A personal review of Mermaid Cottages, Tybee Island vacation rentals.

I love an old beach house. White-washed walls, linen sheets, beadboard walls, screened doors—they have a certain patina and you know they are filled with stories and memories. They’ve got real charm and character.

I’m from St. Simons Island, Georgia so spending time at the beach was a big part of my childhood. I often return to my favorite beaches on the Georgia coast to take a trip down memory lane.

After a beautiful week in Savannah, I met some old friends on Tybee Island for a girls’ beach trip to kick off summer. Tybee Island is a short drive from Savannah and a popular day trip for folks visiting the area. As a beach lover, I knew I needed a few days on the salty coast and turned to Mermaid Cottages, a unique Tybee Island vacation rental company featuring historic beach houses around the island. I'm excited to share our experience and what I think makes their beach houses absolutely perfect.

A great beach house is all about location. 

The perfect beach house is comfy, cozy, and just a short walk from the beach.

I learned about Mermaid Cottages years ago and have admired that they have historic beach houses around Tybee Island. All of the Mermaid Cottages are unique and have their own flare making them so much more charming than the newer McMansions on St. Simons Island and Sea Island.

We stayed in Sea Salt Cottage off 10th Street. Our trip was short and we knew we wanted to be within walking distance from the beach so it was perfect for us. Built in 1954, this classic beach house had plenty of room for 6 people, comfy beds, a full kitchen, 2 decks, and a short walk to the beach.

This trip wasn't about seeing the sights and doing the most. We were on a mission to relax and catch up with old friends.

Each day we packed up snacks, slathered on sunscreen, and load up all our gear in a buggy (in my case a stroller), and hoofed it over the dunes for a blissful afternoon at the water's edge.

If you are looking to explore Tybee Island there are lots of fun things to do.

• Visit the historic Tybee Light Station and Museum

• Eat ice cream at the classic Sugar Shack

• Explore the Tybee Beach Pavilion and Pier

Mermaid cottages at Tybee Island are comfortable

The best beach houses are relaxed and lived in. So many personal touches made this beach bungalow feel so loved and cozy.

• Little library of beach reads - In the hallway across from the primary bedroom is a wall nook full of books. What a brilliant use of space and a thoughtful bonus for bookworms on a beach vacation. Since we were traveling with toddlers, we didn't get a chance to check out any of the books but thought this was an excellent bonus for visitors looking to read and unwind.

• Unique art - There was art throughout the house. The pieces were colorful, and beachy, and made the house feel like home.

• Open kitchen - The renovation of this house was really thoughtful because the main living room and kitchen were open and airy. The big kitchen island made it easy to make food and cocktails. The open floor plan was great for us too because the kiddos had space to play on their own and the grownups could hang out.

• Beach shower and laundry room - The basement of the cottage came equipped with a great laundry room and a huge shower. This was so helpful in keeping sand out of the main floor.

• Outside space - There are two decks at Sea Salt Cottage - one screened-in porch and one sunny deck. This was a huge plus and really extended the living space for our group. I'd highly recommend taking your coffee on the porch in the morning and enjoying happy hour on the deck after a day out exploring.

Other Mermaid Cottage AMENITIES to enjoy

• All of the beach houses are unique! Explore the different historic beach cottages and pick the one that’s right for you and your group.

• Contactless check-in process

• Free wifi

• Free parking

• Dedicated concierges dubbed “local Mermaids” are available if you have questions via text message

• Check your email before your arrival! The Mermaids send out lots of helpful information and Tybee Island events happening during your stay.

• Lots of pet-friendly cottages

Things to know before you go to a Mermaid Cottage at Tybee Island

• Most houses do not provide beach towels or chairs. BYO or rent them from a local vendor

Where is Tybee beach? There are several public beach access points on Tybee Island:

• North Beach - Beachfront parking lot across from the Tybee Lighthouse

• South Beach - Most popular beach on Tybee across from the Tybee Pier & Pavillion. Large public parking lot open 8 am-8pm.

• Midbeach - less crowded, most used by vacation homes. There's no parking lot so you have to use street parking.

It's important to note that there's no free parking for the beaches on Tybee Island. Most places are $2 per hour. Even more reason to find a Tybee vacation rental house to rent within walking distance from the beach!

Tybee Beach Rules to be aware of

• No glass or kegs on the beach

• No pets (exception for service dogs)

• No camping or fires

• No fireworks

• Stay off of the dunes

• No littering

• No nudity

• Do not walk or swim to the sand bar on the South End of island

• Swim within 50 yards of the beach

• No motorized vehicles on the beach

Ready to plan your trip to Tybee Island?

Here are a few of my favorite Mermaid Cottages to check out! Please tell them Em’s on the Road sent you :)

Sea Salt Cottage - c. 1954 Sleeps 6, steps to the beach, no pets allowed

A Shore Thing - c. 1949 Sleeps 6, big screened in porch, 2 blocks from popular restaurant A.J.s, pets are welcome

Clamdigger - c. 1950 sleeps 6, fully renovated and decorated with fun art and bright colors and a nice screened in porch. It’s next door to another property, Sandpiper Cottage if you have a large group traveling together.

Egret’s Marsh Beach Retreat - c. 1950 sleeps 2, adorable cottage on the marsh. Perfect for a romantic beach getaway.

Book directly with Mermaid Cottages and take advantages of special offers, see all of the cottages available, and receive a 5% discount all year round and with no expiration date or blackout dates.  To receive your 5% discount, all you have to do is to enter our promotion code of DIRECT.

Thanks to Mermaid Cottages for partnering with me on this post! If you’re ready to book your Mermaid Cottage, let them know Em’s on the Road sent you :)

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