As many times as I have driven the strip at Hampton or walked the beach I have never stayed overnight. I have always been curious about staying at Ashworth by the Sea, so when we had to be in Hampton for a sports tournament I thought this was a perfect opportunity to stay the night.
With it being December I was hoping to get a good deal. After searching a few different travel websites, the best deal was at booking.com. For $197 for the night we got a room with a partial view of the beach.
We arrived early evening on a Friday night. There is valet parking, but since it was the off season we were able to park directly across the street. The lobby was beautifly decorated for Christmas.
With it being the off season there was no resort or parking fee. At the check in the staff were very friendly. Our room was located on the second floor, on the side of the building. Walking to our room, there were a couple dirty dishes near the wall and the hallway smelled a little musty. Our room was clean and had everything we needed.
Picture taken the following morning, hence why the beds are not made.
We had a balcony with a partial view of Hampton Beach.
For dinner we decided to eat in the hotel so we did not have to drive anywhere. The Breakers is located off the lobby of the hotel. The night we visited it was very quiet, which is probably expected in the off season.
Our waiter was very friendly. The restaurant was neat and clean. Unfortunately our meal was subpar. I had fish and chips and the fish was fresh, but the coleslaw smelled like it had gone bad. My husband had a steak sandwich, it was ok. My daughter had a steak tip Caesar salad and could not eat it as the meat tasted like it had gone bad. Our meal was almost $100. I would not eat there again. When we are in the area again, I would choose to go to Throwback Brewery or Smuttynose Brewery. We have eaten at both these breweries and they are very good.
After dinner we took a moonlit walk on the beach.
After the walk, we took a dip in the pool. The pool area was ok, it was clean. There was an older heater and when it was on it was very warm in the pool area, but when it was off it felt cool. The pool itself was not warm. In the summer months I am sure it is fine, but not ideal in the winter months.
The following morning I got to check something off my bucket list, watch the sunrise at the beach. A storm was coming in that evening so I was worried I would not get to see it, but Mother Nature did not disappointment. A three mile beach walk while watching the sunrise was a perfect way to start the day.
Breakfast was at our favorite bagel place, Ani’s Bagels, in Exeter, NH. They have the freshest bagels I have ever had.
We spent the rest of the day at our daughters sporting event. Overall our stay was ok for one night, but we would not stay there again. The smell in the hallway, subpar restaurant, high price for off season and substandard pool area made me feel like we could find better beach option in the off season.
