Just wondering... For all of you that do vacation at beaches, do any of you ever stay at hotels or resorts?
Thanks to all who took the time to read and respond!! I sincerly appreciate your help!!
Yes. I prefer hotels. Most houses require you to bring your own sheets- UGH! I also don't really want to spend my week cooking using random cookware (often old scratched Teflon). I prefer hotels that include breakfast, and have a fridge and microwave. Though houses are kind of the way if you have a bigger family group and can share grilling/cooking duties. A pool is also nice feature. If you belong to any loyalty point programs, summer beach can be a good time to redeem points.
Some beaches have mostly rental houses (Outer Banks), others have lots (mostly?) hotels (Ocean City, MD). Most have some mix.
Really the East coast has a ton of nice beaches. Some are more commercial, others are more natural, some cater more to kids, some cater more to adult fun, a few even cater a bit to the LGBTQ community.
It partly depends what you want, and how much you are willing to pay. Any room right on the water is going to cost extra. High season costs extra. July 4th will be super crowded and expensive, most of July is quite $$$, but rates drop in August. Most schools return by Labor day, so rates are especially low if you can go then- or want to go then. BUT...late summer = hurricane season, and hurricanes can hit just about anywhere from FL to just about anywhere, though they rarely hit above Cape Cod, MA.
Knowing that, I suggest either a fully REFUNDABLE rate or some kind of trip insurance. KNOW your terms- and the latest date you can cancel for a full or partial refund. In some cases, you'll only be out a deposit- so that might be less risk than the certain price of insurance.
In general though, just choose a location, and don't sweat it. If you pick one beach, and it isn't to your liking- the next beach is always just a short drive away.
The other more or less big universal of ALL EAST COAST beaches is that weekend traffic in high season is absolutely HORRIBLE! I can't say that loudly enough. DO NOT arrive on a SATURDAY, unless you plan to BE AT THE BEACH by about 8:30am, or you WANT to spend HOURS and HOURS sitting in traffic. A ton of folks also leave every Sunday. Sundays can also = bad traffic. if you want to leave on a Sunday, leaving late is good. A one night stay about 30-60min from the beach is a good way to get around traffic- especially if you must arrive on a Saturday.
Understand, almost the entire east coast has barrier islands, bays and canals. In most cases the real beach is located on the side that faces the ocean. Parking is often $$$ and limited. You'll want to arrive early. Walking to the beach with bulky beach gear is a royal pain.
Because of the geography, MOST east coast beaches have some kind of limited road access. That is part of why traffic gets so horrible. Most beach houses rent Saturday to Saturday. (Sun to Sun is MUCH better) Most hotels require a minimum of two nights in peak season, especially on weekends. That's just how it is.
A fun bonus is that many beaches have fireworks.
If your place isn't directly on the beach, well...I highly suggest a beach that has public bathrooms and beachside outdoor showers (to rinse sand off your feet).
Another consideration is food. Beach food is $$$. Much of it is junk food, but fun junk food. Most beach seafood is NOT caught locally, unless the place says so, and even then it isn't always true. You might not even be served the kind of fish you think you ordered! A bonus and drawback of beach houses is the option of cooking meals. Many beach goers kind of live on simple breakfasts (muffins, donuts, maybe eggs), and items like: pizza, French fries, ice cream, sandwiches, burgers, candy- much of the rest of the day. Nicer meals often run $30 or more per person....While pizzas often runs about $5 for a big slice ($10ish for combo meal deals), burgers $10-15. Another way to save is to bring a cooler full of drinks. Some beaches require restaurants to give free cups of ice water, others don't.
More natural beaches = you have to bring your own food and CARRY OUT ALL TRASH. But you'll also get to see more critters, and likely have more space, but not all beaches have lifeguards.
NEVER swim at dawn, dusk or ANYTIME you see schools of bait fish. Dawn dusk and bait = aquatic predators. NEVER swim alone. Never swim in the ocean if you are bleeding or have an exposed cut. MAKE SURE you also understand about rip currents and how to avoid getting caught in one. ALSO, male SURE to apply PLENTY of sunscreen. Know temps at the water are always cooler than temps just a few miles off the water. Expect breezes near the water, and weather can change very quickly.
Really, you almost can't go wrong when choosing your beach; they all have sun, sand, water, and smiles.