What a pleasant surprise the Bungalow ended up being. Although the website is adequate in giving you the basic information, it definitely falls short in showing the whole picture, imagine that. The hotel is actually nicer than depicted on their website, as opposed to my past experiences in picking a hotel via the internet. The rooms are much larger than portrayed, and more spacious than your average hotel, with a modern clean design. The amenities were better, an example are the free bicycles to abscond at your leisure, all the while a staff that was outrageously accommodating.
The Bungalow is for people or families that want to chill, if you want to be waited on hand and foot it may not be the place for you. It is kind of like Brooklyn (Without the hipster factor) meets the Jersey shore. One of the best parts of our stay was beginning each night at the cool bar that has access to both indoor and outdoor settings. The inside portion has a pool table, popcorn machine, and foosball table for the inclined. The music over the sound system is not the typical "any place on earth" thump, thump, but actual music from today's indie scene to the Beach Boys, nice touch. Oh, by the way, what a happy hour $5.00 cocktails and I believe less for beer. Where can you get a Johnny Walker Blue or Manhattan for $5.00 within four hours of NYC? They also put out an antipasto for the drinkers and teetotalers alike n Friday.
Although The Bungalow is not directly on the water, only one block away, they have water front access through Le Club, a beach club and restaurant. It does cost extra but on some days well worth it. The service at Le Club is terrible, so I would just order from the bar yourself and if you are hungry, go across the street to the many options available. It certainly will be quicker, since it can be up to two hours for your order to be delivered, no BS. Most of the people serving at Le Club, seem to not want to be there, except for the guys that set you up on the beach with towels, lounge chairs and umbrellas, they hustle. The beach fee also grants you access to a locker room and upper deck pool which overlooks the beach, pretty swift. Not a big pool, but great for taking a dip after going into the ocean. If you do not want to take advantage of the beach club, and the extra charge, you can pay the local beach fee to gain access, which is what we did two out of the four days that we were there.
The Bungalow made you feel like you were far away from the Jersey shore, but if you wanted to dig into the local spirit it is all at your fingertips, with over ten restaurants, various clothing stores, coffee shops and of course the legendary boardwalk activities, all within a few minutes’ walk. We are already planning our next visit. THANKS BUNGALOW STAFF!!!!, you know who you are (J,M,S,T), for making our stay extremely comfortable and fun.