Tybee Island Visitor Center — Local services in Tybee Island

I wish I could give it a negative number. My husband and I were in Savannah from Illinois to check out the area due to an upcoming job transfer.  Upon arrival we decided to drive over to Tybee to have a seafood lunch, get presents for the grandkids, tour the lighthouse, and talk to a few real estate agents. We saw the sign about city wide parking fees charged.  We also saw coin meters all lined up down the main street. When we got downtown to the restaurant we pulled up in front.  There were no meter so we assumed it was for the restaurant. We came out to a 35.00 fine so we walked down four parking spaces to find a small sign that said pay at the box for parking.  The box was then at least two more spaces down. We went down and checked out he machine.  Nothing was clearly marked so outsiders would know what the rules are. I told my husband lets just go to the courthouse and explain we were in town 2 minutes and hadn't even seen the machines yet only the meters when we first came in.  Instead of being reasonable and apologetic for the misleading signs she pulled out a picture of the sign coming into town and a picture of the meter boxes you pay 4.00 for 2 hrs at. Which lead me to believe this is a tourist trap.  To top it off I had to pay for parking at the city hall to pay the stupid fine.   She explained the boxes are spread out down the streets, about 6 per side. Like tourist are suppose to know to walk and hunt for a possible tourist trap.  I would have paid for parking had I understood what was going on.  Needless to say I paid the fine and we left the island.  I was prepared to purchase presents for my 6 grandkids and spend money on the island. We were going to look at properties.  We left without giving any business on the island another dime. I have written to the restaurant to let them know we enjoyed our meal but will never go back or recommend them and why.  "Don't go to Tybee they obviously stick it to the tourists that should be...

Be advised there are locals that definitely do not like anyone with out-of-state tags. My family and I were going to load our kayaks after a great day at Little Tybee Island. We pulled our boats onto the ramp at Alley Street when a local in a white Dodge truck pulled up and parked in front of the boat ramp. I asked him to pull up so we could load our boats, but he became belligerent, started cursing, and frightened my wife and son. He then backed his truck onto the ramp and parked it there. Obviously he wanted to make sure we were inconvenienced with his very childish behavior even though he was not loading or unloading anything at the boat ramp. Apparently he is one of the local thugs / bullies and he is used to getting away with intimidating visitors. We had to carry our kayaks around his truck to load into my truck. His parting words were "All of you people need to go back where you came from". The kayak rental folks were loading their kayaks onto their trailer pulled by a Jeep, and they started laughing. That must be the predominant attitude there, if you aren't renting a kayak and you are not a local you shouldn't use their public boat ramp. STAY AWAY FROM...

We were at Tybee a couple of weeks ago all I can say is have some strong eye glasses with you when you drive in. There is a sign that says something about no free public parking we never noticed it but after you get a 35.00 parking ticket everyone is quick to tell you "well there is a sign that says no free public parking on the way in'" and believe me everyone in the whole town has that plastered on their brain. After receiving a 35.00 parking ticket I told the man that gave it we didn't see any signs he said well we can't put signs all the way down the street, I told him no worry we would leave and never come back we had been there about 20 minutes. As we were leaving my 11 year old granddaughter said well I do see a sign it was behind a tree that we had parked in front of. We left went by city hall paid the fine and got the heck out of Dodge. Never to return and hopefully will convince our family and friends to do the same. Funny thing we were planning an all day trip with lunch and shopping. Wonder how much the town would have made, I can assure you more than 35.00....