As a brand, the Hampton Inn offers a value-added standard for family lodging; the value being in the free hot breakfast, 24-hour coffee service and attention to cleanliness, which extends even to the duvet covers (they are washed between each guest stay).

But Hampton Inn & Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort goes above and beyond, reaching “resort” status with its location on 300 feet of direct oceanfront space, multiple swimming pools, children’s activities, onsite spa and above-par room amenities. These features are the reason this Myrtle Beach property won the Lighthouse Award, which is given to the top five percent of all Hampton Inn locations worldwide. It also won the “Best in Hospitality Award” from the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association, for achieving the highest standard in customer satisfaction.

Each of the 227 suites and rooms have a private balcony. The location, directly on the Atlantic Ocean coastline, means you’ll sleep to the sound of the surf. The room and lobby décor is nautical, but in an updated, modern way, with pine flooring, neutral tones, and motifs of shells, anchors and lighthouses.

The Hampton Inn & Suites is set among a dense collection of hotels and motels on Ocean Boulevard, which is a hopping tourist destination several months of the year. The Myrtle Beach area, also known as the “Grand Strand,” has plenty to offer, both indoor and out.

Some of the family-friendly attractions we enjoyed were the Pirates Voyage dinner show, Alligator Adventure, the Sky Wheel, MagiQuest and Ripley’s Aquarium at Broadway on the Beach. Seeking simpler pleasures, we collected seashells on the beach, walked the Boardwalk and Second Avenue Pier, and played several of the 45 miniature golf courses in the area.

The resort has an equally appealing north and south tower, which share a lobby and a lower level, where the indoor pools are located. Each has its own breakfast dining area. There are a total of 227 rooms and suites. Children 18 years and younger stay free when sharing accommodations with an adult, and a third or fourth adult can stay free when sharing a room with paying guests.

There are six different levels of rooms with varying configurations: Side View Room, Family Suite, Oceanfront Double Queen Room, Oceanfront King Room, Oceanfront King Suite and Oceanfront Two Bedroom/Two Bath Suite. All rooms have private balconies and a coffee maker. Cribs are available for use at no charge and there is daily housekeeping service. The property covers its comfortable beds with luxury linens, and a combination of down and fiberfill pillows.

Your room will be outfitted with at least one -- and as many as three -- LCD TV's. There are premium movie channels, in-room movies and, on-demand PBS Kids and the Disney Channel. There is also a video game system available at an hourly rate, with games such as Backyard Baseball, MarioKart, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Zelda Twilight Princess.

Suites
The largest of these is a two-bedroom family suite with bunk beds and a double bed in the kids room, providing sleeping space for up to six people. In the two-bedroom suite, there is a sliding door in the master bedroom, which opens to an ocean view and is protected by a railing. The suites contain a full-sized refrigerator, a microwave, a two-burner stovetop and a dishwasher. The sliding door to the balcony is soundproof and heavy, which makes it difficult for a child to open without adult assistance. For security, there is a peephole in the door to each guest room. There are no outlet covers.

Guestrooms
The standard rooms offer a king or two queen beds and have a mini-fridge and microwave.

Pools
Kids who love to swim will be overwhelmed with the choices available at The Hampton Inn & Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort. There are both indoor and outdoor pools, all of which are seasonally heated, and none of which are any deeper than four feet. Outside, there is a standard swimming pool, as well as two lazy rivers with inner tubes, a "Kids Lagoon" splash pad with multiple spray features and a covered shallow kiddie pool. Inside, on the lower level lobby, there are two standard pools and two Jacuzzi hot tubs. Towels are provided.

Beach
If that's not enough, this property sits directly on a well-kept beach where you can swim, collect seashells and boogie board on the waves. The beach is public and managed by the City of Myrtle Beach. There are chairs and umbrellas available for rent through the lifeguards, who are on duty between March and October. The area between the guest room towers and the beach contains both the pool deck and a grassy area with several hammocks, lounge chairs, and a swing set, which includes two swings, a fort and a slide.

Grouper Gang
In the summer months, the resort offers a free, daily kid's program, the Grouper Gang. During the day, children will be guided through beach or indoor activities, or they will be taken as a group to local attractions, such as Ripley's Aquarium. On Thursday nights, a babysitting program is offered until 9 p.m. Kids will watch movies under supervision, allowing their parents the opportunity to go out.

One of the best values included in your stay at any Hampton Inn is the complimentary, self-serve hot breakfast, which is served buffet-style from 6 to 10 a.m. The hot items rotate, and include sausage patties, eggs, hash browns and French toast sticks. There is also a DIY waffle iron, and a selection of breads and muffins near the toaster. Healthier selections, like oatmeal, yogurt, cereal and fruit, are also available.

The breakfast rooms in both the north and south towers are bright and airy, with large windows overlooking the ocean. To fully enjoy the vista, there is outdoor seating on the patio. There are different table configurations, which can accommodate any size party, including a long communal table with bar-height stools. You can bring your meal over to the fireplace, too. High chairs are available.

On weekdays, you can alternatively request an "On the Run Breakfast Bag" at the front desk, which includes water, fruit, a muffin and a cereal bar. In the lobby, there is a hot drink service available 24 hours a day, with coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

For your other meals, you have the option of dining out or preparing food in your room. There are supermarkets nearby; the closest is the Food Lion at the intersection of 13th Avenue South and Route 17/Kings Highway.

All About the Extras
There will be a binder in your room with flyers from area attractions and menus from local restaurants. Also check the brochure racks in the lower level near the indoor pools, which are chock-full of flyers, brochures and coupon books. This hotel features a small "Suite Shop" off the front desk where you can purchase travel-sized toiletries, laundry detergent, postcards, snacks, ice cream, drinks and frozen entrees for in-room dining. The free Wi-Fi access is fast and reliable.

Laundry
Coin-operated washing machines and dryers are available on the even-numbered floors, while ice and vending machines are located on the odd-numbered floors. Onsite dry cleaning is available.

Fitness Center
Guests are free to use the Jump-Start Fitness Center with Precor equipment.

Energy Saving
Energy saving programs are in place at this property, including a linen reuse program, and 99 percent natural and biodegradable Hampton-branded bath amenities. There are smart thermostat systems, LED and fluorescent lighting, and electrostatic air filtration to remove dust, pollen and other indoor pollutants.

Business Center
There is also a business center in the lobby, open 24 hours a day, where you are free to use the computers (both Macs and PC's) and printers to check your email or print boarding passes.

The Art of Smart Timing
High season in Myrtle Beach is the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Spring break is also a busy time, depending on the weather. Lifeguards are only on duty between March and October; at other times, it's too cold to swim in the ocean anyway. In late fall and early spring, Myrtle Beach can be a bargain, and the city offers plenty of indoor activities and attractions. Check-in time is 4 p.m., and check out is 11 a.m. You can arrive earlier and spend time in the pools. Towels are available at the front desk, and there are restrooms available in the lobby to change your clothes.

Getting There
The Myrtle Beach International Airport is just two miles from the resort, and there is a free airport shuttle service available.

Getting Around
Most visitors rent a car in order to get around the area during their stay. There is limited public transportation service -- Coast RTA buses serve 15 routes through the area.

For Mom and Dad
Babysitting
The resort does not offer babysitting services above and beyond a scheduled Thursday night group program offered in high season.

Spa
The onsite Sanctuary Spa offers massages, skin care services, detox treatments and body wraps. There is a Couples Suite with a mineral bath where you can receive side-by-side massages.