Wylder Tilghman Island

To summarize, Wylder has potential, but as other reviewers have pointed out, there seems to be a general lack of attention and consideration for the guest experience. Here are the pros and cons: **Pros:** - **Tickler's Crab Shack:** I agree with others that the food is enjoyable, and the view from the patio is lovely. - **Location:** Most areas of the hotel offer a nice view of the bay. - **Dog Friendly:** There were many dogs on the property, and they were generally made to feel welcome. **Cons:** - **Rooms:** Our room had a nautical theme, but the bathroom fixtures were outdated, the TV was small without basic channels (like ESPN), and the room felt very cramped. - **The Pool:** For a hotel this size, the pool is quite small, situated far from any restrooms, and frequently overcrowded. There were only about 15 beach chairs, which were always taken. - **The Service:** The reception operates only from 8 AM to 8 PM, leaving guests without any way to reach staff after hours. If any issues arise during the night, such as a clogged toilet or A/C failure, there's no way to get assistance. I've never experienced this at any hotel, and though it might be fine under normal circumstances, we encountered a serious problem. Most rooms have exterior doors, but our assigned room was in the main building above the lobby. When we checked in, we were guided through the lobby and up the stairs. The staff member didn't inform us about any alternative entry methods. We mistakenly assumed the lobby would be open 24 hours like most hotels. Later that evening, around 11 PM, we were sitting by one of the outdoor fire pits with our dog, and though many guests were still out, Tickler's had closed, and there were no staff visible. When we returned to turn in for the night, we discovered that all the main level doors were locked, cutting us off from re-entering the main building where our room was situated. We couldn’t find any staff on the property, and our room key didn’t work on the main floor locks. No one had informed us that the main floor would be locked, nor was there any signage about how to access our rooms. Typically, hotels employ security or staff at the front desk or throughout the property at all times—this wasn’t the case at Wylder. When I called the hotel’s main line at 11:30 PM, I found it unmanned after 8 PM and never received a return call. We were extremely frustrated and on the verge of contacting the police to avoid having to sleep outside. Thankfully, my resourceful partner eventually found another entrance around midnight, which involved navigating stairs at the front of the property, going through a side building, accessing private balconies, and then back to the front side of the building. It appeared that Wylder had a policy of only leaving a hard-to-reach second-floor door unlocked for after-hours access to our block of rooms, but we were never informed of this, and there was no signage indicating this option. This is unacceptable for any hotel, especially one that presents itself as upscale with corresponding prices. Although we managed to get back to our room after about an hour, this incident highlighted my overall impression that Wylder does not prioritize the guest experience.

**Pros:** - Beautiful property located close to the water - Charming atmosphere - Recently renovated - Good air conditioning in the rooms - Cozy accommodations with a small bathroom - Very comfortable robes - Friendly staff - Tickler's Crab Shack offers delicious food, drinks, and a fantastic atmosphere **Cons:** - Small TV in the room - Limited shaded areas for relaxation outside; the only shaded spot consisted of two chairs and a hammock at the front of the property - The pool was quite crowded on the weekends, with only nine umbrellas and about eighteen chairs available. Since the umbrellas couldn't be moved or tilted, most areas were in direct sunlight, with temperatures feeling like 101°F. Overall, we enjoyed our stay. This place would be ideal during the off-peak summer months when it's cooler. We loved playing games in the air-conditioned bar area during the day, and in the evening, sitting outside was delightful—just remember to bring bug spray. Saint Michaels is only a 15-minute drive away, providing access to restaurants, shopping, and a nice brewery.

At times, our experience was wonderfully serene, especially while relaxing in some of the Adirondack chairs with the beautiful water view in front of us. Other times, it was lively and fun, particularly at Tickler’s when the party was in full swing and live music played. The staff were consistently friendly and helpful. We loved Tickler’s so much that we ended up dining there twice; it’s convenient to stay on Tilghman Island for dinner. Pro tip: be sure to make a reservation for dinner, especially on weekends. The bar at Tickler’s is fantastic, with a great drink menu, generous servings, and a fun atmosphere, especially when live music is playing. The waitstaff were friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. For breakfast, the hotel’s offerings could use some improvement in terms of variety, quantity, and quality. Fortunately, just around the corner is Two If By Sea, which serves ample, delicious, and affordable breakfast options. If you're a dog lover, this place is perfect for you, with many dogs happily roaming around. There are also lawn games, numerous fire pits, a hammock, a tree swing, a sauna, and first-come, first-served bikes, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, which were plentiful. The overall vibe, along with the pool, gave it a bit of a summer camp feel.

Overall has a great time at the Wylder. They had bikes, kayakes, cornhole, a pool, bocce ball, and delicious food at the Tickler. There were a few disappointments: for the price we paid for our room, the bed is not comfortable by any means. I’d think $300 a night would give you a nicer room and more comfortable bed. Our shower would trickle out water, which made it practically impossible to use. We informed the front desk, they said they’d send maintenance and maintenance never came. They also said, that’s normal for water to come out slow in the morning… it was like that all day, but that also shouldn’t be normal. Our door to our bathroom didn’t fit the frame, so couldn’t be shut without jamming it and bits of door are coming off. It was promised there would be a variety of activities that we did not see. The live music advertised online did not take place. The breakfast is NOT worth the price, I recommend to anyone staying there to go into town for breakfast for that price! Many spots locally will offer more for that price. Overall, pretty expensive for what you get. But love the area, love the options of things to do, and I’m sure as long as you’re there with a great group of people, you will have a fantastic time! Not wylder’s fault entirely recommend anyone visiting, bring bug spray!!!!

We had an absolutely wonderful two-night stay! Came with our two young kids and dog. Hotel graciously provided a pack play so we could save the trunk space and our room was beautiful and comfortable. The waterfront location is gorgeous and the pool, lawn games and on-site restaurant were greatly appreciated. Absolutely best part was the warm welcome and hospitality we received from all the staff. Would love to come back in the fall!