Sleep Inn Gulf Front Resort

With attractive rates for a hotel directly on the beach, this property stays busy with budget-conscious travelers. It’s a limited-service hotel where guests tend to gravitate toward the beach and the surrounding area, but it does have a nice outdoor pool and sundeck overlooking the shore that's popular during warm weather. It’s only a few steps away from the lovely public beach, where chairs, umbrellas, and other gear are available for rent.

The hotel’s modest lobby is a pleasant space, with natural stone facing on the front desk and tropical plants in large planters. Framed, artistic photos of ferns enhance the green ambiance, as does a large wall that’s painted olive green and emblazoned with a pattern of white tree branches. The breakfast area features two-story windows that allow streams of natural light to illuminate the cozy sitting areas that include bench seats along walls and tan upholstered armchairs. All in all, the public spaces here are more attractive and cohesive than other budget hotels in the area.

The Sleep Inn is located on Orange Beach’s main thoroughfare, Perdido Beach Boulevard, and situated directly on the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Several restaurants are only a few minutes’ walk away, as are a pharmacy and multiple grocery stores including a Walmart. Several other hotels, resorts, and vacation condo complexes are nearby as well. Adventure Island amusement park is a two-minute drive, and Gulf State Park is seven minutes away by car. The amphitheater and many shops, restaurants, and cinemas at The Wharf in Orange Beach are 10 minutes away by car, and the stores at Tanger Outlet are a 22-minute drive. Pensacola International Airport is approximately a 55-minute drive, while the Mobile Regional Airport is about 90 minutes by car.

Though guest rooms have dark decor, they're brightened by a few stylish contemporary touches. Bed throws in a monochromatic leaf pattern complement framed black-and-white nature and beach photos. Beige, Berber-style carpets roughly matches the color of the bedspreads and upholstered armchairs. And off-white walls are paired with accent walls in olive green. However, the dark brown laminate wood furniture is budget quality. Some rooms feature lovely views of the ocean and small, narrow balconies. Suites have separate living rooms with sleeper sofas and granite-top wet bars with two stools. Standard amenities in all rooms include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Suites add a second TV and microwave. Tan acrylic vanities are placed outside of the small bathrooms that have walk-in shower inserts, beige tile floors, and olive painted walls. 

Though a majority of guests have reported rooms to be clean, others have complained of minor housekeeping and maintenance issues, including a lack of hot water, stained and worn carpets, nicked up furniture, and bathrooms that lacked a thorough cleaning. 

This budget, limited-service hotel provides a free continental breakfast that includes waffles and boiled eggs. It also offers free coffee all day in the lobby as well as free newspapers during the week. The outdoor pool is open seasonally and includes a nice sundeck with lots of lounge chairs. Views here are of the beach, which is only a few steps away via the hotel’s elevated boardwalk that also has a shower area. The beach is public and highly regarded, with lifeguards on duty and gear rentals in season. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the property, and a computer with Internet access is located in the lobby for guests' use. Plenty of free parking is available on site. Pets and smoking aren't allowed at the hotel.