Millions of people look forward to visiting Rehoboth Beach, Delaware every year. To some families, it’s been an annual tradition that has spanned a few generations!
Whether it’s your first time visiting or a second home to you, there are always the same questions to consider when planning your trip to Rehoboth Beach.
Where do I stay? Where do I eat? And what do I want to do while I’m there?
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When I published my earlier article, Best Beach Vacation Destinations In Delaware, New Jersey, & Maryland, I found more of you have a bigger interest in my neck of the woods, than I had guessed.
So, when the opportunity came up for my husband and I to escape for a night at one of the oceanfront hotels in the area, we were all too happy to investigate and report back to you!
The hotel we stayed at, isn’t just any hotel. It is one that has been around for decades. It has been recognized for years, as one of the best Rehoboth Beach hotels to stay at.
After I explain all of the little nuances of the place, I think you will agree there are plenty of reasons why this hotel should be your first choice of where to stay!
The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel
If you’ve ever been to Rehoboth, you already know parking can be a real pain in the neck, during the summer months especially. That’s why one of the first impressions we got of the Boardwalk Plaza, was a really nice one.
A designated parking space in their onsite parking garage.
(Keep in mind, the hotel does only grant the 1 space per room, but it is a space off of the street and free of fees. Woo-hoo!)
The building itself is the second thing you notice upon arrival. If you’ve ever walked the length of the Rehoboth boardwalk, you surely would have seen this Victorian style beauty at the far end of the boards.
There’s no way you can miss the lovely architectural features of this building, or the quaint little outside seating area to their on site restaurant!
It really is one of the prettier properties in Rehoboth Beach.
A Bit Of History
The hotel didn’t always have the charming Victorian theme that it now has. In fact, what stands now as the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, use to be a much smaller hotel.
It was in 1991 that the owners tore down the original structure, and built what is now an 84 room luxury hotel.
When asked why the Victorian design? Well, naturally…because Rehoboth Beach was originally founded during the Victorian Era.
Makes sense, right?
It Gets Even More Charming
From perusing their site, I already had a good idea of what the hotel looked like. Though it was even lovelier in person!
Every inch of this place is decorated in an elegant Victorian fashion, from the wallpaper and lighting, to the wood trim, furniture, and decorative accents.
It really is a step back in time, but one you are more than happy to explore!
The first person to greet us, was of course the gentleman at the front desk, (Richard is what I believe his name to be).
Richard was truly a breath of fresh air!
Super friendly and casual, Richard also made us feel as though any little detail that could be adjusted for an optimal stay, is a detail he would be eager to try to take care of.
That level of attentive service continued with any staff member we came into contact with through the stay. Though the ambiance remained casual, laid back, and welcoming, as you would hope for in any beach getaway!
Our Room
This massive hotel has 4 floors, with 18 different room layouts that make up the 84 total rooms. Some rooms have whirlpool tubs. The best part is 3 out of the 4 sides that make up the building, all have beautiful water views!
Talk about location!
The room we stayed in was one of the Oceanfront Queen Suites (2 beds), on the 3rd floor, and it was perfect.
Not only was the room spacious and decorated in elegant Victorian patterns, but the room came with so many nice little touches!
First and foremost…the beds are firm, yet very comfortable. The reproduction furnishings are tastefully displayed. There are complimentary toiletries, a microwave, mini fridge, and Keurig coffee maker in every room. They even thought to supply a dark facial towel for makeup removal!
The suite has a small living room area, with desk, second tv, pull out sofa, and blackout drapes. The newspaper is waiting outside your door in the morning, and the hotel overall, is very quiet and private.
And those bathrobes. Don’t even get me started on those velvety soft pieces of fabric the hotel so generously supplies for your temporary comfort! Let’s just say…sitting on the balcony in those bathrobes, watching the sun come up, was one of the biggest highlights of the stay!
Efficiency Apartments
For larger family sized groups or even smaller families of 4 who want extra space, there are efficiency apartments for rent.
The efficiencies each have larger sitting areas, as well as galley kitchens with stove top, sink, fridge, dishwasher, and microwave. They also feature electric fireplaces as well as DVD players for additional comforts.
On Site Dining Options
The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel isn’t so highly rated just for it’s accommodations. It’s on site restaurant, Victoria’s, is also famous for being one of the best fine dining establishments in the Rehoboth Beach area.
Victoria’s is open 7 days a week, 7am-10pm, serving all 3 meals of the day, along with afternoon tea (by reservation only). You can choose to dine in the casual dining room or out on the patio with views of the boardwalk.
When we stayed on a Wednesday night, there was live music in the cozy downstairs pub, with local favorite musician, Keith Mack. Intimate, yet very inviting!
If you feel like just staying in your room for a nice quiet evening people watching from your balcony, the staff is all too happy to deliver room service to you, from Victoria’s full menu.
Other Extras
While my husband and I didn’t have a lot of time to take advantage of some of the amenities, we did take note of a few things we will enjoy next time around.
For starters, there is a heated soaking pool on the main level that is open 24 hours/7 days a week (closed 1 hour every day for maintenance).
Meals can be served within the pool area as well, if requested.
From the hours of 8pm – 9am however, the pool is for adults only. During those hours, cocktails can be requested poolside and the jets to the tub are turned on for your enjoyment!
There’s also a well equipped fitness room for the guests who want to keep to their exercise routine while on vacation.
Concierge Level
The fourth floor of the hotel is accessible by a special key only, as the entire floor is adults only. On this floor, the rooms mimmick the lower floors in terms of layout, for the most part. However, there are a few very significant differences that only the top floor guests can enjoy.
With concierge level status, guests can enjoy things like evening turn down service, coffee in the garden, later check out times, and of course, the private sundeck and spas.
For those of you who enjoy antiques, the concierge level also features original antique pieces throughout, where the lower floors are decorated with nice reproductions.
Certain rooms on the concierge level such as the Deluxe King or Queen suites also feature spa tubs.
The Little Things
Everywhere you looked, there was a really nice piece of furniture or other wall or table decor, random items of nostalgia that were just really neat little touches that enhanced the entire experience. That was another thing my husband and I enjoyed.
Even the elevator had something unique about it. The outer elevator side is glass with a nice view of the boardwalk and beach. If you go to the basement level, the boardwalk view is replaced by a hand painted mural on the glass side. Really cute!
Other Quick Mentions
There is a separate building on the premises, just for wedding receptions and other group events. The Boardwalk Plaza is perfect for such formal affairs.
With that beachfront spot, on site catering, and enough rooms to accommodate all of your guests, it is the clear and in many cases, first choice for weddings!
Final Thoughts
While the Boardwalk Plaza has a lot of little fine tuned details that make this hotel ideal for any type of getaway, what we enjoyed the most was the ambiance.
In passing through the lobby, we caught bits of conversation between staff and the clients. It quickly became apparent to us that some folks were visitors that have been coming back year after year.
Even the resident parrots seem to know who the regulars were!
Overall, we were very impressed. It truly was a delightful stay, and I highly recommend checking it out if the Rehoboth Beach area is a vacation destination on your radar!
Until next time, Happy Vacation Planning!
