Camelot Motel

Built in 1984 by the owner and operator’s husband, this four-story motel offers 37 rooms for rent, and nearly all of them face the ocean. Whether you can actually see the ocean from your guestroom is another matter -- a miniature golf course and trees obscure much of the view from the lower floors. A somewhat average, but clean, pool and easy access to discounted bike rentals (across the street) make this a good budget destination for families -- although some guests have complained of a surplus of kids in the summer. The Camelot is basic and doesn’t offer a lot of frills, and the room decor is generic, but this motel is a solid budget choice in a good location. The friendly, laid-back staff and clean rooms are a plus too.

The Camelot Motel faces Beach Avenue and is 50 yards from the beach (the staff actually went out and measured). The neighborhood is a mix of low-rise motels and Victorian buildings, and it’s an easy nine-minute walk to the main shopping and dining strip, Washington Street Mall. A miniature golf course is next door and a bike rental shop is across the street. With the beach and downtown nearby, there’s little need to move the car from its free parking space.

The Camelot offers a variety of room types, from simple “Deluxe Motel Rooms” that sleep up to four, to two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens that sleep eight. Most rooms offer sofa beds, and all rooms come with at least a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and flat-screen TV. The decor is typical beach motel style -- beige walls, generic wooden furniture, simple beds, patterned comforters, and paintings of beach scenes. Ask for a room on an upper floor if you want a decent ocean view.

The pool may not be heated, but it’s very clean with cushioned recliners, a kids’ section, and an eight-foot deep end. Propane barbecue grills are available for use, as are bike racks (a bike rental shop across the street offers discounts to guests). On-site parking and Wi-Fi are free.

Cape May has a clean beach with soft white sand and dunes. Like many beaches in New Jersey, a “beach tag” is required to use the beach in summer. They cost $6 per day, per person, but visitors can save by getting three-day or weekly tags. Children under 12 don’t need a tag, and members of the military get free tags with ID. A promenade runs along the beach, and it has buildings with public restrooms, outdoor showers, and counters to buy beach tags. Lifeguards are on duty until 5:30 p.m. in the summer.