Our stay at 'The Southern Secret' was deeply disappointing, especially considering the cost. Upon arrival, the pool was overcrowded, far exceeding the stated capacity of 10 guests per unit. The noise from other guests persisted until 3 AM, disrupting our sleep. When we finally accessed the pool, we found it unhygienic and poorly maintained, including a dead mouse and other garbage in the filter. The backyard was full of garbage and just not properly maintained at all. The deck stairs were hazardous, with exposed nails and deteriorated boards posing a safety risk, particularly for our children. On the second day, the pool remained overcrowded. Management acknowledged the unacceptable conditions and apologized. My husband had to clean up the backyard area himself, such as weeding and killing ants and sweeping to make the area usable. Additionally, we had to repair the dishwasher, unclog a toilet we hadn't used, and run the dryer three times per load. Overall, the condition of 'The Southern Secret' was far below our expectations for a Gulf Shores rental, and we will not be returning. Would have been nice to have been offered to stay at another one of there places or even a partial refund. Insane what we went through.