Acacia Beachfront Resort

This three-floor hotel faces the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a residential neighborhood on the other. It’s situated on a relatively quiet stretch of beach and is a short trolley or bike ride to the Wildwood Boardwalk. The hotel’s decor could use some updating (think generic beach art, lampshades covered in plastic wrap, and fake plants), and things are looking a little tattered, with some leaky water marks on the ceilings, stained carpeting, and faded pool loungers. But the vibe is laid-back and the staff is friendly.

The Acacia is an oceanfront property on the southern end of Wildwood Crest Beach, 10 minutes from the Wildwood Boardwalk. This relatively quiet neighborhood is filled with residential houses and beachside hotels. There’s a coffee shop next door, but there aren’t many shops or restaurants in the immediate area. Victorian open-air trolley cars operate from 8:30 to midnight, in season, and will take guests from the hotel to the boardwalk. Due to Wildwood Crest being a “dry” town, visitors will need to leave city limits (no more than five minutes) to find a bar or liquor store.

Rooms range from one-room Efficiency Suites that sleep four to three-room Efficiencies that sleep 10, and nearly all the rooms include a pull-out sofa. Each room comes with a well-equipped kitchenette (microwave and stovetop, but no oven), Wi-Fi (which is sometimes spotty), and mostly old box TVs (although there are some flat-screens, too). A handful of rooms directly face the beach and have a private balcony or patio. The rooms are generally spacious and clean. Even the dated decor is well dusted. Expect thin patterned bedding and some water stains on the bathroom fixtures.

An outdoor heated swimming pool (and attached kiddy pool) is on the smaller but deeper end, going down to eight feet. Two patios with barbecue grills and in-room kitchenettes offer cost-effective alternatives to dining out. Other features include a sundeck with lounge chairs and ocean views, free HBO from June to September, a coin-operated laundry room, free parking, and Wi-Fi.

The most noticeable thing about this beach is its sheer size. It takes at least four minutes to walk from the hotel to the water’s edge, which can be annoying on a scalding hot day, but it also means there’s plenty of beach space for everyone. Unlike many Jersey Shore beaches, Wildwood Crest Beach is free and doesn’t require a beach pass. The beach is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (from mid-June through Labor Day). Animals, alcohol, fires, picnics, and barbecues are not allowed.