Holiday Inn Express and Suites North Myrtle Beach-Little River

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites North Myrtle Beach-Little River is the value choice for the northern tip of the Grand Strand, and it has a setting most budget hotels cannot claim: it sits beside Coquina Harbor Marina at 722 Highway 17 in Little River, the old fishing village just south of the North Carolina line, and its suites overlook the boats. Little River is the working-waterfront end of the coast, with charter fishing, watersports outfitters and seafood restaurants along the Intracoastal Waterway, and the hotel puts you in the middle of it at a fraction of oceanfront prices. Rooms include standard rooms and one- and two-bedroom suites, the larger ones a good fit for families and golf groups. The Express formula covers the basics well: a complimentary breakfast every morning, free on-site parking with room for RVs, trucks and tour buses, and free Wi-Fi. A seasonal outdoor pool overlooks the harbor in warm months. Dogs are welcome, up to two under a weight limit, for a nightly fee, with dog-friendly rooms arranged in advance. There is no restaurant on site, but the harbor's eateries are close. The beaches of Cherry Grove are about three miles away, the casino cruise boat in Little River about two, and the four Barefoot Resort golf courses, Barefoot Landing and Main Street in North Myrtle Beach a short drive south. Check-in is at 4 p.m.; the minimum check-in age is 21.

Who it suits: budget travelers who want to explore the north end, anglers booking charters from Little River, golf groups who need suites and easy parking for clubs, and dog owners. It is not on the beach and has no resort facilities, so families wanting a pool-centered holiday should look at the oceanfront resorts instead.

Using the location: spend mornings on the beach at Cherry Grove or on Cherry Grove Pier, afternoons on the water from the harbor, and evenings at Barefoot Landing, Main Street in the Ocean Drive section or one of the Little River waterfront restaurants. A round at Tidewater Golf Club or the Barefoot courses fits easily into the day.

Value notes: free breakfast and free parking, including for oversized vehicles, cut daily costs compared with oceanfront hotels. The pool is seasonal, so plan for an off-season stay to be about location and price. Central Myrtle Beach is roughly 35 to 45 minutes south, so this is a base for the north end rather than for the boardwalk.