dforquer

In search of a small, seaside hotel/motel with beach on the Atlantic Ocean in August.
Don't need bells & whistles--just a place to get away from it all. Any recommendations?

gc

There's got to be something between Miami and Arcadia Nat'l Park...

I go for Camden, Me.

karebear4567

i can't give you any specific hotels, but Stone Harbor New Jersey is upscale and nice on the shore. or you could try the Hamptons in New York. or Ocean CIty Maryland.

Dreamer2

Well, of course, there's tons! Since it's August you'll probably want to be in the northern half of the country. Any regional preference? Driving or flying there? The only problem I forsee, is that generally, beachfront properties upscale their digs to ever increase the rates that are already premium due to location. What price range are you looking for? And just how far away from it all?

Bootman4U

If you really want to get away from it all you might consider somewhere along the Outer Banks in NC...just make sure you're south of Nags Head. And Stone Harbor, NJ, and OC, Maryland, are about as different from each other as you can get.

mclaurie

In Spring Lake, NJ there are Inns & B&Bs across from the water. It's a charming looking town. Many of the places have front porches. Deal, NJ also nice.

Montauk, LI is a bit grittier. There are motels right on the beach like the Wavecrest & Panoramic View or cottage enclaves across the street from the beach like Lenhardts.

BuzzyJ

I would suggest you look into the Black Point Inn and The Inn by the Sea both south of Portland, Maine.

dforquer

Thanks for the responses. We are driving from Toledo, Ohio, so the New Jersey coast suggestions sound great.
Hoping to try to find a smaller type motel for around $100/night if possible.
I'll check out the NJ cities mentioned--
Stone Harbor, Deal, Spring Lake and see what I can come up with. What about Cape May? Also, do you think it would be possible to just "wing" it instead of making reservations ahead of time or would that just be asking for trouble?

Thank you!!!

SusieQQ

Deal does not have B&Bs. It is residential. Spring Lake would be my choice.

screen_name

I think NJ is a great idea...but I am afraid your estimate of $100 per night might be a little low for the beach in Augsut. Spring Lake is wonderful, Cape May is wonderful. My favorite town at the Jersey Shore for low key relaxing is Lavalette.

WARNING:If you try to "wing in" make sure to bring a pillow because you will be sleeping in your car.

dforquer

OK, we'll check on Lavalette, too.
Thanks for the input!!

rmmr

Cape May is wonderful and unique, and they have TONS of B&Bs to choose from, as well as some decent hotels/motels right on the beach. But you definitely need to reserve in advance, and as soon as possible. Everyone who lives on the Eastern seaboard wants to go to the beach in August.

Lola

I wish you luck in finding anything halfway decent at this late date.
The worst dumps at the Jersey shore will be renting for well over $100+ a night. Same with Long Island NY.
Maybe you should try farther north, like Connecticut or Maine.

Elizabeth

In Cape May I am crazy about the Chalfonte Hotel. I know it's not what you asked for, which would be a little motel on the sea not too expensive.

The Chalfonte did use to be a good deal, as the price included breakfast and dinner, served family style, cooked by a family that's cooked there for 100 years, really southern and good. Many rooms share bathrooms which was always fine with me. It's a block from the sea.

Also: check Ocean Grove (NJ): it's a place that was and still is a Methodist summer retreat resort, and is now open to everyone -- really quiet and charming. They used to forbid cars to drive through on Sundays, but that has now changed.

You know, anything in Cape May on the water should be fine, I bet there's a website or something. It's a relatively quiet town.

A whole other proposition -- Rockport, Mass. Zillions of seaside places to stay. But the beach there is no good compared to Jersey (really -- I was shocked the first time I saw it -- no surf, never!! weird!! wrong!!). (And beautiful if you like it like that.)

Suggest searches for Jersey shore, Rockport, Goucester, North Shore (all in Massachusetts).

gail

You have received some good suggestions, but I hope by "get away from it all" you don't mean uncrowded - as NJ and Mass. beaches are unlikely to be isolated and quiet.

Mass. beaches, with the exception of Cape Cod and a few select places (Cranes Beach, for example) tend to be rocky rather than sandy, the water is cold, and waves are scarce. Bigger waves but colder water in Maine and the tiny NH coast.

I did a quick internet search on Mass. places - nothing even close to your preferred price and most were already booked. I second idea not to "wing it" - you could find lodging at some far-away-from-the-ocean dive, but not what you would want to stay in.

Bud

Cape May is great. So is Ocean City, NJ. Actually, he last week in August is less crowded now because kids start back to school earlier. Stone harbor is great, but the most expensive area on the southern shore.