We booked a 4-night stay at the Sea Shell Motel (Thurs thru Sun nite) for my wife and two boys (ages 7 and 10).
We wanted an oceanside room, and were told that it was right above the Club, so we would hear loud music on Saturday nite. We like Beach Haven and LBI so much that we were willing to put up with one night of loud music.
Little did we know that the Sea Shell Motel was non-stop booze and music for all 4 days and nights.
The first night (Thurs night) had a Hip Hop band/DJ playing well into 2am, with our whole room rattling and trembling. My poor kids were terrified of the noise and vibration and only fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion atfer midnight. This went on for ALL FOUR NIGHTS with different bands. On Sunday, we were told that there would only be an acoustic guitarist playing in the evening by the pool (which was also below our room balcony). This guitarist played well after 2am, with a loud microphone, and was encouraging all the drunk pool-side guests to sing along loudly. My pleas to management fell on deaf ears until I finally called the local police to break up the party.
And the days were no better. The Sea Shell pool, beach, Tiki bar, and restaurant were constantly over-crowded, since there was a live band and alcohol flowing from noon till the wee-hours of the morning. I couldn't understand how the hotel was able to accommodate all these people until I started to talk them. It turned out that over 90% of the people I spoke to didn't even belong to the hotel... they basically walked off the streets to enjoy the pool, Tiki Bar, and music. So my $400/night room rate didn't even buy me exclusive rights to the pool or a good night's sleep.
Each day at noon, the band would over-take the pool and prevent the kids from walking, swimming or splashing at that end of the pool! One day, we were resting inside our room, trying to get a breather from the crowd and noise outside, when we were startled to see one of the band members jumping on our 2nd floor balcony, in front of our sliding glass doors! Apparently this was part of the act. When I went to complain to the manager that this man startled my family beyond belief, his response was "they are authorized to use the guest's balcony for this" !! He re-iterated this point when I told him I did not feel safe any longer, since the glass doors failed to lock.
Also, the continental breakfast was the worst display of food I have ever seen, and the service was horrible.
And did I mention the crowded beach and pool?
If you're a young family and wanted to spend a nice, relaxing time with the kids on the LBI shore and pool, then this is defintely NOT the place for you....only BAD memories here... take it from me, we will NEVER be back!
It's too bad, because Beach Haven is a great town and location to bring the kids to LBI.
The Sea Shell Motel ruined our stay.