The Best Hotels to Book Near Funland, Delaware

A huge landmark just a block back from the endless sand-spit beach that fronts Rehoboth Bay, Gold Leaf Hotel harks back to the resort’s 1960s heyday, with spacious, nostalgic bedrooms. Yet there’s also a very modern commitment to green power – just check out the sea of solar panels on the roof. There’s a pool up there, too, while rooms have a microwave and fridge, handy for warming takeouts from the nearby restaurants.

The beach calls like a siren to visitors of this East Coast resort, so you’re missing a trick if you don’t stay by the sand. You can’t miss the entrance to the Surf Club Oceanfront, a big wall of colored panels facing right onto the dunes. Rooms are more restrained, with pale colors, kitchenettes you can actually cook in, and big windows framing a sweep of Atlantic blue.

Bright, modern colors – a splash of lime green here, a flash of sea blue there – mark out the Beach House at Dewey. It’s a classic, driver-friendly hotel, with its own sheltered pool and tons of parking space. Large, airy rooms with colorful rugs and easy access to the beach give it definite family appeal, and at night you can drift away to the sound of ocean breakers, just across the road.

A mature, refined ethos prevails at this tasteful hotel, inland from the beachside motel-hotel strip. Wooden furniture and soft upholstery in warm colors create a staying-with-the-family groove, and rooms have floor space to spare, including in the bathrooms. A courtyard pool completes the picture, and there’s a free beach shuttle bus as an alternative to the 650yd (600m) walk to the sand.

The calm setting across the canal from downtown is part of the appeal at this all-American guesthouse in Rehoboth Beach. Sure, the location isn’t right on the sand, but the Ocean Glass Inn fills its rooms, cottages and condos with creature comforts: cushions, blankets, baskets, Keurig coffee makers and more. There’s good eating nearby; just cross the canal and head towards the shore.

The sand almost spills up to the door at this fine beachside property with big balconies and sea views. There’s an aquatic feel inside too, with blue table lamps, blue throws, blue cushions, blue tiles and expanses of blue paint. You can see the sea from almost everywhere – including the restaurant and bar – and the sand is just a step across the boardwalk.

A hop and a skip from the sea, curled around a sundeck and pool, the Beach View does indeed allow you a look at the sand from your balcony. It’s seconds from Funland and the prime stretch of seafront at Rehoboth Beach. There’s a down-home, mom-and-pop feel to the rooms, thanks to the soft carpets and framed seaside scenes, but you’ll probably spend more time on the beach and the boardwalk.

Right where the main road hits the sand, the Avenue occupies a prime piece of real estate in Rehoboth Beach. Rooms come with soft edges, warm wood, bright fabrics and enough room to swing an umbrella. Spend days splashing about in the indoor saltwater pool, or getting a massage in the wood-paneled spa. The outdoor fire pit is another nice touch.

A bit away from the bustle, but still just minutes from the sand and the main drag of Rehoboth Beach, the Bellmoor is extremely refined. Antique-filled shared spaces feel like a piece of porcelain brought to life, while the understated rooms are fine expressions of the principle that less is more. You may need to pull yourself away from the design-mag-worthy interiors to enjoy the beach.