For more than 20 years, Orange Beach was easy for us—we stayed with family. But now that my in-laws have sold their home and land, we’ve become vacation-rental hunters.
We’re very much an experience-over-resort family.
We typically choose Airbnb or vacation homes over high-density resorts. So naturally, this trip we did the exact opposite.
We stayed at a high-density resort.
And it was worth it.
Where We Stayed: Caribe Resort
For this trip, we stayed at Caribe Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama, in Unit B-105.
See Caribe Resort B-105 on VRBO
And here’s my biggest piece of advice:
Don’t judge this one by its cover.
The photos of our particular unit weren’t what initially sold us.
The reviews, the personable host, the location and the overall resort amenities were.
And once we arrived, we understood why.
This isn’t necessarily a place I would choose because I want to spend the entire vacation inside the condo.
It’s a place you choose for convenience, amenities and a little R&R between adventures.
And for our family, that worked surprisingly well.
The Balcony Became Our Favorite Room
Our boys are early risers, which meant we had plenty of mornings to sit outside before the day really got moving.
Hundreds of boats would cruise by as people headed out for fishing and boating adventures.
In the evenings, we slowed down again. We ate meals with the bay as our backdrop, watched the golden sun transform the sky orange and pink, and let the day finally become quiet.
Those balcony moments were sacred. They were the moments when we weren’t trying to do anything.
We were just there.
Why Caribe Worked So Well for Our Family
First-Floor Convenience
Our first-floor unit was one of the best decisions we made.
- No waiting for elevators.
- No hauling bags, beach gear and tired children through obstacles.
- Just walk out the door and go.
For families traveling with young children or grandparents, I think this is a feature worth prioritizing.
An Accessibility-Friendly Layout
As someone who thinks about accessibility in nearly every space we visit, I paid attention to how easy the resort was to navigate.
Our unit had a zero-step, zero-threshold entrance and spacious gathering areas, which made coming and going simple.
We also noticed several wheelchair users enjoying the resort with their families during our stay.
Our particular unit did not have grab bars in the bathrooms, so I wouldn’t describe it as a fully accessible vacation rental. But the layout has potential, and properly installed grab bars could make the bathrooms more supportive for guests who need them.
For a multigenerational family, the combination of a first-floor unit, spacious rooms and easy access to the resort grounds was a big win.
And surprisingly? It was quiet.
Even with all of the amenities and activity, our unit felt peaceful when we wanted it to.
The Amenities at Caribe Resort
This is where I had to admit that maybe there is something to staying at a resort with a lot of amenities.
There are multiple pools, including the center pool with three slides, which quickly became our boys’ favorite. There’s also an upper pool area with a shallow lazy river and connecting pools, plus another smaller pool with a slide.
Indoor pools give you another option when the Gulf Coast heat becomes too much, and there’s a fitness center for those who want to keep moving.
The resort also has boat docks and marina access, making it easy to turn a stay into a water adventure without driving all over Orange Beach.
There’s even a trolley that makes getting around easier, although we did not use it enough to give an honest review of the transportation.
And just nearby is Cobalt, The Restaurant, which we’ve enjoyed on previous trips. The waterfront setting and food make it a great option when you want a break from cooking.
Why We Loved the Location
For us, the location was hard to beat.
Caribe is tucked away from some of the busiest traffic around Beach Boulevard, while still putting you close to the things we want to do.
You could realistically spend much of your vacation without driving far.
- Fish
- Swim
- Rent a boat or kayak
- Eat
- Watch the sunset
- Walk
- Repeat
The area around Perdido Pass is also great for walking and running, and the bridge gives you another perspective of the water.
And if you want the Gulf, the beach is close enough to walk. From Building B, it’s roughly a quarter of a mile under the bridge to the beach, with a longer boardwalk providing another route to Gulf access.
For travelers flying in, Pensacola International Airport is roughly 50 minutes away, depending on traffic.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Orange Beach?
If you’re considering a stay at a high-density resort or condo, I’d seriously consider the shoulder seasons and off-season.
We’ve visited Lower Alabama at different times throughout the years, and there’s something to be said for visiting when the crowds thin out.
Our most recent trip was in mid-August.
Yes, it was hot.
Very hot.
But the lower crowds made a huge difference.
And when you’re traveling with kids, there are plenty of ways to cool down without spending every minute on the beach.
- Pools.
- Lazy rivers.
- Boat rides.
- Indoor pools.
- Frozen treats.
- Early morning adventures.
- Evening outings.
You can still experience the Gulf Coast in the summer without feeling like your entire vacation has to revolve around the beach.
Would We Stay at Caribe Resort Again?
Yes—but with the right expectations.
If we’re traveling with the boys, grandparents or another multigenerational group, the combination of space, pools, marina access, first-floor convenience and location makes Caribe a really appealing option.
Would I choose it over a large vacation home for every trip? Probably not.
I still love having a little more privacy, space and that feeling of everyone gathering under one roof. But for a trip where we want amenities without having to drive everywhere, Caribe checked a lot of boxes for our family.
And our favorite part? We didn’t have to choose between adventure and rest. We could have both.
That’s exactly what we want from a vacation.
Looking for what to do once you’re there?
We’ve spent more than 20 years exploring Lower Alabama, and we’ve collected quite a list—from glow-in-the-dark kayaking and alligator encounters to boat rides, day trips, local restaurants and a few of the touristy things we’re absolutely not above doing.
Next up:
→ Best Things to Do in Orange Beach & Lower Alabama: Our Family Favorites
