The Cove on Ormond Beach

The Cove on Ormond Beach is a utilitarian condo resort, whose best feature is the spacious beach. There are no hotel-provided beach chairs or umbrellas, nor is there a beach bar, but families and low-maintenance guests who travel with their own beach gear will be able to stake out plenty of space and enjoy the waves. Nothing about the Cove is stylish or luxe, and there are few shady spots on the grounds, which, other than the pool area, consist of a brick parking lot. However, as a base of operations for a family trip to Daytona Beach, The Cove offers a lot of amenities for the budget-conscious, and plenty of fun for the kids. The pool is long and narrow, but free-form. There are also outdoor barbecue grills and tables with views of the surf for picnicking -- the hotel organizes barbecue lunches every so often, too. The public areas offer no frills, with drop ceilings and harsh lighting, but there are comfy couches and a big flat-screen TV for watching sports with other guests, and the atmosphere is decidedly casual. 

The Cove on Ormond Beach is located right on the Atlantic Ocean in Ormond Beach, Florida. The hotel is about 10 minutes' drive down famed Route A1A to busy Daytona Beach, with its raceway, nightlife, and shopping. The Cove is surrounded by resorts, and sits on a utilitarian, but not terribly scenic road, with casual restaurants -- including a pancake house and seafood grill chain -- within a few minutes' drive. Tomoka State Park is a 15-minute drive; visitors to the park can canoe, boat, fish, or look for local wildlife, including manatees, alligators, storks, and more. Daytona airport and speedway are 10 miles from The Cove, or about a 20-minute drive. 

Rooms at The Cove on Ormond Beach come in three configurations: Studio, One-, and Two-Bedroom Apartments, all with full kitchens and private balconies with woven patio furniture. Individual bedrooms are small, but guest rooms are clean, and kitchens are well-supplied with full-size stoves and refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, toasters, blenders, coffeemakers, utensils, cookware, and tableware. Decor is the same throughout: pale yellow walls with white woodwork, and basic, comfortable furniture that's typically wicker or wood with vinyl or fabric cushions. Storage and dresser space can be tight, depending on the apartment. Other standard amenities include flat-screen TVs with cable and DVD players -- and safes in most. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos, towels, and simple toiletries. Note that many rooms are ocean-view, but not necessarily “oceanfront.”

The Cove on Ormond Beach has an indoor pool for lap-swimming, and a free-form outdoor pool with a lazy river. Parents will enjoy the adjacent spa tub, and the plastic sun loungers on the brick deck. There are barbecue grills for guest use, and the resort schedules lunchtime barbecues to bring guests together. There is a spacious clubhouse with coffee and a popcorn machine, couches and card tables, board games, puzzles, and a large, wall-mounted plasma television. A small fitness center has four cardio machines and weights, or guests can run or play volleyball on the beach. There's a games room with somewhat dated arcade options. The business center has a PC and printer for guest use. Wi-Fi is available for a fee in common areas and guest rooms.