Beach Terrace Motor Inn

One of few eight-story buildings in WIldwood, the Beach Terrace Motor Inn immediately stands out from the crowd. Unlike many of its two-story, motel-style neighbors, the Beach Terrace feels more like a hotel, with its large lobby entrance and on-site restaurant. While plain, and somewhat dated, the lobby is large and light-filled thanks to its floor to ceiling windows that overlook busy Atlantic Avenue. There’s a sitting area in the middle of the room that includes worn wicker furniture, shelves with local guidebooks, and an ATM. Towards the rear of the room is the reception desk and the elevator bank. Adjacent to the lobby, the restaurant is usually crowded during breakfast hours with guests and non-guests alike. The on-site nightclub attracts a seedy crowd on weekends, which can lead to some unwanted noise in the late night and early morning hours.  

The Beach Terrace is located on Atlantic Avenue directly across from Splash Zone Water Park and Morey’s Piers. All of the action on the beach and boardwalk is within a two-minute walking distance. There are also many bars and restaurants within a 10-minute walking distance of the hotel. The Wildwoods Convention Center is about a three-minute drive from the hotel.  

All rooms at the Beach Terrace are considered “suites,” because they have two separate rooms and can sleep up to six people. But don’t let the name “suite” fool you into thinking rooms are luxurious, because in reality, they’re far from it. Instead, rooms sport baby pink walls, '80s era bedspreads, curtains, and brass fixtures, and dark, dingy bathrooms with moldy, dust-laden air vents. There are two room types at the Beach Terrace: Motel Two Room Suites and Efficiency Two Room Suites. The major distinction between the two is that efficiencies have kitchenettes, while motel rooms do not. All rooms sleep up to six people thanks to two double beds in the bedroom, and either a third bed or sofa bed in the living area/kitchenette. You know, there’s nothing quite like sleeping with your head snuggled between the refrigerator and the dining table! The front room/kitchenette/bedroom/living space/whatever you want to call it is connected to the bedroom by a bathroom. During our visit, most bathrooms had issues such as missing fixtures, rusty faucets, moldy air vents, or dislodged ceiling tiles. All bathrooms include standard shower/tub combos, a toilet, and a single sink. Outside, each room has its own private balcony -- but we wouldn’t suggest leaning on the railings, as they didn’t seem very sturdy. Whether they’re safe or not, balconies do offer lovely views of the beach and boardwalk.  

Located on the hotel’s second floor rooftop, the pool area is popular with guests during the daytime. The pool deck offers awesome beach and boardwalk views, and the joyous screams of water park-bound children are audible from across the street. There are several, white plastic lounge chars scattered around the pool, as well as a few plastic dining tables covered by hot pink umbrellas. The pool itself is fairly large by Wildwood standards, and rectangular in shape. There are two hot tubs next to the pool, but the strict “spa rules” are hardly ever enforced. So adults looking to spend some quiet time in one of the hot tubs will likely have to share their space with tons of rowdy children. As far as freebies are concerned, the hotel offers free Wi-Fi and free parking in the giant lot behind the hotel. The hotel is also perfectly situated for Wildwood’s weekly Friday night fireworks, which, while not exactly a hotel amenity, is a nice perk for families.  

The Rusty Rudder, the Beach Terrace’s buffet restaurant, serves food that looks as appealing as its name sounds. Crowds gather for breakfast and dinner to enjoy what has been called both “The Mile Long Buffet” and “Wildwood’s Best Buffet.” During our visit, we discovered that neither of the acclamations proved to be true. Its offerings are nowhere near a mile long, and if it really is the best buffet in Wildwood, we have no desire to see what mediocre looks like. Breakfast includes typical buffet offerings like eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and even a waffle maker. Serving trays filled with jiggly jello and mystery meats are reminiscent of summer camp mess hall days, where it was often best to just stick with the boxed cereal and toast. But, if you’re really hungry, the log of ham sitting under the warming lights looks particularly appetizing (we kid). Dinner is an equally atrocious affair that includes all-you-can-eat seafood -- need we say more? 

The Bar Song & Dance Club, is the Beach Terrace’s very own nightclub -- a space filled with high-top tables, two bars, a dance floor, and numerous flat screen TVs showcasing silhouettes of naked dancing women. If you hadn’t guessed already, The Bar attracts a sketchy crowd, and the area surrounding it can get pretty rowdy on the weekends. Inside, The Bar features a red and black motif, with red furniture and black counter tops and tables. Hopefully, when the room is dark at night, patrons won’t notice the deteriorating ripped furniture, or the disheveled way the bar is kept.  

During our visit, although rooms appeared fairly clean, the overall state of the property felt worn, neglected, and a little dirty. The hallways near the elevators on several floors, and the public restroom between the restaurant and the nightclub reeked of urine. Several areas throughout the hotel also smell strongly of cigarette smoke.