Beach Tower By The Sea

The walls are so thin that it got loud all around us, and the place could use some updating and a cleanup. Still, the price was fair enough that I'd stay again. The kitchenettes are handy if you're staying longer, and the location right on the beach is the main draw.

The only thing that earned it two stars was the great location and the lovely ocean view from the private balcony. We won't come back. At check-in, they unexpectedly charged a $100 deposit. The kitchenette was a mess, with a broken microwave, a broken stove, and another microwave balanced on top of the stove. There were just a couple of spoons and plates and one pan. The floors were dirty, the balcony felt shaky, and the bathroom hair dryer was broken, so I had to buy one. The AC was leaking from our room and the one above us, so we couldn't enjoy it. We reported all of this at the desk and they wrote it down. At checkout they said the deposit would be refunded the next day, but we got only $38 back, and no one answers the phone to explain or return the rest. We were only there to sleep. If we'd known, we'd have paid more to stay somewhere else. Very disappointing.

The best part was the balcony and the great views, with a good location, a clean-looking beach, and a pool that looked clean too. I picked Beach Tower for the low price and beach view, but we moved to Holiday Terrace the next morning and those rooms were a little better and looked updated. The bed there was softer, though they still had no washcloths or ice buckets, and the elevator was super slow. Karen and Lisa were great about helping us move. At arrival, around 7 p.m. on a Wednesday, we had to check in next door at Holiday Terrace Hotel because there was only a sign on the Beach Tower lobby desk. There was no handicap parking available then. In the Beach Tower room, the bed was extremely hard, there was no ice bucket or washcloth, and there was mold on the ceiling and marks on the walls. The doors all stuck and were hard to close, one bedside outlet looked burnt, and the lighting was poor. The room was clean but old. The coffee cups weren't single-use, and without a washcloth there was no way to wash them. I prefer cups wrapped in plastic for sanitary reasons. We had only one working key card for two adults. I didn't go onto the beach because reports of flesh-eating bacteria in the Gulf made me unwilling to take a chance.

I left something behind, and the staff contacted me before I even noticed it was missing. I was already at the airport, but they kindly offered to mail it. The views are incredible, especially at sunset, though sunrise is breathtaking too. Direct beach access, friendly staff, and clean amenities all deserve five stars. The room itself could use some attention and a once-over before check-in. There are great restaurants and lots of shops within walking distance. Good experience with Beach Tower.