Aztec Ocean Resort

The room had a king bed and a jacuzzi tub overlooking the boardwalk, and the view was exactly what I wanted. The tub and shower were spacious and great, and we had plenty of towels for the weekend. We also had the entire outside patio to ourselves. I’d book this particular room again if I returned to Seaside. It was a great getaway, and I’m glad I booked it. We came for Mother’s Day weekend in the off season, before I have a baby this summer and can’t travel. The staff were amazing, welcoming, and friendly, and let us check in early. The beach, boardwalk, and town center were just moments away. The room had no hot water when we arrived, but it was fixed after a few hours. The tub jets brought out quite a few black specks, so it could use an internal cleaning. WiFi didn’t reach our room because we were too far from the router, so I had to use my hotspot while working, which was inconvenient. The TV speakers were blown, so we watched shows on our laptop while it rained. We asked late at night for extra pillows because we had one per adult and none for my daughter, and got one mini pillow. When we asked again the next day, we got two full size pillows. It was a cold, rainy weekend in the off season, so I expected parking to be easy, but a few times we struggled to find a spot even though we didn’t see many other guests.

I loved every part of my stay and would come back. Our room key didn’t work, but they sent someone to fix it right away. The room was updated, very clean, and had an amazing view, with a modern bathroom. This nostalgic boardwalk hotel is just right as it is. It’s not Hotel LBI, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.

The location is excellent, right by the boardwalk, and the pool and restaurant next door were great. The rooms were fairly clean, but outdated, poorly put together, and rough around the edges. There was banging and rustling in the halls all night, people yelling, and strangers knocking on my door every couple of hours. My girlfriend and I booked a separate room from my sister and brother-in-law, though we took the trip together. Since our last names matched, they apparently booked us all into one room. What really upset me was the money. I’d already paid $250 for two nights, then they charged another $200 at check-in. My sister and brother-in-law weren’t charged anything then. They said the extra amount was just a hold and hadn’t been charged, but my account clearly showed $450 total from this place for two nights. I spoke to someone at the counter the first night and got no real help. Poor communication, policies that make no sense, and nobody seems to know what’s going on. I’ll stay somewhere else next time. It felt like a rip-off and false advertising.

Being right on the boardwalk is the big draw here, with easy access to the beach, shops, and nightlife. The staff were friendly and helpful, our room was clean, and the sliding door in our room opened straight onto the pool, which was a nice extra. The rooms are dated and not modern. The bathroom sink was outside the bathroom, which felt odd but was manageable. It’s a no-frills place, not a luxury hotel, but works if you want to be on the boardwalk and don’t mind an older-style room. After staying at the Aztec Ocean Resort in Seaside Heights, those are the pros and cons I’d keep in mind.