The Tides Inn

We have been to The Tides Inn many times, but this time was by far the best! There were 8 of us traveling together on 3 different boats, so we had use of the marina as well as the resort amenities. My husband and I actually booked a guestroom for 2 nights, but the others stayed on their boats. From the welcome we received when docking, to the excellent food and service at Salt and Meadow, every single thing exceeded expectations! Thomas, the dining room manager, was amazing, and made our whole experience more fun! Sam, our server, who reported being fairly new, was wonderful as well. Joey, out by the pool could not have been more attentive! Constantly bringing fresh ice for our drinks, etc, without being asked. Pete was amazing behind the bar at Fish Hawk, too. And, we had told the concierge, (Nancy, I believe) had called us ahead of our stay to see if there was anything she could help with. When we told her that we thought it would be fun on our second night to order in Chinese Food and enjoy it in the Tide's Inn Library, she said she would make note of it, and had dishes, silverware and serving pieces all set up for us! All in all....couldn't have been better!

Great facilities, friendly staff, good food. We have stayed at the Tides Marina several times and have always enjoyed it.

We made an Easter reservation for family from out of state two months in advance because we heard how busy they would be. Our reservation was just after church and there were only three other tables of guests... employees were asking their manager if they could leave right in front of us. The server we had tried her best... just not trained in fine dining. Drinks were slow... Stone Crab Claws were still frozen... plates were sloppy... The only saving grace was one manager who knew the atmosphere was not good and was trying her best. We paid a huge bill and left. There was so much wrong we just left. It was clear the employees did not want to be there. Thats enough.

This resort is a joke. A motel off the side of the highway has better customer service than this place that tries so hard to be something they are not. Spa is horrendous with no amenities (not even drinks or snacks), food is not bad but not great, customer service is laughable, and management doesn’t care at all. Why did it take 2 weeks to respond to an online inquiry I had about making a dinner reservation? This is not a nice southern hospitality kind of place at all. I don’t even understand the point. It has SO much potential it’s actually sad how bad it is!

DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT CLOSELY CHECKING YOUR BILL! For a two-night stay there was an overcharge of over $260. I had made the reservation by phone, and was given a final, total price, including resort fees and taxes. I got an email confirming that amount, and I confirmed it again and was shown a screen indicating it, when I checked in. But at check out, it was as if none of that had happened. The clerk insisted that the price I was told did not include resort fees. That was clearly untrue. Round and round we went. It finally took my comments to their post-visit email asking "How was your stay", before it was finally made right. But even then they never admitted any wrong, just said that they gave me the refund as a gesture of good will. Otherwise, it was a fine place to stay, with a very good restaurant.

There’s no denying the Tides Inn is a beautiful place. The property itself is postcard-perfect, with sweeping waterfront views and impeccably creative landscaping that turns every corner into something worth pausing for. The grounds are a masterclass in design—lush, inviting, and full of thoughtful details that make wandering a pleasure in itself. The staff deserves real credit too. From the front desk to the marina, everyone we encountered was friendly, responsive, and genuinely eager to help. There’s a warmth and attentiveness here that gives the place a heart beyond its physical beauty. The restaurant? A standout. Every meal was beautifully prepared and delivered with care. It wasn’t just good—it was memorable. The kind of dining that makes you linger longer than you planned, and still think about it days later. But—and it’s a big but—the rooms don’t hold up. We received a free upgrade, which we appreciated, but for a property charging what amounts to half of a month’s rent per night, our accommodations felt tired. Cracked tiles, leaky shower, mildewed carpet and bathroom, doors that won’t close, and housekeeping that skipped us entirely—no bed made, no refresh—a letdown that undercut the luxury experience they’re aiming for. We really did enjoy our time here. The setting is stunning, the people are lovely, and the amenities are top-notch. But when it comes down to value, the numbers don’t add up. It’s hard to justify the price when the basics—like room upkeep—aren’t up to standard. As much as we wanted to love it unreservedly, we probably won’t be back.