Esplanade Suites, a Sundance Vacations Resort

Like many of its neighbors, Esplanade Suites is a family-friendly motel with a pool area that tends to get pretty rowdy during the day. Unlike many of its neighbors, Esplanade is also dog-friendly -- for a fee. Because of this, the motel welcomes an equal mix of families and couples or solo travelers vacationing with their pets. During the day the tiny pool area is filled with screaming kids and their not all too quiet parents. The exterior of the building is painted in cheery shades of yellow and white, and appears well kept and nicely maintained. The front office is equally welcoming, with bright turquoise walls, large windows, and a Keurig that guests are welcome to use throughout the day.   

Located on East Taylor Avenue, Esplanade Suites is two blocks from the boardwalk, beach, and Wildwoods Convention Center. It’s about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Morey’s Pier and Raging Waters Water Park. The area remains fairly quiet at night.  

By Wildwood standards, rooms at Esplanade Suites are fairly middle of the road. They’re not the nicest, and not the worst. They’re clean, but could use a little TLC. They’re equipped with cheap, motel-standard furniture, but they also have flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. Though decor varies a bit from room to room, well-worn furniture and rusting appliances seem to be the standard. Walls are painted in shades of light orange or leaf green, and bedding consists of classic multicolored spreads. There are multiple room types, including standard motel rooms with one bed (dubbed Studios), One-Bedroom Suites with separate living spaces, and Efficiencies with kitchenettes. Bathrooms include shower/tub combos with opaque sliding doors and tiny vanities with one sink. Some guests complain of cleanliness issues in the rooms, although we didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary during our visit. It should be noted that the hotel came under new management as of late August 2015. 

Esplanade’s dog-friendliness comes with a few stipulations. There’s an extra nightly fee for anyone traveling with a pet, and all dogs must be under 25 pounds. Dogs over 25 pounds incur an even greater nightly fee. Dogs must be kept in a crate when owners are not in their rooms. Guests are also responsible for any pet-related damage caused during their stay. Esplanade’s pool is small, even by Wildwood standards, and it feels even smaller when it’s packed with families during the summer months. It’s unclear who makes more noise around the pool -- the kids or their parents -- but the area is usually pretty rowdy regardless. There’s a small sundeck on the second floor as well as a grassy yard filled with picnic tables and two gas grills. Wi-Fi is free, as is parking in the motel lot.