Best Western New Smyrna Beach Hotel & Suites

This hotel is a former Holiday Inn that has been updated, most recently in 2012. The beige and clay-colored exterior is lined with balconies, and was built on a diagonal, enabling all rooms to have beach views. Green lawns and palm trees lend some color around the outdoor parking lot. Inside, there's modern furniture, including couches and armchairs upholstered in gray, cream, and aqua fabrics, and beach paintings on the walls. The front desk is paneled in artsy, copper waves. The restaurant is a sunny space, with walls of windows overlooking the ocean, and the beachside pool area has plenty of lounge chairs and a shaded deck that was resurfaced in 2015. Staff are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed, making this a low-key vacation spot for couples, families, and groups of friends.

The hotel sits off South Atlantic Avenue, right on the beach in Smyrna Beach, a less-crowded alternative to Daytona Beach. There are restaurants, bars, a small theater, and shops, including a gallery showcasing the work of painter Bob Ross, within a five-minute walk (or even less by car). The Atlantic Center for the Arts, an education center that hosts exhibitions, is a 15-minute drive away and Turtle Mound, a prehistoric archaeological site, is a 15-minute drive south. The Daytona International Speedway and Daytona Beach International Airport are both a 30- to 35-minute drive away.

The 102 studio, one-, and two-bedroom suites are spacious and have kitchenettes with full-size refrigerators and freezers, sinks, microwaves, coffeemakers, and a small number of plates, cups, and utensils. There are separate dining areas with large wooden tables (studios have smaller two-person tables), and living rooms with couches and armchairs. The rooms are clean with newer furniture, though orange walls and brown patterned carpeting give them a somewhat dated look. Bathrooms have spacious vanities with double sinks and curtained shower/tub combos, along with hairdryers and toiletries. All suites have balconies with views of the ocean, along with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and ironing facilities. Walls are somewhat thin, and rooms on the second floor near the main hallway can be noisy, as this is the hallway connecting the restaurant and gym.

The hotel’s restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and drinks, and has a view of the sandy beach; meals are not included in rates, and there's no dinner service. Free coffee is available at a small station in the lobby. There’s a little, rectangular beachfront pool lined with sun loungers and a shaded wooden deck with tables and chairs. A set of stairs leads down to the beach, where chairs and umbrellas are available to rent. The small, mirrored gym has cardio and weight machines, along with towels, and is open late. A desktop computer and printer are available for guests, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Coin-operated laundry machines are on-site. Underground parking is free.