Tom McGee's Blog

And we’re off, a long-needed vacation for LF and myself. Not counting various family visits I think this is the first time we’ve gotten away since the famous California vacation a year ago.

First day’s destination: the hip and stylish Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Not even a block from the beach, just across the way from the Paramount, this is one of the places-you-want-to-be down at the shore.

Palm trees out front, a killer lobby on the main floor and a terrace/mezzanine kind of thing on the second. Here’s the view out at night:

Yes, that’s the famous “Tilly” and the Wonder Bar in the middle distance. Clearly visible by eye, the camera phone just doesn’t quite do it:

The hipster decor I mentioned carries through the lobby and all the rooms. They have these stylish lamps and pictures:

And the theme carries over to the bedding:

Unfortunately all is not perfect in paradise. Our first room was on the fourth floor, facing the rooftop where all the physical plant equipment (air conditioners etc.). The view was ugly, and the noise was ridiculous. We shot down to the lobby where the very polite and helpful desk clerk upgraded us to a room on the ocean side. It was much better except that someone had been smoking in the room. While I’m not really allergic, stale cigarette smoke smells like shit and gives me a headache. LF agreed that this wasn’t any better, so we bopped down to the lobby again and got an eight-floor room. We were back on the physical plant side again, but the noise was abated.

And when all that was accomplished, we had this view:

Though don’t get me wrong: The place is a real bargain. It looks great and is very comfortable for just $109 a night in August. I checked: you can’t beat that for a location like this.

But it’s all about the company on a trip like this.

Asbury Park is great for walking, and we covered one end of town to the other that day and night. Dinner was at Rafferty’s in the Cookman Ave. district (which is one place beside the ocean you should definitely check out). Reasonable and delicious, with a lovely warm atmosphere.