Plim Plaza Hotel

Plim Plaza Hotel is a straightforward place to stay in the older, livelier end of Ocean City, where the boardwalk, the pier, the amusements and the inlet are all close enough to walk to. It is the sort of hotel that suits visitors who plan to spend most of the day on the sand or the boards rather than in the room, and who value location and a fair price over resort-style extras. Check the exact block and the room view when you book, because positions differ even within a small area.

Downtown Ocean City is the most walkable part of the resort. The boardwalk runs for miles along the beach, and the area near the inlet has the pier rides, the arcades, the fries and ice cream stands, and the fishing and boating activity around the harbor. A hotel in this zone lets you step out for an early walk on the sand, return for a rest in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest, and go back out for the evening when the lights come on.

Many families like this rhythm because children can burn off energy and then recover without a car journey.

Rooms in boardwalk-area hotels are usually compact and practical: a comfortable bed or two, a bathroom, a small refrigerator or similar conveniences in some rooms, and air conditioning that you will appreciate in July and August. Whether a room has an ocean view, a boardwalk view or a street view varies, as does the noise level, so ask for what you prefer when you book. Light sleepers should request an upper floor or a room away from the busiest side, since the area stays lively on summer evenings.

Parking is the thing to ask about before you arrive. In the downtown blocks, spaces are limited, and hotels may provide a lot, a limited number of spaces or an arrangement with a nearby garage. Confirm charges and availability, and consider using the local buses and the boardwalk tram so you do not need to move the car once you have parked it. The bus line along the coast makes it easy to reach the northern stretch of town and the shops and restaurants along the highway.

Timing makes a big difference to both price and atmosphere. Summer weekends are the busiest and most expensive, and some events, such as the big air show, car weekends and fireworks holidays, push prices higher still. The shoulder months of May, June and September are noticeably quieter and cheaper, with warm days and thinner crowds, while the winter months are very quiet and many seasonal businesses close. Check which facilities, such as a pool or breakfast, are open for your dates, because seasonal schedules vary.