We Loved It!
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 11/19/08
We read all the reviews and had some concerns regarding the negative comments. But we wanted a hotel at the beach, and this was the only one in the area. We were pleasantly surprised. Just driving up was an experience - the bright colors of the outside, the dunes, the water, the waves. The staff were extremely pleasant throughout the six days we were there. We arrived on a Saturday, and the place was completely booked with one-night guests. The front desk staff got us checked in (we had reservations) and in no time we were in our room. The housekeeping staff were very nice and friendly, and did a great job getting the room ready. Not just cleaning up, but adding a little touch; with a goodie basket halfway through our stay, the way the beds were turned down, etc. Any request was taken care of promptly, and then followed up with a phone call.
We had an ocean view room with balcony. Great view, good size room with large windows on the side even (facing east). While the ocean view rooms cost a little more, we found it absolutely worth the extra money. We sit on the balcony for breakfast, and relax there in the afternoons and before bedtime.
The beach is just a few feet away across a pedestrian promenade. The pools were clean, and the warm pool was just right after coming back from the beach. We have two boys under ten, and the beach and waves were great. It was a blessing not to have to drive to get to the ocean. The hotel provides plenty of towels one can take to the beach and pools.
Some observations regarding the negative comments: The musty smell in the hallways was there; but since many people come in with swim suits dripping on the hallways, it's not a surprise. It wasn't a musty basement-type odor, just a dampness. The room did not smell at all. The lobby had several dehumidifiers that kept it very dry and not smelly.
We arrived on a Saturday, and a band started playing in the cabana at six p.m. That's not quite what a family resort should have; but we expected it from the hotel Internet info, and we headed in for dinner. However, in the summer a band plays every night, and I would not stay there during the main season. We had dinner in the restaurant the first night. The waiter was friendly, but the food was so-so; just about what we expected. But then again, we didn't pick the Sunspree for the food.
I can definitely recommend the hotel, at least for the off-season when we were there. We had the beach almost to ourselves. The staff were great. Water temperature was still 80 to 81 degrees, and the sun was still hot. Just the right temperatures for a family from Michigan!