Villas by the Sea Resort and Conference Center — Hotel in Jekyll Island

Excuse the typos and grammatical errors. Please just read for content. I wish I had seen reviews before commiting to this place. Here goes: Never again in 10, 000 years! I will say that the unit wasn't filthy dirty, although I saw at least 2 bugs in the room...one crawling across the coffee table and the other across the floor. I was afraid to go barefoot in the unit and I wore shower shoes in the shower.

°The young woman that took care of the room was kind, friendly, and worked hard with what she was dealing with.

°The air conditioner and the room fan did work well. ~I think this complex was built in the mid 70s. The suite we rented doesn't appear to have been updated...ever. ~The very FIRST concern I had began when I read the binder provided on the coffee table (about the amenities/activities in the area.) There was a full page (I wish I'd captured it)....regarding "safety." A few of the suggestions were: never open the door unless you know who it is, and if you don't recognize the person, call the office to confirm their identity. Also, keep all doors and windows locked while in the room. Further, never, ever display or share your identity in public areas. Finally, the info sheet said not to make a trip to your car or walk in the parking lot after dark. This was all a bit unsettling!

~There is a lot of foot traffic, whether morning or evening.

¬¬As far as the actual condo/room: ·The bed was hard, lumpy, and had a terrible odor. I think it might be the original mattress that was in this place when it was first occupied in the 70s. I'm not kidding. My husband, nor I, barely slept the four days we were there. I'm so thankful I brought my own blankets and pillows. ·The a/c outtake vents were rusted. ·There are not enough working electrical outlets; (if you plug your device into the wall in one of the few available outlets, they just fall out.) ·The sliding closet doors are off track and rusted. ·Everything in the room was terribly dated and in bad shape...to include the coffee pot and the dishwasher. ·The furniture looked nothing like the advertisement photos. Everything was old, shabby, scratched, uncomfortable, and nothing matched. I used a towel to sit on the couch because the condition made me so uncomfortable. Even the lampshades were crooked and the wrong size. There was no hardware/finials on some lamps to hold them in place. ·The women at the front desk were not friendly and made us wait while they chatted amongst themselves.....this was on 3 occasions at the desk: check in/ information gathering/ and check out. °There was, however, a lady in the gift shop that was very nice. ·Some of the appliances in the unit were in poor condition: The dishwasher sounded like a 747 taking off and it took an hour or so to complete the cycle. The fridge, while cold, made a constant clunking noise. The coffee pot smelled like burnt coffee/burning plastic, whether it was on or off. ·The building ice machine was out of order. ~It's really too bad people don't take care of other people's property. I don't know if the shape of the unit is due to is abuse or neglect but it was awful. ·The parking lot was terribly full at all hours. ··Again··this looked nothing like the photos on the website and/or what it was advertised as. The furniture was old, shabby, and mismatched. ALL surfaces were scratched and had water rings. ·The toilitries were poor quality, the soap did not lather, the toilet paper was cheap and rough, and the paper towels just disintegrated when dampened. It's just a low quality motel. I've stayed in some really bad places in my life as well as some 4 star hotels. While this isn't the worst place I've ever payed for, it ranks toward the bottom.

°°If you are at Jekyll on a budget or aren't particular about the condition of your lodging ...this might be okay. Otherwise, spend a few more dollars and go somewhere else. And definitely skip the...

2023 Update. We just had are annual visit to Jekyll Island and Villas by the Sea, and I really needed to update my review. Both my wife and I said multiple times that Villas by the Sea was in the absolute best shape we have ever seen it (nearly 20 years). I can’t say enough about how great the place is looking. We sincerely hope the landscaping, maintenance and house keep up the quality they are now showing. It would be great if they even turn it up that last notch or 2 and become a 5 star facility.

Our only real negative this trip is still the age of the mattresses and some of the furniture. Again these are individually owned units, but I’d encourage the Villa owners and management to push for the replace with new, better quality soft goods.

All in all great improvement. A solid 4.5 stars.

Original Review: We have stayed at the Villas By The Sea many times over the last 10 years. Really we like the place, but there are some issues that are slowly growing worse. I think the best way to sum it up is “good enough”. The Villas have some hard things to deal with being so close to the ocean and being around 40 years old. That said, the units were built well (concrete and steel frame) and are far enough back from the shore (for now) that they have survived much better than the new development next door. The front office staff is very friendly and helpful. The problems stem mainly from maintenance. That is where the good enough issue really is at. First there’s the fact that each Villa is individually owned and therefore your experience can and will vary. That said there needs to be better upheld standards. The beds and furniture in all the recent Villas we have stayed in have been worn out. The management needs to enforce better quality standards in the units that are rented out. The next issue is the Villas general maintenance. There are way too many things that are really half done. Lots of fixtures that are broken or missing. Lots of old plumbing and wiring projects that were replaced but just left (cables and pipes sticking out all over). Laundry rooms with machines and exhaust fans in disrepair, etc. Right now they are in their slow season as well as hurricane recovery, which is making the next issue even worse. That issue is outside maintenance workers who just don’t care about how they affect guests or even the rest of the property. They drive their trucks and equipment up and down the lawn and dunes that are supposed to be in the process of being repaired. They park trailers and equipment were ever they want (not near projects) and don’t care about what mess they make or what mess they leave. I know this is a rough patch for the Villas as all the new construction must certainly be hurting their sales and rentals. All this on top of 2 hurricanes causing damage in the last 2 years. Still the way to recover is to shine and not be a “good enough” place. I don’t want to be all negative on the Villas. They have done some good improvements: repaving the parking lots, improved their Internet to were its very, very good and they have one of the best restaurants on the island (Driftwood Bistro). My family and I sincerely hope the Villas make it through this rough time and improve. It really is a great place overall to enjoy a stay at Jekyll with.

Update: I am adding a star because the Villas just announced they are started the rebuild on their boardwalk with the dune restoration work complete in their area. I think that they are moving forward with the rebuild is a very positive step. We will be back for a month this winter and I have high hopes for the Villas. We really love this place and hope they...

First, the positives: The resort is nestled in a truly beautiful area. The landscape is stunning, offering picturesque views that are perfect for relaxation and unwinding. The staff throughout the resort were warm and welcoming, making my stay pleasant and comfortable.

However, my overall experience took a downturn during checkout. The African woman at the desk was unfortunately quite rude and condescending. This was a stark contrast to the rest of the staff, who had been so hospitable and accommodating throughout my stay.

It's a shame that such a wonderful resort was let down by this encounter, as it left a sour note at the end of an otherwise fantastic visit. I hope the management addresses this issue to ensure that all guests receive the same level of excellent service from start to finish.

In summary, it's is a great destination for those looking to enjoy beautiful surroundings and accommodations. Just be prepared for a potentially less than pleasant checkout experience.

*OWNER RESPONSE: Thank you for taking the time out of your day to respond. I think the biggest "takeaway" from this is detailed below: Every employee matters in customer service because each one plays a crucial role in shaping the overall customer experience. Here are several reasons why:

First Impressions: Employees are often the first point of contact for customers. A positive interaction can set the tone for the entire customer relationship, while a negative one can drive customers away.

Consistent Service Quality: Every employee contributes to the consistency of service quality. Even if most interactions are positive, a few negative experiences can harm the overall perception of a company.

Team Synergy: Customer service is often a team effort. When every employee is committed to excellent service, they support each other, leading to a more efficient and effective team.

Customer Retention: Satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend the business to others. Every employee's effort in providing good service helps in retaining customers.

Problem Resolution: Problems and complaints are inevitable. Employees who handle these situations well can turn a potentially negative experience into a positive one, showcasing the company's dedication to customer satisfaction.

Brand Ambassadors: Employees are representatives of the company. Their interactions with customers reflect the brand's values and can significantly influence customer perceptions and loyalty.

Feedback and Improvement: Employees who interact with customers gather valuable feedback. Their insights can help the company improve its products, services, and overall customer experience.

Adaptability: Each employee's ability to adapt to different customer needs and situations ensures that the service provided is personalized and meets individual expectations.

Employee Satisfaction: A culture where every employee matters fosters a positive work environment. Satisfied employees are more likely to provide better customer service.

Company Reputation: Consistently good service from all employees builds a strong reputation, attracting more customers and potentially leading to business growth.

In summary, every employee's contribution is vital in creating a seamless, positive, and memorable customer experience that ultimately drives the success of...