Crystal Coast Oceanfront Hotel

We’d definitely come back when it’s warmer. The staff were friendly and quick to help, and the clean rooms had everything we needed for a beach trip. No carpet, which was a nice bonus. There’s a full-size mini fridge and microwave for drinks and leftovers, too. Every room has an ocean view and balcony, with private access right onto the beach.

It was a nice place close to the beach, with an outdoor bar and a restaurant downstairs, but a few things made the stay inconvenient. I had to pay an unexpected $65 parking balance for three days when I arrived. The ice machine on our floor was broken, and the shower barely had any water pressure. We also couldn’t set the AC below 70, or the heat would come on, and it did. The TV signal was terrible except for a few hours on Sunday morning. The elevator went out Saturday night into early Sunday, after an employee got stuck in it and the fire department had to come.

There’s a lot going for this hotel, which is why this is a tough review. The front desk staff were wonderful, and everyone else seemed great too. Every unit faces the ocean, with lovely views from the rooms and balconies. It’s right on the beach, and the hotel’s chairs and umbrellas are free. The pool, Tiki Bar, and onsite restaurant are nice. The beach area behind the hotel is well set up, though the shore itself is narrower than other beaches up and down the coast. Not a big deal for us, but some people may want more width. The room was 415. When we arrived, the door was already slightly open with the swing lock on, which seemed odd. Inside, it smelled strongly musty and of mildew, and paint was cracking and peeling. The hotel is clearly very old, and the rooms seem to struggle with moisture and likely mold. We were told not to leave the patio door open, but we turned off the AC and opened it anyway to clear the smell, which concerned us for our safety. Both queen mattresses had loud rusty springs that creaked whenever we moved. The USB ports were rusty too. The free internet worked well, but it had no password, so I’d use a VPN. Cell service was very weak in the rooms, though better near the front of the building. We didn’t ask to move because the desk clerk had kindly checked us in before the usual time. We also had no bath towels when we got up to leave. There were washcloths and hand towels, but no shower towels at all. I was already wet before I noticed, and luckily we had beach towels with us. The pricing was frustrating. The website showed $179, but unless you’re former military or an AARP member, the actual room price is $199. Taxes and surcharges added another $45, and the site didn’t clearly disclose the roughly $21 after-tax parking fee. It’s ordinary parking in front of the hotel, not valet, and costs about $20 per night. Off season, the total came to around $265 a night. I might have considered that fair despite the surprise charges, but the room made it hard to justify. For $265 a night, especially off season, I’d expect a decent room without that smell. If they modernized the rooms and fixed these problems, around $230 might be reasonable for the location and amenities. In its current condition, as someone who travels a lot, I think about $125 without surprise fees would fit better. I’d wait until renovations before returning, unless you care more about the amenities than the room itself.

We got a king room on the 7th floor, and the view was the best ever. You can hear the waves day and night, especially nice since we had amazing weather on our late-December trip. The room was clean when we checked in, and every room has an ocean view. We loved the restaurant and bar, and breakfast was really good. It’s a little out of the way, but the rest makes up for it. A must stay if there’s a room available, and I’d make sure to get the 7th floor.