Arrival and check-in were stressful. Parking by the main building is limited, packed, and there's…read moreno dedicated loading/unloading area. You basically have to find an illegal place to park for 30 minutes, head to the front desk (which is on the first floor above ground level), unload all of your luggage and beach gear, and then move your car to a legal parking spot.
Some parking is under the main building, some is under the second building across the street, and there's plenty more in a nearby overflow lot. Good luck. The stress upon arrival already had me ready to deduct a star.
Then, things improved a bit.
We had an oceanfront room on a high floor, and it was beautiful. Having that balcony overlooking the ocean every morning, afternoon, and evening added an extra layer of joy to our week long stay.
Breakfast here was delightful. Seating can be limited, but if you head down a little early, you'll have no problem. Every morning there was a nice assortment of hot and cold items: fresh fruit, waffles, eggs, a breakfast meat, potatoes, cereal, yogurt, toast, and either pancakes or French toast sticks, plus juice and coffee. Fill up here and you may only need a light lunch. If you do get hungry later, there are plenty of options nearby...including a good pizza place right next door.
The room itself was clean, comfortable, and a nice size for our family, although it's probably due for a refresh. Housekeeping serviced the room every day, though the timing varied quite a bit. Sometimes they came in the morning, other days it wasn't until after 4 p.m.
They're also dog-friendly, which was a big plus for us.
However...the elevators.
There are only two serving the main building, and there was often a long wait. Staff use them throughout the day, guests are constantly coming and going, and one of the two elevators went out of service at least three different times during our stay, leaving the entire building relying on a single elevator. Sheesh.
The frustrating part is that I'd happily take the stairs. But the hallway leading to the stairwell has a sign that says, "Employees Only Beyond This Point." It certainly gives the impression that guests aren't supposed to use them. Meanwhile, employees seemed to be riding the elevator between nearby floors. I'd love to take the stairs, but the signs suggest otherwise.
Despite the stressful arrival, frustrating parking situation, and those dreadful elevators, we still had a very enjoyable week. The oceanfront balcony, complimentary breakfast, and dog-friendly accommodations made for a memorable vacation.
That said, I'm not sure I'd choose this hotel again. I prefer a property with a larger, more convenient parking lot where I don't feel discouraged from taking the car out, and a hotel with enough elevators to comfortably handle the number of guests. For a week-long beach vacation, those two things ended up mattering more than I expected.