Rio Motel and Suites

The stove worked, but the place was filthy. The walls and white trim were stained, and the floor needed sweeping. The beds only had flat sheets, so if you moved in your sleep you could end up on the stained mattress protector. There were different blankets on the beds, and they were different sizes. The AC was packed with dust. The kitchenette had only one regular coffee cup, with no paper towels or dish soap. There were more units than parking spaces, and there was trash in the parking lot and under the stairs. As the week went on, dirty laundry piled up in the stairwell to our room. At check-in, they added $10 to the pet fee because of our “Extra large” dogs. None of the information on BringFido, the motel’s website, or Priceline, where I booked, said there was an additional fee.

The kitchenette saved me so much money, and the grocery store was within walking distance. It had the biggest fridge I’ve had yet this season, and my two sons loved it. My room was clean and had everything I needed. The staff were amazing.

There were some good things: the location was good, the room was clean, the staff were friendly, and they allow dogs. The room was very small and parking was limited, but the lack of hot water was what frustrated me most. There was no hot or even warm water for showers. I got the impression the owners were aware of the problem and had decided not to buy a new boiler or tell guests ahead of time. If you don’t mind cold showers, it’s fine. We made the best of it and still had a good time.

The owners were always around, very responsive, and accommodating, trying to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Everything was as described. We used the outdoor shower to wash sand off our feet, and made meals in the kitchenette, which was well stocked with pots, a coffee maker, full-size refrigerator, toaster, and utensils. Our room had wall AC. It’s a small, very clean motel under new management, in a very convenient location. We could enjoy the boardwalk and beach view right from our room, and also from the porch.