Virginia Beach oceanfront hotels

[TJA]

We're planning a summer trip to VB and I'm going crazy with all the research involved. I know the activities we'll do, but I can't seem to find the right hotel at the right price. I'm aware of trip advisor, expedia, hotels.com, etc., and I've even contemplated hotwire and priceline but I'm nervous to not get an oceanfront room and we'd also like the comp breakfast for our 2 young kids, so I'm thinking I should hand-pick the exact hotel. I want a nice one, but not at $300 a night. Has anyone recently been to VB? Where did you stay? Did you see a particular hotel(s) on the strip that you thought looked nice? Any hints/advice on how to get good deals on the good hotels other than what I'm already looking into? Thanks for any help!

 

[JoanneNC]

It's been years since we traveled there to speak of 1st hand experience but we happen to be heading there later this month and will be staying here

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/orfoc-courtyard-virginia-beach-oceanfront-south/

We like their suites

 

[ajk912]

We just went last week and stayed at the Sheraton Oceanfront. LOVED it, and would stay there again. I only paid for the basic basic room, but got a free upgrade to a balcony with a partial view. I LOVED that, I sat out there and drank my coffee in the morning, and could see the ocean and boardwalk if I looked to the right, and if I looked to the left I could see the main road/traffic. They had an indoor pool, an outdoor pool (actually, two of them) and a restaurant and free coffee for the mornings. Breakfast was cheap, I want to say the buffet was $11 for adults? It was the 35th block.

There was a REALLY nice hotel at the 34th block..I keep meaning to look it up, but I forgot the name now. They had a really cute little waterpark and the neatest hotel bar.

The public beach was around the 30th block..so you might want to get away from that (or go near that, depending on your preference). I thought the area were were at was GREAT!!!

BTW, most of the cheap eats were around the 22nd block..so that kind of sucked for us. That was where Dairy Queen, Subway, McDonalds, and Wendys are, in that area.

 

[TJA]

Thanks to both of you for the great info! Ironically, I've been looking at that exact Marriott and also Springhill Suites by Marriott. I'd love to get a price right around the $200 per night mark, oceanfront room with balcony. My kids have never seen the ocean, so I want to wake up to the waves and a view! I've also looked at a Hilton but the cost is very high right now. I'm thinking as August draws closer perhaps costs will go down if there are enough empty rooms. That could backfire on me, though, if enough rooms are taken then prices may go up......

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Start doing some heavy research on that August theory. Many schools don't start back until just after Labor day.

 

[uva185]

I'm not familiar with Virginia Beach so take this advice with a grain of salt.

Depending how long you will be in Virginia Beach you might want to look into renting a condo. Google search for Real Estate Agencies in VA Beach, most will have a list of rental properties they offer. If you are going for at least a week I'm sure you can get a great deal.

EDIT: For a random price comparison we rent our ocean front condo in Delaware for $2,000 / week (equals $285 per night). It is a 2 level condo which sleeps 6. I'm sure you could get something smaller for half the price.

 

[TJA]

We were planning to go for 4 nights, but I see on the Marriott site there is a deal for 5-night stay at both the south and north Marriott.

Thanks again for all the thoughts and info.

 

[snowy76]

Thanks to both of you for the great info! Ironically, I've been looking at that exact Marriott and also Springhill Suites by Marriott.

We stayed at the SH last summer and loved it. Great breakfast. Indoor and outdoor pools. It was only built a few years ago and to us it seemed like it was on a less-crowded area of the beach. Also very close to the Rudee Inlet!

 

[TJA]

We stayed at the SH last summer and loved it. Great breakfast. Indoor and outdoor pools. It was only built a few years ago and to us it seemed like it was on a less-crowded area of the beach. Also very close to the Rudee Inlet!

Awesome! That is/was my original choice and still remains my top choice, but I'd love to see the price drop a bit. Right now it's showing approx $279/269 per night plus tax. The Marriott South is actually less money for our dates, but then again there isn't comp breakfast there. I've started to look a bit at the Fairfield too.....the Rudee Inlet is on our list and we can't wait to try it out!

 

[klamb19]

If you aren't looking for a luxury hotel the Holiday Inn Sunspree on 39th usually has oceanfront around $200. We stayed there in 2005. They have a small indoor pool, large outdoor pool, indoor lazy river.My kids loved it there. It was clean and kid friendly.
I don't know what it is like 4 years later but the housekeeping staff was slow (like at 4pm our room wasn't clean yet) and the restaurant there (the casual one) was horrible.
They did have a breakfast buffet each morning (kids were free) that was good.
There was a 7 eleven across the street as well as a trolley stop right outside the hotel.

Good Luck!

 

[Psychodisney]

Last summer we stayed at the Residence Inn ans I'd stay there again in a heartbeat. They had a nice comp. breakfast. They only have a small indoor pool but guests were allowed to use the Sheraton outdoor pools. We had a one BR which also had a kitchenette. The Sheraton also looked very nice.
We stayed one night at the HI sunspree and checked out. Our room wasn't very clean...so my DH headed out the next morning and got the room at the Residence Inn. There also was a new Hampton Inn that looked nice.

 

[TJA]

Thank you for info on HI and Residence Inn. I've actually looked at both of those places....several times LOL. HI is a good price. Residence Inn looks great but that's showing around $300 per night. I'm not really a cheap person, but I also don't want to miss out on good deals. I'm going to check out the Residence Inn website a bit further.

Thanks everyone! I have this thread flagged and keep coming back to it and re-reading your advice. Each and every one of you has good information to share.

 

[bizeemom4]

We just went last week and stayed at the Sheraton Oceanfront. LOVED it, and would stay there again. I only paid for the basic basic room, but got a free upgrade to a balcony with a partial view. I LOVED that, I sat out there and drank my coffee in the morning, and could see the ocean and boardwalk if I looked to the right, and if I looked to the left I could see the main road/traffic. They had an indoor pool, an outdoor pool (actually, two of them) and a restaurant and free coffee for the mornings. Breakfast was cheap, I want to say the buffet was $11 for adults? It was the 35th block.

We stayed at this Sheraton last summer as well. We paid for the deluxe oceanfront room. We were on the top floor. It was really worth the $$$. I'd recommend staying there - away from the madness 20 blocks down. We walked down one night and it was a little too busy for us. We were happy to get back to the hotel. I walked the opposite way to a 7-11 for donuts and the Sunday paper. Walked past the HI & peeked at the pool. I had been going back and forth between staying there vs. the Sheraton and I am SO glad that we picked the Sheraton. The HI outdoor pool looks nice on their website but is really small in person.

 

[ajk912]

We stayed at this Sheraton last summer as well. We paid for the deluxe oceanfront room. We were on the top floor. It was really worth the $$$. I'd recommend staying there - away from the madness 20 blocks down. We walked down one night and it was a little too busy for us. We were happy to get back to the hotel. I walked the opposite way to a 7-11 for donuts and the Sunday paper. Walked past the HI & peeked at the pool. I had been going back and forth between staying there vs. the Sheraton and I am SO glad that we picked the Sheraton. The HI outdoor pool looks nice on their website but is really small in person.

Thanks for sharing the pics, you made me feel like I was back there again for a minute!!! The rooms were HUGE, absolutely HUGE. But again the last time I stayed in a hotel room before that was at POR, and I was like..dang, this is so much bigger than that! No offense POR, I still love ya and will be back.

My kids loved that pool in the pic. That was the main pool we used. It's mostly about 3-3.5 foot deep, so great for kids swimming around. And I loved the ocean in the background, too. It got kind of busy in the afternoons, but in the evenings we had it to ourselves. Ahhh..and the pool bar, with poolside meal service, you have got to love it!!!

 

[TJA]

Very interesting re Sheraton! Hmmmm, I'll have to check that one out too. The pool looks great with the ocean in the background! I do have a question, though, for those of you that stayed there: Are most rooms oceanfront with private balcony? I will go to the website now and probably answer my own question, but it helps to hear first-hand opinions as well. Right now I'm leaning towards the Residence Inn.....AAA gets the price down to 289 which is still kind of steep for me. My hotel choice changes easily, so next time I post I'm sure I will have a new favorite.

Keep the thoughts coming! Thanks a million! Heading to the Sheraton site now......

 

[Psychodisney]

Don't forget the complimentary breakfast(saves money every day)and the kitchenette. I wish I had some pictures of the RI. All of the rooms are oceanfront and have balconies. I don't think you'd be dissappointed with the Sheraton but the RI gives you more of a suite(read privacy from the kids). My DH was able to get them to reduce the rate on the spot-he told them he was "shopping".

 

[TJA]

I know....I really want a place with comp breakfast. It really makes things so much easier to not have to pack (or shop for) breakfast food. The RI looks glorious. With the Sheraton, I'd have to be sure to get a room with oceanfront view as it looks like there are several other views available. By reserving the oceanfront, it pretty much brings the cost right up to the RI cost, just slightly less. I'm both Starwood member and have a Marriott card, so I'm set in either case. Thanks for all the info....I'm still debating and searching....

 

[Picabo]

We go to VA Bch every year and LOOOVE IT!!!

IN anycase, have you tried Gold Key Vacations? Gold Key is a huge time share seller there (you won't be able to do anything without comming across Gold Key reps! haha) but if you are willing to go to their 2 hr speil and go on a tour of their newest property (which is AMAZING) then you can get really cheap rates on hotel stays and also they give you $50-100 gift card to use for dining out while you're there! You can go to their website and see what dates and prices are. Many of the places they offer for you to stay at will be suites with a kitchen so that's a bonus as well.

We've stayed at Residence Inn (wonderful but a tiny bit small and their bkfst buffet is amazing). We've also stayed 3 times at the Boardwalk Villas (owned by Gold Key). Anyhow, you may want to look into it. Ify ou're willing to do their speil, you can get some cheap rates for hotel!

 

[momoflizandains]

I visited some friends at the Marriott Courtyard on 37th st Friday night. It was great. I have no idea what the rooms cost, but they are very nice. The pool is beautiful, and it's in a good location.

 

[ajk912]

Very interesting re Sheraton! Hmmmm, I'll have to check that one out too. The pool looks great with the ocean in the background! I do have a question, though, for those of you that stayed there: Are most rooms oceanfront with private balcony? I will go to the website now and probably answer my own question, but it helps to hear first-hand opinions as well. Right now I'm leaning towards the Residence Inn.....AAA gets the price down to 289 which is still kind of steep for me. My hotel choice changes easily, so next time I post I'm sure I will have a new favorite.

Keep the thoughts coming! Thanks a million! Heading to the Sheraton site now......

Yes, you can book oceanfront view w/private balcony. It's kind of like the Contemporary, where you book what you want, you know? If you want just a cheap room, you book the garden view. If you want the tower, you book that, if you want the theme parks view, you book that.

So you book (and pay for) whatever category you want. There is basic (with no view), limited ocean view with private balcony, and full ocean view with private balcony.

I booked the basic room, but was really hoping for an upgreat. I just didn't want to pay for it. I kept my fingers crossed, didn't ask, but kept my fingers crossed. We got a free upgrade to a balcony room with a partial ocean view. It was perfect.