Pros

  • Solid hotel with a relaxed, kid-friendly vibe
  • Just a short walk from the beach and boardwalk
  • Comfortable guest rooms with Keurig coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and microwaves
  • Some units have whirlpool tubs
  • Free hot breakfast buffet with a good selection items
  • Outdoor pool in a peaceful, sunny setting
  • 24-hour gym with several cardio machines and free weights
  • 24-hour business center with multiple computers
  • Meeting space that can accommodate up to 100 people
  • Guest laundry facilities and valet laundry services
  • Free on-site parking
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Rates can spike quite high in high season
  • No direct beach access
  • No restaurant or bar on-site
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Bottom Line

The mid-range Holiday Inn Express Bethany Beach is an attractive home base for families and other tourists that offers value. It doesn't have direct beach access, but it's about a five-minute walk to the closest beach. Its 100 guest rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, with wet bars, mini-fridges, microwaves, and Keurig coffeemakers. Features are a major draw, and include an outdoor pool, a 24-hour gym, and a 24-hour business center, plus a hot buffet breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi throughout are all free. A drawback is that there's no full-service restaurant. Rates are competitive but they typically spike significantly in high season. Guests looking to stay on the beach can consider Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Holiday Inn Express Bethany Beach

Scene

A modern chain hotel for leisure travelers, with a relaxed vibe that's kid-friendly  

During the warm months, Holiday Inn Express Bethany Beach is most definitely a busy tourist hotel. The breakfast room can get quite crowded at peak times, when seats can come at a premium. Business travelers tend to stay here in the winter and early spring -- it even has meeting space for up to 100 people. There's a bright and modern modest lobby that was renovated in 2015, with an aquatic motif and clusters of furniture in soft shades of blue, yellow, and green. The hotel has a relaxed and friendly vibe, and it mostly attracts families with kids in tow and some couples. 

See More Scene

Location

Just south of downtown Bethany Beach, a five-minute walk to the beach

The Holiday Inn is located about one mile south of downtown Bethany Beach and its boardwalk -- a 15-minute walk or four-minute drive. It shares a driveway with a Walgreen’s Pharmacy and a liquor store, and several restaurants are less than a five-minute walk away. It’s a relatively quiet area that’s about a five-minute walk to the nearest beach, which is separated from the hotel by a large condo complex. It takes approximately one hour to drive to Dover, and two hours by car to Wilmington. The closest airport is Salisbury - Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport, and it's about a 48-minute drive from the hotel.

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Rooms

Comfortable and well-equipped with wet bars, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffeemakers

Guest rooms are pleasant and comfortable, with decor that has a slight traditional aesthetic, but still contemporary overall. There are cream walls, gold drapes, and distinctive, multi-color carpet that's a step above what’s normally seen in mid-range chain hotels. Beds have bright white duvets, and the matching furniture has a pecan finish. Standard Kings and Double Queens have desks with office chairs, and some of the larger rooms, such as Queen Features, have small dining tables with upholstered chairs in lieu of desks, plus sleeper sofas. Some higher-end units even have whirlpools placed outside the bathrooms. 

Amenities are a big plus. Standard rooms contain flat-screen TVs, small wet bars with granite counters, mini-fridges, microwaves, Keurig coffeemakers, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are equipped with wide granite vanities, with average shower/tub combos. 

Surrounding buildings block any possible beach views. While some ambient noise can be heard, units are generally quiet. 

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Features

Seasonal outdoor pool, 24-hour gym, and free breakfast, but no full-service restaurant 

This tourist-oriented Holiday Inn has a solid lineup of features, but no full-service on-site restaurant is a drawback. However, there's a free hot breakfast that includes eggs, a pancake maker, and breakfast meats, and free coffee is available all day. Another highlight is the spacious outdoor pool, which is popular when it’s open from April to October. The 24-hour fitness center has treadmills, an elliptical, stationary bicycle, and free weights. There's also a 24-hour business center with two computers and a printer. Other amenities include a guest laundry room with two washer/dryers, and valet laundry services. Meeting space for up to 100 people is on-site, and there are free newspapers in the lobby. Parking and Wi-Fi throughout are also free. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Holiday Inn Express Bethany Beach

Scene

A modern chain hotel for leisure travelers, with a relaxed vibe that's kid-friendly  

During the warm months, Holiday Inn Express Bethany Beach is most definitely a busy tourist hotel. The breakfast room can get quite crowded at peak times, when seats can come at a premium. Business travelers tend to stay here in the winter and early spring -- it even has meeting space for up to 100 people. There's a bright and modern modest lobby that was renovated in 2015, with an aquatic motif and clusters of furniture in soft shades of blue, yellow, and green. The hotel has a relaxed and friendly vibe, and it mostly attracts families with kids in tow and some couples. 

See More Scene

Location

Just south of downtown Bethany Beach, a five-minute walk to the beach

The Holiday Inn is located about one mile south of downtown Bethany Beach and its boardwalk -- a 15-minute walk or four-minute drive. It shares a driveway with a Walgreen’s Pharmacy and a liquor store, and several restaurants are less than a five-minute walk away. It’s a relatively quiet area that’s about a five-minute walk to the nearest beach, which is separated from the hotel by a large condo complex. It takes approximately one hour to drive to Dover, and two hours by car to Wilmington. The closest airport is Salisbury - Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport, and it's about a 48-minute drive from the hotel.

See More Location

Rooms

Comfortable and well-equipped with wet bars, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffeemakers

Guest rooms are pleasant and comfortable, with decor that has a slight traditional aesthetic, but still contemporary overall. There are cream walls, gold drapes, and distinctive, multi-color carpet that's a step above what’s normally seen in mid-range chain hotels. Beds have bright white duvets, and the matching furniture has a pecan finish. Standard Kings and Double Queens have desks with office chairs, and some of the larger rooms, such as Queen Features, have small dining tables with upholstered chairs in lieu of desks, plus sleeper sofas. Some higher-end units even have whirlpools placed outside the bathrooms. 

Amenities are a big plus. Standard rooms contain flat-screen TVs, small wet bars with granite counters, mini-fridges, microwaves, Keurig coffeemakers, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are equipped with wide granite vanities, with average shower/tub combos. 

Surrounding buildings block any possible beach views. While some ambient noise can be heard, units are generally quiet. 

See More Rooms

Features

Seasonal outdoor pool, 24-hour gym, and free breakfast, but no full-service restaurant 

This tourist-oriented Holiday Inn has a solid lineup of features, but no full-service on-site restaurant is a drawback. However, there's a free hot breakfast that includes eggs, a pancake maker, and breakfast meats, and free coffee is available all day. Another highlight is the spacious outdoor pool, which is popular when it’s open from April to October. The 24-hour fitness center has treadmills, an elliptical, stationary bicycle, and free weights. There's also a 24-hour business center with two computers and a printer. Other amenities include a guest laundry room with two washer/dryers, and valet laundry services. Meeting space for up to 100 people is on-site, and there are free newspapers in the lobby. Parking and Wi-Fi throughout are also free. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.