The Sandbar Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

We paid a good price for a clean, mostly quiet room, though it was peak vacation season. We had a queen efficiency with two queen beds and didn't expect to find a fridge and stove, so those were a bonus. I booked through super.com and got a better rate than Expedia and the other sites. It's a short drive to the things you might want to do. Just note there are two buildings, and only one is oceanfront, so check which one you're booking.

I was happy with my clean king suite and comfortable bed, even though it wasn't oceanfront. Depending on which room you book, you're right on the beach or in one of two buildings across the road, still within walking distance. The oceanfront rooms are in the building by the water, where the indoor pool is. There isn't breakfast. I thought there was because some websites said so, but the desk worker told me they stopped offering it over three years ago. They do have free coffee in the lobby, plus a small spot where you can buy drinks and snacks. They ask for a $50 deposit on a card. If you only have cash and choose to pay the deposit that way, it goes up to $250. It's refundable as long as you don't damage the room.

The hotel isn't the easiest on the eyes, but we had a great stay. The staff helped with a check-in issue and let us arrive much earlier, making everything easy. The pool and lazy river were super fun and kid friendly, and it was an easy walk to the beach. Great staff, and everything else about the stay was great too.

For a room advertised as sleeping four, I'd be surprised if four people could actually fit. The shower barely got warm, and the place is dated. It's fine if all you need is somewhere to crash, but it's no luxury stay. The bathroom floor had old floss picks on it, and the pullout bed was full of sand, so I didn't use it and slept in a chair instead. There's no breakfast or shuttle, and the only amenities are the pool and the proximity to the ocean. It's not remotely close to the CCMF grounds, and there's no real nightlife nearby. The woman working mornings and early afternoons was extremely short with me both in person and on the phone. They don't tell you about the $150 refundable deposit ahead of time. When they say deposits are released that day, a credit or debit card can take 3-5 days, and Cash App, Venmo, or Chime can take up to 30 days.