Hi,
My husband and were hoping to stay on Wrightsville Beach North Carolina May 1 and 2. The places actually on the beach look gorgeous but too expensive. Any thoughts on other near by places to stay? Around a $100.00 a night would be great! Also, what's it like to stay in the city if we want to do the beach both days?
Thanks.

You probably won't find $100/night there, esp. that week (some colleges have graduation early in May, and students flock to beaches after finishing finals). But if you're talking about motels/hotels, there aren't many. We like the Holiday Inn Resort very much, prefer it to Blockade Runner. We have also stayed at Surf Suites and really liked the location, although the bedding arrangements didn't suit us.

Be aware that many search engines (and tripadvisor) will include motels on the other side of the causeway/sound, i.e. on the mainland, and some of those motels include "Wrightsville" in their name. If you really want to be waterside, it has to be "Wrightsville Beach" and be sure to check a map. On the other hand, you can save a lot of money if you stay on the mainland and "commute." However, sometimes finding parking for the beach can be a challenge and those hotels draw a lot of kids' sports teams for end-of-spring tournaments (notably soccer). The "city" of Wrightsville is mostly support shopping, etc. -- boutiquey malls, overpriced, etc. Some good(ish) restaurants.

The city of Wilmington, however, is charming and worth exploring. It's a fair hike out to the beach, but if you're willing to go out earlier rather than later, it's doable - about a 20 min. drive.

Hope this helps.

I really like the Surf Suites which has great views and beach access, plus a kitchen, for noticeably less than the Blockade Runner, but I can't imagine getting anything at the beach for $100/night in May - I go in November....

Wilmington has plenty of interesting old houses, plus some good restaurants, but again, I doubt you'll be staying downtown for $100/night (the Wilmingtonian is $95/night but only mid-week and is full for your dates). Maybe one of the chain motels on the roads in/out of town.

booking.com has a couple of places for your dates (doesn't help that one is a Friday) just over your limit, but I don't know that either are places you'd want to stay.

I agree you're going to have a very hard time finding anything on Wrightsville for $100. I think you're going to have to find a motel inland for that kind of money.

And that time of year, you're not guaranteed super warm beach weather - last year those dates saw highs in the low to mid 70s. With a couple of clouds and a brisk wind, those kind of numbers can feel a bit chilly, especially before and after the high of the day. If it is cool, the city (downtown) has a lot to offer.

Your reply is full of good suggestions. Thanks so much.

Just saw the last three entries - many thanks.Not worried if its cool - more interested in walking, checking out birds, breathing in the sea air and seeing waves! So I'll look inland for a motel , as it sounds as though its not too far to get to the beach. If we need to pay a bit more, so be it.
I checked Air B and B and will do again.

Does it have to be Wrightsville?

Look at Carolina beach and Kure beach too. They are just down from Wrightsville and you might get lucky.