Labor Day Week 2007 in Norfolk and Virginia Beach

This Days Inn is definitely not in the best condition, but the staff were extremely friendly and the maintenance man was super quick and happy to do what was needed to make his customers happy. Bobby, the maintenance man, was definitely the star of this stay for us. He replaced our air conditioning unit twice with no grumbling. He really worked hard to make sure we stayed cool and we appreciated it. The room itself was nothing spectacular, but the shower was hot and the water pressure was good. The king-size bed was very comfortable and there were five comfy, fluffy pillows. We had to make three separate reservations to get accommodations since this was the busy Labor Day weekend. This was just about the only hotel in Virginia Beach that was near water and not sold out. We stayed three nights and they moved us from a simple king-bed room after the first night to a king-bed efficiency room for the second and third nights. I’m not sure I understand why we had to move or why we could only get our reservation in three single nights, but that is the way it was when I made my reservation on Triprewards.com. The price for the efficiency room was $99 a night and for the regular king $85 a night. This is with an AARP discount for senior citizens. I would go back to this hotel, as it is fairly reasonable for the beach, especially on Labor Day weekend.

This is a really great budget hotel. I love this place. This hotel is badly in need of remodeling, but it is still my favorite place to stay on Virginia Beach. I spent two weeks here last September and have been here at least four times before. This time, I was in room 713, and the view of the ocean was incredible. Every room in this hotel is ocean view and has a balcony where you can sit and beach-watch. The rooms are mostly two room efficiency apartments. This time, I had a king-size bed, scads of fluffy pillows, and a small bathroom in a back room and a microwave, refrigerator, and sink with dishes and silverware and even towels and dish washing liquid in the front room with a huge picture window and sitting area right on the ocean front. I leave the front door open and listen to the ocean night and day--wonderful!

The parking is tight and you get only one parking permit per room. They keep track of this very well and I have always been able to park without any problem. The parking places are tight, so leave your "hummer" at home. There are four fancy penthouse rooms on the 8th floor, each with a whirlpool bath and a full kitchen, dining areas and huge, comfy beds. I stayed in one of these rooms once before with my husband to celebrate my birthday and it was very nice, but not worth the extra money as far as I could see. The Virginia Beach boardwalk is right in front of your room and the beach is a few steps away. If you like to "people-watch," then this is definitely the place for you. None of the problems I have experienced with this hotel have been much more than cosmetic. The beds, showers, and air conditioning have always been very nice. This time, the shower curtain was disgustingly mildewed and one of the remote controls for the two TVs did not work, but other than that, the room was fine. We paid $71 a night to stay right on the beach with the ocean lulling us to sleep at night. I will go back here every September/October and I would stay the whole month if I could afford it.

This restaurant is listed as the "most recommended seafood buffet on the beach," but I was completely disappointed. No oysters for one reason even though they listed both stuffed and fried oysters, and oysters Rockefeller on the advertisement in the Virginia Beach coupon books and directory. I love oysters and when they had none, I felt like a victim of bait and switch. However, what they did have was fairly good. There are the highly touted crab legs on the buffet, but I am not fan of crab legs when I have been promised oysters. I even asked about this and they told me that they ran out of oysters and so they substituted crayfish. Crayfish are fine, but they are not oysters. For $27 a plate, I expect then to have on the buffet what they have listed in the ad and then other things in addition. I will not go back.

I loved this zoo. It was so clean and had no animal odors at all. The animals were all very well kept and the grounds were beautiful gardens. I would go back again! I fell in love with the giraffes and the tiny little Fennec fox. I had heard they had red pandas, but I did not find them. The grounds are well-kept and beautiful. The only complaint I had was that the map they give you to navigate your way around the zoo is very confusing and hard to follow. A new map and we would have found the bison and the prairie dogs which we missed.