The Rockaway Hotel

The hotel boasts a beautiful heated pool, clean rooms, and friendly staff. Its convenient location near the beach and subway offers easy access to local amenities, making it a perfect weekend getaway.

We recently stayed for two nights at this hotel spa looking for a relaxing weekend, and unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations—especially given the steep price tag of over $650 per night. We had hoped for a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway, but what we encountered instead was a lackluster stay with very few redeeming qualities. It rained all weekend, and while the pool and beach are beautiful, there was nothing else to do. Other than the restaurants, no indoor spa-like atmosphere or relaxing communal spaces to helped us make the most of the rainy weather. It didn’t feel serene or luxurious—just dull. We found ourselves having to leave the property just to find somewhere to pass the time since the rooms are small and basically you only have the bed to stay in. The balcony is not useful while there is pouring rain or you have really bad weather. Additionally, the service was far from what we expected at this price point. While staff weren’t rude, they were clearly undertrained and lacked the polish and attentiveness you’d anticipate from a hotel in this price range. It often felt like they were new to the job or part of a more budget chain, which only added to the feeling that this property does not deliver on its promises. We were unable to call the front desk and room service is not an option, we tried to use the app several times but there are no phones and the app had no menu or options to order, and any messages we sent were acknowledged over 1 or 2 hours later and we just found ourselves having to get dressed to go to the front desk or get food. The overall atmosphere was also surprisingly underwhelming. It felt more like a party destination suited for a sunny weekend crowd rather than a tranquil or high-end spa escape. If that’s the kind of getaway you’re looking for, perhaps it works—but if you’re hoping to unwind and enjoy a more peaceful experience, especially during inclement weather, this is not the place. Overall, we left disappointed and frustrated that we had chosen this hotel for what was meant to be a special weekend. For the rate we paid, we expected thoughtful amenities, higher service standards, and an environment that could still offer comfort and enjoyment—rain or shine. Unfortunately, this stay missed the mark on nearly every front.

Very clean and the staff is very friendly