Princess Royale Resort

Despite being clean and well-maintained, The Princess Royale Resort shows its age through some painfully dated decor. The hotel is filled with a Golden Girls-like blend of fake plants, mirrored walls, and furniture upholstered with sailboats. Paintings of tropical fish line the walls. Most guests can be found lounging around the large indoor pool in the atrium area at the center of the hotel, or gathered around the beachfront bar on weekends. The crowd is mainly families and middle-aged beach-goers. The smell of chlorine is noticeable in the lobby. Outside, the public beach is sandy and there's a wooden deck with a small whirlpool.

Because it's located about 10 minutes north of the Ocean City boardwalk, Princess Royale’s beach is quieter than those found at competing hotels downtown. It's built just off of the main six-lane highway that runs through the heart of Ocean City. On one side of the hotel there are dunes with a path that leads directly to the beach. Across the street from the property is a liquor store, beach shop, Italian restaurant, candy store, and bar. Unless you plan on eating all of your meals at the hotel, you'll need a car to access most nearby restaurants and the boardwalk. Parking is free.

There are 310 rooms at Princess Royale Resort. Choose from suites (some have whirlpools and ocean views) or a privately-owned condo with two or three bedrooms. All accommodations include a full kitchen with everything but an oven. Be warned that the suites vary widely in terms of decor, appliances, and maintenance -- some of them look retro (i.e. dated). The oceanfront suite opens up into a small dining area and kitchen space before a hallway that leads into the bedroom. The balcony is furnished with blue Adirondack chairs. Shower/bathtub combinations and single sinks set in a granite vanity are the norm. Plastic white hairdryers are mounted to the wall. The hotel is 100% non-smoking. Past guests have complained of cleanliness issues though noise doesn't seem to be a problem. Some rooms have flat-screen TVs while others have tube TVs (or a combination of the two). Wi-Fi is free.

The amount and quality of features at Princess Royale Resort is where this property really shines. Along with private access to the public beach, there's an outdoor whirlpool and an enormous indoor pool with a second whirlpool under a glass atrium (but many are disappointed that there's no outdoor pool). Bar options include one by the pool and one near the beach. There are seven restaurants with everything from all-you-can-eat prime rib to a seasonal outdoor cafe and pizza restaurant. Room service is available. Most families appreciate the expansive game room area with billiards. There's a gift shop for beach gear and souvenirs, and a convenience store for snacks. The Creative Day Spa offers Caribbean-themed treatments. A carpeted fitness center has Precor cardio machines and strength-training equipment. Coin-operated laundry facilities are convenient for long-term stays.