The Surf Shanty Motel

We found this place on Hotels.com on our first trip to Dewey beach, drawn by the price and how close it is to the beach. Check-in went well, and the staff were attentive and made sure we had what we needed. We had such a good few evenings that we've decided this will be our yearly beach spot. Being able to walk down to the beach and reach the Rehoboth boardwalk is a bonus, and Dewey has great breakfast and dinner options within walking distance. We're excited to return next year.

April was quiet in the best way, and Andre welcomed us warmly. It was our first time in Dewey Beach, and we were so glad to find this adorable motel: clean, comfortable, and perfectly located. The beach is just steps away, there's a lovely breakfast shop across the road, and fun restaurants are around the corner. We walked two miles along the beach to Rehoboth and found plenty of sea glass. Summer must be fun here too. Highly recommend, and we'll definitely be back!

I got an email from hotels.com today saying we had a reservation for tonight, but neither my husband nor I remembered making one, and we don't even have a hotels.com account. Shanty told us a Mastercard had been charged, but we don't have a Mastercard either, so it seemed like fraud. Then we checked PayPal and found a $382.92 charge from August. The motel won't authorize a change to the "reservation" or give a refund. There was cancellation coverage on it too, which seems like a waste. Not a great experience.

We stayed three nights during a wedding weekend in late April. Andre was really friendly and helpful when we checked in. The Wave Rider Retreat was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed for a short stay, plus the Keurig and coffee supplies were a nice surprise. The decor is vintage hip, but the place is also brand new. It's tucked away on the south Ocean side of town, so it's quiet, and being on the ocean block means just a quick two-minute walk to the sand. We'll definitely be back!