Hotels at the Jersey Shore

[Jennifer823]

My family of six is planning a trip up to NJ this summer. We plan on going up to NY for a few days and then down to Seaside for a night or two. We want to show the kids the boardwalk. (DH and I grew up in northern NJ.)

I am having such a hard time finding a place to stay! We need a larger hotel room for all of us, and it seems everything down the shore is small B&B type inns. Could you recommend a place not too far from the beach that would fit us? We like places like Embassy Suites or Homewood Suites, because we all fit.. but I don't even know what TOWNS to look in! LOL

We are driving up to NJ from FL (23 hr trip!) and plan to have this the last stop before heading back onto I-95 for the trip home, so something near the highway would be OK.

Thank you so much! I know I can count on the DIS!

 

[luvmy3]

We stay at the Tradewinds in Lavalette, just north of Seaside. Its a not fancy beach motel, not an Embassy suites but it fits our family of 5 nicely and is very clean and the people there are so friendly, has a pool, a block from the beach. There is a bakery, a pizza place and Salty's for ice cream right across the street. Its a short drive tio Seaside, you can see the boardwalk (and the fireworks) from the motel, although we take the longer drive up to Jennkinsons (sp).

 

[jerseygirl81]

We tend to go to Wildwood Crest if we are looking to spend time at the boardwalk. We're not crazy about Seaside, we hav'nt been in years thought it was getting kinda sleezy (just my opinion) There is a lot of places to stay in Wildwood the beach is free and they have a great boardwalk. Linda

 

[java]

Ugh finding "hotel" on the shore is a tough one. There are motels all along the shore but most of my friends that go with family actually rent homes. Long Beach Island is what I would say is a higher end rentals- loveladies a little less expensive.
But if you find something let me know. We would like to do that too.

 

[mjkacmom]

A condo would work, but usually you have to rent the whole week. Ocean City is my favorite boardwalk location, followed by Wildwood, followed by Point Pleasant. My kids have never been to Sea Side, because it was yucky even back in my youth. You might have to get 2 adjoining rooms - we do that frequently.

 

[donac]

You might want to try the area around Eatontown NJ. We are only about 40 minutes from Seaside and a little more than hour (depending on traffic) from NYC. We are right off of the parkway and about 45 minutes from Great Adventure and that is only 15 minutes from the turnpike.

I think that there is a Resident's Inn in Eatontown. You might also try Tinton Falls.

These are not on the beach but about 10 minutes from Long Branch

 

[Jennifer823]

Thanks for the ideas! I know Seaside isn't the nicest.. and I probably wouldn't want to spend a whole week there, but my kids have never seen a "boardwalk" and DH and I have only really spent time at Seaside when we were kids. Is Wildwood nicer? We've got plenty of nice beaches near us and we aren't looking for beach time (we live close to the beach in FL) but want to spend a little time on the boardwalk. You know, games, rides, cheesesteaks...

 

[XYSRUS]

Seaside was iffy 15-20 yrs ago when my then BF(DH now) went there. I wouldn't take my kids there for an hour! We're not big boardwalk folks. We go to LBI every year-I love that place. Just IMO, though.

 

[IloveDMB]

Take the kids to Point Pleasant Beach instead. The boardwalk is much nicer and much more family friendly. There is a Courtyard by Marriott that is in Ocean, I think or you could stay at the Ocean Sands.

 

[java]

I'll second if you want a boardwalk experience point pleasant is more family friendly than the others you mentioned.

Another perk every year Jenkinson's(point pleasant) offers 2 for 1 ticket books on Easter weekend. You can buy them online.
If you are going I HIGHLY suggest doing this as the prices are CRAZY~

 

[luvmy3]

Thanks for the ideas! I know Seaside isn't the nicest.. and I probably wouldn't want to spend a whole week there, but my kids have never seen a "boardwalk" and DH and I have only really spent time at Seaside when we were kids. Is Wildwood nicer? We've got plenty of nice beaches near us and we aren't looking for beach time (we live close to the beach in FL) but want to spend a little time on the boardwalk. You know, games, rides, cheesesteaks...

We go to Jenkinsons Boardwalk and they have all that stuff and an aquarium. Its more family friendly than sleaze-side heights
If you are sticking to the Northern part of the shore I'd definitely go there over Seaside.

 

[Eeyore18]

We have a summer home in Lavallette- so I'm familiar with both. There aren't any big chain hotels anywhere there. The best bet would be Tradewinds too.
It is close to Seaside boardwalk. (5 minute drive) Casino Pier and the exact opposite side of the boardwalk have more kiddie rides and they are trying to make it more family friendly. Of course Pt. Pleasant is cleaner/nicer and about 20 minutes from Lavallette. You could do both.
I've been going down the shore for almost 30 years. It's funny that we visit Disney and you'll be coming up here. Ask away!

 

[TIGGER'SFRIEND]

Ocean City--hands down--great family oriented boardwalk--Impala Inn has deluxe rooms that sleep 6--have family week deals--Love it!!!

 

[Disneysun]

Ocean City is the best place - has a great boardwalk with games, rides, ice cream, carmel corn, pizza and salt water taffy. The kids love it and it is a dry island, so no broken bottles.

 

[Disneysun]

Check out tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews. We have stayed at the Sun Beach a few times and it is pretty basic, but they have a king and double sofa bed. Would be tight, but you can make it work. They also come with a kitchenette so you can eat breakfast and make sandwiches if you want.

 

[secretpantssam]

I grew up near seaside and point pleasant and I used to love seaside as a kid. But I have to agree with other posters that it's not what it used to be. Last time I went it was really sleazy and I've heard it got worse since. Point pleasant is much more family friendly and not too far away.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Dont forget about Atlantic City. I like the boardwalk there. I take my 4 kids there 1-2 times a year. I have live in NJ my whole like and I am not a seaside or wildwood person. I will drive the 2 hours to AC.

 

[mousebymarriage]

I agree with previous posters, don't take the kids to seaside. It's really not that family friendly, there are always tons of problems there in the summer (fights, too much drinking, rowdy foul mouthed teens, drunk teens puking on the boardwalk etc.). Point Pleasant is much more family friendly and has a great boardwalk. Wildwood is also nice. We always take the kids to Point Pleasant and I have lived in New Jersey my entire life.

 

[sanapunk]

Seaside Heights has become home of MTV's Jersey Shore..that's enough said for me.

Another vote for Point Pleasant Beach!

 

[Mickeys.friend]

We tend to go to Wildwood Crest if we are looking to spend time at the boardwalk. We're not crazy about Seaside, we hav'nt been in years thought it was getting kinda sleezy (just my opinion) There is a lot of places to stay in Wildwood the beach is free and they have a great boardwalk.

I agree...Morey's Pier in Wildwood is THE ONLY Boardwalk in my opinion that is 100% Family friendly, clean, and of course the most fun.....

LIZ