Hotel Alice at Atlantic Beach — Hotel in Pine Knoll Shores

[Update 9/6/25] Property GM Billy B. called me directly to resolve issue. He explained that the request I made from the 3rd party site (booking.com) did not show anywhere in Hotel Alice’s system; he offered to stay on the line while I called Booking so we could get this resolved.

I accepted this offer and conferenced in booking.com.

Booking had an incorrect email address on file, which explained why Hotel Alice was not getting any of the requests.

We got the issue resolved on the phone.

After disconnecting with the booking.com agent, the hotel manager further apologized and provided me thoughtful options to win back my business, should I travel to the Atlantic Beach area again. Though I declined anything additional, I recognize the service he provided and the sincerity behind it.

I believe the customer service concerns were 100% with the 3rd party and not with Hotel Alice, so I wanted to edit this review and the rating for “Service” to reflect appropriately.

The “Room” rating is what it is.

However, I’m hopeful that future guests won’t experience the same, as management states they are addressing the issues with housekeeping.

[Original review 9/1/25] *bugs and poor management at Hotel Alice.

The hygiene standards were extremely poor.

I booked a one-night stay at Hotel Alice (August 26-27, 2025) through the booking.com app.

I checked into a mostly empty hotel at 5 p.m. The friendly front desk clerk, Ken, checked me into room 220.

However, room 220 wasn’t ready for check-in. The sofa bed’s cushions were removed and lying on their sides, and a used sheet was tucked into one of them. The cabinet doors were all open, and the room smelled like a mix of chemicals and stale cigarettes.

I figured things happen, so I went back to the front desk to request a different room since 220 was clearly not ready. I was given room 203.

Upon entering room 203, I immediately sensed trouble. The room was warm and smelled strongly of cigarettes. I thought I could spray some Lysol and turn up the air conditioning to circulate the air, but I quickly checked for any additional signs of trouble before settling in. I found hair and a dead mystery bug on the platform of the bed closest to the window. I began to lift the mattress to investigate further and immediately found a very active and much-alive *bug. I took a quick, terrified video of this creature and quickly left the room, not wanting to take it home as a souvenir.

I went to the front desk and informed the clerk about the *bug and that I wouldn’t be staying. Ken was very apologetic but informed me that I would have to call booking.com to request a refund since there was nothing the hotel could do. He said that once Booking requested the refund, the hotel would approve it.

However, despite multiple efforts, the hotel’s management refused to respond to booking.com’s requests to approve the refund. This was truly disgusting behavior from a local business owner.

I didn’t stay in the room and didn’t use anything in the room or hotel facilities.

I drove home for 3.5 hours because the prospect of looking for another room or hotel was too much. There was no way to relax or feel safe after...

ABOVE AND BEYOND!!! I have been meaning to write this for some time. We live in New Orleans (our home base) and my husband, a commercial fisherman, was fishing off the coast of Morehead City, NC in February 2019 which is not his home port and actually quite far from it. On a Sunday evening, his boat was parked at an Atlantic Beach marina. Getting from the dock into the boat he slipped, hit his back on the dock, then fell into the freezing water feet first at low tide (thank God). HIs feet were stuck in the muck and, it being off season for tourist, there wasn't anyone around. He was finally heard calling out, 911 was called and he was taken to Carteret Hospital and diagnosed and slight hypothermia, "treated" for 3 bruised ribs (which were later diagnosed as fractured), swelling, bruising, etc. When I realized he would not stay overnight at the hospital, I sprang into action and booked a room at Hampton Inn Atlantic Beach and booked a flight. He was discharged from Carteret with a sandwich and three pain pills. I won't go into my issues with their post treatment service (considering he was alone with no one to help him) but my review of Carteret Cab on Google will tell you that the cab driver wonderfully acted in my place. I had called the front desk at the HI-AB and begged the young woman to be on the lookout for my husband as he was alone and injured and I wouldn't be there until the next day. I found out later the cab driver got my husband checked in and helped him to his room that was the first room on the first floor (closest to the front desk.) I arrived on Monday morning and thanked the front desk profusely and went straight to my husband's room. The door was propped open which I thought was strange and walked in. Inside was our GUARDIAN ANGEL, Pete, the head of maintenance who happened to be a retired EMT. When he got to work at HI that morning apparently there was talk of the injured fisherman who arrived at midnight in nothing but a hospital gown and socks. Pete had helped my husband who couldn't move use the bathroom and the front desk staff had brought my husband breakfast. I was so thankful I just cried. We were there for 5 nights. Pete continued to check in on me and my husband several times daily for the rest of the week and actually ran to the drug store for us after he got off of work one night. The rest of the hotel staff was so helpful and sympathetic. I'm not one to write reviews online, whether good or bad but I HAD TO WRITE THIS REVIEW as the service was WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND. I hope the staff who was working there that week are still there and see this review as they deserve official accolades from management of Hampton Inn. Susan McManus Ellis,...

Family of 4 booked direct through Hotel Alice website using CC for a 4 night stay. Checked in on a Sunday and SHOWED THE CC at check in (can be viewed on cameras we're sure). On Wednesday afternoon, we were locked out of our room. I needed to get in the room to take my medication after eating dinner. I asked if they would let me in the room to get to my medication. I was told no. They said we had no CC on file. I showed them our online confirmation. I asked them why this was an issue days later. They couldn't give an answer. On Monday, we spoke with the GM several times since I was locked in the hotel room bathroom for 20 minutes before an employee had to come let me out while I was only in a towel after showering. Wednesday, I couldn't get in our room. My family was out putt-putting. They wanted me to call and have them leave their fun time to bring the CC to them that we used to book online and showed at check in. It's days later. It didn't make any sense. I asked them to allow me back in the room until my family returned from putt-putt. They know our faces well after the horrific incident on Monday. They refused to let me in the room, so I had no choice but to call my family back to the hotel to deal with this nonsense. We believe this is poor customer service, poor accomodations, and lack of courtesy when the hotel experience has been less than ideal. Additionally, the room a/c leaks on the floor. Keep shoes on and a towel down. No one wants to go on vacation and have maintance consistently in their room. We rarely stay in hotels anymore. AirBNB is definitely way more accommodating as hosts want you to have the very best experience in their homes. * Family came back early from putt-putt to give the same CC for the 3rd time. We were given no courtesy, compassion, or apology. Please do better. You have other poor reviews, now that I've taken time to look at them; it seems this hotel needs to prioritize customer service, cleanliness, and update general maintenance of the overall building. Guests locked in their room bathroom is severely unexceptable. Guest being locked out of their room intentionally by staff is highly unexceptable. Elevator is hot and slow. Check my other reviews. It's rare I give poor reviews. I try to give great reviews for deserving businesses. Spare us from the half hearted response to this. You're not doing anything for any of your guests who've had horrible experiences. You're clearly not improving the hotel conditions either. Alice would be disappointed her name is attached...