The Dolphin Inn

We had a pleasant spring break with our family of five, and the location surprised us. The boardwalk was just around the corner and pretty much everything was close by. The only small complaints were the construction on shore, which wasn't the hotel's fault, and air conditioning that could have worked a little better. The staff were very nice, service was pleasant, and the stay was quite good. We'll return.

We had to change rooms three times because they were so filthy, and each one had things that hadn't been cleaned. The hotel smelled musty and moldy, with mold on shower curtains and inside some cabinets. Carpets were nasty, furniture was broken, and the pool was being used for storage, which we only discovered ourselves. The air conditioner filters were full of dirt, so we cleaned them. In the first room, balcony rails were loose and some were missing. In the second, the sliding balcony door came off and hit my son. It could have been worse if my husband hadn't partly caught it. There was no laundry on site despite the claim that there was, and no housekeeping. We had to ask the office for towels and toilet paper, then leave dirty towels outside the door. They took days to collect them, and trash sat piled up for days. Other guests we spoke to had also switched rooms and were unhappy. The garage path to the beach was blocked with pallets, making it impossible for older people or anyone with a stroller or wheelchair to pass. This hotel needs to close until it's cleaned up.

The room was so filthy I couldn't stay. I paid $447.00, and the mold smell was so strong my youngest daughter kept coughing. She has severe allergies and breathing problems, so I couldn't expose her to it. The linens were stained and looked like someone had just gotten out of bed; there was rust throughout, dirty walls, a broken TV, and a dirty air filter. The room looked nothing like the website pictures. The elevator reeked of urine, the halls and area outside the rooms were dirty, there was old furniture in the stairwell, and the whole hotel smelled of urine and mold. Both parking lots were full. Hotels.com hadn't said there was only one parking space per room, so my daughter had to pay to park, and the front desk associate had to make a space for me outside. When I asked for a refund, I was told to contact hotels.com. I called and said I wouldn't stay in those conditions. I ended up booking at the beach quarters at the last minute. I'd give this zero stars if I could.

The balcony view is really the only good thing. We stayed Saturday night and Sunday morning (6/11-12), and were very disappointed. The condo is outdated and not clean at all, with stains and damage painted over but still visible. There was a strong smell of weed in the hallways and even on the balcony. The elevator was rickety, parking was limited, and the pool didn't work, so they use the one at the hotel next door. Neither TV worked at first, though I did get the bedroom one going. Lighting was dim, and the two living room lamps barely helped, one was crooked and the other's shade was torn. It didn't feel clean even for a one-night visit, and honestly felt like a scam. The price isn't worth the quality. I'd rather pay more for somewhere better than stay here again.