What I expected was a nice hotel room. What I got was a well-appointed apartment near the ocean! There was a blank lot and street that buffer the building from the water. Though not right on the oceanfront, the sound of the waves could be heard when the windows and/or balcony door are open. If you've brought a car, parking was available in the lots or covered parking on the bottom floor. Bike parking was also available in the covered parking lot.
The insides: The apartment had high ceilings and solid walls which mitigate most neighboring noise. The living room was lovely, nicely furnished with comfortable chairs and a sofa. A full kitchenette and dining area share the same, large space. The kitchen was stocked with pots, pans, cups, plates, utensils, etc. No need to haul everything from home. I enjoyed having a cup of tea in the morning on the balcony overlooking the pool, listening to the sound of the ocean. The bedroom was spacious and comfortable. In case you're staying for a while, there was a dresser, desk, and a cozy chair for reading. If a shower wasn't enough, there was a jacuzzi tub for a relaxing bath. Multiple sinks minimize the bathroom-hogging. In-unit washer & dryer were very convenient for doing a load of laundry after we had played outside all day.
The caveat: There seemed to be very little staffing around the premises. Check-in involved going up to a phone and getting a code to get your key out of a lock box. I saw one housekeeping staff during the mornings. Guests are on their own at night. During our stay, there were guests that seemed to be involved in some sort of domestic violence and police appeared several nights in a row at really late/early hours (e.g., 2:30am). The noise from the fighting was pretty loud in this otherwise quiet place. There was no security service or staff, which was unsettling especially when incidents like these occur. My travel companion contacted Sea Gate about these events but they didn't seem to know anything happened on their property and seemed apathetic to it.
Overall, the Sea Gate Inn seems like it could be a nice place to stay but be aware of surroundings and safety. While the amenities are nice, I don't know if I'd book here again. read more