Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is the resort of the Mobile area and the obvious choice when the trip is more about unwinding than sightseeing. Its name tells you the essentials: golf and a spa sit at the center of the experience, and it belongs to a collection of independent-minded hotels that keep their own character. It is at Point Clear on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, the stretch of waterfront towns across the water from the city, and it is the stay to pick if you want a bayside getaway with Fairhope close by and the Mobile sights an easy drive away.
A resort stay works differently from a city hotel. Instead of stepping out of the lobby onto a street of cafes, you arrange your days around the property itself: a round of golf, time in the spa, a long lunch and an evening walk. Resorts in this style typically offer several places to eat and drink, a pool or water-access area, tennis or other recreation and a staff set up for weddings and group getaways.
Exactly which of these are available changes with the season, so check what is open on your dates when you book, especially if a particular activity is the reason you are coming.
The location is a strength. Point Clear is a short drive from Fairhope, the bayside village of flower beds, boutiques and a quarter-mile pier that makes an easy half-day, and the Eastern Shore gives you the sunsets and slower pace that downtown Mobile cannot. From here you can still plan a day in Mobile itself for the USS Alabama, the Mobile Carnival Museum and the Bienville Bites food tours, or head south to Dauphin Island and Fort Gaines, or to the gardens at Bellingrath.
A car is essential, and you should allow time for the drive across the bay, particularly if you are booked on an evening tour downtown.
This is the most expensive kind of stay in the market, so think about value. Resort rates rise at weekends, in the spring and autumn shoulder seasons and around holidays, and there may be resort or parking fees on top of the room rate, so ask what is included. Midweek visits outside the busiest periods are often calmer and cheaper. If you are visiting for Mardi Gras, remember the parades are in the city across the bay, so decide whether you want to commute or stay downtown instead.
Who it suits
Couples marking an anniversary or a quiet weekend, golfers, spa visitors and families who want a resort feel while seeing the Gulf Coast. It is less suited to travelers on a tight budget or those who want to walk to a downtown restaurant after a long day. Ask about dining options, golf tee times, spa bookings, pet policies and cancellation terms, and check current amenities directly with the hotel when you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Autograph Collection resort hotel
- ✓Golf resort (check when you book)
- ✓Spa (check when you book)
- ✓Eastern Shore location at Point Clear
- ✓Close to Fairhope
- ✓On-site dining (check when you book)
- ✓Pool and recreation (check when you book)
- ✓Weddings and group events
Good questions
Where is the Grand Hotel?+
It is at Point Clear on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, a short drive from Fairhope and across the bay from downtown Mobile.
Do I need a car?+
Yes. The Eastern Shore is spread out, and you will drive to reach Fairhope, Mobile and Dauphin Island.
Is it a good base for Mobile sightseeing?+
It works for a mix of resort time and day trips, but if you want to walk to downtown tours and Mardi Gras events, stay in the city instead.
