Port-O-Call Hotel — Hotel in Ocean City

Stayed in the Port-O-Call Penthouse (PH) this past summer. Due to COVID this worked out really well since the PH provided kitchen and added space to eat in or spread out on the private balcony when the crowds got too big on the boardwalk. It was our first time staying in the PH. It is a bit pricey but there is not many options in Ocean City, NJ that provides a great location and a full hotel service/amenities for a big family. The PH sleeps 8, additional extended families were able to book other rooms in the hotel at the same time. My family with brothers/sisters/in-laws/kids/grandparents total 20. The hotel was accommodating and allows bigger family get togethers in the PH as long as only 8 people sleepover. Here are some details if you are trying to plan. Kitchen: Well stocked in terms of glasses, dinner plates, silverware. There is limited pots/frying pans. What is there is pretty worn. There is a decent stove/oven/microwave/dishwasher. There is a full size fridge and freezer. Fridge has seen better days - temp controls no longer function and the back top shelf freezes with warm spots in other sections. There is a toaster. Also a Keurig coffee maker with a variety of PODS (coffee and tea). Keurig is nice, however, with many people eating breakfast, I was glad I brought my 10 cup coffee maker and grounds. Hotel provides a dish sponge and dish soap. Eating space: Main dinner table seats 6. There is a round dinner table w/ 4 seats. Table on the open deck has 5 seats w/ umbrella, and 3 lounge chairs. We felt like there was enough seats for 20 people to spread out. There are 2-3 tables that can be used as side tables for putting food/plates for people to grab. We brought some disposable plates/silverware. Also brought disposable trash bins (on Amazon, essentially a 30gal gift bag). We used for the week and worked really well. Outdoor deck space: This was a major highlight for us. You can see all of OC from here. There is a rectangular area that butts up to the building, we were able to put up a 10'x10' tent to shield the sun over day. We made sure to take it down every night or when the wind picks up. At low winds, the building provides a nice protection. There are cinderblocks up there that we used to hold down the legs. Living room - Sofa bed, 2 single seaters and TV. The sliding door comes out of the living room. We liked to hear the ocean and get the breeze when in the room. The sliding door has a screen. There are 4 windows between the kitchen and the living room but only 1 of those windows had a screen. Kind of a shame to have windows you can't open when you are ocean front. Suggest the hotel to put screens in. Den - Has a 3 seater sofa with sofa bed and TV. This is a very small room. Sofa bed is extremely worn, springy, squeaky and there is a corner section that has zero support. Really suggest that the hotel look to change out maybe to a murphy bed which provides more support and space. Bathrooms/laundry - 2.5 bathrooms. Overall nice. Adequate space to spread your toiletries out for the week. Showers have the built in pumps for shampoo, wash. Would be nice if the 1/2 bath had a shower. Next to the 1/2 bath is the laundry room which contains full size washer and dryer. It is a large laundry room with a hamper (maybe take space from the laundry room to put in a shower to the 1/2 bath?). Nice that the hotel stocks the PH w/ extra sheets and towels. Overall: Hotel does nice things like cookies and juice for the kids. The Andes mints are a nice go to in a tray as you leave. Access to the PH is cumbersome. Only access is the 2 very very slow elevators with special elevator key. There are only 2 elevator keys to access the PH. When PH can sleep 8, there should be 8 keys possible. Also door to PH needs upgrade. You can only securely lock the door from the inside. We would definitely do the PH again. Hope these details helps with planning...

We have been coming here multiple times a year for the past 17 years and have never had a bad experience. That being said, even know our experiences have been great we have had a fee negatives over the years. Every year it seems to be something new. Something new is updated and then there is also a new problem. This year we have stayed on the 8th and the 9th floors. When we stayed on the 9th floor the ceiling over our bed started to leak and the popcorn coating on the ceiling started to break off and fall onto the bed. The amazing maintenance staff informed us that there wasn't anything they could do because they would have to take the room out of commission and seeing as the hotel was booked solid we would be out on the street or we would have to go home. The "resort fee" is the stupidest thing. It is a mandatory charge for the use of the WiFi (which does NOT work at all), pool, K-Cup, fitness center and daily newspaper delivery. It seems as if the prices are going up and the amenities are going down. Years ago you used to get a load of bathroom amenities and now you get a soap bar and cheap hand lotion. Cups in the room used to be glass and now they are crappy plastic. Honestly, it is cheaper to fly to Orlando and go to Disney for a week then to go to just stay at the Port-O-Call Hotel. The last time we came we had a sofa bed in the room and there was no pillows or blankets to make up the bed which it usually comes with. They advertise the pool is heated. THIS IS A LIE. The pool is not heated and we can barely stay in the pool for more than five minutes. The in-hotel restaurant isn't that hot of a place either. The food is good. But they charge a ridiculous amount for food. They charge $3.50 for a cup of to-go coffee. Over the years we have come to love the place panted in pink though. They have updated all the guest rooms and common spaces. It went to a 20th century charm boutique style to a 21st century modern style. If you ever need anything, the general manager (Glen) is one of the most wonderful people on the face of the earth. Enjoy...

As travelers, we're always leery of staying at a new place, be it Condo or Hotel. My Wife and I refer to ourselves as "Prima Donnas" since we need to feel like we're as well taken care of, as we do at home.|The Port 'O Call delivered on that feeling, PLUS! |Upon arrival, we found several good parking spaces available on their lot. The Lobby and Reception area were clean, bright, and modern. This interior couldn't be dated back to the original construction in 1966- it looked quite recent in design and construction.|Check-In was fast and efficient. We were surprised to hear our Hotelier used to live in our neighborhood in Pennsylvania and knew the area well.|Our room was even more impressive than the online photos. Plenty of space with a HUGE oceanfront window, and a balcony with oceanfront view.|The room came with our "MUST-HAVE" Keurig Pod Coffee Maker. The small refrigerator was perfect cold storage for our coffee creamer, and assorted drinks. The wall-mounted TV was large, and located in the perfect spot for viewing from the dining table or the MOST-comfortable bed. The Temp Control was spot-on when needed for A/C, and the sliding door vented the room on cooler days. The place was booked, but inside our room was so quiet, it was like we were the only guests. The Ice Machine was close, and always dispensed a full bucket of clear cubes when needed.|Every Staff Member we met was warm, friendly and polite. A NICE change from the seeming disinterest of a lot of Service Workers in recent years. They even have a Gift Shop, where we picked up some snacks, candy and a really nice "Por 'O Call tee shirt.|All-in-all, we heartily recommend staying here. As "Particular" People, we had a really nice stay, and were well taken care of. Refreshingly excellent hospitality right on the Beach, and close to everything the "Shore" offers. ONE...