Desert Palm Inn

We booked five rooms together for our group of 12 after Diane showed us around last August and answered our questions about the family atmosphere and security. When we arrived on August 25, Stella at the desk made check-in easy, explained how things worked, and was so welcoming. We had a lovely vacation together. The motel is across from the beach, with plenty of parking, a beautiful pool, and coffee and bagels available all day. At night we enjoyed the boardwalk, fireworks, rides, games, and ice cream. Tell Diane and Stella Pat says hi, and see you next summer 😎🍷

The beach across the street was the best part, and check-in went smoothly with a friendly front desk associate. Housekeeping kept things tidy and mopped every day, which helped with the sand. The pool was small but clean during our stay, and bagels and coffee were handy for breakfast. Beach passes were available with a holding fee that was returned when we brought the badges back. The room could use some updating. The beds were uncomfortable, and the towels didn’t look clean. People smoking by the entrance to check-in also took away from the otherwise decent outside area. It was an okay stay, with room for improvement.

The location is hard to beat: the beach is right across the street, you can see the ocean from the room, and the boardwalk starts just a block north. We were looking for somewhere within walking distance of the beach and boardwalk in Seaside Heights, and there weren’t many choices. Staff were very friendly, the room was clean, and everything worked, including the AC on a hot day. It’s apparently been family owned for decades. We usually pick 4- and 5-star hotels, so this was outside our usual style. The rooms are dated, with broken outlets and vinyl baseboard fixed with staples. There was a mild musty smell, and the mattresses weren’t great. It’s no Ritz-Carlton, but for an old-school small hotel near the beach and boardwalk, it’s about as good as it gets.

The room was clean, but really small and very old. It could use some updating. When I stopped by Wednesday morning to ask a question, the woman was texting or playing a game on her phone. She didn’t notice me for a while and jumped when she finally did. I’d been standing there looking at her for a good minute.