The Shore Blog

Avalon is a quiet residential town where many vacationers rent condos or homes on a weekly, monthly or seasonal basis. For vacationers looking for a shorter stay, Avalon does offer some hotel options, as does neighboring Stone Harbor.

All of Avalon’s hotels are located between 78th – 80th Streets on the border of Stone Harbor. For that reason, visitors may want to check out “Where to Stay in Stone Harbor” as they both occupy Seven Mile Island and are right next to one other. Because both towns are considered more upscale than some of their neighboring towns, the cost for a night’s stay at Avalon’s beachfront hotels can be quite pricey – especially in summer at the height of the tourist season. Consider staying a block or two back from the beach, or check out the motel options that are located closer to Stone Harbor’s town center if you are looking to spend less.

Because there aren’t an overwhelming number of hotels here, I am able to provide you with a list and a brief description of what is available in Avalon. Please know this list may not be all-inclusive. If you wish to stay on Seven Mile Island, I encourage you to visit both Avalon and Stone Harbor’s official websites, as well as other travel websites such as Tripadvisor – not only for different options and pricing, but also read traveler reviews to determine if a particular hotel would be a good fit for you.

Avalon Hotels:

Icona Avalon – Beach Block between 78th and 79th Street and Beach, Avalon

The Icona Avalon (formerly Golden Inn) is a newly remodeled beachfront resort now under the ownership of The Icona Group which also owns upscale resorts in Diamond Beach and Cape May as well). This hotel is gorgeous and features a beautiful outdoor area with a tropical vibe. Between the beach and the hotel, the Sandbar is a wonderful venue to enjoy food and cocktails with poolside service or curl up on an oversized wrap-around couch next to a fire pit. Live music is offered at the outdoor Beach Bar & Lounge seasonally. The heated pool has a sundeck with luxury cabana rentals, chaises, daybeds and umbrellas. For guests heading to the beach, umbrellas and chairs are available for a fee. Inside the beautiful navy and white contemporary lobby is Shimmers Bistro where guests can enjoy coffee and breakfast in the morning or wine and hors d’oeuvres in the evening. The onsite Avalon Brew Pub is a gastropub offering local brews starting in Fall 2017 and a spa is coming to the resort in 2018. Off-street parking is free.

Icona Windrift – Beach Block between 79th and 80th and Beach, Avalon

This contemporary beachfront resort is nestled in the dunes and has been a favorite vacation destination for years, now under ownership of the Icona group. Guests can choose between ten different room types, ranging from classic rooms with two queen beds to four-bedroom condominiums. The resort offers six bar/lounge areas with nightly entertainment, a beachfront restaurant and a rooftop lounge that is perfect for cocktails at sunset. Food and drink service is available around the zero-entry pool and hot tub. Off-street parking is free. Complimentary beach tags, chairs and umbrellas are available. Guests are also invited to use bike cruisers free of charge, and have access to Stone Harbor Golf Club, the area’s premier private golf club.

Beachcomber Resort – 79th and Dune Drive, Avalon

This resort condominium hotel complex is comprised of 53 units that include efficiency, one bedroom and deluxe suites all individually owned. Each unit includes a kitchenette. The facility has free off-street parking, daily maid service, self-serve ice machine, laundry facilities and free Wi-Fi. One block from the beach, this resort has a beautiful heated pool and kiddie pool area. It does not have an in-house restaurant or bar, but it does have barbeque grills and a picnic area and is directly across the street where both the Windrift Hotel and the Golden Inn have multiple dining and lounge options, as do two other hotels within the next block on Dune Drive. Tennis and basketball courts and a playground are located nearby. Beach tags are free for use during stay.

Dessert Sand Resort –  79th and Dune Drive, Avalon

This hotel is one block from the beach and offers one or two-bedroom units which include a fridge, a microwave and a coffee maker, and efficiencies with kitchenettes. The facility includes an elevator, outdoor pool with a kiddie pool, indoor swimming pool, full-service restaurant, laundry facility, daily maid service, coin-operated ice machine, complimentary Wi-Fi and free off-street parking. Tennis and basketball courts and a playground are located nearby. Beach tags are available upon request (deposit required).

Concord Suites – 78th and Dune Drive, Avalon

Concord Suites prides itself on being a Green Hotel Destination. It is located one block from the beach and each suite includes a private bedroom, a living room and a kitchen with refrigerator, sink, stovetop, microwave, toaster, coffee maker and table settings for six. Daily housekeeping and linen service is provided and laundry facilities are available. The hotel has an elevator and off-street parking is free. Amenities include two pools – one heated – each with kiddie pools, as well as four spacious sundecks. An onsite restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Beach tags are complimentary for the term of stay and a free DVD library and complimentary board games are available for use by guests. Tennis and basketball courts and a playground are located nearby.

Camping:

All of Avalon and Stone Harbor’s camping options are off-island along Route 9. Check websites for more information.

Home Rentals:

Most renters will go through traditional real estate agencies to rent condos and houses, however there is a growing number of options appearing online. Websites such as Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO), Home Away and even AirBNB are starting to show options for weekly and, at times, shorter stays via website.

In closing, I strongly encourage you to visit online reviews of all these lodging options to get more information and find feedback about other guests’ experiences to better make a decision about what is right for you.

Where do you stay in Avalon? If you would like to make a recommendation or share information about your favorite hotel, motel, inn or rental, please leave your reply below, or contact us if you have an interesting story to share about where you stayed in Avalon. 

For more information about Avalon, please follow the links below:

Find out why Avalon is “Cooler By A Mile”
History of Avalon
Avalon Beach Information
Where to Eat in Avalon
Things to Do in Avalon