The Sanderling

We were really looking forward to our stay. At $650/night (including tax and the resort fee), our expectations were high. We were extremely disappointed. The room was beautiful. That's about the best thing I can say about the place. No elevator, so four floors up and down is a bit of a pain, but even that wasn't the worst part. Having been there last September, we expected coffee service each morning in the lobby. Nope, not available. I had to trudge across the parking lot in my bathrobe to the LifeSaving station, hoping my robe wouldn't open in the wind! Then when I got there, I had to wait 10 minutes for coffee, only to pay $8.62 (not including tip) for two cups of coffee, hoping they would still be hot by the time I made it back to my room (across the parking lot and up four flights). We planned to enjoy the bar they advertise in the lobby...nope! Not open. We planned to sit outside and have cocktails at the bar by the pool and hot tub (the Sand Bar). Nope, not open. The pool was freezing (not heated) and the one time my friend and I went to the beach, the guy wasn't there to carry our chairs or put up the umbrella. (Another hotel guest helped us.) Bottom line: no real amenities, and yet $39-$45/day for a "resort fee". One evening, we played a game in our friend's room which was directly below ours. We couldn't figure out how to turn the overhead light on, (silly us, the switch was in the clothes closet!) so our friend called down to the front desk. It just rang and rang...no one answered. (It was about 7:30pm or maybe even earlier.) So my friend stepped out of the room, walked down the hall and looked over the railing to the lobby. There he saw two workers chatting in the lobby, one who should have been behind the front desk. He yelled down, hey! Hear that phone ringing? Maybe someone should answer it! (That's not atypical of the service.) One afternoon, neither our room nor our friends' room could get hot water, so it was cold showers! Even the refrigerator in the room is about big enough for two cans of Coke (which is good, because the vending machine didn't work for our friend with either cash or a credit card). I'm sure they've made it super small to encourage guests to use the hotel bars and not bring their own, but since they're not open???? As I said, the room was beautiful, and the staff who works the outside was super nice, but the word "resort" is really stretching it. We expected a lot more for the money, and are annoyed at the misleading advertising The website shows you all about these great things they have so you make a reservation, but then they don't tell you that none of it is available at the time you're going! (And they still charge the daily "resort fee" which is now up to $45/day).

Excellent property. The location right on the beach can't be beat! Also enjoyed the outdoor fire pits. Although we only had breakfast at the restaurant, it was delicious and enjoyable. The rooms are spacious and clean, and the bed was very comfy.

Peaceful resort spanning across the barrier island from the ocean to the sound. Excellent food in the restaurant for both breakfast and dinner. You would need a top floor room to be able to see the sea over the dune. $300 charge for the dog seemed steep.

I would not recommend staying here unless it is in season. We stayed out of season and nothing was open. No amenities were open (aside from one restaurant), no waters given and no bathrooms within any reasonable walking distance to the pool were open, the hotel lobby bathroom wasn't open, the only restroom was very far from the pool and subsequently, all the children must have urinated in the pool and jacuzzi - I never saw a single child leave. Subsequently, myself, my two children and my friend's child all came home with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (look it up, it's disgusting!) because of it. The rates were still quite pricey for nothing being opened and there was no warning on the website saying that there was very limited use of things.

Recent redo made property feel like the Hamptons. The Ocean Studio we stayed in was beautiful and perfect for our 3 day getaway. Bed and linens provided comfortable rest. Everything and everyone was most accommodating. We will definitely return. We did enjoy sitting by Tranquility pool. Chaises are in need of upgrades but are still usable, just not in condition expected for such a beautiful property.