The Breakers on the Ocean — Hotel in Spring Lake

Transformative! I used to vacation at the Breakers On The Shore for the big things, but I find myself returning for the smaller pleasures. Yes, there's the undeniable allure of the majestic sweep of this historic, Victorian-style hotel, with grand ocean views from oversized windows and the inviting, wrap-around veranda to survey the topography and manicured landscapes, which can all be quite exhilerating.The rooms my wife and I stayed in were comfortable with whisper-quiet air-conditioning, beds firm with clean crisp sheets, the decor eclectic. Room service was prompt and attentive, accommodating our smallest requests, from extra luggage racks and towels to in-room phone calls informing us that our table is ready for dinner. The food is good, professionally prepared cuisine, sometimes exceptionally so. You can get a hint of just how good if you allow your olfactory sense to guide you when near the ballroom or dining area, as I did. At various times, I got nose-seduced by an aromatic reduction sauce simmering on the stove, or the fragrance of roasted vegetables drizzled in a demi-glace or the scent of a sumptuous bouillabaisse. If you happen to have just returned from a day at the beach dressed in swimsuit, T-shirt, flip-flops and reek of Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil, do not for one moment believe that you'll be able to gain entry into a catered affair under the flimsy pretense that you're in the wedding party. That won't cut it, even more so when you're carrying an empty bag of Cheetos. Just don't ask me how I know this. Best of all is the nearly unsurpassable convenience that the hotel offers. There's the eye-catching and functional outdoor pool area with tables, lounge chairs and service kiosk. While eating breakfast and seated near a window overlooking the pool, I saw an older woman cautiously and unsteadily enter the water. I thought she'd be taking a dip to cool off. What she actually did was swim lap after lap, slicing through the water like an eel. She hoisted herself up at the pool's edge fifteen minutes later looking strong, sure-footed and agile. It was as if she swam in the magical waters of Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth. If pool-side recreation doesn't float your boat then walk to the beach just across the street from the hotel. The ocean and relatively uncluttered beach gently coaxed me into participating in nature's bounty and beauty, from body surfing to burying my feet in warm sand. At the end of our long, busy day, we relaxed on the veranda at the hotel sipping our favorite beverage, and marinated in a bright moonlight that illuminated the night sky and turbulent ocean. A slow intoxication came over us, probably less from our post-prandial libation than from the negatively-charged ions that permeated the brackish ocean air, filling our lungs and our entire being with a primal energy reminiscent of the animal satisfaction felt after a successful hunt. All our senses seem intensified, heightened. The next morning in front of the hotel, we espied a purple butterfly emerge from its chrysalis and rest on a nearby flower. Days earlier it was a leaf-crawling caterpillar. I thought this was the perfect metaphor for our stay here. The Breakers can be genuinely transformative and restorative. But just maybe it wasn't from the big things as much as the little things...

We never planned on having our wedding at Breakers. As a matter of fact, we were only in the area because we had been looking at other venues. By chance, however, we stumbled across this perfect gem sitting nestled across the street from the ocean and decided to stop in ... just on a whim that they might let us look around.

And thankfully we did!

As soon as we walked through the doors, my wife and I were captivated by the coziness and elegance of the Breakers, accented by all the natural light beaming in through the windows. We checked with the front desk about taking a look around and they instead offered to sit us down with their Wedding Manager, Eileen Barnetti.

Before we walked out of the building that day, Eileen had felt like a family member we've known our whole life. She literally stopped what she was doing (which was preparing for an on-site conference scheduled later that day) to sit down with us and show us the entire hotel and wedding ballroom. We fell in love with the Breakers immediately, but it was Eileen's sincerity and genuine affection that made the decision for us - we were booking here.

As we continued to meet more of the Breakers staff, we cannot say enough nice things about their friendliness and patience. Eileen and her team were always available to answer questions (even on her days off) and made sure to accommodate any request we had - no matter how big, small, or silly.

When our big day finally arrived, we were treated like royalty. Our maitre d, Michelle, was flexible and worked with us to make sure we had time to enjoy ourselves. She effortlessly managed all of our vendors and adjusted our schedule on-the-fly to accommodate us -- never once did she try rushing us or breaking the flow of the night to adhere to a predefined itinerary. She made it our night.

We elected to go with a buffet style dinner after passed Hors d'oeuvres during our cocktail reception. The passed hors d'oeuvres were frequent, plentiful, and every plate had a variety of options to choose from. Nobody ever had to look hard to grab a snack. Our buffet was hot, delicious, and loaded with more options than we knew what to do with. Our guests commented at how generous the portions were and thanked us for the flexibility of eating when they were ready (not to take away from the dance floor).

Even as our night winded down, the staff at the Breakers continued to make themselves available. They arranged transportation for nearly two dozen guests to a local bar for an "after party" and were quick to help others to the rooms. They were even so generous as to pack to-go container for my wife and I and deliver additional food to our room, just in case we didn't get a chance to eat during the wedding (which, of course, we didn't).

The Breakers on the Ocean is a beautiful hotel/ballroom combination that offers everything you need for your wedding right in one place. But there are beautiful venues everywhere. What separates the Breakers from any other venue you'll look at is the people inside the building. Without their wonderful team helping us the whole way through, our wedding would have never been as effortless and stress-free as it was.

Thank you Eileen, Terri , Michelle, Shannon, Cesar, and the whole...

So far my experience has not been good. Regarding customer service only 1 of the 3 people I have had to speak to have been polite and helpful. My first call when I reserved the room the representative was almost combative when I said that the wedding party stated on their invitation that the hotel would accommodate a one-night stay because its a one day event. She disagreed entirely and told me it wasn't possible. But then she was able to book me for a room for one night, so i dont know why she was upset with me for stating such. And she gave me a more expensive room because i talked about this with a friend that also booked there and her room was about $100 less than mine (i did book before her, so i would think i would have more options, it is entirely possible that at the time this was the only available room, but the attitude of the rep makes me think she booked me in the more expensive room purposefully). Very antiquated that you have to send a check via mail to reserve a room, even after they take card information over the phone. Website is not very helpful, and I called ahead to see if they provide irons or steamers and I got a short no, the person who answered seemed annoyed that I asked but most hotels I go to provide them? I always check beforehand because I don't want to be wrinkled! I will update when we complete our stay.

Update: the rooms are outdated, and smell a little funny. You are right by the ocean so I somewhat attribute it to that. The service was fine at the front desk, and it is great that you get loaned a free beach day pass if you request one. The AC in the room was great, but overall I still would not change my star rating. It was average, if not a...