Seaview Pier and Motel

The staff were super friendly and really made our weekend. We came to get some fishing in, and it was good. The rooms were very clean and comfortable, and the restaurant food was excellent. We'll definitely return.

The quiet, restful ocean stay I hoped for turned into a terrible birthday weekend. I spent most of my life vacationing on Topsail Island and think of it as my second home. My family always stayed in our oceanfront condo until my parents sold it in June, which broke my heart. For my milestone birthday in November, all I wanted was to come home to Topsail. I knew returning without the condo would be hard, but thought a decent place by the ocean might make it easier and still give me a happy birthday. My husband and I booked two nights at this motel, which we'd always passed on the way to and from the condo. We knew it was a 2-star place and weren't looking for anything fancy, just somewhere clean and quiet to rest. The first night was mostly fine. The room and bathroom were tiny, but the bed was comfortable. Someone down the hall was coughing very loudly, and the cleaning person woke us early with a vacuum, so sleep wasn't very restful. The second, thankfully last, night was awful. People were stomping along the hall and talking loudly at all hours, including early morning. From what I could see, they were local fishermen. There were smokers everywhere, and someone was smoking a cigar near our room, maybe right outside it. The room stank. I got about four uninterrupted hours of sleep. Earlier that evening I'd even asked my husband to turn down our TV so we wouldn't bother the other guests. The motel, and the restaurant next door, nearly ruined my birthday weekend. I reviewed the restaurant separately. They clearly cater to locals, and the price was ridiculous for what we got. I really wish we'd spent our money somewhere else.

The restaurant was the best part of our stay. We came as a family of four and asked for an ocean-view room, but at check-in the desk asked how many people were in our party. Nobody had asked when we booked by phone. After we said four, they told us fire code limits the original room to two people, leaving only a room overlooking the parking lot. It was really disappointing that they hadn't explained this when we booked. This is an older, very basic fishing motel. It costs less than many places nearby, but you get what you pay for, and it doesn't include the usual basic amenities. The room and hallway smelled strongly of cleaning chemicals, apparently being used to cover mildew in the carpet and bathroom, though everything looked clean. Replacing the carpet with hard flooring and improving general upkeep would help. It wasn't the experience we hoped for, especially after requesting an ocean view.

We had plenty of parking, even with our boat, and the boat ramp was close by, maybe three or four miles away. There's private beach access and only a very short walk to the beach. The restaurant and pier are also within walking distance. The food was really good at average prices, and service was quick. The staff were very friendly, and the rooms were very clean. This is a great place to stay, and it'll be our first hotel choice from now on.