LaPlaya Resort

Right off the bat, it's clear that a stay here will be an uninspiring affair, as the dull exterior of the nine-floor building could use a paint job. The lobby -- a humble space that's more function over form -- also fails to impress, with well-worn furniture and a homey, dated style. There are a few pluses: The hotel offers direct beach access from the pool terrace, where two staircases that lead to the sandy shores, and rates are budget-friendly for the area. Guests congregate at the beachfront pool terrace, with a tiki bar and kids' pool, and comedy shows are held in the evenings at the Penthouse Lounge providing at least some entertainment. Families and couples make up the bulk of guests here, and as long as expectations are seriously managed, this may be a decent-value place to crash for the night after a day at the beach.

The LaPlaya Resort is directly on the beach with a gate by the pool that leads to the sandy shores. There’s no full-service restaurant here, but across the street is the Bellair Plaza, a mini-mall that includes a Publix Super Market, restaurants, Payless ShoeSource, and Marshalls. This isn't the most happening part of Daytona Beach, and guests will want a car to reach anything of interest. The drive to Daytona Beach Boardwalk and pier takes 10 minutes, and it’s a 20-minute drive to Daytona International Speedway. Driving to the Daytona Beach International Airport or Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse takes 25 to 30 minutes. SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and Walt Disney World can all be reached in about 90 minutes by car.

The 240 rooms at this hotel are dated, with features like tube-style TVs and rattan chairs held over from an earlier decade. Basic wooden furniture and light-green textiles create a homey look, alongside gold-framed art work and striped curtains that could use an update. For the most part, rooms are clean and offer kitchens with stoves and large refrigerators, or kitchenettes with wet bars, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. However, warped cabinetry doesn't make the best impression. Half the rooms offer balconies or patios with oceanfront views, although sliding doors in some of the rooms get stuck. Accommodating up to six people, one-bedroom Oceanfront Suites have living rooms, Murphy beds, and full kitchens. Oceanfront Efficiency Rooms also have kitchens. Rooms come with air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, irons, coffeemakers, safes, and a few have flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos or walk-in showers, and hairdryers, which guests complain are sometimes grungy. 

Overlooking Daytona Beach is an outdoor terrace that has a large swimming pool, kids' pool, and a hot tub with blue-and-white lounge chairs on the sprawling deck. Two shuffleboards are by a lawn area. The tiki bar sits on a wooden-plank terrace with dining tables and more lounge chairs. Veranda Restaurant serves breakfast with a choice of a buffet or a la carte menu, though it's not included with most rooms. The Penthouse Lounge, with large windows that overlook the Atlantic, is a casual bar and lounge, and features Joke Factory comedy shows at night. For private events, the hotel has 3,800 square feet of space, including a beachfront gazebo terrace that accommodates up to 175 people and a Mezzanine Ballroom that’s lined in tropical carpeting for banquets of up to 200 people. Four coin-operated machines are in the self-serve laundry room, and a garage offers uncovered and covered parking spaces. Wi-Fi is covered by the resort fee.