Best Western Premier The Tides

Great new stop at Orange Beach

Basically everything at the Tides is great. Previously, we had typically stayed at a regular Best Western or maybe once at a Plus property. The quality difference on a Premier location is evident immediately with this place. The property opened in June 2016, so everything has that "new" feel to it. The entire building has a contemporary beach chic style to it. The lobby is on the fourth floor, and joins a large dining/lounge/bar area with huge windows and an unobstructed view of the Gulf. This space serves multiple purposes, including a bar area, entrance to the spa and the dining area for their free and ample hot breakfasts each morning. My wife's only critique: no bacon. But I enjoyed the two varieties of sausage available. The pool area is definitely nice but not necessarily remarkable. It has an outdoor bar with pool and hot tub partially hidden under the building overhang. A little more separation from the bottom-floor parking lot would be nice, but still pleasant. The property has its own walkway directly onto the sand, which is a must for us. The fire pit along the side of the pool bar is a nice touch, and was a welcome stop after a chilly evening walk on the beach. Rooms mainly start on the fifth floor, which guarantees a great view - if you select the right room. Some are "beach view" which means somewhere along the side. There are only about 25 "beach front" rooms, which mean they directly face the water. Be sure to ask for them if that's what you prefer. All told, this is a great property, and we will probably stay again.

My only complaint is the same I always have: the pillows and mattress. The bed could easily be fixed with a small foam mattress topper. But the pillows are the typical hotel terrible. I eventually used 4 to get comfortable. Bring your own. Our bed's comforter also had a small stain on it, but this was minor.