Sea Bay Hotel

The view, which was my main reason for choosing the hotel, was the one good thing about the room. I paid for a high-floor bayside room and got a first-floor room facing the parking lot instead. It took 50 minutes to sort out, and their solution was to charge extra for the room I'd booked. Since I hadn't booked directly, they said they couldn't help. They knew what they couldn't do, but did little to fix the problem. The room was run down and dated, and the price wasn't justified by its condition. Even the coffee maker sat on top of the microwave, which was on top of the refrigerator. There was only one elevator for guests and housekeeping, so it was constantly in use. There was no reservation desk at the hotel. A note sent us to the sister hotel across the parking lot to check in, with no warning beforehand about the extra effort or weather. If I could have canceled and booked somewhere else, I would have. I gave one star for the view and one for the location, and may post pictures if possible.

The staff were nice, one bed was supportive, and the restaurant was actually okay. Check-in and the restaurant are at the Best Western across the parking lot. The room was clean enough, though it could use a deep clean. The construction and fixtures were terrible, the showerhead seemed incredibly cheap, paint was peeling in several places, and things were growing on the balcony furniture. It's a classic good-enough hotel. Despite the flaws, I'd consider returning if the price were right.

This was my third week-long stay at the Sea Bay. The first two years were excellent, and I'd left glowing reviews and recommended it to people who went on to stay there. This visit was a disappointment. We were booked Sunday through Friday, and everything was fine until bad weather made me want to add Saturday. On Friday morning, a pleasant man at the desk checked the price and said that, as a military veteran and returning guest, he could extend my stay for $235.00 after taxes. I went upstairs for my wallet. Ten minutes later, a different woman was at the desk and said the managers were there now, and the best she could offer was $250. I paid, but why did the price change depending on who was working? I took my two 16-year-olds to Jolly Rogers, giving them the updated key card, while my wife and I went to the beach. When the kids returned, the card wouldn't work. The manager was rude to them and said they weren't authorized, though they'd been able to get key cards all week by giving the desk our name and address. I came up from the beach after my son called, and my own card didn't work either. The manager got angry as soon as I walked in and said we'd be kicked out if the kids came back into the lobby. I said we'd had no trouble all week and just needed the cards activated. She kept arguing that it was our fault, treated me like a two-year-old, and wouldn't give me the owner's contact details or let me speak to her boss. She said no one was in charge of her and she was the end of the line. She also said my son wasn't on the registered list. I explained that the check-in form said adults and he wasn't one, but she shrugged and said that wasn't her problem. She held on to the keys while lecturing me. When she finally handed them back, she said I wasn't welcome at her hotel if I ever came to Ocean City again. Usually everyone here is friendly and accommodating, and on this trip everyone else was too. The other change was the overpowering marijuana smell. We couldn't really use the balcony or walk comfortably in the hallway, and lots of guests were complaining. I love the hotel and would like to keep coming for our annual OC vacation, but I won't if the owner doesn't address this manager. At minimum, she needs customer service training so she stops being so confrontational. I'd welcome the chance to speak with the owner.

The room was decent, clean, and had a small balcony, but I can't get past a male staff member opening the door and walking in without knocking because he thought we had checked out. I'd changed just five minutes before. Thank goodness he didn't come in then. My husband had only just gone to get ice, so it was me and my 9-year-old son in the room. Hearing the door open and seeing a man who wasn't my husband made my heart race. The front desk gave a lukewarm apology and blamed a system glitch. I understand mistakes happen, but they didn't seem sorry, and offered no coupon or anything to make it right. We still had another night, and after that I put the latch on every time, even when my husband just went for ice. I had no peace of mind. EDITED TO ADD: The owner's response offered a discount after I'd already left, when I couldn't use it, rather than while I still had a night there or when I first raised the issue with the desk. It seems they only tried to make amends after my negative review went public. They also claimed there was a quick knock, but it wasn't loud enough for anyone to hear. Mistakes happen, but I had also left a comment card online with Sea Bay Hotel and parent company Stay in the OC and never heard back. The hotel's only follow-up was on this public platform. Don't stay here if privacy or good customer service matter to you.