Sand Dunes Resort...(Smith Rentals)

We have read several horrible reviews about Sand Dunes Resort and are now extremely nervous about our upcoming stay there. (July 24 - July 29) We booked a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo through Smith Rentals and were promised that it is clean and newly renovated unit. I am hoping that maybe by booking through another agency we will be lucky and it will be nice. These reviews have us very scared... Anyone with information on Smith Rentals or Sand Dunes, PLEASE share it, good or bad. Although we are passed the point of receiving a full refund it may be worth it for us to try and book elsewhere. Please help!!

Sand Dunes Resort...(Smith Rentals)

sorry...I just found the Sand Dunes topic...but still would appreciate info on Smith Rentals...Thanks!

Sand Dunes Resort...(Smith Rentals)

I just stayed at the Sand Dunes Resort last week (July 13th - 17th) in a one bedroom suite and it was very nice - clean and renovated. Here was the problem - I was booked at the suite, but did not get into it for 2 days.

When I checked in (late at night), I went to the room and it was just that - a standard room! I was told that they were oversold and I would not get my suite until Friday (2 days later) - even though I was paying for a suite! The front desk was not helpful at all that evening. Also, I had booked an oceanfront suite and ended up with an oceanview suite. I was just so frustrated at that point I stayed put.

Please note that if you check in at night, the staff there is clueless. I had to wait until the next day to talk to management about switching. I am now in the process of being refunded for those two nights (difference between a room and a suite). I was told I would be credited, but when I checked out, nothing had changed. They charged the whole stay to my credit card when I checked in, so I have a feeling it is going to be a nightmare to get it adjusted.

Also a note - the lines to check-in are long long long!!! Don%26#39;t buy groceries until you get into your room!

Towels - They do not provide enough towels for the guests. I had two adults and one child in my party - they provided two towels, one washcloth and one hand towel. I figured that this may be an issue, so I brought my own.

Cleaning - I read where this was an issue, but my room was cleaned every day without a problem. However, they never bothered to empty the trash and when they did, it sat in a bag outside of my room the whole day.

Pool - The oceanside pool is tiny and finding a chair requires that you get down there very very early. The waterpark did look very nice though! The lazy river is ok as well.

Beach - The beachfront is also very very limited at high tide. I spend a lot of time in Myrtle Beach (business and pleasure) and usually stay along 34th Avenue in a house...there is plenty of beachfront there - so it may have just been this stretch that was experiencing this.

Hotels that I have stayed at that are awesome for future reference - Embassy Suites Kingston Plantation and Hilton Resort on the beach. A little pricey but wonderful accomodations.

I have also rented a condo through Chicora Real Estate a couple of times. I stayed at Shipwatch Point across the street from the beach near the Sands Ocean Club Resort. Nice condo%26#39;s and a huge price break from the beachfront hotels and condos.

Another note for the future - do not stay in any of the hotels in South Myrtle around the Pavillion area. These hotels are very rundown and the strip area is seedy at best.

Overall, the one BR condo was worth $175 a night - but I will not stay here again because of the problems above. I spent entirely too much time at the front desk trying to get in the right room! People I talked to while standing in line had the same problems - having to constantly swtich rooms, no towels, etc...you may have better luck renting a privately owned unit since the hotel does not control that.

I travel for business weekly and have found if you stay with the national hotel chains - Hilton / Hyatt / Holiday Inn, that the service is much better. They want to keep your business.

I am returning to the Embassy Suites mentioned above in August. It is wonderful!

Let me know how it works out for you!

I would have Smith Rentals send you pictures of the exact unit your in. There horrible...........

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