Courtyard Virginia Beach Oceanfront/North 37th Street

The decor at this family-friendly high-rise hotel is clean and fairly modern, with a spacious lobby that opens to the hotel's Bistro, with white-topped bar seating and nooks, including one with a flat-screen TV. More contemporary design elements include white tile floors and decorative table-top grass. The orange patterned carpeting in other parts of the lobby is slightly faded and some of the chairs aren't the freshest, but overall, common spaces are pleasant. The pools are a nice draw as well. The outdoor pool has a waterpark-like atmosphere, while the indoor pool is flooded with light from walls of windows. Of course, the star of the show is the beach that's just behind the hotel, and views of the ocean from many places throughout the property are great. Guests here are mostly families, though some couples pass through as well.

The hotel sits on the beach in a strip of oceanfront hotels on the far north end of the Virginia Beach boardwalk, which is much quieter than the area farther south. One side of the hotel faces the boardwalk and the other overlooks the parking lot. There are some restaurants on nearby Pacific Avenue, while the busier part of Virginia Beach is a five-minute drive away, or a 20-minute walk down the boardwalk. The Virginia Aquarium is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel, while Norfolk International Airport can be reached in 30 minutes.

The hotel's spacious rooms face the ocean and feature pleasant decor that includes funky design elements like burgundy wallpaper with all-over Queen Anne's Lace silhouettes. Burgundy fabrics continue the motif alongside striped gold-and-maroon carpeting and homey mid-tone wood furniture. Furnishings are slightly dated and some show signs of wear and tear. Some rooms have whirlpool tubs in the bedrooms -- the tile gives them a particularly '90s look -- and all have private balconies furnished with plastic chairs that offer lovely ocean views. Other amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers, plus some rooms have microwaves. The crimson and golden wheat tones continue in the bathrooms, which have curtained shower/tub combos, exterior granite vanities, and upgraded toiletries. Suites with separate bedrooms are also available.

The Bistro serves a buffet or full breakfast for an extra fee, along with casual bites throughout the day. With an atmosphere more like a cafe, beer, wine, and coffee are also available. A small on-site shop sells packaged snacks and drinks. There’s a large freeform outdoor pool skirted in rock formations including an arch with a waterfall, plus lounge chairs lining the surrounding sundeck and a poolside bar. The hotel has a small indoor pool and hot tub with large windows overlooking the beach. A small carpeted fitness center has a small selection of modern cardio machines and free weights. There are four meeting rooms and 2,100-square-feet of event space, along with a business center that has two desktop computers. A touchscreen board in the lobby shows the weather, daily news, and activities. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.