My (young adult) daughter and I arrived in Melbourne Beach on Sunday afternoon. Husband and son are in Germany!

We've had great weather so far. We're staying at the Doubletree Guest Suites. We've been satisfied with the hotel, since it's just the two of us. The hotel has been recently renovated because of hurricane damage, so the furniture seems new.

The pool is tiny and VERY crowded. I am an early riser, so I will find us chairs on the pool deck, but by 9 yesterday morning, there were no more chairs for people just coming outside.

The staff here needs to take a course in hospitality. More on that later.

All rooms are oceanfront, and the view is awesome! Even though it's spring break, the beach isn't very crowded. I think we're going to rent chairs and an umbrella today.

This trip is supposed to be all about RELAXING, and that's exactly what we're doing, so all is good.

And tonight we're watching the Lady Vols! Go, TN!!!!!

Head over to the Islands Fish Grill for a good seafood meal

Where is the Islands Fish Grill? This is the first time we've stayed in this area, and we've had a hard time finding restaurants. The people at the front desk don't know much about restuarants, either.

And I saw the Chart House on a map -- is that good? We are looking for some good sea food tonight.

Thanks!

Congrats, samsaf! I'm glad you chose a place that is working out for you and your daughter - even with some glitches. The Chart House in other locations are very good. It would be great to get some personal recommendations though!

Samsaf, I could certainly use a trip with my adult daughter right now. But since that's not in the cards, please have a great time and hug your daughter for me!

Looking forward to hearing more~

Samsaf, this is very funny because my adult daughter and two grandsons just decided exactly when we were going to go to Florida this year. I was going to make reservations at the same exact hotel because I need to see the sun come up over the Atlantic. This hotel seemed to have the best of all worlds.

Should we reconsider and go to the Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach instead. My grandsons are 8 and 11?

Please let me know. Thank you.

Samsaf, there are lots of very good restaurants in the area around Melbourne and its beaches. One which is well-known for its seafood is located at the west end of the Eau Gallie causeway road, on the river. The Chart House is usually very good. If you want to find out more names of nice places to have dinner, don't ask the people at the motel. Go across the Indian River into downtown old Melbourne, and ask some of the people in the older stores along the main drag.

As for the question about where to stay, I'd avoid Cocoa Beach and stay in the area around Indialantic or Melbourne Beach. Drive up to Cocoa Beach if you want to visit the famous surf shop, or eat lunch in the old Bavarian restaurant, but Cocoa Beach tends to be seedy and overrun with what I fondly call "creeps."

Thanks, everybody, for the restaurant advice.

Granniem, I've not stayed at the Hampton Inn on Cocoa Beach, so I can't compare the two. This hotel is fine, but the pool is extremely small and crowded. When my kids were little, it would have been hard for us to use this pool. But the room is very nice.

We rented an umbrella and chairs on the beach today ($20), and that's a little quieter.

I came upstairs to check my e-mail, and I had an e-mail from my husband. He and our son are in Germany, and my husband said in the e-mail he had driven a 6-speed car on the Autobahn without killing anyone, and they got to their destination (Garmisch)! So I am glad.

And now I'm headed back to the sun and the beach.

I think we're going to try to find the Chart House tonight. More later...

Now I am really torn because my grandkids die for swimming pools (that's all they care about in a vacation). The place looks great, the rates are good, and people are telling me that Cocoa Beach is not so great. What other hotels are in Melbourne>=?
HAve fun and remember the sunscreen. My co workers grandson is in the same town as your husband. He is in the army. Small world?

To get to the Chart House, head west across the Melbourne Causeway (U.S. 192). Just across the causeway, before you get to the traffic light at U.S. 1, you'll see where the road splits in two with the main road veering to the right. Well, you want to turn left so you're heading up New Haven Avenue, and then turn left again fairly quickly onto Front Street. Front Street runs along the Indian River. Go down Front Street and almost at the end of the road the Chart House will be on your right. If you get to U.S. 1 you went too far.

I haven't eaten there in many years because it's pricey, but I know it used to be good and it probably still is.

For good seafood, Islands Fish Grill on 5th Avenue in Indialantic (on the south side of the road, in the middle of a strip of stores, parking's in the back) is also recommended.

Okay. Just heard back from my MB area friend.

Fish Island Grill on 5th Ave is excellent!
The Chart House has good food
The Pineda Inn

There are some cute new places in downtown Melbourne that she hasn't tried yet.

Just read the previous post. Based on "inside information", I'd try the Fish Island Grill. I've done the Chart Houses before - on expense account. I'm not sure I'd spend my dime there if there's another alternative - and it sounds like the Fish Island Grill is a great alternative.

(But, your pocketbook may be bigger than mine )

samsaf, I tried to find a link to see the Fish Island Grill menu.

This article describes both the FIG and Chart House.

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbc.../50701010/1007

Thanks, everybody, and thanks for the link, Starrs!

We just made reservations at Fish Island Grill for tonight. Will report back.

Grannie, we have enjoyed our week so far at this hotel, but if I was picking a hotel based mainly on the pool, this would not be my choice. The beach is great and uncrowded, but pool is small. There is a regular Hilton down the street, and there is also a Radisson. If we get a chance this week, I will hop in and look at the pools at some of the other resorts, and then I will let you know what I find.

Go, Lady Vols!

The Fish Islands Grill was VERY GOOD. We had salad and then shared the onion-encrusted grouper ($24). I'm glad we shared it, because there is no way we could have eaten the whole thing. The staff was very nice (including our very cute water who kept talking to my daughter). By the time we were getting ready to leave, the place was filling up.

Grannie, we will take pictures of the pool. You can e-mail me. My address is saf0615 at charter dot net

When we get home I will send pictures to you. My daughter said maybe I am describing it as smaller than it is, so I don't want to lead you wrong. Will take pictures today.

That is so nice of you. Thank you. I will look into that other Hilton too. Please repeat your e mail address I could not read it clearly.'

Thank you. Enjoy.

Margie

I will e-mail you when I get home. I'm assuming that your e-mail address is part of your fodors name?

And right now I'm going to take pictures of the pool here.

I checked the other HIlton out and it is over $200.00 per night even with AAA and AARP, plus I do not think it is on the ocean.

My only desire for a room on the coast is the sun coming up over the Atlantic and my seeing it. My grandsons only want a pool, anywhere. My daughters desire is a clean pillow to park her head on.
Yes my address is [email protected]. I really appreciate all the trouble you are going thru.

Mighty cold in NY today, enjoy the warmth.

Samsaf-- While in the area its time to see the Space and Treasure Coast of Florida.. Drive south along the A1A and visit the Treasure Coast and the Sebastian Inlet Rec area.

http://funandsun.com/parks/Sebastian...tianinlet.html

Another is north along US-1, the Space Coast, to Titusville and the Merritt Island NWA and the Canaveral National Seashore. You can get a good view of the two launchpads for the Space Shuttle from the Southern Unit of Seashore.

http://www.nps.gov/cana/

http://www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/

granniem - Make sure you were checking the right Hilton. There is a Hilton in Melbourne Beach that is directly on the ocean and also a Hilton Rialto Place in Melbourne that is not on the beach. They're probably both expensive, though.