Sandpiper Beach Club
For an easy-breezy resort stay, it’s hard to beat the Sandpiper Beach Club, at Beach Avenue and Grant Street in Cape May.
The condominium hotel is home to 51 individually owned residences that double as hotel suites. As a result, guests can expect all the comforts of home—not just beautifully appointed living rooms, bedrooms, and baths, but sleek kitchens, stacked washer-dryers, plenty of closet space—the works.
The contemporary beachfront hotel was built in the early 1980s, and for decades operated as the adults-only Sandpiper Beach Inn. Cape Resorts acquired the property in 2005 and undertook a major renovation to turn 65 original rooms into 51 larger suites, some with two beds and two baths. The Sandpiper reopened in 2006, and these days, in the summertime, it mostly serves vacationing families.
The décor has a carefree, no-fuss vibe. My first-floor suite was light-filled and airy, in restful, beachy neutrals. The furnishings were simple and comfy, with occasional nods to the coastal setting: a nubby coral-print armchair here, a porthole mirror with nautical rope frame there. The wood flooring was topped with a rough-and-ready area rug to withstand sandy feet.
Every Sandpiper suite opens onto a terrace with rocking chairs overlooking the pool, beach, and ocean. Throughout my visit, I kept the door open, to let in the salt air and the rhythmic sounds of the surf.
The Sandpiper is immaculate and would readily pass what used to be called “the mother-in-law test.” My bath, for example, was pristine: dove-grey walls, offset by gleaming white ceramic subway tiles, white and black tiled floor, and piles of fluffy white towels. And it always makes me feel loved when someone puts a tissue bow on the toilet paper roll. A full bath with rain shower head completed the experience, along with a nice selection of shampoo, conditioner, lotions, and aromatic soap from nearby Beach Plum Farm.
Conveniently, guests at the hotel can reserve tents on the beach and order food delivery, too. If they dine onsite at one of Cape Resorts’ restaurants, like the Blue Pig Tavern, the Ebbitt Room, or the Rusty Nail, they can simply charge their meal back to the room.
“It’s so easy for families,” says General Manager Michael Pasquarello. “And all the same amenities available at Congress Hall, you can get here as well.”
With so many bistros and pubs within walking distance, dining out is almost irresistible. But the kitchens are equipped with full-size stainless-steel appliances, dishes and cutlery, and a Keurig coffeemaker. So, if they like, guests can just stock up and stay put.
The Sandpiper offers the largest fitness center on the island, with an adjoining sauna. There’s a big indoor lounge complete with a bar, big-screen TV, fully stocked bookshelves, oodles of board games, and a play area for the kids. Outside, under cover of bright blue umbrellas, guests can frolic in the heated pool, which typically remains open until mid-October.
The atmosphere is just as lively after Labor Day, when the clientele shifts more to adults, couples, group retreats, and friends’ weekends. “We have yoga here in the lounge in the fall,” says Pasquarello. “And the sunsets in the fall are the best sunsets. In the winter, we have guests who stay for a kind of hibernation package.”
Breakfast next morning was at the Rusty Nail, a colorful beachfront hang with a warm and welcoming staff. The lobster omelet was delectable, made with tomatoes, onions, Swiss cheese, and home fries. I paired it with a Bloody Maria, a variation on the classic Bloody Mary, with tequila instead of vodka, all dressed up with olives, avocado, and celery. It had a sweet kick that was just right.
I found the service at the Sandpiper to be not only friendly and thorough, but heartfelt. It started with a cheery greeting at check-in. It continued in every encounter I had with staffers in the hallway or around the pool. Everyone was polite and friendly, and intent on making my stay as pleasant as possible. Which it was, emphatically.
No wonder many guests return again and again, says Pasquarello. “We welcome them back every year, we know what week they will come. Our goal is for them to always leave with happy memories.”
That outcome seems assured at the Sandpiper, the ultimate beach getaway.
