Whether or not you reside on the East Coast or recurrently go to its seashores, chances are high you are conscious of this space’s lack of beachfront resorts. Barring a visit to South Carolina or Florida, your finest guess will possible be a trip rental or run-down boardwalk motel higher suited to spring breakers. That’s, except you go to Virginia Seashore, Virginia.
Inside straightforward driving distance of main cities like Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and Raleigh, North Carolina, Virginia Seashore attracts vacationers who desire a serene, sandy setting with a family-friendly ambiance and an action-packed boardwalk.
Though its beachfront was as soon as void of brand-name resorts, the opening of the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront in 2020 offered savvy vacationers seeking to earn or redeem resort factors with a spot to remain steps from the shore on this coastal metropolis.
This breezy and trendy beachfront resort has all the pieces you want for an pleasing getaway, although there are some things to contemplate earlier than you guide. This is what you might want to know concerning the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront.
What’s the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront?
The Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront is a part of the Cavalier Resort, a multiproperty complicated on the north finish of the Virginia Seashore boardwalk that additionally contains the Historic Cavalier Resort & Seashore Membership and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Virginia Seashore Oceanfront Resort.
The three properties share a beachfront and supply loads of eating and leisure choices that company of any of the resorts can entry (apart from the Cavalier’s seashore membership), although you’ll be able to solely cost bills from venues at your particular resort again to your room.
Of the three resorts, the Marriott is essentially the most balanced of the bunch, mixing a reasonable worth level with contemporary design and luxurious touches. It’s kind of extra relaxed than the swanky Cavalier however not as primary with its facilities because the extra reasonably priced Embassy Suites.
The Marriott provides a coastal, informal vibe and sweeping views of the Atlantic and marine wildlife. In contrast, the Cavalier leans into its Nineteen Twenties heyday as a vacation spot for giant bands, with a historic and extra luxurious really feel to it. The Embassy Suites, like most different chain resorts in Virginia Seashore, would not lean into the situation a lot in any respect, with a design that might work at any Embassy Suites.
guide the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront
The simplest strategy to guide this Marriott resort is straight by means of the Marriott web site.
Money charges for our three-day weekend keep in July ranged from $486 per evening for an ocean-view room to $625 per evening for an oceanfront nook room. Nevertheless, charges for an entry-level room with an ocean view drop to as little as $157 per evening beginning in October and persevering with into Might.
If you wish to redeem resort factors for a keep, you are in luck, as this property participates within the Marriott Bonvoy program. Throughout our July go to, a typical ocean-view room required greater than 61,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening (or 185,000 factors for the complete keep). For a greater award fee, goal to reach in fall or winter when the value drops to 44,000 factors per evening on choose dates.
Since we’re a household of 4, we reserved two rooms for our two-night keep at a fee of $645 per evening. We paid for the journey in money, each as a result of we’re saving Bonvoy factors for one more journey later this 12 months and since money saved us roughly $608 over the worth of the factors, based on the TPG money versus factors calculator.
How near the seashore is the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront?
The most important attraction of the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront’s location is that it’s proper on the seashore. Most resorts within the space are separated from the sand by the Virginia Seashore boardwalk, which makes them nice for people-watching however horrible for noise. As a result of the Marriott would not overlook the boardwalk, it is typically a lot quieter than its opponents.
Flip your again on the seashore and stroll west and you will nearly instantly be on the grand garden of the resort’s sister property, the Historic Cavalier Resort, offering quick access to extra eating places and bars, plus frequent stay music. The Marriott’s location on the very finish of town’s resort zone means you may also stroll to a lot of the sights alongside the Virginia Seashore boardwalk, together with Neptune’s Park (which frequently hosts stay music in the summertime) and the Virginia Seashore Fishing Pier.
You will have to drive to sights farther away from the boardwalk, such because the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Heart, and to boat excursions departing from Rudee Inlet Station Marina. You will additionally desire a automobile to get to the resort from just about wherever, so anticipate to pay an additional $20 to $30 per evening for on-site parking (we have been charged $20 per evening for our keep, however the resort’s web site lists $30 per evening).
Beachfront and ocean-view rooms on the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront are stunning
Nearly each room on the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront has a balcony, and all have not less than a partial ocean view.
For the very best vistas, request to remain on the north aspect of the constructing, because the Embassy Suites on the south aspect blocks a part of the view, particularly on decrease flooring.
Since I used to be touring with my household of 4, I reserved two connecting rooms: a typical ocean-view room with a king-size mattress and an ocean-view room with two queen-size beds. Each rooms have been giant and fashionable, that includes informal mild wooden furnishings and refined beach-inspired decor with sandy-hued cloth on the chairs, blue rugs and blue detailing behind the beds.
Loads of shops and USB charging ports have been distributed on the desk and each nightstands, making it straightforward to cost a number of units (my husband and I had no challenge charging each of our laptops, iPads, telephones and Apple Watches, and there have been even sufficient plugs and chargers for me to provide my Kindle a little bit additional juice).
Every lodging additionally had a big desk and a chair for lounging along with a closet that, whereas spacious, solely had a few drawers. The furnished balconies have been large and comfy, however with solely railings separating the balcony of 1 room from one other, they weren’t significantly non-public.
Each of our loos complemented the beach-inspired really feel of the rooms, with white tiling, mild wooden floating vanities and glorious lighting, particularly useful for making use of make-up. Toiletries have been from This Works! and included considerate touches like make-up remover wipes and disinfecting wipes. Nevertheless, these two facilities weren’t changed as a part of common housekeeping.
On each days of our keep, housekeeping was immediate, thorough and pleasant, taking additional time to place our children’ stuffed animals in cute poses.
Eating places on the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront are stable however lack native aptitude
On the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront, there are three eating places: Tulu Seaside Bar & Grill, Orion’s Roof and the Seashore Bar and Grill. Moreover, company can seize a morning pick-me-up or a day candy deal with at We Scream Ice Cream and Espresso Store.
Tulu Seaside Bar & Grill
The resort’s tackle an elevated beachfront grill, Tulu is the spot to go for American fare all through the day. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner day by day, the restaurant serves patrons in an open area embellished with hanging baskets that evoke the crab pots which can be so central to Virginia Seashore and Chesapeake Bay delicacies.
The east partitions of the restaurant open up, giving diners a view of the resort’s tiered garden and seashore.
We sampled breakfast right here twice throughout our keep and located the meals was first rate general, although the concentrate on upmarket, wholesome dishes as an alternative of typical seashore bites could not attraction to choosy eaters. The gadgets we ordered — together with eggs Benedict ($16), pancakes ($12) and waffles ($13) — stuffed us up for the day, regardless of missing the Virginia Seashore twist we would hoped to take pleasure in. As an alternative of standard eggs Benedict, why not provide a crabcake model or one highlighting Virginia ham?
Orion’s Roof
Orion’s Roof, an Asian-fusion restaurant positioned on the Twenty third-floor rooftop, was the resort’s standout eatery.
Welcoming company for lunch and dinner, Orion’s Roof is extra upscale than Tulu and takes full benefit of its location, offering spectacular views — particularly in the course of the day. Over the course of lunch sooner or later, we noticed 5 ospreys passing by with the lunch they’d simply pulled from the ocean and we sat eye-level with pelicans gliding by. We additionally had a superb view of naval plane finishing coaching missions.
Sadly, the meals did not soar to the identical heights because the views, but it surely wasn’t unhealthy by any means. The wine and beer checklist was attention-grabbing although restricted, and the menu targeted on contemporary, domestically sourced substances, however not a lot about it represented what I might need anticipated to search out at a Virginia restaurant.
Many Virginia substances (assume: native peanuts) pair properly with Asian flavors, so it felt like a missed alternative to not incorporate extra regional gadgets into the dishes. My husband wished his bulgogi steak sandwich ($16) had extra spice, whereas my children gave their California rolls ($12) their seal of approval. My crabcake sandwich ($21) was tasty however nothing particular.
The Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront fitness center is small however serviceable
Health buffs will respect that the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront has a 24-hour health heart with all the pieces wanted to remain in form whereas on trip. There are treadmills, bikes and a good number of weight machines, although it’s possible you’ll choose to interrupt a sweat outdoors because the property is so near the boardwalk.
Along with the fitness center, the resort has a bocce courtroom that company can use at no cost. Bicycles can be found for lease as properly.
Water lovers will benefit from the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront’s swimming pools and seashore
There are two swimming pools on the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront: an out of doors pool dealing with the seashore, and an indoor pool that incorporates a seashore entry and a wall that opens to the outside pool when the climate is sweet.
The indoor pool is nice for when it is chilly out otherwise you’re attempting to keep away from a sunburn, and the seashore entry makes it splashing space for smaller children. Know, although, that when there are lots of children within the pool, it may possibly get loud and echoey. There is not a lot seating round this pool — just a few couches and armchairs — so do not anticipate to lounge round.
In contrast to the indoor possibility, the outside pool has loads of lounge chairs and even just a few daybeds. There are additionally in-pool loungers on a solar shelf, in addition to an in-pool bench across the pool for sitting and cooling off.
Past the swimming pools, you will discover a large stretch of sand with loads of area, even at excessive tide. It is a quieter part of seashore in comparison with areas farther south and alongside the boardwalk, with most individuals targeted on lounging, constructing sandcastles and swimming as an alternative of partying.
Your resort charge (extra on that beneath) will get you two seashore chairs, however an umbrella prices an additional $25 per day to lease. Daybeds and shaded clamshells go for $130 per day. To make use of the amenities, you verify in at a kiosk, then an attendant will take you to your chairs (and carry a few of your stuff), arrange your umbrella and are available again periodically to see if you would like it moved for extra shade.
Although there is not any drink service on the sand, the seashore is not removed from Tulu, so you’ll be able to simply get one thing your self when you do not carry your personal cooler. (Simply know that public consumption of alcohol is against the law in Virginia Seashore.) The resort has a bathe and foot wash space close to the pool deck, so you do not have to trace sand again to your room.
Put together to pay resort charges on the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront
One main draw back of the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront is the day by day resort charge. This cost provides an additional $30 per room, per day, to your whole and applies to all stays, whether or not you pay with money or factors.
On the plus aspect, the resort charge covers a number of facilities, together with:
- Two seashore towels and two seashore chairs per room
- Use of metal-detecting gear for 2 hours
- A tour guide
- Entry to resort actions
Throughout our keep, resort actions ranged from cornhole to night s’mores to meet-and-greets with a mermaid on the pool — let’s hope they carried her in as an alternative of creating her wiggle her approach up from the seashore. The resort charge doesn’t cowl parking, which is a separate cost.
Causes the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront will not be for you
- Marriott Bonvoy elite members will not get as many extras right here as they might at different properties. There is no government lounge for elites, and we did not get a welcome present, regardless of my husband having Titanium Elite standing. We got the selection of free breakfast or factors at check-in (we went for the factors), and his elite standing did get us rooms on the next flooring.
- The decor and meals do not give a lot of a way of place past being on the seashore. It is a pretty resort, but it surely may as simply be in Southern California or Miami as Virginia Seashore.
- In case you’re not utilizing the resort seashore chairs, you do not get a lot for the $30 day by day resort charge.
- There is no children membership, so that you’re pressured to spend time together with your youngsters. The horror!
Accessibility on the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront
The Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront provides accessible rooms for wheelchair customers, in addition to these with imaginative and prescient and listening to impairments. The hallways are well-lit and large, and Braille signage is plentiful.
Every pool has a carry to assist wheelchair customers out and in, and there’s a ramp right down to the seashore. Nevertheless, the resort doesn’t have seashore wheelchairs and there is not any mat on the seashore, so it isn’t absolutely accessible.
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Regardless of being near some main metro areas, Virginia Seashore tends to be neglected as a vacation spot, partly as a result of resort choices have been restricted to extra budget-minded properties till not too long ago. With the addition of the Marriott Resort Virginia Seashore Oceanfront, vacationers have an upscale, however nonetheless informal, place to stick with unimaginable seashore entry, first rate meals and a very good location. My household and I’ll positively be again.