Club Wyndham SeaWatch Resort

If you can get a week here through an Air BnB, that's great. But I'd never buy a timeshare from these people. My parents bought one through Wyndham nearly 40 years ago and paid off the mortgage on the deed a long time back. Since then, the maintenance fees have kept climbing. My mother is 83 and can't travel now, but they're all but refusing to let her out of the contract, and charge her over $300 a month in fees. If something happens to an owner, they go after the family for the money, which will ruin your credit. When my parents bought their timeshare, they were told fees rarely increased and that, because they'd bought one of the top packages, they'd always get first priority for the room type they wanted. Over the years, they got less time for their points, and the condos available to them got less and less nice. I don't know why people keep falling for this timeshare nightmare. Do your homework before buying, because the laws are set up in their favor, not yours.

The kids loved the arts and crafts, and the concierge team made us feel welcome. They showed us the area amenities, gave us free coupon books, and even provided free concert tickets, which was an unexpected, thoughtful touch. The staff really went above and beyond to make the trip feel personal. We stayed at Sea Watch Resort by Wyndham during the off-season, when some pools were closed, but there were still plenty of heated pools and hot tubs open. The kids had a great time swimming, and we didn't feel we were missing out. Room service was convenient too, with wine or restaurant items brought right up. Our room felt like a home away from home, clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully prepared. It had everything we needed, including a full kitchen with an oven for cooking dinners for the kids and laundry right in the room. We'd absolutely come back. It's a relaxing, well-equipped place for a stay with children.

The staff were cordial, helpful, and attentive. The building is a little older and sits right on the beach, with Broadway on the Beach and the Boardwalk close enough to visit but far enough away that we could enjoy some peace and quiet. We were there for New Year's, when it wasn't very busy. I can see it being a great family place in season, and would recommend it for a family.

The “deluxe suite” had a horrible double bed that squeaked with every move. The bathroom was tiny, and we had to put our things on top of the toilet seat. Maintenance was terrible; I had to call a couple of times to get things fixed. They put us in a mobility-accessible suite that we hadn't requested and that clearly didn't suit us. When I asked to change rooms, the receptionist seemed surprised it was that kind of suite, then said none were available. But when I tried booking another room online, there were other suites listed. It felt like the guy just didn't want to fix a problem they had created. One more thing: the “fitness center” is a room about 30 by 40 feet that doesn't even have dumbbells. What a disappointment.