Trailborn Surf & Sound

We recently stayed the night at The Trailborn and it was a great experience. The staff was attentive, there were nice amenities in our room and some great touches such as a bag we could use on the beach and a laundry bag we were able to fill up and take home. The coffee and tea choices in the room were excellent and the views can’t be beat. We enjoyed our breakfast at La Duna as well. We did try the sauna and hot tub and while they worked I think this part of the hotel has not be updated in many years and it showed. Hopeful these will get updated as they made for a great addition to our trip. Overall, the location is exceptional, there were many thoughtful touches through out and truly a place you could come and easily stay for a week with all the hotel has to offer in addition to the area.

They’ve recently redone the property, and the lobby looks amazing. The rooms were okay, but what truly made our stay exceptional was the service. We were celebrating our anniversary, and Riddhi, a front desk associate, went above and beyond to make it special. The anniversary card and champagne waiting in our room were such a thoughtful touch. We also got a room upgrade! Every time we passed by her, she greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel genuinely welcome. Her hospitality truly elevated our entire stay.

Trailborn has been renovated, offering a decor reminiscent of the 60s with a mid-century flair. The rooms were fairly spacious, and the in-hotel restaurant was a notch above most (I recommend the lox bagel with cream cheese). We went in February when it was pretty cold, so we didn't get to see the pool or outdoor amenities. What we did see looked just like they do in the photos. Recommend!

absolutely incredible. the service from the staff was top tier. stites, seth, and chloe greeted my friends and I outside upon entry, smiles to their faces and immediately i felt welcomed. helen, riddhi, and lexa were incredibly helpful at check in and throughout the stay with any questions we had. robert and alex were able to assist us with anything we needed from plates and silverware to directions. they were so helpful in trying to assist me my finding my wallet after i lost it and i can't thank them enough for their efforts. ethan in housekeeping did a fantastic job and was so friendly. i truly could not have asked for a better experience. view was priceless, property was clean and expansive, rooms were comfy and inviting, and most importantly, the staff made me feel as though i was back at home. already planning my next trip to this wonderful hotel and wonderful people!

We stayed here to celebrate my birthday and Robert and Alexa made it truly special. They graciously upgraded our room and surprised us with a handwritten note and champagne, which was such a thoughtful touch and truly wowed us when we arrived to our room 🥹 Their warmth and attention to detail made the whole experience feel elevated and personal. Thank you both for making my birthday feel special. It meant more than you know!❤️

Very nice. Clean and spacious room. The staff was exceptional. The only problem was the North tower elevator. It is very small and it stop working. It was fixed . The toilet in our room stopped working and had to be repaired. This was done quickly. We had a wonderful stay and we are looking forward to our next visit.

The Trailborn hotel is great. Rooms are nice with some great views of the water. The bed was so comfortable. Robert Helen at the front desk has been so helpful and friendly during our stay. Highly recommended here and will stay again on our next visit.

I think overall this is a nice property and a very good location with excellent proximity to the beach and sound and nice grounds to play and enjoy being outside. The pool area looks very nice although we did not use in December and the gym was satisfying for my family (all young adults ). The staff was reasonably friendly. The parking was a bit dicey at night when we came back from dinner- it was full, and I can’t imagine in the summer how that can be manageable when they’re at full capacity. When we went to ask someone from the front desk to come out and opened up another lot for us. |||| The rooms were clean and had a beautiful view. I think there are a little things that could be elevated such as comfier robes, fluffier towels-, little things to kind of elevate the experience to match the rate. Overall, I would probably stay here again, although I think I would take pause and compare a bit at the height of the season. It was a good value for an off-season stay and we enjoyed the area. it’s really beautiful and about 15 minutes to Wilmington, which is nice and a 15 minute walk to the main strand, where bars and restaurants are

While yelp still shows permanently closed, unfortunately this place re-opened in April. Understaffed, and a poor imitation of a quasi luxury spot likely has far too far to go to ever be worthy to be anything more than a marginal beach front hotel with bad food. The ancient A/C fan left me thinking I was booked at an airport hotel and close to the take off runway.... High marks for the bed and bedding which I understand you can order independently. Absolutely forget about having breakfast here.. After waiting about 25 minutes we were finally seated by the one person working the dinning room.... The microwaved veggie omelet only featured "flakes" of red and green something and no cheese but it was better as a Christmas ornament I suspect. We had booked through booking.com which several days later still leaves us getting updated bills from the hotel for destination fees and other PIA items to have to deal with. Grounds are nice but not spectacular the tiki bars service was one of the few bright spots. Absolutely cannot recommend.

Blockade Runner is permanently closed but it's been totally updated inside & out by the upscale chain of Trailborn. Still expensive but now more worth it since upgrading. Still good food & the bike rental is included, wish the yoga was too! Very expensive at $22 a class!! I enjoy staying in the older 4 story tower so you can have an outside balcony. Still not enough parking spaces always but that's an ongoing issue in WB. I like the new management so far.

One of my girlfriends celebrates her birthday here every year- the location is so beautiful and the grounds are stunning! We sat outside for the evening and were lucky enough to be there at the same time as a wedding reception so in addition to the normal wonderful ambiance, we also had all the music to listen to all evening. Overall, the food is very tasty, but every single year something gets messed up with our orders- someone's food is forgotten, an allergy isn't written down, wrong sides with mains ,etc. Nothing massive, but unfortunately something we've come to expect. I tried the lycheetini which was delicious and refreshing and the market fish dish which was delicious. Just know that coming here isn't cheap, but it is tasty. ALSO absolutely definitely do not skip dessert- their desserts are sooooooo good!!!

When doing my research for my weekend in Wrightsville I read over and over again that Blockade Runner Beach Resort was the best place to stay on the beach. Not sure if that is true or not but I would say the hotel is pretty average at best. Easy to find and the parking was ok, not sure what they do or where you park if its super busy. We tried to check in 10 minutes before the official check in time and were told we needed to wait. I totally understand if the room wasn't ready but it seemed more that they wanted us to wait until the designated time. The hotel and our room were lean but overall everything feels slightly run down, old, and rusty. The location is nice and the balcony was a nice spot to sit and watch the water.

Under heavy heavy construction currently. Would not recommend until construction is done.

The Blockade Runner Beach Resort has long been an institution on Wrightsville Beach and with good reason: Blockade Runner has a real Caribbean vibe going on. When you enter the lobby, you enter an island resort. Open air feel to the lobby looking out on a patio, pool area, fire pit, and of course, the beach. Blockade Runner has a nice pool area adjoined by a full service bar and shady tables at which to imbibe. There is an expansive lawn with hammocks and chairs to relax at and the beach just beyond the sand dunes. It really is a resort. The rooms are sizable and either have an ocean or harbor view. We enjoyed watching the activity and sunset from our harbor view room. The room was very "Caribbean" as well. The bed slept very well and the room featured a small refrigerator and Kurig. Our room showed signs of wear, as much of the hotel does, but everything was very clean. The staff is super friendly and helpful as well. If you are in need of a quick island getaway, consider the Blockade Runner.

Lets just say the Blockade Runner and I go way back. It has been a destination spot for many memorable occasions and we added to the album once again. Celebrating its 60th anniversary some may nitpick about the elevators (only 2) or some dated furnishings, but the property is premium. It has a huge outdoor oasis complete with firepits, hammocks, pool, f-bomb tub, and seating on the sound side too. Staff is ubiquitous and beyond friendly. The days of 99 bonz per nite are long gone. In fact, it is triple the aforementioned but worth every penny. Treat yourself to an oceanfront room. You will not be disappointed! Thanks BR. Great time had by all.

What an amazing resort! The accommodations are beautiful and the lobby so artistically decorated! The grounds were wide open with a lot of areas for sitting and enjoying the beautiful weather! The beach was spectacular and monitored by their staff and the local police. The shells were numerous - bring a baggie for collections! The restaurant menu was small but the food was all freshly made. The breakfast bowls and the homemade pop tart were delicious! The staff were always available for any questions and assistance as needed!

Decent facility and amenities. I've stayed here several times as it's one of only a few choices at Wrightsville to be located oceanfront. The staff is consistently friendly and attentive. The rooms are a bit dated but clean and there is a pool with a bar and a full restaurant on site. Negatives this trip, a thermostat that didn't work, a bathroom door that was only half operational and a wonky coffee maker. Proximity to the ocean and area restaurants are the reason we continue to return

Hopefully I can save people from booking this terrible hotel. The room is mediocre. They basically took a decrepit building, slapped some paint on the walls, added cheap furnishings and they think they created a high end hotel. The restaurant isn't even open 7 days during the summer season, so if you come on a Sunday or Monday you are out of luck. The air condition noise in the room is similar to the noise level at a construction site. This is not a relaxing place. Zero luxury. The place is a sham. Luckily we only booked for two nights. Will not be back.

Not a hotel guest, but I had a mechanical issue with my motorcycle and had to pull into the blockade runner parking lot. Tried to fix it on the spot but no dice. I went into the hotel to ask if I could leave the bike here until my mechanic could pick it up, and TRISTAN was very helpful. I sure they knew I would not be leaving the bike for a long period of time, and Tristan was beyond courteous. If I need a hotel on wrightsville beach or any of my friends do, I will be recommending this place for sure! If this is the kind of service they provide to a person w mechanical problems, imagine what kind of service they provide to people actually paying!!!!

TL:DR - It's a Wes Anderson Film. Enjoy accordingly. The service is impeccable. It is aesthetically (delightfully) retro and its amenities are somewhat dated as well. If you want access to the beach and bay, good food, (proper pillows!) and a little adventure, it's a spot.

We were very disappointed by our stay at the Blockade Runner. Our biggest complaint wasn't the pretty grounds or the people working there. Our biggest complaint was the disgusting room we were assigned. We have stayed at many places for the same price but we were shocked by how old and outdated it was. We peeked into the rooms on our floor and saw that they all had drawers to put their clothes in. Updated showers too! Our tub had permanent rust stains, poor water pressure, an exhaust fan that didn't work and a light that flickered so much it would have caused someone a seizure. The beds were hard but yet moved with the slightest movement. We were so uncomfortable! The towels were thin and the paint on the walls looked like they were on their 10th coat. I could go on. The sheets in the beds were super thin and there were very limited outlets available. Some worker some didn't. The hallways were dark and concerning. The elevator. Wow. I said a prayer every time we got in that we made it safely out again. The food and drinks were ridiculously high priced. For example, two small mixed drinks it was $25! We actually left a day early because we couldn't take another night of pain on those beds or sharing a tiny bathroom with three people. Of course management wouldn't discount anything. This was supposed to be our first family trip together. We won't be back. The two stars are for the parking attendants and the guys that helped us out at the beach. This place was built in 1964 and it seriously looks like it was stuck there except for the price you will pay.

Mr Lombardi, Greetings, the purpose of this communication is to report the issues that occurred upon checkout of your hotel today. Issue 1 - Request for an itemized list of charges for the entire stay. The student aged male clerk explained that is all there was and repeatedly stated so. I asked for a manager to help complete that request. When young female came from the back office, she stated the same thing. "That was all she had." Nationwide, we have had no such issues receiving this data upon checkout. She stated she was going to the computer to look for such a report. As she was leaving she told me that we still had a balance due. I responded saying, when numbers are in parentheses, that means it is a credit, not a debit, she continued to walk away. When she returned she stated that it was her mistake looking at the report incorrectly. Clearly, she did not know what she was talking about. Issue 2 - Rude Guest Meanwhile, I was speaking with my husband and another guest with her husband were standing very close to us along with approximately 10 other guests in front and behind them. The women interrupted my personal conversation, stating I should be kinder. Calmly, I told her to mind her own business and that I would show her the same respect so long as whatever was happening did not involve me directly. The audacity of some people's children these days. Issue 3 - Law Enforcement After shutting down the rude guest, your employee told me to go sit down or she would call the cops. Her attempt to intimidate me ended, when I told her she did not have the right to tell me what to do and that I would remain where I stood until she gave me what I had already requested. She assumed wrongly and I stood my ground. Simple circumstances became complicated due to her lack of understanding and experience, unprofessional describes this incident well. Clearly she is not fit for her duties imo. When the officers arrived, I explained all that had transpired. In the end, both officers agreed that the 911 call was unnecessary and the female officer apologized to my husband and me stating that I was correct by saying that the call was a waste of their resources and their time. The clerk got her feelings hurt and her only small-minded recourse was to call them. Attached are the multiple documents given to us upon checkout. My question is, why are there 4 separate records and charges for just 2 reservations. Upon making the initial reservation for 2 nights, we were told that we had to pay for the first night at $173 plus tax and we would be charged for the second night upon checkout. Our bank account (travel expenses only) was charged again upon checkin and 2 more occurred upon the second reservation for an extended 2 nights. Another female told my husband that we would have to move to different rooms for each of those additional nights. That was ridiculous. We spoke to someone else who arranged for us to stay in the same room throughout our stay, which was appropriate and we thanked her. As far as our 4 night stay, we have just two complaints. Complaint 1 - Dining The food and drinks we ordered were substandard. *Fish and chips - breading was too crunchy and greasy, we returned the dinner and they cooked a steak in exchange, which was not juicy. We ate it anyway. The next day we ordered takeout from True Butcher, which was fantastic. *Clam Chowder - The following day, we went to eat on the patio opposite the bar. Our server took our order for a bowl and cup of clam chowder. It was terrible. The cream sauce had no clams or clam flavor, the vegetables were completely uncooked, which was sent back to the kitchen uneaten. *Alcohol - Our drinks did not taste like a bartender made them, more like an untrained kitchen helper attempting to make drinks for the first time. White russians presented like chocolate milk. Clearly, that person making them had no idea how to make it. The Lycheetini tasted like grapefruit juice without alcohol. The Sunrise tasted like a Shirley Temple. Credits received. Complaint 2 - Housekeeping We did not need service every day, however, when we did want service, we had to ask the housekeeper to change the bedding, then had to ask him to vacuum the floor, and then again we had to ask him to replenish the paper goods in the bathroom. He didn't even clean the shower. In conclusion, the beach view, crashing waves, and salt air made our stay enjoyable, however, the lack of customer service, not including the bellboy, was disappointing. We were able to rest and relax from our very busy lives and chronic health problems despite of all these issues. Note that before checking out, we considered returning to Blockade Runner Resort next year for my husband's birthday again...due to what happened today we have changed our minds. Sincerely, Teresa & Jon Shincke Cc: Yelp

The staff is amazing and very helpful. The grounds are beautiful and kept pristine. Many places to sit and relax and feel the ocean breeze! Food a little pricey but good and convenient NOTE- The rooms in the tower are old, old, old. They have put up some nice wallpaper and some pillows, but don't believe the pics or descriptions. The bathroom was really outdated and rusty. Try to get a higher floor. It's nice to be facing the ocean, but there is a fire pit right below you and it could get rowdy. It seems the best option is the newer section with balconies, but you will be paying a huge price. I would go back and specifically ask for a higher floor and a bathroom with a walk in shower. Hopefully they are more recently renovated. The views and convenience is worth it. PS - we did not have to pay for parking. Keep in mind renting chairs and umbrellas are $$$, bring your own

First and foremost the rooms have quirky decor which is interesting, but they STINK from the humidity. It's REALLY unbearable. In fact, it made my clothes stink and I didn't realize it until I pulled out a sweatshirt from my carry on while on the plane. It smelled like mildew from two days there. Every single thing in my suitcase stinks. Gross. The beds are squeaky and very uncomfortable. The pool was cloudy and so dirty. I also felt invisible trying to order a drink at the pool and at the bar. I wasn't even acknowledged at the bar. The shower didn't work right at all. It has two shower heads and no doors, so it was a wet mess, and I couldn't get only ONE shower head to work or a consistent temp. It was so hard to shower. Lastly, the gym is disgusting. No air circulation or fans, so it's even more smelly and moist than the rooms. It's so bad that their cable machine is rusted out and it's difficult to use. The only redeeming quality is the location and outdoor area leading up to the beach. The bar and pool are cool (as long as you don't get in it). I don't understand why they don't have umbrellas out at the pool. It's really hot. Unless it's a tactic to upsell a cabana. The property has a lot of potential but it needs a MAJOR overhaul. Really, they need to tear it down and rebuild. The amount of mold is probably out of control. Would NOT recommend.

WB Soundside at the Blockade Runner Today I got to see an amazing local treasure. The Audubon N.C.'s Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards and the Blockade Runner's Soundside boat made their weekly trek to see Oyster Catcher chicks, and Least Tern chicks, and Common Terns. These come in from as far away as Brazil. But the coolest for me were the Black Skimmers that come in from the northern part of South America! There are so many in town on WB right now. The boat ride and bird lesson are free, weekly until mid August when the birds start to move on. This is great for kids to seniors. Don't forget to stop into the Blockade Runner for a great lunch after your adventure, It's certainly is a beautiful hotel. https://photos.app.goo.gl/bvuiAiWh3tPE2Rwt8

The staff here was great. The front desk, pool staff, restaurant staff, everyone was spot on. The resort is a little older but very clean. We watched the bunnies every evening come out and eat. They have a firepit at night, and hammocks and chairs are everywhere. We loved our room. The bed was so comfortable. We had a deep soaker tub with a TV in the bathroom.

I was torn on my rating and ultimately went with 3.5 stars (no half stars on Yelp so I rounded down). The good: -location is incredible! Can't beat that it's on the beach! -SOME of the amenities are wonderful, mostly the lawn/recreational area The not-so-good: -poor service at the pool bar -communication is terrible, we were told several different things before and during our stay here regarding their amenities and covid guidelines I really wish they were consistent on amenity guidelines because apparently we were told (wrongfully) to pay extra for pool use. -broken tile in the bathroom and shower -dirty floors upon arrival -dust everywhere in our room For the cost, this was an OK stay. I did like that it was recent renovated and literally on the beach. The elevator is old and you just have to be patient. We did dine at their restaurant for Sunday brunch and I enjoyed it but I still wasn't pleased with the rude and terrible customer service from check in and the pool side bar. My friend and I asked for the same exact drink and we did not receive the same thing... and then the bartender got so confused he didn't charge my friend. Just very poorly coordinated service. It wasn't my favorite place to stay at wrightsville beach but it (at least) met the bare standards which, honestly, is not good when you're paying resort fees. I'd recommend checking out somewhere else unless they address the customer service and amenity issues. The only saving grace for my experience was the wonderful and attentive dining service at their in-house restaurant.

What a great place. This particular place gives the best beach resort vibes. Walk right into the beach, and you are able to hear the ocean from your room. Inside you will find a full resort. Gift shop Restaurant Bar Pool Lounge Spa Fire pit The resort is worn in areas (as to be expected). However, the staff is friendly and attentive. The room is clean and well Put together. Interesting touches for sure. We would stay again.

We got an ocean view room, which was great. For the money we paid, I was quite surprised of these things. The $18 buffet was worse than we had gotten for free at other hotels. And it didn't include coffee or other drinks. We had to pay additional $5 for it. I would suggest walking a couple of blocks to the market & get some snacks or a local coffee shop, which charged us $6 for 2 fresh ground cups. Parking was not included, $19 a day, which I understand is what motels are doing now. The hot tub had a very nasty smell, which we did complain about after spending just a couple of minutes in it. The chairs in the room were ripped and stained and there were little rubber bands on the floor when we entered...so it appears it was not swept. ( I took photo's). Highly doubtful we'd stay there again.

Fantastic stay at this place. We were very lucky to be there before the big season because our group was able to get a very good block of rooms. Upon arrival we got checked in and our desk clerk was fantastic, explaing everything very clearly and lots of advice as well. Our rooms were clean and we had a nice view of the sound. We visited the bar for a quick cocktail. Small crowd due to season but still hospitable. We stayed 2 nights and the location worked out perfectly for us. We plan on making this an annual deal before the big season and hopefully can get the block rate again because we all had a great visit.

Our anniversary staycation we had been emailing back and forth with Elizabeth had everything planned out, charcuterie and Dough Chardonnay to the room. Arrive early and let them know we are here, made the charcuterie and brought up champagne?? Called the front desk and let them know we didn't order champagne, we ordered the Chardonnay it should be there in our check in notes, it is Mr Doughman our concierge manager will bring it up. Nicky was awesome very friendly but brought up Proverb Chardonnay, called back again, this isn't what we requested, front desk Maddie ? We don't have that it must have changed the list they sent you. So it was okay so we drank it since it was our only choice and we put the charcuterie in the room fridge only to find it was frozen over, hopefully cold enough to keep the charcuterie from going bad. We will see today. We go out for dinner at Jerry's and come back to the hotel bar order cocktails we discover they do have Dough Chardonnay!!!! WTF So we tell Madison our bartender our story and she was surprised we were told that, she goes to her Manager Steven and they get us a discount on the Dough and the front Desk manager comped our Proverb? Well no sh** since it was not want we requested and stuck us with . So no more drama! Wrong, well Jessica mentioned about the A/C and not being able to control it, it is hotel wide. We can bring you fans if you need it? I didn't quite understand until I woke up with A/C on and the heat was blowing and it was 75 degrees. So hint, turn off the unit! This morning we ordered coffee for 8 am and it came at 825, ugh So when it arrived they gave us a pot of coffee and enough cream for 2 cups of coffee? And only 1 muffin for a room of 2?! You people are killing me! What I can say is the staff is amazingly friendly and accommodating but common all levels is lacking, had Elizabeth made the appropriate notes in our check in record, had front desk called bar etc a lot of this I believe could have been avoided. It was so discombobulating that we argued which ruined our day but new day, better day? Only time will tell. More to come, one way or another oh and one other thing the hotel is no where near capacity but they put us in a room with a connecting door and we could hear each other all night, just so stupid. I had the buffet not so special but the wife ordered of the menu, eggs Benedict the poached eggs weren't, so hard cooked they crumbled on the inside when cut open. Okay, I am done! In summation: when you book here we got a "deal"? For the room the view is amazing the staff is friendly, greenery is nice but the hotel needs to be gutted, communication needs to improve, thought needs to go into everything, how much cream, provide a stirring spoon for coffee in the room and at the table, where you put people, and keep your expectations extremely low and you might avoid frustration and disappointment. We won't be back as an overnight guest , I am sure of that but the bar is great.

After 3 prior stays with no complaints, this stay was very disappointing. Moldy bathroom, roach in our closet, AC unit stupid loud, tv has no apps (very nice perk to have smart apps in hotel rooms for movie watching and the other tower has these) only one plug near the beds to plug in multiple devices (had to go buy a power strip to plug more than one thing in) and the restaurant ... 91.5 sanitation rating which I get is technically an A, but this resort claims to be the nicest on the beach and the food just is not up to par. I'm really sad to post this bc this was our favorite place to stay here. They did move us to a much nicer room with a balcony that was clean, renovated, quiet AC, no mold or roaches.

Once a family owned hotel, this is now corporate and a bit of a different experience. The evening staff at the hotel were accommodating as well as the bellhops, especially Ron, who has been there for many years. Thank goodness for his kindness, he is the best part of it. However, the morning desk clerk was quite stern to check out at 11AM or a $50 fee would be fined. The amenities are nothing to speak of and a lot of the charm has changed. I don't understand why the soap is so thin and so many things are not as nice as before. I hope their rates go down.

Tile floors are are good for the sand and the short walk to the beach is great. However any good was canceled out as any outside food can only be consumed on the beach or in your room. An absolutely fantastic situation if you have children. Yes this is sarcastic! The restaurant is not suited for tired toddlers, so we ordered pizza and were happy enough to picnic in the grass. Only for management to tell us it wasn't allowed. Oddly enough I didn't see this enforced with any other families who had boxes of crackers or snacks by the pool. The rooms have an end table at best to eat on, so toddlers ended up eating on towels on the bed. There are no signs, no documentation, and their best solution was to bring up a table to the room. Which I'm not even sure would have fit through the door.

This resort is amazing! They have a restaurant on the first floor and plenty of amenities (pool, spa, sauna, fitness center, & direct beach access). They also have these hammocks and bungalows you can lounge in. The room is very comfortable as well. If you don't have an ocean view, you may have a view of the harbor! They also stock the bathroom with plenty of towels!!

Pros: The staff is amazing- friendly and willing to bend over backward for their guests. The pool is lovely and it is a very short walk to the beach. The grounds (bunnies!) and chairs, etc. are quite nice. Cons: Too expensive for an older property. Parking is $19/ day - not disclosed anywhere before you come. No Ice machines - you have to ask for ice to be delivered to your room. WORST: There were only 2 small drawer and 6 hangers for storage in our room. Worse, there was a sign on a long counter that said not to put luggage on it. We couldn't unpack either of our suitcases and there was 1 luggage stand. I'm a "put it away" gal, and it made me really uncomfortable.

I booked this hotel through a discount, and I was SO excited! I had a family member stay here and rave about it, so I couldn't believe I got the deal I did for such an incredible hotel! I'm a local, but a mom of 3, a nurse, and have been doing home renovations for weeks, so I wanted to have a small getaway for my birthday weekend. My husband and I found a way to have a night without the kids, sent them off, and headed out for our amazing night away. When we got to our room, due to no fault of anyone's but my own, I was a little disappointed because I did not read my own fine print in my booking and booked us a room with a less than desirable view. I called down to the front desk and Alex, the hotel manager, went way way way above and beyond to fix MY mistake. Not only did he find me a room with a better view, he also took the time to give me a little history on the hotel and threw in a sweet gift and card since it was my birthday. I was blown away that someone would go so far to fix a mistake that was in no way their fault, take steps to make my night extra special and give me an amazing room with an amazing view. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone, not only for their beautiful rooms, but for the amazing customer service. Took my night from being almost ruined by my own silly mistake, to being one of the most relaxing nights I have had in months, thanks to the kindness of one person who went way above and beyond. Truly an exceptional experience, and I will absolutely recommend all of my out of town friends and family to stay here when they visit!

The hotel is running down. Rugs in rooms are filthy, customer service is totally missing

We just stayed here for a week and what a WONDERFUL best vacation ever!!! my kid had a blast. Staff is extremely friendly and kind, room service is great, restaurant and bar amazing also. The garden the bunnies around make it magical. So many activities for kids and adult. definitely coming back next year! Don't pay attention to the bad review, this hotel is AWESOME it's a real paradis.

I went out with my family and took a beautiful boat ride on the Pontoon Boat and had the most amazing experience on the Subset Cruise. Everyone should try the sunset cruise. the staff is so sweet and attentive and they make you feel like you are with your family while looking at a beautiful sunset. I also loved the restaurant. The chef just made the most creative and delicious food. It was such a highly enjoyable dining experience that I came back to eat there multiple times. The staff was attentive and kind and they really listeNed well to my needs. It was lovely. I highly recommend going to eat there.

Great location and decent rooms overlooking the ocean. Otherwise, outdated and in need of maintenance and repairs. My bride & I decided to spend a weekend here to get away from some winter weather in Raleigh, watch the angry ocean waves roll in and to our surprise, watch people trying to surf in the stormy waves. The hallway paint looks shoddy and lacking for maintenance. The rooms are okay, but could stand some modernization. The age of the building is showing. The lobby area - windows leaked, rainwater was being absorbed by towels on the window sills. It seemed like there was water everywhere around the the windows and doors in the lobby area. We had to go to the front desk for ice, no ice machines on the floors, just in the restaurant's kitchen area. We mostly enjoyed our stay, got to walk the beach a bit on the morning of our departure, despite the wind and cold.

I'd actually give this place 4.5 stars - we came upon the hotel randomly, and it doesn't look amazing from the front, but inside and on the ocean side it's absolutely charming. We only had one issue with our room - the TV got messed up - but when we called for support, it was almost immediately forthcoming and resolved the issue. The beds were so cozy! And we thought the room was thoughtfully done. (I see other bad reviews that surprised me - I think we were in one of the renovated rooms, and heard more are to be done asap.) Front desk was so solicitous and friendly to every need. They disclosed the parking fees up-front. (The parking fees are typical to the island.) The restaurant food was excellent (kudos to "new" chef), but the decor is in need of some reno, which is about to take place, we were told. Otherwise, it embodies a relaxing tropical hotel. Bartenders and wait staff were great. FOR NATURE/GARDEN LOVERS - Man, you're going to love the landscaping on the ocean side! It's really, really stunning! Take your time to appreciate it and look in detail. Talked to the expert garndener, who explained many of the garden plants are used in the kitchen - garden to table. BTW, they provide a good AAA discount! Pays for the parking and then some.

We purchased the New years package that included 2 night stay,breakfast in bed, New Year's dinner, & brunch, not to mention a 1 pm check out. They placed a full color picture of Walker Texas Ranger as I requested .I cannot state how happy we have been with the experience. The staff was extremely helpful & polite. Food was phenomenal!! I will definitely do this every year!!

The service we had was very helpful and good. The staff was really nice and our room was magical. Best hotel I've ever stayed in and made the experience one of a kind with a view of the ocean. Shout out to Alexander( Front Desk) for being welcoming and hospitable!

Check in young man was very nice, the rooms are small and air conditioning is noisy, but the service is excellent! The food was great at the on site restaurant! The bar outside as well, food and drinks were great! The outside area was great to sit and relax in the lawn chairs and games for the family Will definitely be back

Nothing impressive at this place. Be aware of the hidden parking fees. The parking lot is a mess. They told us about the parking cost at check out. When questioned they were like oh well. I Called 4 times and left a message for the manager. He never responded! Stay somewhere else and save the hassle.

The views of the ocean and grounds are beautiful. Walking distance to restaurants and coffee shops. However, the rooms are extremely outdated. The beds are by far the most uncomfortable I've ever slept in. Mattress is very hard- woke up with back and hip pain every morning. No comforter just sheets on the bed. Showers don't work well. One morning we were woken up at 8 am to a fire alarm and an actual fire on our floor. We were later told the hot water heater caught fire. I'm 6 months pregnant and we were locked out of our room for over 2 hours with 2 small kids. Once finally settled on the beach we were called and told to come to the front desk. They then told us we needed to switch rooms as no hot water on our floor. So once again spent over an hour packing and moving. All this is time we're paying to stay there and be at the beach. We inquired about compensation for one night (we stayed 4) and were told they're not doing this but would put a note on file for "possible future free upgrade". I never plan to stay here again due to the rooms and the service.

Great hotel. Room was very cute and clean. Modern bathroom with LED vanity mirror. Large windows slide open so you can listen to the ocean. I had room service breakfast both mornings and both were fantastic & upscale compared to most hotel room service (malted waffle & breakfast sandwich). Convenient sundry shop for beach needs and drinks. Staff was very polite and following strict Covid guidelines. I'd recommend this hotel for anyone.

TL; DR: Avoid this place if you can! I really don't even want to give this place 2 stars but I am because of the great helpful staff and very well manicured back lawn. Everything else was less than acceptable. Parking: The place only has so much parking. Once the parking lot is full you are forced to valet which is free, but then you are obligated to tip. And over the course of a week this really adds up. The property and food: This place was built in the 60s, and on the outside is concerning. Hotel lobby is beautiful and updated. Lawns are maintained to a T. Pool is cold and not heated but out in the sun. Food was actually great. The elevator chose to shut its doors when it wanted and sometimes felt like it was in the running for the next Tower of Terror. The hallways on each floor are poorly lit and you do feel like one lonely night you will see a set of twin children at the end of the hall. The room: I can't believe they charge $400 a night for this bare room. The whole place looks like it was given the Landlord Special; everything's painted super quick and sloppy. The bed is somehow both stiff as a board but will also launch you into space if you plop down on it. Only half the outlets and light switches worked. Our bathroom came with NO shower curtain, which even the employee who installed the new one was confused about. The bathroom had rust all over and scuff marks from a previously placed wall mirror. There was no comforter, only thin bed sheets. I will say the view of the ocean was beautiful to wake up to. The staff: The whole staff is essentially college kids and 20-30 year olds. All super nice and very helpful and do work hard. The only problem is you have to tip for everything they help you with because there are so many problems with the room. You even have to ask for ice to be brought up, there is no ice machine available to you. The beach: Beautiful, quiet, warm. Great for families. There's a huge lawn with seats all over for the kids to play on before the beach. Chairs on the beach are $15/day, and you have to tip the kids that set those up too.

Utter disappointment for what was to be our first true family vacation in a couple of years due to a wide range of circumstances, but we were so looking forward to taking advantage of resort style amenities in our own state. Our experience went from underwhelming to start all the way to just plain disappointing in the end. Upon arrival we were told that there wasn't any information about amenities or services available, but that someone would be sent to talk to us on the pool deck, no one ever came. We asked the server at the pool bar, she said to check the concierge desk. where no one was anytime we checked over our three days there. There were dirty tables needing to be cleared all over the pool deck upon our arrival and no one came to clean up over the course of several hours. Dirty tables, lack of attendants, etc. was the norm each day and night. No towels available, towel return bins overflowing at all hours of the day and night. Each morning the tables were sopping wet, towels unavailable frequently poolside and the trash and towel bins overflowing at all times of the day. One gentleman at the front desk gave us wrong information about activities and amenities - how to sign up for the island hopper cruise (which was full by the time we figured it out on our own) and that our rented in advance umbrella would be out by 7am (by 11:30 on Wednesday after several checks it was still not out), etc. Then there were little things that further detracted from the feeling of truly getting away: leaking ceilings in the lobby, broken elevator (for the entire duration of our stay), filthy stairwells, no one nor any information about times, rentals, etc. Last day there was a fire was no one's fault but definitely didn't help the overall experience and was not well managed. We left grateful for our time away, but definitely not feeling like we had a resort level experience at Blockade Runner that we expected based on the website. We chose this hotel over others because of the amenities, the level of service and the location. In the end, the only thing that was delivered on those three fronts was the location. We have reached out to management twice, never received a response and are still awaiting our beach umbrella rental refund. So disappointed.

I made a reservation for 3 for thanksgiving buffet on 9/29/2023 which included taxes and gratuities. I was not aware that the charges would be immediately added to my credit card. When I looked at the charge on 10/4/2023 there was an additional charge of $40.00 and taxes were in fact charged. I called and cancelled the reservation immediately and received confirmation of the cancellation. Today is November 4th and the charge still remains on my credit card. I have notified my bank and that has not resulted in the charges being rescinded. I don't understand what the holdup is. Obviously I will not be going to this restaurant any more.

We went to Blockade Runner for the first time last night, primarily to see the outdoor concert, which was a wonderful way to spend a lovely November evening by the ocean. Entertainment was fabulous and the setting nearly perfect. We had 7:30 dinner reservations and were greeted pleasantly and seated right away. First the good news, our food was good, not great or memorable, but good. I had the crab cake and my husband had the short ribs. My cake was generously filled with crab and was quite flavorful, albeit a bit lukewarm. I had a bite of my husband's dish and it was quite tender and aptly seasoned. Our server, Jordan, was very pleasant and professional. Now for the not so good. The restaurant has a sterile, almost 'cafeteria like' atmosphere. It seems more of a place to grab a quick lunch on a day when you might be enjoying the beach or their beautiful pool area. The chairs, while stylish and very beach appropriate, are not designed for comfortable seating while eating. There is also a long padded bench area which was too low for all but the tallest patrons and has zero back support. It's my feeling that chairs in a restaurant should be a non-issue so one can focus on the food and conversation. Bottom line is we will happily go to their concerts and perhaps lunch, but it's off our radar for dinner.

For a hotel celebrating their 50th year, this hotel does not show it's age. The room was comfortable, the amenities plentiful and outstanding service. The grounds were great. With plenty of space for kids and adults to play. The landscaper has kept the English style gardens looking great. Our trip was a spur of the moment decision. We were lucky to get a room with a view of the sound. Watching the sunset from our room was amazing.

We arrived at Blockade Runner on June 5th and the 1st thing I always do is use my own cleaning wipes to wipe down surfaces, remotes, phones, light switches, menu books, etc. The first wipe was full of dirt and a red substance (perhaps pizza or red sauce). I took this to the front desk and received an apology. The 2nd thing we noticed was that the tub was not draining. My husband tried to prop open the drain, and still, no difference. Each shower was welcomed with over an ankle high of water that took upwards of a half hour to drain. The 3rd thing was a very dirty mug. I decided to have coffee, once, and the first mug I picked up was speckled on the inside with the previous guests coffee or tea. For what we paid to stay, the cleanliness and tub were very poor. I will say that the restaurant food was delicious and the grounds are lovely.

This hotel has been a staple in the community for many years and when I returned back to see it renovated I was blown away with the work that was done... The Blockade Runner really is a new hotel and worth checking out. Even if you are staying in the area, this hotel is the kind of place you want to hang out at enjoying the awesome lobby and dining at the restaurant. They have an amazing chef there and we when we ate at the east ocean front dinning room we had a brunch party for 20! They handled our group well, got the kids food quick, adults drinks and the food was perfect. Plus after we ate we enjoyed a few hours by the pool and on the beach. This place is definitely unique and boutique. Cool video of the hotel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEkV_Jqxe28

Even though I'm a local I've been able to stay at the Blockade Runner a few times. I love how it's such a quirky hotel yet it feels very comfortable and welcoming. The interior designer really knows how to accentuate the good of this hotel and layers color and texture throughout the lobby, giving a Miami Beach vibe. If you're lucky you'll meet Gracie, the hotel cat who can be found wherever she pleases. The Blockade Runner sets itself apart from other hotels not only in the decor, but in the amenities. They have a sauna and a hot tub and a very nice pool. The outdoor seating is extensive. There's a beach bar. The landscaping is incredible. Don't feel like a dip in the pool? Go out to the ocean and lounge there. Or you could play cornhole on the lawn. At dusk you might glimpse rabbits on the lawn. Water activities more your speed? Take a sailing lesson soundside. Rent a paddleboard or kayak. Or, you can rent a Hobie cat. Feeling more mellow? Take a sunset cruise or sail. Did I mention that you can now learn to sail through the American Sailing Association at the Blockade? How about dinner or breakfast? They got you covered with a poolside menu and East, the hotel's restaurant. And the rooms? Spacious. Comfortable. Breezy with tile floors and an overhead shower. Each floor is also decorated differently which is kind of cool. The staff are incredibly nice and friendly as well and really try to make guests feel welcome.

Always a wonderful experience! We staycation here often with our kids. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous.