OverviewLocated on the beach just off Highway 528, Casle in the Sand Hotel is suitable for travellers who prefer an oceanfront hotel with extended kitchen amenities, an outdoor pool and easy highway access.
Each of the hotel's guest rooms, condos and cottages offer free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a mini-fridge, a desk, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Units with a kitchenette or full kitchen, a DVD player, a living area with a sofabed, a patio or balcony, a dining area and a separate bedroom are also available and the hotel is wheelchair accessible. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available.
Some units offer air conditioning and daily housekeeping (please contact the hotel for details).
Hotel amenities include an Olympic-sized outdoor pool, a volleyball court, kids activities, vending machines, an ice cream shop, free parking and on-site dining at The Beach House Restaurant (serving breakfast daily) and Coconuts Beach Bar and Grill, which serves lunch and dinner daily. Pets are not permitted.
Ocean City Convention Center is about a 4-minute walk from the hotel, while Tanger Outlets Ocean City can be found 10 minutes away by car. Thunder Lagoon Water Park is roughly a 14-minute drive away and Ocean City Municipal Airport (OCE) is a 16-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, no pets, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: December 25, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's location, staff, food and rooms.
Numerous reviewers praised the hotel's location. They described it as safe and close to the beach, Ocean City Convention Center, the boardwalk, highway access, restaurants and shopping.
The hotel's staff were the source of many compliments by guests. They were characterized as accommodating, friendly, helpful and professional.
Several lodgers were impressed with the hotel's food. They described it as excellent, fantastic and inexpensive, with attentive staff.
The hotel's accommodations were enjoyed by several travellers. They found their rooms to be clean, up-to-date, well equipped and spacious, with great ocean views and efficient air conditioning. Some patrons had complaints about their lodgings, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms.
Although several guests were pleased with their clean and spacious lodgings, some reviewers had complaints about their accommodations. They reported dated decor and worn fixtures, small bathrooms, cleaning issues, spotty Wi-Fi, poor water pressure and noise from other guests in the hallways.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #20 of 106 Ocean City hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 425 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8 out of 10 from 164 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4 out of 5 with a 96% recommendation rate from 27 reviews.
The author called the hotel on December 25, 2013 to verify some information.
