The Jersey Shore

We have been traveling with 10 or more of our friends to the Jersey Shore for the past 4 years to watch the annual AVP Beach Volleyball tournament. You won’t find any big hotels in the towns along the shore but dozens of Bed & Breakfasts. Our very first visit we stayed in Belmar which is next to Avon-by-the-Sea. Belmar is a beautiful town but geared toward the college crowd. There are only a few really nice Bed & Breakfasts. Unfortunately I learned this the hard way. The first year I booked “the Gang” at THE BELMAR INN. I was assured that this was not a college hang out. When we arrived it looked wonderful! A wrap around porch and nicely decorated main level. We headed upstairs to our rooms and BAM…Old 1970’s rug, dirty rooms, food on the ceiling, cigarette burns in the sheets, no Air-conditioning (as promised), not even a dresser to put your clothes in. We wound up leaving a day early and fighting it out through the credit card company. Much wiser, the following years we stay in Avon-by-the-Sea, which is a quaint little town next to Belmar.

Quick Tips:

Try to carpool whenever possible. Some of the B&B's don't have parking. There is off street parking but it gets limited on the weekend. Bring your favorite wine or beer to bring to the restaurants that allow "bring your own bottle" (this saves on the bill). We alway pack a cooler and leave it in the car with snacks and drinks to have on the porch of the B&B. Bring your beach chair, rentals for umbrellas are available. Beach passes and bicycles are complimentary at most B&B's. The boardwalk goes for miles and it is such a lovely stroll early in the a.m. or at sunset.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walking or riding a bike (most B&B's supply bicycles) is the best way to get around.

Heaven is the only way to describe this B&B. Starting with Gregg, the Inn-Keeper/owner, to the staff that cleans the rooms and helps with the delicous breakfast served on the wrap around porch every morning. Ralph Lauren sheets, clean rooms, comfortable beds, great decor. I give it 5 stars! Look at his website www.avonmanor.com.

Looks can be deceiving! The outside looks great. The rooms were filthy; the staff was no help. Even a group of single guys who stayed there when we did were grossed out.

The Inn Keeper was pleasant (it is under new ownership since we went). Very nice rooms, clean and well decorated. We went in June and they didn''t have the air conditioners in the windows and we needed it. Perfect place to stay except they have minumum night stays in the summer.