The Port Royal Hotel is a family-owned hotel that sees generations of families coming to stay year after year. And it’s no wonder why — the property, one of the Morey’s Piers Resorts, offers families affordable rates and the conveniences of home. Walk through the halls and into guestrooms and see walls lined with pictures of the Morey family fishing, sailing and bicycling down the two-mile Wildwood boardwalk. The black and white photos depict exactly what so many families come to the Jersey Shore to enjoy themselves.

The Port Royal Hotel is steps from the free Wildwood beach, known for its long walk to the water and its space, which allows families to enjoy the sun without feeling crowded by other beach-goers. A heated pool overlooks the sand and ocean from the property and offers a separate kids pool for little ones. A game room and media room, located just off the lobby, serve as spots to escape the heat or rain. And the boardwalk, with its many games, rides, shops and eateries, is just a half-mile walk from the hotel.

After long days, families can retreat to spacious guestrooms and suites, all of which have refrigerators and balconies that overlook the beach or the green field areas that are located on either side of the hotel. The décor, with its natural colors and wood textures, gives rooms a calm feeling that will surely be appreciated by families looking to truly relax on vacation.

The Port Royal Hotel offers families 100 guestrooms and suites with five different configurations. All are non-smoking and come with refrigerators, balconies and complimentary Wi-Fi, and each of the five floors houses a washer and dryer (fee), ice machine and drink or snack vending machine.

Note: Upon entering the main lobby, there are just two elevators to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors. Stepping off the elevator, families will find a small lobby leading to one short hallway and one long hallway, though a directory with room numbers and arrows won't be found. To the left, you'll find a corner with the 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 rooms, and to the right, the rest of the guestrooms and suites.

Families can choose from Standard and Deluxe Guestrooms, Ocean Suites or an Economy Apartment. The largest suite offers room for six, with one king bed, one queen bed and two twin beds, a kitchenette with large refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, cutlery and utensils, one bathroom and a separate vanity and sink area and three flat-screen TV's.

The smallest room option offers families one standard room with one double bed and one twin bed right next to each other, a table with two chairs, a mini-fridge and a small balcony with two chairs and a table. This room does not come with a kitchenette, microwave, coffee maker or a safe (though hotel management plans to provide a safe in every room as soon as possible).

Deluxe Ocean Suites
These can sleep up to six and we recommend them for families staying at the Port Royal. Stepping into the first room of the suite, families will find a large king bed, dresser, flat-screen TV and a balcony that overlooks the grassy area next to the hotel. Through a door, which can be closed, but not locked, you will find a bathroom to the left, with sleek white walls and a nautical, white wood sink vanity, a shower and tub combination and Philosophy bath amenities, with inspirational sayings on them, like "Celebrate Life." A hair dryer is available.

Adjacent to the bathroom is a second bedroom with bunk beds and a separate vanity with a sink and mirror. The twin bunk beds are perfect for kids and offer a sturdy latter for climbing to the top bunk, which also has a wooden bedrail attached for added protection. There is a door, which can be closed for more privacy, though this small room has no TV.

At the end of the short hallway in the deluxe ocean suite is a living area/family room, with a closet, in-room safe, sofa bed, flat-screen TV, table with four chairs, large refrigerator, sink, two-burner stove tops and a microwave. The cabinets hold a toaster, plates, cups, utensils, dish soap and extra trash and recycling bins. At the very end of the room is an additional balcony that overlooks the beach and ocean. Both balconies have two chairs and a small table, which are perfect for enjoying morning coffee or evening snacks, and have sliding screen and glass doors that lock.

Cribs, pack N' plays and rollaway beds are not available at the hotel due to storage issues, but the front desk will be happy to call an outside company to deliver them if they are needed (for an additional fee). Most rooms have safes and DVD players, though management is still in the process of providing these in every guestroom and suite.

Although ADA rooms are not available, most guestrooms and suites are semi-handicap-accessible, with slightly larger doorways, handrails in bathrooms and ramps leading to the front entrance and the pool area.

The Port Royal Hotel is steps from the large Wildwood beach. Step out the front or back doors and walk a short distance to one of two beach entrances. The front desk does not provide beach chairs, umbrellas or toys, but a rental stand is located on the beach during the summer.

The hotel has two pools, one for adults and families with teens and older children and a small circular one for little kids. The large pool ranges from 3 to 9 feet in depth and the separate kids pool is 1.5-feet deep at all times. Both are heated and the kids pool is often mistaken for a hot tub, as there is none at the hotel. Lifeguards are only at the pool on the weekends during the shoulder seasons. and are full-time during the peak summer season, late-June to Labor Day. The pool is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Surrounding the pool area are multiple lounge chairs, both in the sun and under umbrellas. All are first come, first served. Showers for rinsing are just off to the side of the pool area, perfect for sandy feet after the beach and before jumping into the calm pool water. The pool area also has tables and chairs for playing board games or eating, with a walk-up, poolside snack bar available for families who find themselves hungry. Just above the table and snack bar area is the sun deck, though a steep staircase is needed to access the sun deck, which may not be ideal for little legs.

Inside, located just off the lobby area, are the game room and media library, both of which were renovated in 2012. The media library is the first room on the right down the small hallway and it surely can't be missed with its nautical décor and bright colors. A large table is perfect for reading, playing board games and coloring. A flat-screen TV is located in the adjacent corner, with a comfortable couch for lounging and catching a family-friendly movie. Books and magazines are also available for reading at no extra charge. The media library is open from 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

Just past the media library is the game room, which is open from 9 a.m. to about 11 p.m. With its bright colors and nautical design similar to that of the media library, the game room will evoke excitement as kids play arcade games, Ping Pong, air hockey or just sit and play a board game or watch TV at the table. A change machine is available and all games cost between a quarter and $1 to play.

During the summer, the hotel offers scheduled children's activities that take place in the game room and at the pool area. Ask at the front desk for the schedule of events and activities. Most are geared toward children ages 4 to 12, though all are welcome to participate. Activities range from Ping Pong tournaments to arts and crafts.

As the Port Royal Hotel is a part of the Morey's Piers brand, guests receive discounted vouchers with the Stay and Play Package to the boardwalk rides at Adventure Pier, Mariner's Pier and Surfside Pier; these include the Giant Wheel, the Great Nor'Easter upside-down coaster or the Great White wooden roller coaster. Guests pick up vouchers at the front desk and then can redeem them at the ticket stands on the piers.

A half-mile walk from the hotel will put families at the entrance to boardwalk (right near the large BOARDWALK sign) and the start of the tram, which picks up and drops off guests anywhere along the two-mile stretch. Families will need to walk another half-mile to reach the first of the three piers, so the tram will be helpful for tired bodies both before and after the fun. The tram runs 11 a.m. to pier closing time (about 1 a.m. during the peak summer season) and costs $3 per person, per ride.

The Royal Grille is the restaurant's onsite dining option for families. The family-owned restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, though certain meals are only served seasonally. Regardless of when guests decide to dine here though, views of the ocean and beach will be available from almost every table. Large windows surround the restaurant and let lots of sunshine in throughout the day.

Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 11:45 a.m. and offers the classic options, such as eggs, omelets, French toast, pancakes, cereal and bagels. A kids' menu is available and offers smaller portions from the main menu. The price is fixed at $4.95 (plus tax) and the menu is only offered to children ages 12 and under (for every meal).

Lunch is served from noon to 3 p.m. in the restaurant and to 5 p.m. seasonally on the patio, and options include burgers, sandwiches, salads and the like. A kids' menu has a fixed price of $5.95 (plus tax) and offers hot dogs, burgers and chicken fingers.

Dinner is served from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday seasonally, from mid-June to Labor Day. Specials are offered and the kids' menu is $7.95 per child and offers fish and chips, penne with marinara or butter sauce, chicken fingers and the like. Reservations are recommended for dinner.

Most guestrooms and suites come with mini-fridges and microwaves, which make simple meals easy to make. If planning to cook in your room, request a suite with a kitchenette and stop at the Acme or A&P supermarket on the island before heading to your hotel.

All About the Extras
The hotel's front desk is open 24 hours a day.

Washers and dryers are located on every floor just off the elevator lobby. One load will cost about $2.25 to wash and dry. A change machine is located in the game room and detergent is available at the front desk for a fee (though they rarely charge).

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire property, including guestrooms, lobby areas, the game room, media library and the pool deck.

Parking is free for one vehicle per family and spaces are located around the perimeter of the hotel. Garage parking is available beneath the hotel for $2 a day.

The Port Royal Hotel is located in Wildwood Crest, which is a dry-town and alcohol is not served in restaurants here, nor will families find liquor stores here, which may eliminate the "party scene" at this hotel.

Soda machines and snack machines are located off the elevator lobbies on each floor, though they vary according to floor (so you may need to walk from floor to floor to find the soda or bag of chips your kids desire).

Porta Potties are available for bathrooms on the beach, though the hotel will always be about a 5-minute walk from your blanket or chair.

The Art of Smart Timing
The Port Royal Hotel is only open weekly from May to October, and on select dates in between. If possible, visit during May and the beginning of June for a quiet experience. September and October will also be quiet and comfortable, as older children are back in school. The high season for the Jersey Shore is July and August and guestrooms book quickly at the Port Royal Hotel, as many families are annual guests.

During the summer, the weather is sure to be sunny and warm, around 80 degrees, which makes for perfect beach days, and evenings will be cooler, especially on the boardwalk, so bring a sweater. Beaches are sure to be crowded in July and August, but the Wildwood beach is large and guests will find a spot easily. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, as well, with stations located every quarter-mile down the beach.

Getting There
Wildwood is located at the very end of the Jersey Shore and the closest airport is the Atlantic City International Airport, which services Spirit and United Airlines. The Philadelphia International Airport is 1.5 hours from the resort and services all the major airlines. A rental car will be needed to travel from the airport to the Port Royal. If coming from the south or west, take the Delaware Memorial Bridge and look for signs for the Garden State Parkway -- Wildwood is Exit 4B. If coming from New England, drive down I-95 to Exit 7 for the Garden State Parkway until Exit 4B. Once in Wildwood, drive through until you reach Wildwood Crest. The Port Royal Hotel is located off of Ocean Avenue near Lotus Road.

Getting Around
Wildwood is largely walkable (you can walk to the beach and boardwalk from the hotel), but bicycling is also big in town. A car will make trips to local stores easiest though. When walking the two-mile boardwalk, take the tram. The tram runs 11 a.m. to pier closing time (about 1 a.m. during the peak summer season) and costs $3 per person, per ride.

For Mom and Dad
Wildwood Crest is a dry town and the Royal Grille does not serve alcohol, so make a stop for wine or beer at a store in North Wildwood or Wildwood before getting to the hotel. The refrigerator will keep everything cold until the kids go to sleep and then parents can enjoy a relaxing nightcap on the balcony while stargazing and looking out into the Atlantic. Tip: Bring a bottle opener -- you won't find them at the hotel, even in the suites with kitchenettes.