Help!!!! Asbury Park area hotels.

[crazyme5kids]

My daughter will be going to a concert in Asbury Park NJ, I haven't been there in years and years, so I need some help with recomendations for safe, clean hotels. The hotel doesn't need to be in Asbury Park, but it does need to be a fairly easy drive, maybe 15 to 20 minutes tops. Any ideas?

 

[IloveDMB]

My friends stayed at the Marriott in Tinton Falls the night before their wedding. They really liked it there. That's the only one that I can think of.

 

[buzzlady]

http://www.asburyboardwalk.com/hotel.htm
Start with the above link. It lists a few hotels in the area. Spring Lake is a very nice area, but not as close as the others listed below.

http://hotel-guides.us/new-jersey/neptune-nj-hotels.html

This link will take you to 2 hotels in Neptune. You could also try Avon by the Sea, Eatontown,Tinton Falls. I would never stay in Asbury Park.

Hope this give you somewhere to at least start.

 

[Hillbeans]

My in-laws have stayed at the Belmar Motor Lodge on Rt. 35, which is a short 5 minute drive from there. It's clean, easy to get to, and not very expensive. The phone # is on Yahoo.If you're looking for a "chain" hotel, I know the Sheraton in Eatontown is only about 5-10 min. away and I know you can get them on Priceline.

Stay far away from the Belmar Inn, and anything else rustic or near the beach in that area. Some NJ beach hotels house derelicts in the winter/spring at bargain rates. We put my inlaws at the Belmar Inn once and they turned around and left. That was when we moved into town in neighboring Bradley Beach. Beach town lodging is generally either el-cheapo or the Ritz.

Avon and Spring lake are very lovely, but most have expensive B & B's that aren't open yet until summer.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks for the replies! I found a place in Ocean Grove that looks and sounds nice.
Hillbeans, I was telling my daughter about how seedy some of the places are (at least from what I remember), so I appreciated you stating the fact too. As we all know, me being Mom amounts to knowing nothing.
Thanks again!

 

[Kimickey]

Dh's father lives in Asbury Park, NJ. We stay at the Marriott in Tinton Falls or the Sunrise Suites when we visit him. Both places are really nice!!!

 

[momtoce&j]

I would also say the Sheraton in Eatontown. It's on Rt. 35N. What's the name of the place in Ocean Grove? Ocean Grove is a nice quiet town. Your daughter should be fine staying there.

Hillbeans-
Where in Bradley Beach do you live?? I always take me kids to Bradley in the summer time. My grandmother still lives in town - 1/2 block from the beach.

 

[Manda1219]

What concert is she going to and what venue? I've been to the area many times, at several venues and if you want any info about them I can definatly help

PM me if you'd prefer!

 

[JerseyJanice]

You are right to want to keep her out of Asbury Park.

Ocean Grove is sometimes called Ocean Grave around here. It's quiet--too quiet. A safe place for a child, though.

I'd recommend any of the chain hotels in Tinton Falls. The Holiday Inn, Sunrise Suites (very, very nice--shop the 'net sites for a deal), Courtyard by Marriott, even the Red Roof Inn. All of them are lovely.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I would stay away from Ocean Grove. Lately there has been some controversy surrounding all the half way houses and group homes that are there. And all the lodging in the town are made up of B&Bs. Not quite suitable (or maybe it is ) for a young girl. If I were you, I would go the priceline route and bid Tinon Falls, Eatontown, and Red Bank/Lincroft. My sil always uses PL when she stays and usually ends up with the Courtyard in Lincroft (probably less than 20 mins from AP) for about $46.00. If you do not want to go the PL route, I would suggest the Sheraton in Eatontown. Clean, safe and right on HWy 35. Probably 7 mins from AP. And then right in Asbury across from the Paramount Theater and Convention Center is the Berkley Carteret. It was the Grand Dame of old Asbury. 2 years ago when we had that horrible tornado hit us and we were without water and power, we stayed there. It was just me, my girlfriend and 6 kids, and we were fine. (husbands were away at a Dead show) Let me know if you have any questions I can answer.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Good morning everyone! She is going to be in Asbury Park on April 17 and 18. The concert is actually a 3 day event, but she'll only go for the 2 days. It is at Convention Hall.
I did call the Berkley, but they only had Sun. night avalible. I called and reseved a room at the Laingdon Hotel. I think the owner said it is about a 15 minute walk down the boardwalk. He also said that there is one spot that is a little funky to walk through (sort of a casino type place?) and that obviously she should walk with someone. He told me it is a quike drive to AP and fairly direct. Also a cab would cost about $4.00.
Does anyone know more about the boardwalk from Asbury to Ocean Grove? I would much rather her walk from the hotel if it is possible and will be safe. She won't be alone, so that makes me feel a little better.

 

[gina2000]

Asbury Park is not safe at night. I would not recommend anyone walking the boardwalk to anywhere except their car. We go to see Springsteen there every Christmas. It's rare not to hear of cars broken into after the concert.

 

[momtoce&j]

I havn't walked the boardwalk through to Asbury Park in years. Even then the last time was in the summer not too late in the evening. I would have to agree that it has become unsafe to walk in Asbury Park in the wee hours of the morning. That being said, how old is your DD and her friend? If the Hotel isn't too far and your DD can walk briskly, I would say walk. Trying to get a cab would have her waiting awhile for the cab to show up and if the hotel isn't that far away, she couldhave been back by the time a cab showed up. I don't know, like I said, It's been a long time since I've walked the boardwalk from Bradley through to Asbury. I'm sure someone else can help you better than me.

 

[Hillbeans]

Momtoce&J - we lived on 2nd avenue, in the small pink apartment building which was 2 houses from the ocean. It was a great place to live, and we were there for 2 + years, but when we had our DS in 2001, we moved to a house in Aberdeen. We loved where we lived, and wanted to stay in that area, but it was very far from our jobs.

I used to walk the Asbury Boardwalk/Ocean Grove boardwalk during the day, and I would NOT recommend anyone walking around there in the evening. It's not a good area, and Ocean Grove has a good side and a bad side - the bad side being the street leading into Asbury Park. Asbury Park is just a very unsafe town. I'm sorry if I offend anyone who lives there, and I know they're trying to revive it and I can't wait for that day, however why be unsafe than sorry. Do not walk at night, even with a friend. When my DH and I used to walk around there years ago we came upon a fenced in basketball court, with a huge cross/flowers/obvious marker for where someone was killed. My DH and I looked at each other and said how awful it must have been for that poor person who was cornered on that basketball court with the high fences who obviously was killed there. We pretty much never walked in that area again.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Yeah I know. This is what my husband and I are trying to explain about the area, that it just isn't the safest place, the car could get broken into etc.... She will be 18 at that point, she'll be with her boyfriend who is 20. They are both level headed kids (more so than I ever was LOL!), so I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will be responsible. We are going to sit them both down for a long talk. Ugh! we've reached that stage and age in life, I must say I don't think I like it LOL!

 

[Hillbeans]

Well, in this case, it's very justified. I think walking around here at night is just asking for trouble. 99% of the time nothing would happen, but why risk it. I'm sure an 18 and 20 YO can protect themselves, but being in a very unfamiliar area that everyone knows isn't safe isn't the time to just test the water. Go with your instincts on this one.

 

[Tea Please]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
I would NOT recommend anyone walking around there in the evening. It's not a good area, and Ocean Grove has a good side and a bad side - the bad side being the street leading into Asbury Park. Asbury Park is just a very unsafe town. I'm sorry if I offend anyone who lives there, and I know they're trying to revive it and I can't wait for that day, however why be unsafe than sorry. Do not walk at night, even with a friend. /QUOTE]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with this. As nice as Asbury Park could be, it is still considered a high crime area. And although I know you want your daughter to be within walking distance, I belive it is still a little too risky. Like a previous poster said, Ocean Grove is really not much better. Sure its nice on a summer afternoon at the beach, but in my opinion the nights are the same as Asbury Park. And please don't let looks deceive you, there are some really run down places in Ocean Grove that call themselves "Victorian B&B's". Surely she would be safer out of the town and out on Rte 35 somewhere.

 

[charlie,nj]

Like others have said Asbury Park is a Ghost Town..

We drive through and stop in Asbury Park whenever we go “down the shore”. My sons start yelling “the horror, the horror” when we approach it. I tell them that when I was little my mother would rent a room in Ocean Grove for 2 weeks and we would hang out in Asbury Park all day and night. That was in the early 60’s ..the good times. I will never forget how great it was. We would even go fishing in the lake for sunnies(?).

I think the riots in the 70’s are what killed AP.

Here are some cool AP web sites…the lamb one has great “then and now” pictures. I have also included a link to the AP of the future (hopefully)


http://www.side-o-lamb.com/

http://oceanfrontasbury.com/

http://asburypark.net/

http://stoneponyonline.com/

http://savetillie.com/

 

[gina2000]

Thanks, Charlie.

The lamb "then and now" pics are incredible. The town is trying so hard to revitalize itself. I think it has finally hit rock bottom. Hopefully, it's on its way back up.....

 

[danacara]

Interestingly, the Asbury Park town council and NGOs are mounting a very aggressive campaign to attract gay couples to the area to support its revitalization.

Specifically, they'd like gays without children to buy the beachfront Victorians, as well as the houses on the surrounding streets, restore them, and use them as primary or secondary residences. This is as an alternative to the Hamptons or Fire Island, both of which are three plus hours in traffic on summer weekends from Manhattan - Asbury Park is more like two hours, even a little less.

They are looking at gays specifically as research shows that they tend to have more discretionary income (usually two wage earners, usually no kids), and the schools are an unmitigated disaster, so it would be a challenge to attract families with many children. They've already had some success - the town advertises regularly in the [Greenwich] Village Voice. Also, think those gay weddings in Asbury Park were a coincidence? No way. It's the town saying, "you are welcome here."