B and made a reservation for the Bay Town Inn- it was a great experience! We stayed two nights in The Lighthouse Suite (room 12), the only room upstairs in that building so it had a large private balcony overlooking the pool and courtyard area with two rockers, side table and two additional chairs providing a great place to sit and relax. The basket of information about things to do and places to eat or shop was helpful even though we have visited the area before.|The host has thought of everything in this very clean and bright 750 sq ft room from charming decor, a comfy king size bed, two robes, a well stocked kitchenette, a large shower, fluffy towels, toiletries, hair dryer - the photos are exactly accurate. Additionally, we arrived to fresh flowers, a welcome note with two cake balls, and a first morning breakfast of coffee, freshly baked muffins, granola bars, yogurt, orange juice, coke, diet coke and waters in the refrigerator (complimentary). The commercial ice maker just downstairs by the pool was easy to access and handy. A hot cooked breakfast is included on Saturdays and Sundays- we had scrambled eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, muffins and a beautiful assortment of fruit (honeydew melon, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and pineapple arranged buffet style for self serve in the adjacent restaurant that was open only for hotel guests for breakfast from 9-10 a.m. It was delicious and a nice amenity. |The pool was lovely and had plenty of seating areas and beach towels provided and we enjoyed cooling off there after walking around the very cute town of BSL. The landscaped courtyard and pool area was very private from the street.|Two very important details were a designated parking spot (parking is challenging in some places in town) and being only a block from the main downtown area of restaurants, bars and shops so you never needed to use your car once you arrive and check in.|We very much enjoyed our stay at Bay Town Inn, highly recommend it and...

In a three night stay I just had too many things go wrong to rate the Bay Town Inn higher. I checked in and the hot water supply to the room was shut off in another part of the building. So I had two phone calls with the owner and had to move rooms. Not at all a big deal.. The worst issue was wifi. I could see her wifi network but the signal was so weak neither my laptop nor phone could establish and hold a connection, from anywhere in the room. For a vacation maybe people don't care, for someone traveling on business this is just unacceptable. I got a nice apology, but no action on the wifi. Bay Town Inn sends emails warning everyone to park in their designated space, ONLY, or you may be towed. I came back to my room mid-day and a friend of the owner was parked in my designated space. Lastly, I stayed at the government per diem rate which they advertise but had to follow up with an email asking Bay Town Inn to send me a receipt following my stay for my expense claim. If they do business with military travelers they should know that kind of thing. Wouldn't everyone want a receipt? Again, besides the wifi none of these were huge issues. But I've stayed places that required a lot less...

So.. I grew up in BSL (Bay High class of ‘88) and have lived away from Mississippi since 1994. Over the years, my brothers and I have made many trips back home to visit family, attend cruisin the coast or the crab fest, etc.

During cruisin the coast this year, I checked out Bay Town Inn as a possibility for my family’s upcoming Summer trip in July... primarily due to its location. When asking around, I was warned that Bay Town Inn doesn’t allow children.

Puzzling. In a recent inquiry to the Inn’s owner, she confirmed the fact that they don’t allow children. She says it is because of the “pool and insurance.” Over the years, I have had the fortune to spends dozens and dozens and dozens of nights away on vacation, both domestically and internationally. All of the said accommodations accepted children and had a pool and insurance.

So, I suppose everyone is welcome at Bay Town Inn in Bay St. Louis.. unless you currently parent one of the 74 million children under the age of 18 in America.

My suggestion to the Hancock County Tourism Commission and Chamber of Commerce, don’t put this on a...