Ocean Coast Hotel at the Beach Amelia Island

The room had a useful midsize fridge and microwave, plus a few updated features, but staying here felt uncomfortable. I was traveling alone as a woman and expected a hotel based on the name Ocean Coast Hotel; it felt more like a motel, which left me feeling less safe. There was a strong, unpleasant smell that woke me several times the first night, and the water smelled odd too. Some older light fixtures didn’t work, and one could only be shut off by taking out the bulb. The hangers and the boxes holding the lighting cords were very dirty. Only conditioner was provided, no shampoo. At check-in I waited several minutes while the clerk complained about another customer on the phone. Most concerning, the smoke detector went off every time I used the hairdryer, even though there was no smoke or heat damage. I hope management fixes these problems.

The photos made the hotel look quaint, but that wasn’t what we found on arrival. We reached the property around 8 pm, picked up the keys, and went to dinner before the restaurant closed. Afterward, when I opened the cabinet to look for the fridge, I thought I saw a bug. It may just have been a shadow, but it freaked me out. There were stains on the bed skirt, and the showerhead was rusty and marked by hard water. Like another reviewer said, the place felt more like a motel than a hotel. The next morning nobody wanted to use the bathroom, not even the toilet, so we left without showering and booked a night at the Residence Inn next door. The reviews had sounded promising, so I was disappointed, especially for what we paid for two nights. I was scheduled to stay from 1/30/25 to 1/1/26. They refunded the unused night after we checked out early, but not the parking charge for the second night. That was only $10 a day, so it wasn’t a big deal.

The rooms feel dated, and I couldn’t figure out why they removed the power outlets and put in tall nightstands that hide them. There wasn’t even a clock. The bathtub had no plug, the walls were cracked, and the A/C smelled like its filter hadn’t been changed in a while. Also watch for the $10 parking charge. Even when third-party booking sites clearly say all fees are included, the receptionist will argue it’s buried in tiny print on their website. None of those third-party sites list it, and that $10 makes this place look cheaper than other lodgings. I don’t see why parking costs extra anyway: the lot is gated but has no onsite security or cameras, limited lighting, and garage and dirt all around. I’d rather spend those $10 elsewhere and get breakfast, for example.

The hotel is a little older, but it was clean and conveniently located, with free parking. The pool was heated, though the hot tub wasn’t working. I’d bring your own pillow.