The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel — Hotel in Gulf Shores

Absolutely stunning. The views and the beach are pristine, the white sand is beautiful. The restaurants had food that was delicious (haven’t tried anything we didn’t like. Highly recommend the crab cake benedict and farmer’s market salad at Food Craft), and the coffee at Roasted Oak Coffee & Wine was so convenient and delicious (just as good as Starbucks IMO, they even had tons of non-dairy milk options, which makes my heart sing). They had great deals on their bottles wines at Roasted Oak as well, we shared a bottle together in the comfy seating while our daughter enjoyed a hot chocolate. Our last night here, Food Craft had a build your pasta buffet night, as well as deals on bottled wine. It was delicious. Braquette was our server on our last night, she was great. Overall, everyone has been so personal and attentive, it’s been wonderful.

We didn’t book a ocean view room because there were balconies available with adirondack chair rockers, that still had plenty of privacy and were spacious with a stunning view of the beach. We’re also visiting during a slower season, but if you’re trying to stay within a budget, I felt like that was a great trade off to save a little each night. Our room was still very spacious, with enough room for our king bed, and for our daughter to have fun on the bunk bed. The beds were comfy, the pillows not so much. We brought some from home, so we ended up using our own.

I loved the more eco friendly toiletry options installed in the showers. The products were nice too, my hair feels clean and soft. Plenty of towels provided, so big plus. Lots of storage for your clothing and luggage available. We had a mini fridge, but there wasn’t a microwave (could have sworn I read there was, but oh well).

There’s water refill station at the entry of the building with the rooms, which made it easy to keep our water bottles filled so we could stay hydrated. Ice machine was nearby too. The fitness center was fully equipped. I loved seeing the variety of dumbbell weights (I think they went all the way up to 75), and they even had a plyo box (even my gym I have a membership for at home doesn’t have that!). They even provide headphones that are “disposable.” Loved it.

I also loved that it wasn’t dead in the center of all the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores/Pensacola action. It’s still less than 2 miles away from it all, but I liked that it has a semi “secluded” vibe to it. You can walk straight on to the beach past the pool, it is beautiful. We brought a kite with us, it was a perfect beach activity for our 5yo daughter.

For dining nearby off property, I recommended Coastal. It was great. We took our daughter to Adventure Island which was also nearby. She had a blast.

The Hilton had everything we needed, but there’s definitely some things worth noting, for planning purposes that aren’t (in my opinion) very clear on the website.

No complimentary breakfast No spa No indoor pool, and the outdoor pool is not heated. No hot tub. Not all dining options are open during this time (we’re visiting in January). Our options were Foodcraft, Perch, and Roasted Oak, then the convenience shop by the front desk. There is a free self-park promo right now, but that doesn’t seem to always be true. It appears self-park is normally $10/day, valet $20/day. There is a daily fee of $50/day, but it’s refundable at check-out (I assume in the event all is well in your room. Don’t wreck the place ya’ll). Again, not right in the middle of the action, but we were still so close to everything. We got to Florabama in less than 15 minutes, that’s the furthest we went.

We would definitely stay here again, especially for the affordability, despite a couple things we wish it had, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. It was only $20 more/night than this awful hotel we stayed at in MS on our drive down. This was pure luxury compared to that.

We still have some time left, so more photos to come.Thank you for a memorable experience this far. We’ll keep this hotel on our list if we ever return to the area (we are visiting...

Update. Nothing not a word completely ignored! This place is ran by literal children! UPDATE Check out the snarky backhanded comment The staff left. Completely ignored the fact we were threatened eviction in the middle of the night wrongfully! Obviously we’ve got something!!!!!!!! No way it’s in hiltons policy to get your security guard buddy to threaten eviction on gay guests you don’t like. Let’s get to the bottom of this!

We stayed here for our anniversary. The hotel staff were clearly used to doing the bare minimum. The restaurant and bar staff was amazing the hotel staff so/so. Except for one lady who went beyond the bare minimum to homophobic! We were told late in the night that we were to be evicted from our hotel room by security…. The lady at the front desk had told security we were calling and hanging up on here repeatedly. This was not the case at all. WE! were clearly being harassed. My husband shaking and crying in the corner while I explain to the security guard that he was not allowed to throw us out on the street in the middle of the night because no one was being harassed besides us in our room!!! We HAD TO HAVE. a pen to fill out our hard copy room service orders. Which the front desk could not help with you you absolutely have to have a pen and paper on your door. That’s why we call-down requesting a pen…..

We also had an employee knocking our door down within the first 15 minutes after check in asking about a time out or a break. Seemingly trying to break up an argument between our neighbors? The lady next door to us was screaming and yelling at her husband and the staff came to our room. Last time I checked you were allowed to tell in your own hotel room. Super weird being harassed about your neighbors arguing?

Every experience with hotel staff was a flop leading up to the wrongful treatment of us being threatened eviction because the lady at the desk doesn’t like HOMOSEXUALS! And escalated a complaint about a dirty hall way and room and request for a pen into us being thrown out on the street. I did not get to make a formal complaint about the condition of the hotel because the staff is wildly abusive and will tell you off and get security to kick you out before you ever make a complaint!

DNOT STAY HERE YOU WILL REGRET IT!

Oh and true to lots of other reviews our room was booked as GULF VIEW but we ended up in a park view room with no balcony……..

SAVE YOURSELF THE HEART ACHE. STAY ST A REGULAR HOTEL. ANY LOW BUDGET PLACE WILL BE BETTER THAN. THE-LODGE AT GULFSHORES

The parking lot is literally 5city blocks from the front desk then it’s another 5 city block to the elevators all outdoors. If you have any mobility issues or expect reasonable access to your vehicle this is not the place for you!

The pool is a huge kiddy pool only 2’ deep at its deepest!

The entire place closes up tight at sunset. Early birds only!

UPDATED AFTER COMMENT FROM STAFF Check out this back handed snarky comment from the staff claiming the place is flawless and making it my fault for the momentary inconvenience when they come beaten on our door instead of the neighbor s. . completely forgot to address the late night homophobic staffs attempt to evict us from the hotel! You’d be terrified if the hotel security came to kick you and you loved one out in the mid of the night out because you told the front desk attendant you needed a pen and the place was dirty and smelled bad.

THIS IS HOW YOULL BE TREATED!

You can see how the staff will treat you by the...

I had driven 5 hours on last Friday to find out my reservation at the Hilton Garden Inn at Orange Beach had been canceled at 12:00 noon earlier that day without a valid reason.The hotel apologized and said they unfortunately do not have any available rooms.I explained that I had called two days prior to our arrival to inform we are coming and ask if the hotel does any birthday wishes in the room, so not sure why the reservation had been canceled. I then stated we are tired from the 5 hour drive and it is my wife's birthday weekend. The front desk staff then called around to their sister hotels to see if they had any vacancies. They did not. The staffer then tried calling the Lodge at The Gulf Shore to see if they had any availabilities. The Lodge informed the Hilton hotel they did, and the Hilton staffer recommended me to go there.

When I arrived, Ms. Hannah, the front desk staff was a "GOD-SEND". She asked if she could help me. I explained my situation to her and she apologized for the inconvenience. She said they had some open rooms, and I asked if any of them by chance had an Ocean View. I then informed her it was my wife's birthday weekend and the only thing she wanted was a room with an ocean view. Ms. Hannah said no problem and booked me the room. Ms. Hannah felt so bad for me because she could hear the frustration and fatigue in my voice from the situation & long drive that she threw in some other special perks, and recommended a good restaurant onsite for us to grab dinner. I could not thank her enough for her Outstaning Customer Service & her friendly disposition. My wife and I grabbed an early dinner and went straight to bed. We slept until 12 noon the next day due to being so tired. I checked my phone when I woke up and noticed Ms. Hannah had sent me a text message to see how everything was going. I appreciated that. My wife and I then went to the beach at 1:00pm. We stayed there until 5:30pm, laying out on the beach, drinking multiple Pina Coladas and getting into the water.

On Sunday, my wife went to the pool and spent 4 hours there, laying out and also going for a swim. We met alot of nice people that offered to buy my wife a drink when they found out it was her birthday. My wife had an Amazing time at the Lodge at The Gulf Shore. She did not want to leave the hotel on this past Mobday, however I had to.remind her we have to drive 9 hours back to North Carolina to go back to work the following day.

She then asked if we can come back to this hotel again next year for her birthday and I said absolutely. The Lodge at The Gulf Shore in Orange Beach will be the only hotel I am interested in staying at in Orange Beach.

Again, Ms. Hannah and the rest of the hotel staff were awesome. They were very courteous, very friendly, very informative and willing to make sure my wife enjoyed her birthday weekend. She was so happy and relaxed during our stay which made me happy. THANK YOU @ the Lodge at The Gulf State Park for a FANTASTIC weekend. I plan to tell all of my friends and family...