The Royal Hawaiian Resort in Wildwood Crest, NJ — Step Back to the 1960s

Last June, my husband, son, and I took a weekend trip to Wildwood Crest, NJ. After doing some research online, and getting a few recommendations from friends, we decided to book a room at The Royal Hawaiian Resort. My husband and I have both visited the Wildwood/Cape May area of New Jersey numerous times, but never stayed in this particular motel.

The check-in staff was okay, nothing to rave about, and not overly courteous or helpful. They weren’t rude, but not particularly friendly either. The maid who cleaned our room seemed to be the same way. However, maybe they were stressed out by the business of the weekend or just in a hurry.

Our room was a suite with a refrigerator, table, television, and sofa in the living area. The bathroom was small, but adequate, and the adjoining bedroom had two double beds. Of course, The Royal Hawaiian does have a variety of accommodations from single rooms to larger ocean-front suites. Our room was clean, and had been updated somewhat recently, but there was definitely more remodeling to be done-particularly in the bathroom. The bath towels were seriously the tiniest bath towels I have ever seen. However, the sheets and beds were clean and comfortable.

The pool is gorgeous, blue, and looks out over the ocean. There is a smaller kiddies’ area, and then the deeper adult swimming section. The hot tub is huge with a little decorative fake water-fall. Kids would love the hot tub-you can set the temperature so it is not too hot for them, and the tub is so big that it is possible to really swim in it. This is great if you are vacationing off-season when the air temperature is colder. Another nice facility for children is a little play-room area on the third floor with Little Tykes toys and playhouses. The snack/gift shop is small (think hot dogs and French fries), but clean.

You can walk right unto the beach from the Royal Hawaiian. The Wildwood Crest beaches are large and beautiful. Also, there is a walking/biking path in front of the motel along the beach. The Resort is close to the boardwalks in both Wildwood and Cape May, and also near to all the great dining spots in the area.

The website for the Royal Hawaiian is www.royalhawaiianresort.com. If you visit the site, you can check out the pictures and most recent rates. In peak season, a night will run you between $125-225 approximately, depending on what type of room you are booking.

The advantages of the Royal Hawaiian are that it maintains the historic mid-century atmosphere that Wildwood is known for, is close to the beach and attractions, and has good amenities. I would not personally consider it an “upscale” resort, but it is a fun place for families.