When I wake my kids up on the morning of vacation, there are no better words than, “wake up it’s vacation time!” Everyone in our house gets excited to go on a new adventure. I know that everyone is curious about how far we are from everything.
As a mom, I make sure wherever we are going to stay is family friendly (because teens are still kids and get goofy), Further I make certain that we are close to everything that makes our vacation fun! Additionally, as a travel writer with serious issues when it comes to high standards of cleanliness, know that I look for the best of the best!
For me, close to everything is a 20-minute drive at about the furthest point and everywhere else within minutes. What I uncovered in Southern Delaware is a family-friendly hotel, close to shopping, and attractions.
In fact, the Southern Delaware hotel we stayed at was approximately 5 minutes from Rehoboth Beach, 10 minutes from Lewes, 15 from Dewey Beach and 20 or so minutes to Bethany Beach. Lavishly live travel out loud and get ready to learn about a Southern Delaware Hotel close to shopping and all beaches!
Southern Delaware Hotel Close To Shopping And All Beaches
While my stay was hosted, all thoughts and images are my own based on my personal experience at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Rehoboth Beach.
If you are a ‘gotta be on the beach’ kind of person when you go to a beach area, this article is not for you. However, if you love being on the beach by day, shopping by night and having the ability to easily access all areas around you, not just ONE beach, this is your hot spot!
Rehoboth Beach boardwalk (without traffic) is so close, then Dewey, and Bethany. Of course, a right hand turn out of the complex and shortly thereafter you are at the Crooked Hammock Brewery (you gotta go), and Cape Henlopen State Park or even the Ferry and Cape Water Taxi lighthouse tours.
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Rehoboth Beach
We have stayed in plenty of Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott, but this location exceeded my expectations from cleanliness to staff attentiveness. This is a newer property in the area and it is located on Coastal Highway.
Breakfast Is Included
Here is where you eat breakfast each morning and gather during the day. Allow me to show you a bit of the breakfast scene. I know you see the Happy Hour sign, I will get to that in a bit.
Breakfast Please
Vacation is about that first cup of coffee when the day has yet to unfold and there have been no complications right? It is the time we like to just slowly reenter our world. You can at the Fairfield Inn and Suites because breakfast is included and there is coffee in your room and in the dining area.
Additionally, you have till 10A to get to breakfast, so sleep in or wake early, the choice is yours. Now what made me most happy about breakfast?
♥♥♥♥♥ Love This ♥♥♥♥♥ Remember it’s the small things that matter more to ME than anything!
They thought of me. Yes y’all I know they did not know I don’t eat meat and that I eat veggie patties every morning, but they were here. I was so excited to make my bagel and veggie patty sandwich you have no idea, because other than Holland America no one has veggie ‘sausages’ and veggie links. YEAH!
Parking
As a travel writer and globetrotting kind of gal, I am happy to report that parking is plentiful. Laugh as you may, one of my WORST experiences was at an East Coast beach hotel on the boardwalk. Not only did they charge for parking you were ahead of the game IF you could find any parking.
To park our car we would have to circle for almost a half hour each night, and hunt people down that were leaving.Last, it is well lit I like mentioning this to other MOMS.
At the Fairfield Inn and Suites, you do not need a vacation to find parking, just a trip around the front or back of the lot and parking is free!
Guest Of The Day – Yep It’s Me! ♥
Now, here’s something unique and that really has never happened to me before in all my traveling and hotel staying: I was provided a sheet of paper and explained that I was the Guest Of The Day! I received a free glass of wine and a note! Loved it so thank you Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott of Rehoboth Beach!
The Bar On Basement Level
Is it vacation time? So why would you not kick back and relax if there is a bar available? Also there, is an outside deck so you can just be. Additionally on the lower level there, is a pool, however every, time I went to take a picture there was a family in it and I did not want to ruin their privacy. So, you just have to go here on our own to see it!
Interestingly enough I found a bar here! Absolutely love the fact it was not closed too early and that as Guest of the Day I was provided a glass of wine. The prices are so fairly priced that you will love it too!
If you want to visit happy hour it is on the lower level accessible by both steps and elevator. It is quite nice to be able to grab a wine or cocktail when you want to and they don’t close too early.
Room 408
There were a lot of nice amenities built on into our room including the fact that the WiFi worked. As any parent of teens can appreciate, the microwave was a bonus I had not counted on. Popcorn, reheating pizza, etc. all were made easy because it was in our room!
Yes, now you can know what room I was in and you can take a look inside. Clearly, they knew me well because while there might be 4 people, 5 towels is how I function. I have to have a hair towel separate from a bath towel. So either they read my site and knew my travel preferences or everyone gets lucky! Thanks (FFIandS)
Our room had two lovely queen sized beds, plenty of drawer space, a closet, refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave! The bathroom was larger than I expected and so very clean! Want to see it?
Here’s a more detailed look at the interior. As a person who travels a lot, I like to see inside of a room and not just pictures. I have made sure to show you the amenities included, so you have a good idea of what is in the room. Hopefully, this helps you out.
Travel is a thing where the more you know the easier a trip goes, so knowledge is power!
I initially wondered if we would be so completely squashed but you can see the rooms are well-apportioned. Did I sleep on the pillows? Yes, which means I felt it was clean. You know me quite well (and for those of you just tuning in, I am a fanatic about hotel cleanliness).
The linens were clean, the towels were soft and fresh smelling and we had everything we needed right in our room, making it perfect. Also, the ice machine was right across the hallway! We received this in our room one day upon our return. Needless to say, the boys had to have a little fun with it, as teens do.
I personally found it to be a nice ‘welcoming’ touch on behalf of our room attendants.
They Took Fantastic Care Of My Teens
WiFi Oh YAaaassss
Want to know about th WiFi? There were many people staying in the hotel and I know that usually, this creates a WiFi nightmare. No worries here and the proof is at the breakfast table with my family. I think this says it all!
#mysodelsummer we ❤️ the #fairfieldinnandsuites in #Rehoboth 1st golden rule of #teentravel #WiFi that works ❤️🏖❤️🏖👌#travelwriters @VisitSouthDel #hosted pic.twitter.com/blXYghE7Wh
— dana vento (@danavento) June 27, 2018
WiFi In Room
There were a few small pleasures I enjoyed as well. Yes a nice warm cup of tea, as there was a coffee maker in our room, so I brewed tea, and of course the workstation. At the end of each day, I like to gather my thoughts and do a bit of work. If I can I tend to email (sometimes I am just too tired). WiFi was easily accessible, worked well and allowed me to catch up just a bit.
Our Experience
Now, we did not rent a house in Southern Delaware and for us ‘newbies’ to the area, that is a very practical approach. I personally love driving around, learning the area and visiting all the beaches. We did traverse to Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Lewes, and Rehoboth. SO we got to experience each area day by day. That said, we ultimately figured out which beach we want to be at next time we travel here.
Most of you are the same. Driving around acquaints you to the area. Once you get the feel of the place, and you decide what you like to do while you are there, then you hone in on where to stay. Some repeat travelers always stay in one place other times, you move around. Personally, I would stay where we just stayed again and again, so that said, let me share more info with you.
Things You Need to Know
Close to the front desk, there is a small pantry market. If you need something it is open all day and all night, even in your PJ’s. My one son got deathly ill one evening and never was I more thankful for not having to get in the car and go somewhere for soda.
My other son went to the front desk, and they hooked him up with a simple swipe of his foom card, he purchased a beverage and was back in under 2 minutes. Fortunately, a bit of soda and rest and my son got better. Thankfully, unlike a few other experiences we have had at hotels, I did not get a phone call about my son being at the front desk to purchase something. They just did it and were KIND about it. They treated my teen like an adult and I appreciated that!
Getting To And From — Gotta Be Brutally Honest… But it’s All Good
The easiest beach and attractions to get to from this hotel based on a right hand turn out of the hotel was Lewes and Cape Henlopen, State Park. Additionally, Nassau Valley Vineyards. Why am I mentioning this?
While you may be only 5 minutes away from Rehoboth Beach, to get there, you must merge into traffic and do you turn from the property. There are no jug handles to help you get to the other side.
However, I did find that merging was easy, and rather than U-turning, I rode down a few lights (to the Liquor store on left) and went left. Followed this road a few lights, did a left and made my way, traffic free to Rehoboth, Fenwick, Bethany and Dewey Beach. Remember, peak season runs June-August so traffic is complicated and it has nothing to do with the hotel, just the traffic.
Shopping
Quickly, as this is not the crux of my story, but must be stated. When you stay at this Fairfield Inn and Suites you are within about 1.8 miles either way (left or right) of the Tanger Outlets. Yes, I shopped them 3x while we were there because I love shopping and travel.
Next, might I suggest a stop at my new favorite liquor outlet. I don’t care how it sounds, the prices rock, its open late, and there is no tax on the beverages. Want to see something…
Yes, I stopped and I shopped for a few things. There is so much to choose from, but you have to be 21 to enter. No kids, and that is nice! (sorry) So, here is my loot. Very reasonably priced compared to good old Pittsburgh. Next time I am really going to stock up! Truly the prices are that good. The guy working in the store told me so many people stop and fill their trucks up top to bottom and I understand why.
Lavishly live travel out loud, close to all the shopping and beaches in Rehoboth Beach. Family time is easy when you are here ~DANA XO