Only oceanfront hotel on Tybee Island. Direct beach access with oceanfront pool sundeck and game room. Free continental breakfast and WIFI. Voted best place to stay 7 years in a row. Beautifully re-modeled rooms and a heated and cooled pool depending on the weather.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Quiet
Languages Spoken
English
Location
212 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, GA 31328
DeSoto Beach Hotel
1,836 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The DeSoto Beach Hotel boasts a prime beachfront location that guests love, offering stunning ocean views and easy access to the sand. However, some visitors have expressed concerns about the hotel's amenities and general cleanliness, suggesting that both the rooms and external areas could benefit from more thorough maintenance.
While the staff's friendliness is often commended, inconsistencies in service quality have been noted. Additionally, despite the appeal of the views and the central location, numerous travelers question the hotel's value, citing outdated rooms and amenities.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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We had a king oceanfront room. Balcony was spacious on third floor with a great view of the beach. The room was a nice size for 3 people clean and comfortable. The hallways could be updated. The staff was great. Continental breakfast was OK. The pool was nice and beach access was easy with a private walkway. There is also a covered area with tables and chairs. The location is perfect on Mid Beach where you can easily walk to North Beach, South Beach and returants. The only issue was we couldn't get our room cleaned even though we asked for it to be cleaned and housekeeping was milling around the hallway. Would stay again and recommend
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do NOT pay extra for an oceanfront room like I did. Yes, when we look out our balcony we are looking straight at the ocean BUT when I asked the girl behind the front desk, she told me oceanfront is no more than 15 feet from the beach. They do have rooms that meet this requirement. One room was available and when I asked to change rooms, I was told my prepaid reservation would need to be cancelled to book the oceanfront room. That would incur a cancellation penalty. As far as I'm concerned, my room is not oceanfront. I intend to speak with the manager. The other problem is there is a loud nouse coming from I believe the room below us. We're in #302. It stops and starts. Not good for light sleepers. Their continental breakfast was good: variety of pastries and bagels, apples, cereal, and sausage biscuits you could warm up. Free parking is a plus but is very tight.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Don't pay extra for an oceanfront room as you may not get what you paid for.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Micheal Heckathorn, General Manager at DeSoto Beach Hotel
Responded Nov 23, 2024
Thank you for you review, you did pay for an upgrade to an ocean view room in which you recieved you did not pay the upgrade to an ocean front room however ocean front rooms are at the end of the building and much more expensive.
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Beautiful view right on the beach. Checkin took 20 minutes because there weren’t enough staff and their systems were slow and cumbersome. And desk person stopped in the middle of a checkin to deal with a customer who was not in line. A lot of loose hardware ie. The elevator key was taped on, other loose inside door locks etc. Shower was not hot enough. Slider glass on balcony needed cleaning. Breakfast needs options that are not high in sugar.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Micheal Heckathorn, General Manager at DeSoto Beach Hotel
Responded Jan 9, 2024
Thank you for the feedback
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Clock radio was disgusting, someone unplugged it. The plugin above night stand was filthy, toilet and tub had pubic hair, not cleaned, I rinsed the tub out so I could use it. Very dirty, unbelievable, couldn't even use the coffee pot as seen in the photos. I wiped everything down with alcohol but could not clean the coffee pot. the linens were very clean so we were able to sleep well and were able to walk on the beach to a restaurant with outdoor seating for a nice view of the ocean.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Micheal Heckathorn, General Manager at DeSoto Beach Hotel
Responded Jun 22, 2024
We are so sorry you had these items, we wish you would have let us know so that housekeeping could come in and take care of it for you. Thank You
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We were so excited to see Tybee Island and loved the idea of the beach. So, when we booked our stay at the DeSoto Hotel we had high hopes for a great trip. While we had a decent (perpendicular) view of the beach, we had a better view of the parking lot below. The room was the worst I’ve ever had (anywhere in the world), with the 2nd worst being in Vegas (where the carpet s moved when the lights went out). We were greeted by the smell of mildew and a broken light switch, before wondering if we’d made a mistake. Luggage stayed on top of the bureau and writing table, because the cupboard and drawers were too filthy to add our things. The bathroom was beyond disgusting, and after we nearly fell into the toilet three times, due to the loose seat, we realized we were slipping into someone else’s filth. On further inspection, it was clear that this toilet had not been cleaned before our arrival. Nor had the shower or floors. One of us dropped a harpin and reached down to grab it and got a handful of someone else’s hair! The only thing that was clean were the sheets on the comfortable beds. We called the front office for help with a plugged drain in the shower and asked for a clean shower curtain. We got someone to our room on the double to fix the clog but got the drain cover replaced and no shower curtain. Breakfast wasn’t great and the shower was clogged on the morning we checked out, so my sister drove back to North Carolina without a shower, and I went to the airport to find something healthy. Overall, my hope is that this was a one-off occurrence, but since the cleaning personnel are men, it makes me wonder if others have the same experience. I left a list of things that need tended to in our room, so the next guest doesn’t have the same experience, and when I was asked if we enjoyed our stay, I simply said we were grateful for the comfortable beds.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Micheal Heckathorn, General Manager at DeSoto Beach Hotel
Responded Oct 26, 2023
Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention, We take this matter seriously, and will be investigating further.
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Came with my Girl Scout troop and rented 3 rooms. According to the website we should get one free parking spot per room. Arrived on a Thursday night and there was one spot left. Spots are extremely tight if you can get one. Front desk said there should be a spot left since they weren’t full vacancy. Well, there wasn’t, so we had to park on the street and get up the next morning before 8am to move it or pay the meter.
Next morning there still wasn’t parking and when we spoke to the woman at the desk, she was rude and acted like it wasn’t her problem. Eventually she told us to park across the street for a short time in employee parking.
Rooms were ok, but outdated and cleaners were inconsistent. One day the new towels were just thrown on the bed; in another room they never even made the beds; in another room they took the pillowcase off a pillow we brought, which you could easily tell because it wasn’t a white pillowcase. The inside of the freezers were disgusting- looked like drinks had spilled and frozen and there was a sheet of dirty ice. This was in 2 of the 3 rooms.
One of the rooms TV wasn’t working on arrival but was fixed. Another room had terrible water pressure and drainage in the tub. There was no where to hang wet bathing suits which is strange being on the beach. Garbage truck came around 5am and woke everyone up. The bins are right below the building, so there is no avoiding it.
Pool closed 9pm sharp, and the worker made sure you were out so he could lock it up. The pool table and foosball table advertised took quarters, so they weren’t free.
Breakfast was inconsistent and didn’t offer many options. First morning they had plain bagels with NO cream cheese. Some pastries and one or two orange. Mini sausage sandwiches that were too spicy for the kids. The second day there was a much nicer woman tending to the breakfast area and she refills bagels, cream cheese, oatmeal, yogurts. However, only one type of bagel- cinnamon raisin- which also did not go over well with the kids.
We picked this place for its proximity to the beach, which really was the best feature. I would not recommend it due to the parking, lack of breakfast options, and inconsistent housekeeping. Better off renting a home or apartment when visiting.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We didn’t see room cleaning service until the fourth day we were there, and then I had to go to the front desk and ask them to send someone! We had to get fresh towels when and if we saw the cart in the hallway. We were very disappointed with the service we received with our stay. The service person that opened the room made certain that they left an envelope for us to leave them a tip and wrote on it to bring it to the front desk. What? And not seeing anyone for four days, that’s guts! If you don’t have enough staff to cover what needs to be done on a daily basis you should adjust your pricing and explain to your customers accordingly! Sorry but I will not stay at the Desoto Beach hotel again, I will find a place that respects its customers.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Micheal Heckathorn, General Manager at DeSoto Beach Hotel
Responded Jun 15, 2023
We are sorry to hear that you did not receive satisfactory service during your stay. Housekeeping will not provide service if there is a Do Not Disturb on the door, and will not make the bed if personal belongings are on it.
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The place had great reviews and the staff was very helpful when called and booked 2 rooms on August 21, 2023 with a requested $400.00 plus deposit fr Wednesday, August 30th. On August 27th (72 hours in advance) we called and were assured if a state of emergency was declared due to Hurricane Idalia we would receive a refund inside the hotels 72 hour normal cancellation policy. We ere concerned as the Hurricane had yet to pass Florida and its path unclear. Best to know our options. We called and cancelled on August 29th as a state of emergency was indeed declared in Georgia, we were again assured our deposit would be refunded. Called today, Sept 14th as a refund was not processed. We are now told by management we would not receive a refund "as the hotel was not required to evacuate." ???? It is simply unacceptable and unconscionable to believe they would renege on their word due to the circumstances - Hurricane equals danger-- We also explained on all three contact occasions we had a 5 hour drive with kids and an elderly couple. Regardless, who would expect anyone to wantonly travel during a state of emergency in the path of a Hurricane because you weren't asked to evacuate?? State of emergency means to STAY IN PLACE, does it not? We have opened a dispute via our CC to resolve.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Friendly staff while booking.
Unfortunate bad experience when forced to cancel during a state of...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Micheal Heckathorn, General Manager at DeSoto Beach Hotel
Responded Sep 15, 2023
I do apologize for you inconvenices, however if you would have stayed on the line yesterday to actaully speak to a manager you would have been advised that we issued the refund. Thank You, again we do apologize for the misunderstanding.
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When we arrived they were cleaning the room and “someone broke the rules and smoked a cigarette in there”. I should’ve requested another room right away but they said they got the smell out. Well I realized the room was next to an outside receptacle for putting out cigarettes later. The room smelled of cheap deodorizer. We were hoping it would clear out but later the smoke smell was back along with the cheap deodorizer smell. The room was old and worn down looking and the carpet felt sort of damp. The beds were comfortable at least but it was difficult to sleep with that smell and the noisy air conditioner. They had a decent continental breakfast with what looked like pastries and yogurt but we did not partake as we were ready to get out of there.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Micheal Heckathorn, General Manager at DeSoto Beach Hotel
Responded Apr 11, 2024
We are so sorry to hear that you experienced an odor. Our desk is open 24/7, and would have been happy to relocate you to another room.
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This hotel is centrally located on tybee island, and the location right on the beach can't be beat. It was just a few steps from our room to the beach. The room was spacious and clean. The staff was pleasant. Hope to stay again when we are in the area.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Tybee Island area.
PRICE RANGE
$116 - $220 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
desoto beach tybee island, desoto beach hotel, hotel desoto beach
LOCATION
United StatesGeorgiaGeorgia CoastTybee Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
37
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.