<p>We’ve decided on the spur of the moment to visit DS who is doing a summer internship in Montgomery, and have thought of going to the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach during the holiday weekend. However, last minute accomodations are nearly impossible. What nearby towns can we consider in finding a hotel near Gulf Shores/Orange Beach? How far away is Mobile from this are?</p>
<p>i think it is about threeish hours, but i am not sure.</p>
<p>yahoo directions will tell you.</p>
<p>Mobile is about an hour. Try Fairhope, Foley, but I have no idea what accomodations they might have.</p>
<p>We were going to head down to Gulf Shores next week after we move D in for Summer II
Looked a few weeks ago and sold out!
A few open spots in Pensacola but too far for us to get back to Dallas.
Instead, we are heading to Gulfport, Mississippi. Plenty of very nice condos available for way less than Gulf Shores. We are staying at the Sienna.</p>
<p>Don’t know if this will work for you but it sounds really nice. We are planning on staying here for a couple of days when we go out in November. It is near Mobile.
[Gulf</a> Coast Hotels | Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa](<a href=“http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ptlal-grand-hotel-marriott-resort-golf-club-and-spa/]Gulf”>http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ptlal-grand-hotel-marriott-resort-golf-club-and-spa/)</p>
<p>bah! idk what i was thinking …</p>
<p>You might check here and see if they have any last minute reservations available…</p>
<p>[Gulf</a> Shores Alabama Vacation Rentals | Orange Beach Condos & Beach Houses | Meyer Vacation Rentals](<a href=“Gulf Shores Condo Rentals, Vacation Rentals, Beach Rentals | Vacasa”>http://www.meyerre.com/)</p>
<p>Go to Pensacola! It is beautiful! You will get the white sand and clear water.</p>
<p>While the Sienna is a very nice condo, Gulfport is not a nice beach. Water is not clear, and the sand is not white. Husband is from Biloxi, which is next door, and I know Gulfport well. No way would I choose Gulfport over Pensacola. If you’re doing an adults only trip after dropping your D off, you might enjoy the Biloxi casinos, of which there are more of than the Gulfport ones. And Biloxi is only 20 minutes or so from Gulfport. Wonderful food in Biloxi, too.</p>
<p>I’ve stayed at the Springhill Pensacola Beach, and it is a very nice hotel. And the condos on Santa Rosa Island are very nice, if you’re looking for a larger place for a family.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to Gulf Shores, as we go instead to Pensacola, but I believe it does have the nice sand and beach, more so than Mobile. But Mobile is a very nice town, and if you want to enjoy some good seafood and visit the Battleship after your trip to Montgomery, it would be a nice place to go. But Pensacola is only 90 minutes further and worth the drive.</p>
<p>The Grand Hotel referenced above in Point Clear Alabama is so nice. I’ve never been, but know many people who have. It’s great for golf. Lots of doctors have their conventions there. It’s pricey for us Southern folks, but some go for their honeymoon or special occasions and consider it a luxury.</p>
<p>I’d much rather be in PCB, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, etc than Gulfport. Just was not working. I was looking for the last several weeks and finally gave up on the Gulf Shores area (GS, Orange Beach, Ft Morgan, Perdido, Dauphin, etc) this past Sunday. Was able to find 1 condo available and that was checking every rental company down there, vrbo, home away, flipkey, etc. It was at Phoenix 6, 2b/2b and they wanted $500 per night. It was not an updated unit. For 4 nights I was not doing that nor was I going to drive further south to turn around and drive back to Dallas. Just want to sit down and unwind for a few days. Condo has a nice pool and plan on camping out there for 4 days. </p>
<p>We looked at the Marriott on Point Clear. Does not really have a beach. Very nice resort and said, it is pricey. Friends daughter is getting married there next year. Great golf in the area.</p>
<p>BTW, I am bummed we won’t be in the Gulf Shores area as Alabama will be in concert on the 5th at The Wharf. BOOOOOOOO! I wanted to go see them! </p>
<p>There were some hotels available that were not on the beach in the Gulf Shores area if that works. We will have D2 and friend in tow with us so we wanted on the beach and more than a hotel room.</p>
<p>Good restaurants in Gulfport. Blow Fly Inn. Port City Cafe, a mom and pop cafe not on the beach, but lots of SEC stuff on the wall, and great New Orleans style po boys and seafood. Snappers on the beach is also good and casual for the kids. Casino buffets are open to kids, if you want to take kids there, too. Treasure Bay has dungeness crabs every day. Palace Casino is smoke free, good buffet there. Hard Rock Cafe on the beach in Biloxi. Kids will like the rock memorabilia. </p>
<p>Gulfport is good choice if you want to just relax by the pool. Life just slows down there, and will definitely be an escape from the big city. An easy drive down the beach to Biloxi, if you can’t find a good restaurant in Gulfport. I do believe there is a casino in Gulfport now, though, maybe Island View? Area was wiped flat by Katrina, but things are coming back slowly but surely.</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>^^^ THANKS! I’m always looking for the local places to eat. We avoid chains like the plague! Was going to pull up tvfoodmaps.com as they have all the places that have been on Food Network shows like Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, Man vs Food, My Favorite Things, etc. </p>
<p>Doubt we will go to any of the casinos. I love to gamble but can’t afford to now with a kid going into college. Unless they can guarantee I can hit a jackpot 
</p>
<p>As long as the pool is good and I have a chair, I’m good! They have a sister resort as well that had pool service but the lady said for 2 15 year olds she would go to the Sienna. So, taking the Bama ice chest we bought during BB and can have my own personal cabana pool boy :)</p>
<p>I believe Blow Fly Inn was on Triple D. It’s on Back Bay and has a very nice view. Great food. I know it’s sacrilege to say this, but I think the seafood on the Gulf Coast is better than the food in New Orleans!</p>
<p>ruh roh! NoLo is a great foodie heaven. It has been 12 years since I last went thru the gulf coast area of MS and AL and it had some great seafood places then. I’m in a large suburb of Dallas and I already think Tuscaloosa has more really great local food options than what is within 20 miles of my house. Was also reading on another forum all the foodie places in Birmingham. Lordy, I may encourage D to attend part time so I have more time to investigate all of these places. Or get D2 to attend UA. Hey, UA golf, please recruit my D ;)</p>
<p>I can not believe that not a single place in Bham or T-Town has been on any of the Food Network shows. We need to get busy and start submitting some of these great places. Hm, on second thought, no. Then we could never get in them.</p>
<p>Looked up Blow Fly Inn on tvfoodmaps.com, it is a gold medal winner. It is on the list to go! Saw they have shrimp and grits. May have to go more than once. Will see if their shrimp and grits can beat out Five in Tuscaloosa. Five has the best shrimp and grits I have ever had! Including places in SC… </p>
<p>If you get thru Jackson, Ms try Burgers and Blues. We have not made it but a friend did and said it was one of the best burgers he has ever had.</p>
<p>In Gulf Shores, you stay in a condo, not a hotel.
There are plenty still available. Try [Gulf</a> Shores Alabama - Orange Beach - Alabama Gulf Coast Vacations](<a href=“http://www.gulfshores.com%5DGulf”>http://www.gulfshores.com) and go from there.
Compared t PCB, Pensacola etc., it’s very quiet, very family oriented.
Figure at least a three hour drive from Montgomery.</p>
<p>We are spending the night in Jackson on the way to campus in August. Will have to try Burgers and Blues. Not sure if it will beat Mugshots but will give it a try!</p>
<p>I did not realize that Mugshots was a franchise till I saw that there was one down in the Biloxi/Gulfport area. They are very good burgers! It has always been too early or too late for us when going thru Jackson. Or a day they are closed. Some day… There are about 3 places in Jackson that have been on Food Network. And not one single place in Tuscaloosa.</p>
<p>We stayed in the Hampton Inn in Orange Beach last summer after Bama Bound. I was roundly impressed with the property, the service, and the location.</p>
<p>If they are looking for anything for the week of the 4th of July, it is all sold out from Fort Morgan all the way to Perdido. I tried. Called every single rental company down there, even the hotels on the beach are sold out. Sent out 100’s of requests from vrbo, home away, and flipkey for places that showed they were available and got laughed at 
Even when calling most every single condo property down there direct all they heard was the week and said they did not even have to look I even told them any range of the dates from the 2nd - 9th and no go.<br>
Really wanted in that area as it is such a nice area and to support them. Also, to go see Alabama in concert on the 5th. Really bummed about missing that. </p>
<p>Note to self, plan ahead for next summer! Know move in dates now and book condo in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach pronto.</p>
<p>I agree, TXNCMom, I spent the better part of the day calling hotels and b&bs in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach and even Fairhope, Point Clear, and Pensacola Beach suggestions. None, whatsoever. I’m not surprised if these reservations for this prime weekend had been made a year ago. </p>
<p>We booked in Mobile and we’ll take the one hour drive just to experience the Gulf Coast. Thanks y’all for your input!</p>