This was our first time to Perdido Key and the Lost Key Resort. Overall, we had a pleasant stay at the Blue Heron. The home is spacious with ample room for a large family or group. The home is appropriately appointed for a rental property. (We could’ve used an ice cream scooper though!) We did not find the beds to be comfortable and the set of bunk beds were too wobbly to feel safe. The washer and dryer worked well and we were happy it wasn’t a front loader!
The reason we deducted 1 star was due to the beach “resort”. Our vacation began by waiting in a queue for 30 minutes at the guard shack to register our vehicle and get a parking tag. We arrived at about 5pm on a Saturday with many other travelers. This information could VERY easily be provided ahead of time and a tag mailed or left at the unit for renters.
Second, while the description is accurate that it is about 1 mile from the house to the actual beach, it is not mentioned that you have to cross a very busy highway without a crosswalk. There is a crosswalk down by the public beach access but not in front of the actual club. 2 of our party almost got hit by a car riding a bike across the cross path! If you’re used to Seaside, this traffic did not stop!
While there is a shuttle, it is very hard to actually utilize. When we would call to request the car, we were told it would be 20-30 minutes each time, even at times when the busyness slowed. Since there isn’t parking at the beach club for guests, this was annoying. It is much too far to tote children, gear, etc: so we ended up driving, dropping off, and someone would ride a bike back.
Lastly, we felt the beach club not to be worth the extra premiums paid for this rental. The pool by the beach (where the bar is located) is TINY and seats fill up very quickly. The larger pool is nice but also fills up quickly. It’s worth noting that you are not allowed to hold a drink in the water or even have it on the edge. Security guards walked around many times and made people remove them. It kind of killed the vacation vibe.
The bar and restaurant are currently not open M-W (which was told to us a week before check-in via email). However, the drinks were good and the food average. If you want a beach chair, go EARLY as they fill up fast. However, be prepared to leave by 5pm because they remove the chairs at 5:30pm!
All in all the house and owner are very nice and accommodating but the club needs some operating improvement.