Oceanfront Paradise Found! Virginia Beach's BEST Kept Secret (Residence Inn Review)
Oceanfront Paradise Found? Maybe. (A Frankly Honest Review of the Residence Inn, Virginia Beach)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I’m about to unleash the REAL deal on the Residence Inn in Virginia Beach – the one they call “Oceanfront Paradise Found!” cue dramatic music and eye roll. Let’s be real; paradise is a hefty claim, especially when dealing with hotel stays. But hey, I’m a sucker for a good view and a promise, so here goes…
First Impressions & Accessibility (and My Pre-Dawn Panic)
Okay, so the location? Stunning. That ocean? Magnificent. Especially when you’re practically living on the beach like you are here. Driving up felt amazing. But let's get down to brass tacks: Accessibility. This is HUGE for me. I’m not gonna bore you with my life story (unless you really want me to), but let’s just say smooth transitions and clear pathways are kind of… essential.
From what I experienced, the accessibility was pretty good. Elevators? Check. Ramps? Check. Adequate space in the room? Mostly. Okay, so maybe navigating the hallways felt a little like playing Frogger with luggage carts and chattering families at times, but hey, it's the beach, and everyone's excited! This place is built for families, kids, and the general chaos that comes with a seaside vacation.
The Room: My Oceanfront Fortress (and the Great Sleep Debacle)
Ah, my room. Let's talk room specifics. Absolutely LOVED the ocean view! Seriously, waking up to that sunrise was worth the price of admission. The room itself was reasonably spacious, with a comfy bed and a separate sitting area (important for lounging and pretending I was too fancy to watch TV in the bed).
The Wi-Fi, thank goodness, was free and worked in all rooms. I mean, in this day and age, that's practically a requirement, right? The Internet in general seemed snappy, enough for streaming my guilty pleasure shows – and, you know, checking emails. My room had Free Bottled Water which was appreciated.
However, there were a few tiny things that I'd say are worth pointing out: the blackout curtains in my room were good, but not perfect. I'm a light sleeper, and that dawn light was trying to invade my space! Also, while the soundproofing was pretty good, I did catch a few snippets of the neighbor's party one night.
Bathroom Blues (and the Joy of Slippers)
The separate shower/bathtub was a nice touch. Bathroom was clean, and the toiletries were decent. One of the best things was the slippers they had. After a long day on the beach, they were a lifesaver!
Cleanliness and Safety: The COVID Conundrum
Okay, let's cut to the chase: traveling post-pandemic is a WHOLE other level of stress. I'm inherently a germaphobe, so I paid close attention to the cleanliness and safety protocols. They had hand sanitizer everywhere, which I appreciated. The staff wore masks, and there was some evidence of physical distancing. However, how truly effective was the cleaning was another question. They said they were using anti-viral cleaning products and the room sanitization opt-out was available. I sure hoped they were, because the thought of a less-than-thorough cleaning job kept me up more than once -- and don't get me started on the shared elevator buttons!
Food, Glorious Food (or, the Buffet's Dark Side)
The breakfast (included, thankfully) was a mixed bag. There was the breakfast buffet, which was reasonably good, but also a bit… overwhelming. A sea of food, with people hawking for the perfect pancake, and I swear I saw a rogue French Toast stick get away.
Services & Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Bizarre.
The fitness center and swimming pool [outdoor] were great. The pool with a view was gorgeous, and a lifesaver on the hot afternoons. I also loved the terrace: a great place to chill and sip coffee (that you'd brought up from the Coffee maker in your room!)
More Details
- Internet access - great. My work from home life continued smoothly.
- Cashless payment service - convenient.
- Daily housekeeping - the service was good!
- Elevator - made my life easier.
- Facilities for disabled guests - good.
- Front desk [24-hour] - a helpful touch.
- Luggage storage - appreciated.
- Non-smoking rooms - essential.
- Smoke alarms - good.
- Car park [free of charge] - amazing!
The Verdict: Paradise Found (with Fine Print)
So, is the Residence Inn in Virginia Beach "Oceanfront Paradise Found"? Well, not quite. It's more like "Oceanfront Pretty Darn Good, With a Few Quirks." The location is fantastic, the rooms are comfortable, and the amenities are decent. The cleanliness was a concern, but nothing that ruined the experience.
Final Thought: This is a solid choice for a family beach trip or a quick getaway. Just manage your expectations, pack your hand sanitizer, and prepare for a healthy dose of beachside chaos. And for the love of all that is holy, get to the buffet early for the good pancakes!
Winnipeg's BEST Spa Escape? The Fort Garry Hotel's Luxurious Secret!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is… my itinerary, a slightly-chaotic chronicle of my (probably) disastrous attempt to relax at the Residence Inn by Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Prepare for the feels. And probably a few too many exclamation points.
PRE-TRIP ANTICIPATION (aka, Days Leading Up to Disaster, Gloriously Anticipated)
- The Packing Panic: Ugh, packing. Why is it always a frantic scramble? I swear, I spend more time agonizing over which swimsuit to bring than actually using a swimsuit. Ended up just throwing EVERYTHING in a suitcase and praying for the best. Note to self: next time, bring more comfortable shoes!
- The Booking Blues: Seriously, booking this trip was like wrestling an octopus. Websites, comparisons, reviews… my brain felt like a scrambled egg. But hey, Oceanfront Residence Inn it is! Hoping to be mesmerized by the ocean.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND THE PERILS OF PARADISE (Or, The Beach Tried to Kill Me…Almost)
- 1:00 PM - Arrival and First Impressions (and the Great Parking Debacle): Okay, first impressions… the hotel IS pretty. That lobby smells… vaguely of chlorine and hope? Finding parking was a nightmare worthy of a Greek tragedy. Apparently, everyone else in Virginia decided to visit the beach today. Finally, some kind soul found a spot.
- 2:00 PM - Room Reconnaissance: Okay, the room is… fine. Cleanish. Smells faintly of… nothing, which is a welcome change from the previous odor. The ocean view? Worth the parking aggravation. Seriously, staring at the waves is making me feel like a whole new person.
- 3:00 PM - Beach Bliss (and the Sand Invasion): Beach time! I plunked my stuff, slathered on sunscreen (hopefully enough!), and marched towards the waves. The sand, though… it's everywhere. Everywhere. In my hair, in my swimsuit, in places I didn't even know sand could get. Am I the only one who feels like they’re slowly being absorbed by the beach?
- 4:00 PM - The Great Seafood Quest (and the Underwhelming Fish Taco): Needed sustenance! Found a place with "award-winning" fish tacos. They were… edible. The salsa was probably the best part, but I was left craving a proper taco. Disappointing.
- 5:00 PM - Poolside Chill (and the Loudest Kids Ever): The pool beckoned! Got myself a lounge chair and opened a book. Within five minutes, every child within a 50-mile radius was screaming. It was glorious, I guess. The water was cold. So, I did not find the zen I was hoping for.
- 7:00 PM - Sunset Stroll (and the Seagull Attack): Determined to experience the famous VB sunset. The colors were incredible! But then a seagull, a huge seagull, decided my ice cream cone looked delicious and almost stole it right from my hand. Close call! Got the ice cream tho. That was a win!
- 9:00 PM - Room Service Redemption (and the Netflix Binge): Exhausted. Ordered room service (cheeseburger and fries, because who am I kidding?). Binge-watched some ridiculous reality show. Feeling… content. This is why I came here, right? Forget the sand, the seagulls, and the screaming kids. Right now, I am the Buddha of the beach. At least until someone knocks on the door.
DAY 2: EXPLORATION, FAILURE, AND THE MAGIC OF THE OCEAN (plus a lot of ocean-related mishaps)
- 8:00 AM - The Breakfast Buffet Battle: I decided to go to the breakfast buffet. And I was right. It was war. The waffle iron was the main battleground. I fought and won.
- 9:00 AM - Exploring the Oceanfront (and the Tourist Trap Tango): Figured I should actually, you know, explore the boardwalk. It was packed. So much… stuff. Souvenir shops, arcades, the whole works. Felt like I was navigating a human pinball machine.
- 10:00 AM - Kayaking (My Worst Idea Yet): I rented a kayak. I am a complete and utter klutz, but this seemed like a good idea at the time. Let me tell you – it was HARD. I paddled for, oh, about ten minutes before basically giving up and drifting along. I felt like I was going in circles. Then, I fell off. The water was cold. The kayak was unforgiving. Humiliating, and, well, a little terrifying. It's pretty. I watched some dolphins!
- 1:00 PM - Lunch with a View (and the Crow Incident): Found a cute little cafe. Then, a massive flock of crows descended and attacked a poor, innocent sandwich. I was terrified of the birds!
- 2:30 PM - The Wave Runner (My Actual Worst Idea Yet): I got to this point of the day and thought "I should rent a wave runner!" I am also bad at that, so I crashed it. A lot. I was in the water with it for way too long.
- 4:00 PM - Recovering in the Sand (and the Sand Again): I needed to recover. I went back to the beach, buried myself in the sand (which, finally, felt soothing), and just listened to the waves. It felt like all the day's frustrations and inadequacies were being washed away. The power of the ocean is real, people. REAL.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner (and the Decision to Embrace the Tourist): I tried to be "local" for dinner. I failed. I was too tired from the day's calamities. Had a burger. It was delicious.
- 8:00 PM - Drinks! (And the karaoke): I was a little drunk and figured "why not?" My voice wasn't that bad to my ears.
DAY 3: DEPARTURE AND THE RESIDUAL SANDY REALITY (and, of course, a lot of sand)
- 9:00 AM - The Farewell Breakfast (and the Pancake Mishap): Last breakfast! Made myself a pancake. The pancake was fine.
- 10:00 AM - Packing Up (and the Sand Surprise… Again!): Packing up… again. I was SURE I’d gotten rid of all the sand. I am wrong.
- 11:00 AM - Final Ocean Stare (and the Sad Goodbyes): One last look at the ocean. Felt a little sad to leave. Despite the chaos, the hiccups, and the near-death experiences involving seagulls and kayaks, there was a kind of magic here.
- 12:00 PM - Departure (and the Promise to Return…with a Plan?): Headed home! I am probably bringing sand with me. I'm not sure I'll be able to return, but I want to.
- Aftermath: Afterword: I'm in the same room as I'm writing this. My clothes are still in a big pile. I want to go back. I’m not sure I will. The ocean is calling – I guess.
Oceanfront Paradise Found! (Mostly!) - Virginia Beach Residence Inn FAQs (Because Let's Be Real, Nothing's PERFECT)
Wait, "Paradise Found"? Is this a commercial? REALLY?
So, the location... is it *actually* on the beach? (Because websites LIE.)
What's the deal with the rooms? Clean? Spacious? Like, will I need to bleach everything when I get home?
Breakfast. The most important meal of the day, right? At least, when you're on vacation and don't have to make it yourself. Tell me about breakfast!
Pool time! Is the pool actually nice? And is it crowded?
Let's talk about the little things. Like... parking. Annoying or easy?
What about the staff? Friendly? Helpful? Or just…meh?
Would you stay there again? Seriously?
Let's dig deeper. Tell me something you didn't like, something *really* annoying. Spill the tea!
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