I will have 2 nights stay in Wilmington or Wrightsville Beach soon. It seems there are really only 2 hotels on the beach: Holiday Inn and Blockade Runner - neither seem to be great hotels. Anyone has any rec's for other places nearby? We'd like a pool and fitness area if possible. Thanks!

Not sure what qualifies as a "great" hotel, but Blockade Runner is the traditional special-time place there, has a lot of amenities and a nice beach (see it streaming live at http://www.wrightsville.com/bchcam.htm). The Holiday Inn is a Sunspree, which makes it more of a resort than other Holiday Inns. There are one or two other places -- check http://www.wrightsville.com/wbccac.htm for a list, although be aware that Shell Island, while a nice property, is probably going to slip out to sea in the next big blow -- is teetering on a man-made breakwater now.

Bear in mind that Wrightsville is a very small and comparatively old community beach island and it's not going to look like Myrtle Beach or Virginia Beach with lots of upscale resorts and high-rise condos, which is precisely its charm.

PS: What did you find lacking at Blockade Runner? -- it has pool, spa, etc. Check: http://www.blockade-runner.com/things.shtml

Unfortunately, hotel choices are limited on Wrightsville Beach, and be most assured that the Blockade Runner's management knows this. We stayed there last year during one of their spring specials (I think maybe $159 per night?) and found the place to be dismal. Nice location, but everything else was exceptionally run-down. I have never felt as cheated by a hotel until I stayed at the Blockade Runner.

Interesting and disappointing, Edward R. Thanks. Have only been in lobby-restaurant area and out on the beach, but this is good to know. Have you any experience w/Holiday Inn?

We usually stay either in a cottage or in the VERY modest Surf Suites -- which is nothing more than 1 BR plus kitchenette and sitting room with balcony. We like it but it is no resort -- does have outdoor pool but nothing remotely resembling a workout room.

The workout room at the Blockade consists of 1 treadmill, 1 elliptical and that is about it. The place is as described above dismal. Location is great, beach is nice and that is about it.

It has been a while, but we have stayed at teh Surf twice, and liked it a lot. You get a small suite at a good rate.

Here is their web address.

http://www.surfsuites.com/

Good luck!

I grew up in wrightsville... the blockade runner was the nicest on the beach, but not anymore.... the holiday inn is much nicer. They renovated it a few years ago, and have turned it into as much of a resort as the island will let them... they try really hard to keep the place from turning into a myrtle beach type place... i havnt stayed at either place, but i went to a wedding at the holiday inn and it was pretty nice... the location of the blockade runner is better if you want to go boating, or make your way down to the "downtown" area where the bars and resturants are.... you should try and contact the shell island resort, I think they are privately run condos, but I bet they rent a lot of them out for the weekend. It has all of the stuff you are looking for, and has a huge strech of beach next to it since they just mooved the inlet away from it (it almost overtook the building)... there are also several hotels just off the island that will be pretty nice, do an orbitz hotel search for them if that is something you are interested in, that will tell you what you need to know (and will probably tell you about the islands other smaller hotels) have fun, i wish i was there.... get a surfer dog at the trolly stop... best hot dogs in the world.....

Here is the link for a listing of accomodations:

http://www.wrightsville.com/wbccac.htm

thanks everyone for the advice. Overwhelmingly I've heard/read bad reviews on the Blockade (moldy, musky...) The H. Inn is booked for the nights I need, so... I'll check out Surf Suites. I realized we may need to book a place in Wilmington, but haven't found a "great" place yet. Thanks again to you all!