I am planning a quick two night weekday trip for a family of five, kids ages 15,13 %26amp; 8. I am looking for a hotel with space for us in one room and also economical. So far I am considring Castle In The Sand, Holiday Inn Express or Quality Inn. I was looking at Days Inn but after reading the horrible reviews I have decided against it. I am also considering Comfort Inn Suites but see that it is not even close to the beach. How important is it that we stay within walking distance to the beach? I have given up the idea of staying in a room with an ocean front when I see that it may cost an extra $30-40 per night for the view.
Holiday Inn Express looks to be about a 1.5 blocks away from the beach and across what looks to be a busy street according to Google Earth. It is also the best bargin for near the ocean and has good reviews but if I am staying that close I want to walk to the beach. Is that possible from this hotel?
What are transportation options to the boardwalk if we stay at a hotel that is farther away? How is parking there? Would it even be worth an effort to go there when we are only staying for two nights? I see there is an amusment park but once again we are on a budget so is it worth the money for a family of 5? What are some other things to do on the boardwalk for families with middle aged children?
I hope I haven%26#39;t covered too many questions in one post. Any tips for families of 5 would be appreciated.
Planning a quick trip for family of 5Check out the Dunes Motel. It is on 28th (?) St at the end of the Boardwalk. Not real fancy, but nice, clean and reasonable AND oceanfront. And all of their poolside rooms were remodeled last year. It is right next door to its sister hotel the Dunes Manor Hotel. That one is more expensive and upscale. Since the Dunes Motel is at the end of the boardwalk you are adjacent to the tram station which runs daily in the summer. It costs a couple dollars to ride round trip and it runs the length of the boards. Your kids would be safe to ride it alone.
There are lots of restaurants closeby and amusements. http://www.ocdunes.com/
The HI Express is at the upper end of Ocean City and not close to the Boardwalk. Plus, you have to cross Coastal Highway (8 lanes) to get to the beach. That%26#39;s the main highway through OC and very dangerous. It is bayside and there is an Olive Tree restaurant next to it, along with a few other restaurants. Castle in the Sand is on the ocean, but I don%26#39;t have any experience with them. Here%26#39;s a link to their webcam.. surfcam.castleinthesand.com/appletvid.html…
There are public busses that run the entire length of OC so transportation is never a problem. I think it%26#39;s still $2.00, maybe $3 for a ride all day pass.
You can drive to the Boardwalk. There is a lot of parking available, mostly metered and you pay at stations rather than the meters. Or you can park in the inlet for a fee. If you don%26#39;t mind parking a few blocks off the boards, there is unmetered parking on some of the back streets.
The inlet end of the Boardwalk is where the majority of the amusements are. You can walk all through there for free, but rides aren%26#39;t free. You can pay per ride, or buy tickets for multiple rides. Lots of games of chance too. The boardwalk is a definite must see and do if you%26#39;re in OC. BUT don%26#39;t start at 28th ST. and walk down! It%26#39;s 3 miles long! The upper end of the boards is all condos and nothing to look at. The shops start somewhere around 15th st or later. Park somewhere between 12th and 5th if you want to window shop or park at the inlet if you only want to do the amusements. Mini Golf is all over OC. You can hardly pass a corner without one. In the morning you can rent bikes and ride the boards, or if your kids have rollerblades, they can use them on the Boardwalk till around 10am. There%26#39;s an outlet center there to shop for the girls, and if the guys are into cars, there%26#39;s a car museum on rte 50 that%26#39;s worth the time. (and it%26#39;s right across the street from the outlets).
I hopeI answered some of your questions. Feel free to ask some more.
Planning a quick trip for family of 5Not sure when you are going but I would check craigslist, I always find nice condo%26#39;s that the acutal owner rents for a affordable price and you get a lot of space.
But she only wants it for two days. Don%26#39;t know of any condos that are rented out for two days. But I don%26#39;t know everything.
The best compromise of location, ocean view, and price where we have stayed is The Flamingo Motel at 30th-31st St. They have indoor/outdoor pools, and suites that sleep 5. Try to get a south facing unit as they have nice ocean views from the balcony. Don%26#39;t bother with an east facing unit as there is a condo building in the way. You are a few blocks above the north end of the BDWK and right across Coastal Hwy. from Jolly Roger water/amusement park (open Mem Day to Labor Day). We have 15, 13, and 11 year olds and they love the water park. You really want to stay east of Coastal Hwy...that%26#39;s the ';busy street'; to which you refer. It%26#39;s a 6-lane road that gets crazy in peak season.
The above poster has a great idea about renting a private condo (we own a 3BR in OC) but most owners want three night minimums, and won%26#39;t rent less than a full week between May and October. DON%26#39;T go the first two weeks of June; you will be surrounded everywhere by beer-swilling 18 year old HS Senior grads (';June Bugs';) in every motel in OC.
Thank you so much for all the information. WOW!
By the way we are going in July...peak season. No choice about it as that is the only time my husband could get off work.
The waterpark at Jolly Rogers is great. To save money off regular admission the kids could get a half day pass and still get to enjoy the park. I would stay at least Ocean Block which means that you will not have to cross Coastal Highway(very busy). Of the hotels mentioned I like the Dunes for the location and they keep the hotel in good condition. Castle In The Sand is nice because they have an outdoor beach area to get food, listen to music and play vollyball. The only thing about Castle is the rooms can be a bit outdated. I personally would not stay as far north as The Holiday Inn Express b/c you will spend a good bit of time on the bus riding down to the areas you will want to be and with only 2 days I would stay South. Good Luck. PS Which Quality Inn?
I am looking at Quality Inn at 33rd Street. It has pretty good reviews. So now I have it narrowed down to Quality Inn and Castle in the Sand. I had originally planned on going to Virginia Beach but find that Ocean City is a little less expensive. This is also an extension of a Washington DC vacation and Ocean City looks to be a closer although no direct route. I actually have a hotel room booked at Quality Inn in Virginia Beach, however I was only able to get a smoking room (yuck). I am probably going to cancel it. Castle in the Sands will save me a whopping $10 but looks way nicer. The Quality Inn in Ocean City is about $40 less. I know it isn%26#39;t much savings but the atmosphere of Ocean City is starting to appeal to me.
FYI if you are driving, Route 50 goes from Washington D.C. directly to Ocean City. Not sure how long that takes. Maybe 3 hours???
Don%26#39;t forget that tolls for The Bay Bridge Tunnel that you will now be avoiding by staying in OC verses Virginia Beach. I think it is like $15 each way - so you just saved yourself another $30!
Hotel Monte Carlo, Tidelands or Park Place are hotels that cater to your needs. The hotels (The Sand, Holiday Inn Express or Quality Inn)you mention in the starter thread cost the same if not more for those night in July.
The ones I mention are 5th street and under and walking distance to the main area on the boards and do not have to cross any street to get to the beach. You could stay at either hotel and never need your car the rest of your stay. The bus service runs 24/7 and is only $2 bucks for all day use. All 3 hotel have pools and Park Place/Tidelands have on-site resturants.
Your kids ages 15,13 %26amp; 8 will want to hit the boards as much as possible and being that close will be a beniefit to you.
There is plenty to do in OC, shops, food, arcades and Jolly Rodgers amusements will keep you busy and you%26#39;ll go home wishing you had another day.
Here is a link to help you navigate around OC
ocean-city.com
Anymore question please fill free to ask.
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