Sea Shell Motel, Beach Haven

I had an awful experience at The Tiki Bar today at The Sea Shell Motel. I will definitely not be back. I'm 27 years old and have a very legit California driver's license. I've used it numerous times across the country, including in many clubs and bars in NJ, both with id scanners and hand checks. Today after hanging out at LBI for the day, my friends and I decided to stop by the Tiki Bar at the Sea Shell Motel for a drink. I didn't even really want a drink, but I figured that I might as well as it was my last day of vacation. I was there with 4 others -- my married couple friends, my 21 year old sister (who just turned 21 this weekend) and my other friend who is 28. I was worried my sister's license would be an issue because in NJ they don't give you a 21 license until you turn 21, and the DMV isn't open until Monday. My sister and I both handed our IDs to the bartender and ordered drinks. The bartender was looking at the IDs weird, so I thought my sister's ID was going to be an issue. Worst case, I thought then, they'd give us back the IDs and tell us they couldn't serve us. Not so. The bartender then says "one second" and disappears with our IDs. He seems to need to check with the bouncer, so he walked away and DISAPPEARED FOR 8 MINUTES WITH OUR IDs. That was not the end of it, though. The bouncer came back with him and looked at me and my sister. He asked us if we have any other form of IDs. My sister pulled out her college ID and they said that doesn't work. The bouncer said, very rudely, that he's "pretty sure this ID is fake and is definitely sure that this other one is a fake." To my great surprise he thought MY ID was definitely fake. Apparently no one from California ever visits The Tiki Bar at The Sea Shell Motel. Now I understand why. After the bouncer came back with the IDs, I was thinking ok I don't want a drink anymore, I just want to get out of here and I want my ID back. Not so fast. The bartender said they had to call the cops and kept saying "just admit it's fake." I now understand why harsh interrogation gets people to admit to being guilty for what they didn't do -- he kept saying "it's going to be easier if you admit it's fake now." I was really upset because this has never happened before and I'm the goody two shoes type that has never even used a fake ID before I was 21, so I started to have a panic attack. It was really awful. I started shaking and was about to cry. I know that was a stupid thing to do but I couldn't help myself. That really set them off as then they were SURE I was not 21, even though I have WRINKLES in my forehead (yea, being almost 28 has aged me quite a bit, I guess? I should be flattered that they were convinced I wasn't 21 yet??) So the bouncer walked away to call the cops, and the bartender was holding my ID. I grabbed my ID out of his hand because I was, again, freaking out they were going to take away my ID and I need it to get on my flight back to California the next day. My friends cautioned me not to leave the bar (I'm not sure the bouncer would have even let me, but there was another way out back. With the cops being called, I wasn't going to risk getting arrested over something so stupid.) So I held the ID in my hands and waited 15 minutes for the cops to arrived, still having a panic attack. The cops finally showed up and walked over to the bar, and I handed them my ID. I tried to stay calm, but I was still shaking. The bouncer and two cops walked away with my ID for ANOTHER 20 MINUTES and I had no idea where they went. I wanted to just leave but needed my ID back for my flight. I was stuck, and really upset. Finally after a total of 40 minutes from when my ID was taken away the cop comes back, looks at me, looks at the ID and says "this is a real California License" and gave me the ID and left. I got out of there as soon as possible. Everyone here was over 50 so it's understandable why these bartenders forgot what people look like 49 and under. Stay away.

the check was $44.05 i left a $8 tip. The total was $54.05. My account was charged $54.05, no problem. There was an additional charge for $1 for no reason. Petty for one person but if they do this to everyone it could be very profitable. Its the principle not the monetary amount. I'm even having problems getting ahold of a human.

The Sea Shell is absolutely one of the best places to visit on LBI! The service was friendly and wonderfully accommodating. The food was great and not really that expensive, regardless that what other people had written. (The average lunch being around 10$ and dinner around $20. ) The location is unbelievable and the party atmosphere is so much fun, not overwhelming at all... An absolute must visit! Also, they have recently redone the rooms which are comfortable and clean.

Two years ago, I went on vacation with some friends and had a terrible time due to the problems related to our motel. When I got home, I posted a review (below titled 'Absolutely Disgusting') here, which after posting I immediately realized that it had been posted under the right motel name, but the wrong location. I contacted Yahoo to try to get it removed, and assumed that it would be taken care of. Well recently I decided to check and saw that it was still here. I contacted Yahoo again explaining the whole situation and they replied to me that they would take proper actions based on their Terms and Conditions. Needless to say, it is still here. I want to apologize to the Beach Haven "Sea Shell Motel" that this review is still shown under your name. I have tried many times to have it removed but I have been unsuccessful. I've decided that the only thing I can do is post another review with an apology and explanation of the situation. I do not know what your particular location is like so for whoever is reading, please do not take the post 'Absolutely Disgusting' into consideration when reading reviews for this location. Once again, I am very sorry and thank you for taking the time to read this.

We just got back from a long weekend to LBI and we stayed at the Sea Shell Motel. While the accomodations were decent what we really like about it was the location. It is right on the beach, close to other restaurants/bars/grocery store/shopping. What was not up to par was the drinks at the bar and the daytime bartenders. Weak drinks and bartenders with no personality. It was as if they were doing us a favor by serving us. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt and just blame their lack of personality on that fact that they may be tired and are wishing the season to be over.

I WILL NEVER STAY THERE AGAIN ..................THEY PUT US IN A ROOM THAT HAD BED BUGS ...................THEY WOULD NOT REFUND OUR MONEY SO WE COULD STAY SOME WHERE ELSE ALL WE GOT WAS A LETTER THAT SAID SORRY HERE ARE TICKETS TO GET FREE ICE CREAM .............THERE IS NO RATING FOR THIS PLACE I GIVE IT NO....................STARS

Long Beach Island has been part of a family tradition since I'm a little girl. We use to rent houses....but now I have children and cleaning is not a vacation for me. I was hesitant to stay at the hotel...but now.....I have my entire family and their famlies go at least two nights during the summer! The bar, the pool, the beach access and I don't even have to clean up after myself! I really feel like I'm on vacation. Enjoy

Wow, We went in October 2007.No noise,room was very clean.I believe cleaning persons name was Shane.I felt like I was in a home away from home place.Room rate was great, Woman that tended the front desk was great! The only thing offered was a cup of coffee no breakfast.That was okay because we were saving our appetite for Mud City Crabhouse on the Mainland for lunch.Got to try the Crab cakes...*Devine* When i arrived home from this experience I felt so relaxed and less stressed.

We booked a 4-night stay at the Sea Shell Motel (Thurs thru Sun nite) for my wife and two boys (ages 7 and 10). We wanted an oceanside room, and were told that it was right above the Club, so we would hear loud music on Saturday nite. We like Beach Haven and LBI so much that we were willing to put up with one night of loud music. In fact, we love live music, so we didn't really make it a big deal at all. Little did we know that the Sea Shell Motel was non-stop booze and music for all 4 days and nights. The first night (Thurs night) had a Hip Hop band/DJ playing well into 2am, with our whole room rattling and trembling. My poor kids were terrified of the noise and vibration and only fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion atfer midnight. This went on for ALL FOUR NIGHTS with different bands. On Sunday, we were told that there would only be an acoustic guitarist playing in the evening by the pool (which was also below our room balcony). This guitarist played well after 2am, with a loud microphone, and was encouraging all the drunk pool-side guests to sing along loudly. My pleas to management fell on deaf ears until I finally called the local police to break up the party. And the days were no better. The Sea Shell pool, beach, Tiki bar, and restaurant were constantly over-crowded, since there was a live band and alcohol flowing from noon till the wee-hours of the morning. I couldn't understand how the hotel was able to accommodate all these people until I started to talk them. It turned out that over 90% of the people I spoke to didn't even belong to the hotel... they basically walked off the streets to enjoy the pool, Tiki Bar, and music. So my $400/night room rate didn't even buy me exclusive rights to the pool or a good night's sleep. Each day at noon, the band woould over-take the pool and prevent the kids from walking, swimming or splashing at that end of the pool! One day, we were resting inside our room, trying to get a breather from the crowd and noise outside, when we were startled to see one of the band members jumping on our 2nd floor balcony, in front of our sliding glass doors! Apparently this was part of the act. When I went to complain to the manager that this man startled my family beyond belief, his response was "they are authorized to use the guest's balcony for this" !! He re-iterated this point when I told him I did not feel safe any longer, since the glass doors failed to lock. Also, the continental breakfast was the worst display of food I have ever seen, and the service was horrible. And did I mention the crowded beach and pool? If you're a young family and wanted to spend a nice, relaxing time with the kids on the LBI shore and pool, then this is defintely NOT the place for you....only BAD memories here... take it from me, we will NEVER be back! It's too bad, because Beach Haven is a great town and location to bring the kids to LBI. The Sea Shell Motel ruined our stay.

I've stayed at the Sea Shell five times, both in season and right after Labor Day. You can expect a reasonably nice room, adequate service from harried people, the best outdoor bar on the island and a great view if you're on an upper floor overlooing the ocean. I've never had a problem with cleanliness. If you go off-season, go for an oceanfront room on the second floor. There's no band after Labor Day, so you don't have to worry about noise. During the season, the music stops at either 10:00 or 11:00. I've stopped trying to eat there because the service in the restaurant, especially at lunch, is terrible. Go across the street to the Engleside Inn for lunch. For dinner, just walk into Beach Haven. There are many good restaurants.