Further down the boards the better. I wanna smell them Thrasher's fries from my balcony.

The Hilton's $550 per night in the summer, which is insane. It's a nice enough hotel, but at that price point a little insane if you ask me.

Rent one or two condos in the same building. Use cbvacations.com. Definitely the best selection. Been using them for about 20 years. Having a kitchen is awesome and you can get an ocean front or ocean block condo with a pool for cheaper than a hotel. We like to stay mid town between 40-90th ish areas. Condo row Starts around 90/94th street and has the big buildings with lots of amenities but the beaches there get crowded.

We like Jetty's Break which in Oceanside not ocean front, lots of space in a 3 bedroom. And we love Sunset Island on the bayside because of all the activities, location and condos and townhouse options. We use Vantage Realty.

Take a look at Resort Rental’s website at www.ocvacations.com. Nice easy to maneuver website with condos in different parts of town. They are a small company, only handle well maintained units. You might like to get separate condos adjacent or in same building to give everyone a little space. I like The Quay on the beach at 107th Street in North OC (sometime called uptown now). Larger units, indoor and outdoor pools, family atmosphere. Prices a little lower as building is perpendicular to beach.

Anonymous wrote:It all depends how much you want to spend.

We normally go for a mini-week. Either a Fri-Mon or a Mon-Fri. You can get a two bedroom condo for about $1000-1500 depending on amenities etc. Get two condos near each other and that could be one option.

The problem with condos is that how "nice" they are is pretty dependent on the owners up keep. We even rented the same condo in back to back years and we've found that the next year the place seemed REALLY run down.

Hotels you'll get a more even experience, but you'll pay for that.

We like having a kitchen and a common area, since we have little kids who nap and go to sleep early. It all depends on what you're looking for.

Thanks! Any recommendations on where to look for a condo? Hotels seem expensive for sure!!!

It all depends how much you want to spend.

We normally go for a mini-week. Either a Fri-Mon or a Mon-Fri. You can get a two bedroom condo for about $1000-1500 depending on amenities etc. Get two condos near each other and that could be one option.

The problem with condos is that how "nice" they are is pretty dependent on the owners up keep. We even rented the same condo in back to back years and we've found that the next year the place seemed REALLY run down.

Hotels you'll get a more even experience, but you'll pay for that.

We like having a kitchen and a common area, since we have little kids who nap and go to sleep early. It all depends on what you're looking for.

We love the Grand Hotel. Right on the boardwalk and walking distance to fish tales, mini golf, etc. they have an indoor pool, arcade, and giant chess board that kept the kids entertained during a couple of bad-weather days. Staff was friendly and helpful. Rooms are huge and have a kitchenette, which was helpful.

I like the Hilton suites.

Kids are 5, 9, 10, 11. I guess in terms of least dumpy hotels as well as area. Think we want to be in OC vs. Bethany/Rehoboth.

Yeah, Ocean City is the worst. I'd do Bethany, Lewes, Rehoboth or Broadkill before I'd do Ocean City.

Rent in town Rehoboth if you want to be really walkable to beach, food, fun, etc. Traditional beach boardwalk but smaller than OC. Very family friendly. Can bike on boardwalk before 10. Nice playground and weekly farmer's market.

Rent in Broadkill if you want just the beach and lots of quiet and bird watching, fishing, kayaking. Small store sells sandwiches, milkshakes, homemade donuts and sundries. Cheaper rentals than almost anywhere else on the shore. Bay beach - excellent for little ones, less waves, shallower, calmer etc. I LOVE this one for littles.

Bethany is nice, family friendly also, very small boardwalk but still nice shops etc. I'm less familiar w/ this town but lots of antique shops there.

Lewes is a great old town with nice bay beaches. Great toy store, good food but less options than Rehoboth, nice bikable town.

Cape Henlopen State Park also has a lifeguarded beach on the ocean side, and has a bayside beach as well. If you're into camping, you can camp there. They also have free bikes to borrow and tool around. Great nature center here, too, recently redone. Nice big playground by the nature center.

Can't stand Ocean City and we have a free place to stay there and rarely go.

Since you have two families could you rent a larger beach house in Bethany or Rehoboth? $4000 a week gets you a pretty nice house.

Hotel rooms in OC are likely going to run you $200 a night in a newer hotel and not give you much space.

how old are your kids? We love the Holiday Inn and Suites which is at 17th or 18th. It has a nice kids activity pool. It is walking distance to Fish Tales.
If you have the energy- you can also walk the 18 blocks to the rides, etc at the end of the boardwalk. We often walk there and take the trolly back.

In terms of least dumpy hotels or in terms of area?
Most people will tell you the Hilton. The Courtyard Marriott on the boardwalk is also one of the more recently renovated properties so nicer than others. A Residence Inn opened recently too but its not on the boardwalk. There's also a Hampton Inn on the bayside 44th or something like that, and it's nice.

Two families of 4... open to suggestions, haven't been there in years, and have never been with kids. Thanks for your help!