One night stay...cheap motel with the back of the boardwalk view...five stars? Yup. First of all it's a cheap beach motel but I will stay here every chance I get and I would recommend it to just about anyone looking to stay super close to the beach, right in walking distance of anything you need, and I've never seen a friendlier staff.
From my multiple calls to arrange for the last minute, one-night beach trip, to the cute and sincere (if not razzle-dazzle) web site, to the check-in, and check-out, what a great experience. We were two adults and two little boys (our son and a friend of his) so we wanted a suite, which was available.
The suite itself is unremarkable but has everything you need. Unless you have claustrophobia, in which case the room with the toilet and shower might make you a bit twitchy. In between the bedroom (two double beds, standard dresser/tv set up) and the living room (REALLY SPACIOUS - couch that pulls out, one standard hospital waiting room type chair, a large round table with four chairs, another large dresser and tv - is a little galley with mirror/bathroom sink on one side and a large under the counter fridge (not useful freezer compartment), two electric burners, kitchen type sink, microwave, cups/silverware/pots/pans/dishes on the other side. For our one night stay, we only used the fridge for water and a couple drinks but I could see for a longer stay where this set up could really be useful for leftovers or having breakfast/lunch in instead of going out and spending $$$.
The back bedroom and the living room each had their own heating/air conditioning units so that was a plus, and we were on the third floor which had an ice machine. The closet had extra warm snuggly blankets (three of them!) and lots of extra pillows. The bathroom and galley were stocked with plenty of bath towels.
The boys used the pool which was heated and they loved it. Also, the pool has a nice shower so you can get the sand off from the beach trip before going back into the room. The rooms each have two little plastic chairs outside the front doors in the outside "hallways" so there were a few guests out people watching.
The lobby!!! So full of surprises. It's not much size-wise but it's worth exploring. A bookshelf full of paperbacks (we read the website and saw that the "library" takes donations so we brought two grocery bags full of books to add), another full of games for guests to play. So fun! Right by the front door there is a large stand full of complimentary umbrellas to use should you need them...how lovely! A little cage full of butterflies (and I assume some caterpillars) and a small fish tank. A few comfortable couches and chairs, a little coffee stand, AND the front desk staff....
Upon check in we were greeted by a lovely woman (I forget her name) who asked if we've ever stayed, gave us the run-down, and also asked if we've been to OCNJ. I asked her for a breakfast recommendation as I thought my favorite place was closed for the season. She called to double-check and she confirmed they were closed and then told me where the locals eat - good food, cheap, and close by. When I signed my check-in agreement, she gave me a postcard with the stamp already on it for me to "make someone back home jealous!" I wrote in an address and popped the postcard in the outgoing mail basket right away - great touch. At check-out she said they had the availability to let us keep our car parked there the rest of the day and my receipt was given to me in a souvenir coffee mug!!
If you're interested in saving a couple bucks and staying inland or further away, I would caution you that what you're saving in money you're losing in sanity (if you're hauling kids and beach gear to and fro). There isn't any spectacular view from this motel but it is worth every penny to be able to go back to the a/c room and take a break or take a quick shower or nap and recharge for the rest of the day/night.
Loved this one-night stay and can't wait to get back.