Grand Victorian - Spring Lake

The hosts and managers, Allison and Bob, were the kindest hotel hosts I’ve met. When my foot was bothering me, they brought the meals I’d ordered right to my room without me even asking. By the end of the stay, I felt I’d made two good friends, and I’ll be back year after year. My room at the Grand Victorian Hotel was very clean. It’s across the street from the beach and a few blocks from the lake and the little town’s shops and places to eat.

The beach access was amazing, and our room was bright and clean with a really comfortable bed. We visited this quaint, distinctive inn in August, and Bob at the front desk was so helpful and welcoming from check-in that we could tell the stay was off to a great start. We’re already making plans to return.

Spring Lake is a beautiful town, with tree-lined streets, grand homes, upscale boutiques, and lovely places for breakfast and lunch. The hotel is right on Ocean Ave, which is a perfect location. We stayed on a Saturday night in October, paid about $325 off season, and were very disappointed by the room. It was small, with a very uncomfortable mattress that felt soft and uneven, as if someone had tried to improve its topping. We had to lift ourselves higher to get onto it, and there was only about 1ft” to squeeze past one side of the bed. It seemed renovations had taken space from the hallway. We could have spent less on a 4 star upscale hotel. We ate on the front porch at Amelia’s. The meal was exquisite and service was great. We’d dined there years ago under a different owner and remembered it as a lovely, romantic experience. This time, though, it was noisy with music, so it isn’t the place for a quiet romantic dinner.

The staff were kind and helpful, and being right on the beach is a real plus. But the room was incredibly small, barely leaving enough space to walk around the bed, which takes up nearly the whole room. The shower is tiny, even for my 5'1 girlfriend, and the water swung from painfully hot to very cold. The shower head wasn’t fully secured to the wall either. We could easily hear people in the hallway and downstairs in the restaurant. Our room was sold as having a beach view, but most of what we saw was an air conditioner. It was usable, but felt like a much cheaper room. You’re paying a heavy premium for beach access and little else. If you’re okay with that, the staff are very good.