Terms & Booking Conditions

About these terms

These terms govern your use of the website gulfshoresalcondo.com and your stay at The Shore Thing at Lani Kai (728 W. Beach Blvd, Unit 218, Gulf Shores, AL 36542). By making a booking or using this site you agree to these terms. The "we" / "us" referenced here is the individual owner-operator.

Booking and payment

• Reservations are made through our booking platform Hospitable (booking widget on this site or our listings on Vrbo / Airbnb).
• Direct bookings made through this site are processed via Stripe; we never see or store full card numbers.
• Quoted rates include the nightly rate plus a cleaning fee. Local lodging tax is added per Alabama and Baldwin County rates.
• A reservation is confirmed only when payment is captured and Hospitable issues a confirmation email.
• For monthly stays (30+ nights), payment terms may differ — contact us before booking to confirm.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation terms are shown during checkout before you confirm. Review the terms for your reservation rather than relying on a general seasonal summary.

We strongly recommend travel insurance — particularly for trips in the August–October hurricane window. Reservations cancelled because of a hurricane warning or evacuation order will be handled case-by-case with reasonable flexibility, but we are not obligated to refund outside the contractual cancellation terms.

Who can rent: age and group rules

• Primary booking adult must be 25 or older. We verify with photo ID at check-in. No exceptions, including for guests who "look older" or claim a parent waiver — the policy keeps the building quiet and is non-negotiable.
• Children of any age are welcome with a 25+ parent or guardian on the reservation.
• Bachelor / bachelorette parties, college groups, and any group whose primary purpose is partying — book elsewhere.
• Misrepresenting your age or group purpose is grounds for early termination without refund.

Maximum occupancy and house rules

• Maximum occupancy: 6 guests. Bed layout: queen bed in the main bedroom; full-size bottom bunk, twin top bunk, and sleeper sofa in the second bedroom. Over-occupancy strains the building's parking, pool space, and HVAC; we enforce this strictly.
• No pets, including emotional support animals. Lani Kai is a no-pet building. Service animals as defined by the ADA (trained to perform specific tasks) are accommodated per federal law; contact us in advance.
• No smoking inside the unit, on the balcony, or in any common area. Smoking inside results in a $500 cleaning fee charged to the deposit on file.
• No parties or large gatherings. The unit is sized for 6 guests; we don't allow non-registered visitors after 9 PM.
• Quiet hours: follow the current HOA instructions in your guest guide. Balcony noise carries; please be considerate of neighbors.
• One assigned parking spot per unit. Additional vehicles can park in public lots; not at the building.

For the full house guide, see our FAQ or the guest guidebook delivered before arrival.

Check-in and check-out

• Check-in: 3 PM on arrival day. We send a door code by email ~7 days before your stay.
• Check-out: 11 AM on departure day. Late checkout may be available if the unit isn't turning same-day; ask in advance.
• Early arrival before 3 PM or late departure after 11 AM is at our discretion and never guaranteed.
• Significant late checkouts (past 12 PM) without prior approval may result in a $100 late-checkout fee charged to the deposit on file.

Damages and security deposit

• We hold a damage deposit on file (amount disclosed during booking).
• Normal wear and tear is expected — broken dish, spilled wine on cleanable surface, etc. — and not charged.
• Damage beyond normal wear (broken furniture, stained mattress, smoke damage, broken electronics) is charged at repair / replacement cost.
• We notify you within 7 days of checkout if damage charges will apply, with photos and an itemized estimate.

Liability and risk

Guests use the condo, pools, beach, and surrounding facilities at their own risk. The Shore Thing is not responsible for injury, illness, or property loss occurring during your stay, except where caused by gross negligence on our part. By booking you acknowledge that:

• The Gulf has surf, rip currents, and marine life; respect the lifeguard flag system and posted warnings.
• The pools are not lifeguarded; children should be supervised.
• Personal property left in the unit is not insured by us; lock the unit when you leave.
• Tropical weather can change quickly; follow local emergency guidance.

Right to refuse or terminate

We reserve the right to refuse a booking, cancel a confirmed booking, or terminate a stay early if:

• Guest misrepresented age, group purpose, or occupancy
• House rules are materially violated (parties, smoking, pets)
• Damage to the unit is ongoing
• Behavior creates risk to other building residents or staff

Early termination by us for cause does not entitle the guest to a refund of nights not stayed. Where a stay is cut short by a hurricane evacuation order or other government-mandated closure, we'll work with the guest in good faith to find a reasonable resolution.

Use of this website

• The content on this site (photos, text) is owned by The Shore Thing and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission.
• Don't try to circumvent our booking flow (e.g., contact guests, scrape data, automated booking attempts).
• The site uses Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, and MailerLite — see the privacy policy for what data is collected.

Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Alabama. Any dispute arising from a booking or use of this site will be resolved first by good-faith communication directly with the owner, then by mediation if necessary, and only by litigation in Baldwin County, Alabama as a last resort. Most disputes we've encountered have been resolved by email within a day or two; we'd like to keep it that way.

Changes to these terms

We may update these terms occasionally — changes typically reflect changes to the rental itself or to Hospitable's platform behavior. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent material change. Substantive changes that affect a confirmed booking won't be applied retroactively to that booking.

Contact

Questions about these terms? Email us through the contact options listed on the about page. We answer ourselves.