Harris Vacations — Local services in Gulf Shores

My family of 16 just returned home from a week at 219 Dune Drive. Let me start by saying it was a Wonderful experience for all of us. The location was perfect as far as being away from the craziness of Gulf Shores. However, we did venture in the 20 mile trip two nights for dinner, and it was fun, but crowded. This house offered all the spacious room we could have wanted for (me a recent widow, 3 couples, and 9 grandchildren ranging from 23 to 2 years of age. Get your running shoes ready if you rent this house because there is no elevator, but it didn't seem to bother my family very much. The views were spectacular off of the three balconies. The little pool was perfect for my younger grands, who also enjoyed the hot tub and bigger community pool one evening. The house was clean and very comfortable. Just some food for thought: If you are planning on cooking dinners or bigger meals, you might think about bringing some of your own essentials. The cooking and bakeware are very limited, however, the dishes and glassware are ample. Plan on bringing extra paper towels, they officer 3 dishtowels, period for the kitchen. Bring dish soap, a scrubbie and dishcloths, laundry detergent, toilet paper and lots of kitchen sized trash bags, as you only get the first two to start. We had several incidents pop up, including a burnt out dryer (which was replaced brand new the same day). However, Harris Vacations were on the spot every time I reported something. They went out of their way to take care of everything. Also, the picture of this property is kind of deceptive. It looks like the beach is a short walk right out your back door. No, those are dunes, which are beautiful to look at, but against the law to walk over. So, you go out the back down a fairly long boardwalk (this house is the last one before hitting the beach path). Then a fairly long walk to get to a spot on the beach. They do have tents for rent (not cheap), but we all brought our own. We left them up all week so we didn't have to keep setting them up every day, which was easier on all of us. The property has 4 tubes (a riot on the waves) and several boogie boards. All in All my family loved this vacation and this house. i just want anyone interested in this property to be made aware of some of the things you might take for granted if you didn't know. We really wanted to give this property and Harris a 4.5, but I didn't know how to do a 1/2 star. Would we go back? In a heartbeat! I hope, if you choose this property, you and your people will have as great a week as we did!!! Linda...

After a 9 hour drive and us all having to use the restroom, we could not access the house with the key code given. When I called I was told that the house was not reserved for us. I had all emails/texts/payments and it still took 30 minutes of giving information to convince them I did reserve this house. They finally gave us the code to the lock box. We got in. The house smelled horrible like dog urine. The carpet was filthy.

I walked down the beach with my kids while my husband stayed at the house, and my husband walked outside to take a phone call and the door locked behind him. We had to call the maintenance guy again. We waited an hour in the dark on the porch for him to arrive (he was very nice) and let us in. The batteries to the lock were dead and the salt had impacted it so he said they would be back the next day to change it out. He agreed that the house stinks (like dirty dog) and he cleaned some of the carpet which he agreed, looked like dog poop. Some came out, but not all. There was also a hole in the bedroom door and multiple broken blinds and ice maker not working.

The location is fantastic, and we knew we were reserving a dated house but we did expect it to be clean!

The next day Harris offered to send someone to clean and shampoo the furniture but I spent the first 24 hours cleaning myself because I couldn’t stay there if I had not. I didn't want the furniture to be wet for days so they sent blankets to cover and 3 air fresheners. I purchased cleaning supplies myself and additional air fresheners and Fabreeze for the furniture. It did not take the smell away. When sitting on the living room furniture or beds it smelled like urine. It was pretty disgusting. If I had any other options, I would have not stayed. I hate that I spent thousands to feel gross being in the house and spending my vacation time cleaning. This is our 5th trip to Fort Morgan (and definitely not our last) and we have NEVER had issues like this. I don't feel that Harris did enough to make this right. It is really unacceptable. We have stayed with Reed Realty before and had no issues.

Pictures don’t show the smell but here are a few showing...

I am a STR owner who knows about this business as well as the management business. I am embarrassed for the owners of this house. And no management company can say sorry we r trying to make things better by your comments. Bull. A management company’s responsibility is to make sure these problems do not exist before a guest arrives. And to let the owner know that they need to do bla bla bla before a guest has to give a negative comment. If u would like info on my management company please let me know as this company could learn lots for them. Property was in an awesome area. But here r the problems that need to be noted and should have been fixed many many months ago. Not acceptable by any means! No excuses for this property.

Dryer does not turn off when door is opened. So be careful cause it keeps going around. Bad hazard. Also I opened the door because I kept hearing it. Then heard it again! Turning on by itself? I don’t know.

Right side of master sink TRICKLES water.

Don’t stub your toes on the flooring that is coming up. Ouch!

The frig on the right reaks when it’s opened. That little box of soda ain’t gonna fix it. And it doesn’t cool. Moved to frig on left and it’s still not the average cool.

Air con is old and most definitely isn’t big enough for the house. So b careful that it doesn’t go out on your trip cause it will. Condensation from it is not good.

Master bedroom is warm at night. Bring your own box fan. But on a good note we did have AC the whole trip in this property.

Parking is for 4 vehicles…..well all on top of each other. Or mayb Harris has access to a wrecker.

Bathroom light fixtures hasn’t been touched with windex in…….um I’ll let the property management answer that one.

Left front burner of stove doesn’t work.

Oh I also threw the dingy food caked on oven mits in the floor to be washed. Looks like they have been looked over SEVERAL times.

We came in MINUTES after cleaning crew walked out the door. Left us a nice big cockroach on the kitchen counter.

I do hope this review will b sent to the...