best BUDGET OC/MD hotel?

[derricksonb]

Derriksonb are you sure you booked the Clarion? Because it's at 101st st and it's not an inn?

Ooops.... The reservation is at the Comfort Inn on 5th Street. My wife booked the trip. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[tiggspring]

Love Park Place Hotel...and don't know if you have kids, but the Francis Scott Key Motel is nice, and budget friendly. Only issue is it isn't directly on the beach or boards, and would be a short drive (across a bridge)...but they have lots of ammenties for families, and are away from the hustle and bustle. If you google both of them, I'm sure you'll find their websites.

We just got back rom OC and LOVED FRANCIS SCOTT KEY!!! We Liked not being right in the crazyness and close to the island. We spent every morning til 1-2pm in their pool areas. Free movied rental at bedtime was great. Not to mention all the things to do or free We got 1 night free for booking Sunday-friday.

It is an older hotel but our luggage for 5 dissappeared in the sink area. The full size beds were tempurpedic so I didnt miss my king...which is totally hard to believe. What my kids loved most was our maid made several towel animals every day of our trip

They even have room for a boat if you want to bring one. Some rooms have kitchenets and some cabins available

http://www.fskmotel.com/

 

[princessmorgan]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm loving the information here! The Francis Scott Key motel has me curious now. Does anyone else have any reviews of it, especially those with young children? We're thinking of taking a last minute vacation this month for DD's 1st birthday and are thinking of either Ocean City or Dutch Wonderland. Thanks!

 

[tiggspring]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm loving the information here! The Francis Scott Key motel has me curious now. Does anyone else have any reviews of it, especially those with young children? We're thinking of taking a last minute vacation this month for DD's 1st birthday and are thinking of either Ocean City or Dutch Wonderland. Thanks!

They have a water area for younger kids. It is a pirate ship, big mushroom and fountains all for the under 48 inch set. It is one of the two outdoor water areas. Its completely fenced and life gaurded with tables and chairs all around and some rooms open up to and overlook this area. It closes early..around 6pm.
I assume because the rooms that adjoin it tend to have small children.

The indoor pool is also Pirate themed, quite large and has small areas for the little ones too. My 12, 9 ans 6 year old loved this best but there were many little kids and changing rooms complete with showers were available if you needed them.

They also have a 50's burger joint with breakast all day. Each booth has a screen and you can choice old tv clips ie gilligans island or oldies music clips.

If you like to grill they werre available for cooking at the pavillian...bit buggy so bring the spray.

There were childrens activites and movie nights with popcorn but we were busy at those times. you could borrow hoola hoops etc at the mini golf.

Hope this give you an idea how all encompasing it is.

Rooms we were in were recently redecorated in light beachy theme but a little dark as they have the older hotel size windows not big sliding doors.

 

[tiggspring]

They also have a playground area.

If you go dont miss the wild ponies on Assatuage (sp?) MD side. Kids thought all the ponies roaming the roads were cool. Beach on island much quieter than OC. Just beach and ocean no commercial buildings.

 

[maciec]

The pool at the FSK is fantastic! A lot of the local kids here have their birthday parties there in the winter (including us).

 

[princessmorgan]

Thanks for the reviews! Sounds like the FSK is a lot of fun!

 

[monorailsilver]

What are the best (OK cheapest but still good) places to go go-karting.

I know of 3 places-Jolly Roger, Baja & the one right by Baha.

I know there are coupons I can print as well.

What about mini golf. Are there places on the boardwalk or do I have to go to one of the above?

 

[mtquinn]

We just got back rom OC and LOVED FRANCIS SCOTT KEY!!! We Liked not being right in the crazyness and close to the island. We spent every morning til 1-2pm in their pool areas. Free movied rental at bedtime was great. Not to mention all the things to do or free We got 1 night free for booking Sunday-friday.

It is an older hotel but our luggage for 5 dissappeared in the sink area. The full size beds were tempurpedic so I didnt miss my king...which is totally hard to believe. What my kids loved most was our maid made several towel animals every day of our trip

They even have room for a boat if you want to bring one. Some rooms have kitchenets and some cabins available

http://www.fskmotel.com/

I really LOVE these boards because the FSK motel looks amazing. I had no idea it existed. How far is it from the OCMD boards?

 

[mtquinn]

AND, when do the OCMD boards shut down if at all? I know OCNJ boards are open all year (at least most of them). Thanks!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Ha Ha I'm throwing in a funny; I just remembered what my SIL said to me 2 weeks ago as we strolled the boardwalk with her 3 kids...

"I believe it's cheaper to go to DISNEY WORLD for a week, than it is to go to Ocean City".

She may be right!

Very true! We used to always go to OCMD because we thought we could not afford WDW! Little did we know it costs about the same...but you get so much more BANG for your buck at WDW! we always get our beach fix by driving to a FL beach when we're at WDW for vacay!

When we did go we would stay at Assateague Pointe and get a nice rental for around $600 a week!

 

[debbi801]

We also always stay at the Dunes Motel. It's nicely kept up, it's quiet on that side of the boardwalk, and the tram makes it easy to get to the rides. But OC is definitely not a cheap vacation.

 

[tiggspring]

I really LOVE these boards because the FSK motel looks amazing. I had no idea it existed. How far is it from the OCMD boards?

Its about 4 blocks from the OC bridge which dumps right into the island before 1st street. If I remember the bridge is 3 blocks from the beach. Took less than 5 min. 10min if you include parking.

I found FSK by asking on these boards back in Feb. Isn't it great what we all learn here? My DD12 makes fun of me about Dis but was glad that we were at FSK instead of on the island. My kids like being a bit away from the crazyness.

As long as you can enjoy the charm of older buildings and are not looking for swanky you should like FSK. Looked like they have a fairly strict 11pm quiet time which also worked for us.

 

[jjsmom]

I just got back from OC; been there since last Thurs. Boy was it crowded!! It's the White Marlin Tournment so West OC was crazy... Anyway, our place is 2 blocks from FSK. It's not fancy; although I've never stayed in an actual room. I've just been through the lobby when the fabulous Marlin Moon Restaurant used to be there (replaced by the diner, grrrrr....). We have friends who stay one night in the winter so their kids can use the indoor wter park. They love it. I've got other friends who rent a cottage 2 wks in the summer. They love it too. It is an older facility that has been well maintained and is very charming. In fact my Dad's best friend met his future wife there, in the 50's when she was working as a waitress.

One added benefit of staying in WestOC as opposed to a boardwalk hotel; I think you have better control over your budget because the kids aren't clammering to walk down to the boardwalk, which a huge cash drain. I love West OC. Much less traffic than downtown, great restaurants, and the Outlets are just across the highway from me.

The boards NEVER shut down. The attractions (pier, Trimpers rides), and stores shut down but the boards don't close. Playland, a huge arcade, is open weekends; as well as Thrashers French Fries and Dollys popcorn stands. The "most dead" time is January to early Feb. President's weekend has become a popular getaway for the city folk, so some stores will open up that weekend. Things ramp up for Easter and most attractions are in full swing by Springfest (Mother's Day weekend).

Incidentally, a lot of the downtown hotels advertised really super last minute rates on their electronic boards this past weekend. These were the older, privately owned places, not the chains. I thought that was very interesting.

 

[monorailsilver]

We just got back too.

We went last week (Mon thru Thursday). Great weather!!

We stayed at the Hilton near 90. It was great because we were on the ground floor so the kids pool was right there. I could run inside to get them a drink/snack during the pool break. Or one of them could go visit the 'library' if needed. The walk to the beach was wonderful too.

We did not go to the boardwalk which was fine by me. My sister did with her kids a few times but they drove. One am they walked to rent a bike. Again we didn't do that. My kids swam & swam & swam & swam.

I am looking to go again next year but not the Hilton. The Hilton was nice but we are not Hilton people. The price was $500/night & thankfully my sister had rewards certificates & points that she nicely gave to me to use. FYI, we am not Grand Floridian people either. Anyways, I am looking at the Holiday Inn oceanfront suites. And guess what it is also $500/night but my dh has enough points that we can stay for 3 nights for free, 4 nights or 5 nights & pay $40/$60/night. I am looking at that option since they have the same kind of pool-waterslide/whirlpool.

We did play mini golf & I forget how much that was. My kids & dh did laser tag. We rode the go karts & that was pricey but what isn't? And hung out at the beach & pool.

 

[KS_Disney_Dad]

Have you seen these? Located on 6th street which puts you a short walk to the rides / pier. If you do wind up here, let me know. I'm looking at these for a trip July 2012.

http://www.nockapartments.com/index.html

 

[Captain_Hook]

Ha Ha I'm throwing in a funny; I just remembered what my SIL said to me 2 weeks ago as we strolled the boardwalk with her 3 kids...

"I believe it's cheaper to go to DISNEY WORLD for a week, than it is to go to Ocean City".

She may be right!

I think Disney can be alot cheaper (and more fun) - especially if you drive to Disney. I think you get more bang for your buck at WDW (nice theming, nice (big) pools, clean rooms, nice shopping, variety of restaurants, free bus, free parking)