Southern Belle Tybee Vacation Rentals — Hotel in Tybee Island

Update: They have contacted me to offer me $1200 to compensate me for my experience but only if I remove the reviews. No thanks, people need to know what to expect when renting with this company. not to mention, it's against FTC regulations to pay people to remove reviews.

I strongly advise against booking any property managed by Southern Belle. We chose our rental based on photos and mostly positive reviews, though in hindsight, we should have given more weight to a recent negative review. While the house itself had some positives, the main issue was the management team.

The house is in a good location but is not beachfront as advertised—it’s on the sound side of the island. The upstairs room was great, and the kids loved the loft, but there were several issues. One of the cabinets was hanging off its hinges, one of the beds had a strong odor, and the amount of filth and dead bugs inside the windows was disgusting. The lockbox mentioned in the check-in email was also in the wrong location, which caused confusion—an issue mentioned in multiple reviews.

Our reservation was for Thursday, the same day Hurricane Helene was predicted to hit the island. I contacted Southern Belle in advance to ask about our options, given the storm. They referred us to our travel insurance (which we hadn’t purchased) and told us the island wasn’t under a storm warning, so their cancellation policy stood. We accepted this and prepared to arrive while monitoring the storm’s path.

As the storm approached, I informed Southern Belle that we would likely arrive on Friday instead of Thursday to avoid traveling during the worst of it. They assured us that it would be fine, and the house would be ready.

On Friday, we learned that Tybee Island was without power, and the access road was closed due to flooding and debris. However, Southern Belle insisted the road was open, the house was accessible, and power would be restored soon.

When some members of our party arrived, they found a fallen tree blocking the driveway. I contacted Southern Belle again, and they suggested we park in any public lot, offering to reimburse us for meter charges. However, the closest parking was over a mile away—impractical, especially with five young children. Southern Belle also claimed they had put in a service request to remove the tree.

I then asked for alternative solutions, particularly since there was no power and the house was unsafe to access in an emergency. Their response was to offer us a two-night credit for future use, despite us having paid for three nights. This was unacceptable, especially since they had assured us that everything would be fine before our arrival. We wouldn’t have come if we had known the reality, but felt trapped due to their cancellation policy.

I repeatedly asked to speak with someone by phone, but they claimed their phones weren’t working—even though they were able to text and email. Clearly, someone could have called. Their communication remained inconsistent: first, they claimed the city was handling the tree removal, then they said it was the HOA. I’m not sure if a request was ever actually made. Eventually, we had to borrow a saw from a neighbor, and our husbands removed the tree themselves. Southern Belle’s only response was, “Thanks for letting us know,” with no acknowledgment or appreciation for saving them the cost of professional tree removal.

While I understand we arrived post-storm, we did so only because Southern Belle assured us that all was well. As a property management company, they should have inspected their properties after the storm to ensure there were no major issues. Instead, they provided inaccurate information and demonstrated a lack of care for their customers. Several locals even mentioned that Southern Belle is the most disliked property management company on the island, and after this experience, I...

I would never stay at this property or any Southern Belle rental again. The unit felt neglected and worn down. The elevator inspection expired November 2024 (See Photo). Pillows were horrifyingly stained deep yellow and filthy, clearly used for years without replacement. Some pillows worse than others, but none actually clean. The sheets barely covered the thin mattress topper, leaving the actual mattress exposed, which felt unhygienic. Rust covered appliances including the washer, dryer, lint trap, hair blow dryer, and inside of the teapot. Faucets leaked and water pressure varied. The fridge and backup mini fridge were both hotter inside than the house, making it unsafe to store food or medication. We had to throw out groceries after the first night and couldn’t even keep water cold in the Georgia heat. The backup fridge was clearly a band-aid solution, proving they knew the main fridge didn’t work. SB Group was notified, claimed only the mini fridge could be fixed, but it wasn’t fixed and the temperature inside was still hotter than the room. They did nothing else to help or accommodate. Guests below had a barking dog at night. While location is prime, loud music with deep bass vibrated the house until 3 a.m. Even high-grade earplugs we use for lawn mowers couldn’t block it. The front door jammed on day one, trapping us inside except for the elevator. Mel from SBelle said it wasn’t our fault and we wouldn’t be charged for a locksmith, admitting this issue actually happens often. I had to repeatedly ask management to fix it and receive updates, which was alarming since it was the only emergency exit as elevators cannot be used in the event of a fire or power outage, which Mel said has happened during storms at this property. After our stay, we were charged without prior notice leaving no room for discussion or clarification. The email lacked key details, and when I asked for clarification, their reply ignored my points/concerns. Communication was inconvenient from SBelle as you receive messages from two different phone numbers. Every time they emailed me saying they included a relevant attachment or pertinent information, it actually wasn’t in the email which means their team is not double checking. When I asked clarifying questions about check in process over text, they would reply with jargon that didn’t actually answer my question completely overlooking and ignoring it until I had to point out they didn’t answer my question directly and that I wanted a real response. We stayed at 17...

Stayed at 4a 9th 17th place Had issues from the beginning Tv didn't work, they sent a tech from xfinity to work on it, he said it wasn't the right equipment for the unit. Blake from southern bell came out with a chip on his shoulder, acting like it was something we had done. Jesse from xfinity got it working. Also let southern bell know about the dishwasher falling out of the cabinet when opened and the microwave having rust inside of it. Fast forward to Tuesday when the tv and internet stopped working Called in and talked to Patrick let him know about the tv, also reminded him of the dishwasher and microwave problems. They sent paul out to fix the dishwasher, looked at the microwave and said the box was bad for tv. He took the box and said someone would be here next day to replace the microwave and fix the tv. Called back to southern bell around 2 pm to find out why no one showed or called. Talked to Georgia, she stated that owners had to approve microwave replacement and paul didn't know that, and they had to send someone to pick up the xfinity box. An hour later got a call saying Teresa was headed to Wal-Mart to pick up a counter top microwave and would be here shortly. Blake showed up to fix tv, it was registered to wrong address and xfinity tech would be by next day to fix. Almost 5 pm we turned on tv for first time and guess what? Not working Called and spoke to Patrick, he knew mothing of the troubles from the previous day. Sending tech by to fix today. Is this office staffed by a bunch of flunkies? Would not recommend staying at this unit. Bathtub drains slow so you get soak your feet as you bathe. Floor tiles are uneven so don't drag your feet or you will stub your toe. Refrigerator door hung on the wrong side for the kitchen layout, and make sure yoy hang onto the door, it is so unlevel it will hit you as it...