I'm looking for something near Topsail Beach or Surf City. Anybody know of any place that's decent and affordable? Any places give discounts for staying several days in a row? If there are any other beaches that someone knows of that has good discounts on places to stay, I'd consider going there too.

6/19/2006 12:03:45 PM

when are you going?

6/19/2006 12:06:05 PM

Just wondering but have you been there before? It's kind of gross...there's nothing to do and lots of trailers. The only places to eat are Hardee's and a Pizza place and there's a Food Lion with pretty gross food...

6/19/2006 12:13:46 PM

I can either go on a weekend (any weekend after next weekend)...or I can go sometime the week of July 4th...probably something like the 5th-7th or 8th...I'm aware that it will be more expensive (probably) to go that week, but I don't have much of a choice...something affordable = something $100 or less a night I guess...the less the better, as long as it's decent.

6/19/2006 12:14:35 PM

I've been there once, and it's maybe a 10 minute drive to the beach, but the Baymont Inn & Suites in Wilmington is decent. $70/night, decent room, and free very decent breakfast. I mean we're not talking super nice, but waffles, cereals, yogurt and such.
I tried to search on Expedia for Topsail and Surf City but they don't list anything.

ETA - I searched for the dates you're looking for, though, and they only have something open on Thursday (6) for $72/night...the Days Inn is $66, and the Ramada is $80 until it goes up to $105 for Friday night..

[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 12:19 PM. Reason : ]

6/19/2006 12:16:09 PM

yeah, I know there's not much to do at Topsail, but I'm going for sentimental reasons...all I care about is beach access really.

6/19/2006 12:19:33 PM

If your looking for an affordable beach trip do Carolina Beach or Emerald Isle.

If you do go to Topsail you should go to The Crab Pot its across from Hardees and is really good.

The cheapest motel at Emerald Isle is definitely The Rusty Pelican.

6/19/2006 12:20:33 PM

whats the best search to use for this type of thing...I've never really looked online for this...I tried Googling it without desirable results.

6/19/2006 12:21:05 PM

How much is the Rusty Pelican and is it decent?

6/19/2006 12:21:33 PM

The cheap places never have shit for information on the web. The best place to do research is by asking around really. I know emerald isle & carolina beach forward and backwards. Wrightsville is nice but you will be paying top dollar to stay down there.

6/19/2006 12:22:20 PM

Its like a 5 minute walk to the beach. There is a little night club right next to it and across the street there is a pier with a resturant called bushwackers on it. Its pretty good. You can walk to about anything you need from there.

As far as the motel its absoulutely no frills and its old and rusty looking. When I go down there I dont spend any time in the room anyway so its always been fine for me.

[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 12:24 PM. Reason : ]

6/19/2006 12:24:29 PM

But by cheap do you mean cheap and...seedy? Or just cheap?
My friend and her boyfriend went to stay at "this little old place" her grandpa said they had to go to in SC and how he used to go there when her dad was little and it was only $75/night...but she said she was really creeped out and that it was gross. And she's not really very particular or prissy about stuff, either.

There's tons of cheap places in Myrtle Beach - considered going there? That Sandcastle place is cheap, and I read a thread a month or two ago about it and there were lots of other cheap suggestions

6/19/2006 12:25:35 PM

just in case someone see's this that can help..

but for our family vacation every year we go to the beach in late July/early August and lately we've had trouble. Both grandparents are neither in the best shape and grandfather needs a elevator wherever we stay (or somewhere very accessible due to a wheelchair). Not far from the beach (again, because of the wheelchair). We stayed at Peppertree down at Atlantic for the last few years and it was pretty good because of it's location and accessibility, but we couldn't get a room there this year.

Anyone know of any good places that might fit what we're looking for? I think there's a place in North Myrtle we have our eye on, but not real sure.


thanks for any help

[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 12:29 PM. Reason : r]

6/19/2006 12:28:08 PM

If there Sheraton there (AB) is available, it was great for my dad. He was in a wheelchair for 10 months after foot surgery (some idiot unloaded a 900lb pallet of X-Ray equipment on his foot) and we usually stay there anyways. It's right on the beach and even though the main path to the beach through the pool area isn't too friendly to wheelchairs (wheelchairs + sand...I don't know), there's another path by the parking lot that is. It's nice, because you can rent those huge ass beach umbrellas for like $5/day and the giant lounge chairs for $10/day there. It's not filled with too much ruckus.

If it's a financial option, you might want to think about renting a house next summer. Last Spring Break ('05) we stayed in a 3 story beachfront house in Emerald Isle with an elevator and its own pool, which was heated (it was April and still cold) for all the grandparents. There was a long boardwalk-type thing down to the beach, pretty nice. Tons of room.

6/19/2006 12:34:09 PM

Quote :

"But by cheap do you mean cheap and...seedy? Or just cheap? My friend and her boyfriend went to stay at "this little old place" her grandpa said they had to go to in SC and how he used to go there when her dad was little and it was only $75/night...but she said she was really creeped out and that it was gross. And she's not really very particular or prissy about stuff, either. There's tons of cheap places in Myrtle Beach - considered going there? That Sandcastle place is cheap, and I read a thread a month or two ago about it and there were lots of other cheap suggestions"

Well the people at Emerald Isle never really seemed sketchy to me. Its mostly working class families and such, people that hang out down there to fish, laid back. Same thing with the emerald club, very broad age range that hangs out there, and people that know each other from coming down every weekend. The motel is definitely no-frill in the most basic sense though. I dont even think it had an ice machine when I went down last time.

6/19/2006 12:34:38 PM

Yeah I remember when we drove down to the Aquarium when we were staying at that shit hole Shell Island at Wrightsville (do not EVER stay there) one time we saw this swimming pool no joke, about five feet away from the highway, built in the middle of a U-shaped motel. It had see-through plastic/glass walls built all around the 3 sides not facing the inside of the U and it was soo sketchy looking. Tons of little redneck kids jumping off the diving board, nearly hitting the walls.

Very funny.

6/19/2006 12:45:00 PM

By "decent," I mean I would like it to be clean (clean sheets, clean floors, clean showers, etc) and not sketchy (no bums hanging around outside, doesn't have the appearance of a crackhouse or anything like that). I don't care about the size of the room as long as it has a bed, a small fridge, and a shower. We went to Topsail last year and stayed at the Island Inn in Surf City. I can't find the number to that place now though and it doesn't seem to be listed online. It was extremely clean but the rooms were small. They were only $70/night. It will be my husband, myself, and my son (who will be 2 in September). I don't want my son to have to sleep anywhere dirty or sketchy, so that's the most important reason why it needs to be decent. If anyone has any numbers they can give me to some of these cheap places or even a place I can get them offline that would be appreciated. Also, (I said this before, but to reiterate) any beaches that are cheaper between the VA/NC border and Myrtle beach would be considered. If anyone can give me numbers to ANY cheap places that are decent, I would super appreciate it!

6/19/2006 1:11:47 PM

Scratch rusty pelican then.

Yahoo travel has always had plenty of reviews to go through. I know absolutely nothing about NYC and found a great hotel, in midtown, for under $100 a night after taxes.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-478238-carolina_beach_hotels-i;_ylt=ApUkgPP5D4ZDiT0S9Zi6rKX8xmoA

6/19/2006 1:22:22 PM

Quote :

"It's kind of gross...there's nothing to do and lots of trailers. The only places to eat are Hardee's and a Pizza place and there's a Food Lion with pretty gross food... "

Quote :

"but she said she was really creeped out and that it was gross. And she's not really very particular or prissy about stuff, either."

6/19/2006 1:54:14 PM

My criteria for a beach motel.

The following things within walking distance....
- A convenience store
- A resturant (or something that resembles one)
- A bar
- The beach

It also must be >$100 a night.

6/19/2006 2:26:01 PM

Quote :

"It also must be >$100 a night."

6/19/2006 2:28:54 PM

Whoever said the crab pot is good is fucking crazy. the food at topsail is generally ok at best, i wouldnt go there to eat.

6/19/2006 4:02:51 PM

don't know if this has been mentioned, but there is a holiday inn express in sneads ferry, and it's about 5 minutes from the beach (it's literally right before the bridge on highway 210, which is the north end of the island, not the south). if you're interested, you can check the rates/availability at http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/sfytb

north topsail >> surf city or south topsail, although now the north end is getting really developed. there's also a neat place further inland in sneads ferry called Dr. Rootbeer's Hall of Foam (they have all kinds of ice cream/float dishes, and some awesome sandwiches).

6/19/2006 5:52:52 PM

Most people stay several days in a row, why would they give a discount for that?

6/19/2006 6:20:42 PM

Quote :

"but for our family vacation every year we go to the beach in late July/early August and lately we've had trouble. Both grandparents are neither in the best shape and grandfather needs a elevator wherever we stay (or somewhere very accessible due to a wheelchair). Not far from the beach (again, because of the wheelchair)."

A couple of years ago, my entire family rented a beachhouse, and there were two main things we looked for:
- handicapped accessible
- beachfront, with a good porch

The idea was for my grandmother to be able to enjoy a beachtrip with the family, without significant hardship.
We found one in EI that met these specs. Don't remember teh street addy, or even the realty agency, but that's how we found it. It's gonna be $texas, but we were splitting it 6 ways.

Just start calling up the realty companies, and asking what handicap-friendly listings they have.

6/19/2006 6:21:16 PM

onslow beach, on camp lejeune, is right by topsail beach. if you, or someone you know, is in the military, you can rent one of the several properties they have right on the beach.

i just got back from there after a 4 day stay. most of the units are like trailers, but they're very clean and nice. the one we stayed in had a full sized kitchen, a small living room with a tv and dvd player, a master bedroom, and a loft where we had 3 bedrolls. the trailer also had a front deck with a wooden picnic table, and also a small deck in the back. we were about 50 yards from the water, and there were larger units around.

the unit we were in was $120 a week, and i believe you have to rent at weekly increments.

i'll upload pictures...

[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 6:38 PM. Reason : ]

6/19/2006 6:37:16 PM

if you want a place the 7th-14th of July or 2nd-18th of August, you could rent our house on Topsail Island

you'd have to call my mom and she'd be able to discuss prices/deposits, but she's very reasonable with $ when we're not staying there


...it's 4BR/2.5BA, beach front, huge back deck w/ jacuzzi. i can post pics later if you're interested

6/19/2006 7:00:41 PM

i forgot to mention there are charcoal grills at every unit, and the kitchen is fully stocked with pots and pans. also, there's a futon in the living room area too. here are a couple of pictures i took with my cell...







[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 7:50 PM. Reason : ]

6/19/2006 7:43:36 PM

how would i go about renting one of the places on camp legeune?

6/20/2006 10:52:23 AM

Well, are you or your husband, or either of your parents in the military?

Even if you tried to get a friend who is in to rent you one, I am sure it won't work out. You can't even get onto base in Ft. Bragg without an ID card, so I am guessing Lejeune would be the same. After 9/11, things got a lot stricter and only people with Military ID's can enter base. I want to say there might be a way to get a guess pass of sorts for imemadiately family only, but it's a lot of paperwork, which has to be done in person and on weekdays only the majority of the time. My dad's a retired Sgt. Major from the Army and it was a pain in the ass just to get my car registered on post (bragg) - we had to go on a weekday and both take off of work. They haven't done it recently, but it also has been the case in recent years where even if you DO have an ID card, if you don't have a sticker for any military base on your car, they would make you get out and search the WHOLE car - trunk, underneath it and everything and they looekd at registration and stuff, too.

6/20/2006 11:21:18 AM

k guess that's out...I have family in the military, but not a parent and my husband isn't. If all else fails, I have found a place on Topsail, but people keep saying that other places are cheaper and there's more to do and all. Could someone maybe list some places or another beach that they have had good experience with? I have been trying to look into Emerald Isle, Carolina Beach, and Myrtle Beach, but without much result. If anyone has specific names of places (and numbers if they aren't listed online) that would be great.

6/20/2006 12:43:48 PM

I found a Microtel on Expedia for $80 - very clean and decent looking from Wed July 5th - Saturday July 8th
http://www.microtelinn.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=3050

Everything I found for those dates at Myrtle is $120 for the LaQuinta Inn, and Expedia didn't find anything for Emerald Isle. The Microtel looks decent, though.

6/20/2006 2:19:43 PM

anyone with an id can get onto camp lejeune. you don't have to be military or a dependant. just show the gate guard a driver's license. they hardly even stop your car, and wave you on instead. seriously, they don't give a damn about you at camp lejeune. what she said about ft. bragg is true though. bragg is on lockdown. even before 9/11, it was pretty strigent to get onto ft. bragg if you weren't military or a dependant.

so, have your military friend rent the unit out for you, and you'll be perfectly fine.
http://www.mccslejeune.com/Beach.html

i would like to tell you that the drive from the entrance gate to the beach itself takes like 15 minutes of driving, even with zero traffic. therefore, take what you need with you. there is a all-purpose store at the beach site, but it's like a minature grocery.

one more thing, the lodges that we stayed in were the officers' lodges. the nco's have different units.

[Edited on June 21, 2006 at 2:27 PM. Reason : ]

6/21/2006 2:22:01 PM

Wow, interesting - I didn't know that either! Bragg is on lockdown though, you are right.

6/21/2006 3:16:41 PM

http://www.topsail.com/rentals/

if something is not rented for your time frame you could offer the owner's a 2-3 day rental if the property usually rents for a week... because I mean, rental income is income. And lots of ppl are losing money on vacation investments if it's empty.

Also, http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/north-carolina/coastal is a good site for privately owned houses.

Good luck!

Also, go to http://www.topsailcoc.com/ and click on business directory, and search "hotel", "motel", whatever.

[Edited on June 21, 2006 at 3:33 PM. Reason : Add]

6/21/2006 3:29:54 PM

6/21/2006 3:36:31 PM