Please review our full guest policies below before booking your stay at Sea Chest Motel, a family-friendly motel in Wildwood Crest, NJ, just steps from the beach and boardwalk.
Reservation Agreement
We strive to provide every guest with a clean, safe, and welcoming stay at Sea Chest Motel in Wildwood Crest, NJ. The policies below are part of your reservation agreement with us. By booking a room and/or checking in, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to abide by all Sea Chest Motel policies, terms, conditions, and procedures. These policies may change from time to time at management’s discretion.
Guests must be at least 18 years of age to rent or occupy a room at the motel. Guests under the age of 25 may be asked to provide a refundable cash security deposit of up to $250 upon arrival. Management reserves the right to determine whether a security deposit is required and to adjust the amount based on the reservation, occupancy details, length of stay, guest history, and other factors deemed relevant by management.
Management reserves the right to enforce all policies and to refuse service, cancel reservations, remove guests from the property without refund for policy violations, require additional security deposits, or take any other action deemed necessary to protect the property, its guests, and its operations. Management also reserves the right to cancel any reservation made with false or unlawful information. Failure to comply with any motel policy may result in cancellation of the reservation, eviction without refund, forfeiture of deposits, additional charges, or other remedies available to management.
There are no refunds for no-shows, late arrivals, or early departures.
Pets & Service Animals
No pets allowed. Trained service dogs are welcome in accordance with applicable law and are not subject to pet fees; service dogs must remain under the handler’s control and be housebroken. Emotional support, comfort, therapy, and companion animals are not permitted. Guests who bring an unauthorized pet onto the property will be charged a $250 surcharge and asked to remove the animal from the motel.
Room Assignment & Capacity
Your room type is guaranteed at booking, but your specific room number is not assigned or guaranteed until check-in. Maximum occupancy is 2 guests for a single queen room and 4 guests for a double queen room or double queen room with efficiency. Groups exceeding the maximum capacity for a room type are required to book an additional room — there are no exceptions.
Check-In & Check-Out
Check-In
Check-in is available from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. If you plan to arrive after 10:00 PM, please notify us at least 12 hours in advance so we can hold your reservation. Reservations not held with advance notice and not checked in by 10:00 PM will be treated as a no-show, and the reservation will be cancelled subject to our no-show policy below.
Check-In Requirements
Guests must be at least 18 years of age to check in. For security and fraud prevention, guests must present valid government-issued photo identification (state driver’s license, passport, etc.) along with a valid, signed credit card in the name of the reservation. It is your responsibility to understand how your bank processes pre-authorizations — some banks hold pending authorizations for up to 10 business days.
Guest registration: We require valid contact information from the guest making the reservation, including full name, address, phone number, current email address, and signature. The names of all guests occupying the room must be registered.
Guaranteed reservations: All reservations must be guaranteed with a valid major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express); your card may be charged at the time of booking. Please keep your confirmation number for reference. Cancellation policies vary by room type and rate plan — review the policy on your specific reservation. Some reservations require full non-refundable prepayment. Reservations are held until 12:00 AM the morning following your scheduled arrival date; if you have not checked in by then, a no-show charge of one room night plus tax will apply and the remainder of your stay will be cancelled, unless your rate plan states otherwise. Fully prepaid non-refundable reservations are subject to a no-show charge equal to the full deposit amount plus applicable taxes and fees. Sea Chest Motel is not responsible for weather, personal emergencies, schedule changes, or other events that prevent you from checking in, and these will not be treated as exceptions to your cancellation policy.
Check-Out
Check-out time is 10:00 AM.
Early Departure
Guests who check out before their scheduled departure date will not receive a refund for any unused portion of their stay.
Payments & Deposits
Accepted payment methods: Reservations booked less than 30 days before check-in must be guaranteed with a valid major credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express; credit cards must be signed to be valid. All guests must present a valid major credit card and government-issued photo ID at check-in, even if paying by cash at check-out. Checks are accepted only for reservations made more than 30 days in advance, must clear up to 14 days before check-in, and cannot be used as a form of payment upon arrival. Foreign currency is not accepted.
Credit & debit card holds: Your card will be pre-authorized at check-in for the full amount of your stay; funds are held until check-out, when the actual amount incurred is charged. For fully prepaid non-refundable reservations, your card will only be pre-authorized for an estimate of incidental charges. If you change your payment method or length of stay, your bank may not post changes immediately — Sea Chest Motel has no control over your bank’s policies and is not liable for related fees. Some banks hold pending authorizations for up to 10 days.
Deposits & guarantees: A major credit card is required at the time of booking to guarantee and secure every reservation, regardless of any additional deposit requirements tied to your specific rate plan.
Third-party payments: Third-party payment is generally not permitted. If you are booking and paying for a guest who will not be present at check-in, we require a completed Credit Card Authorization form along with a copy of the cardholder’s driver’s license and the front and back of the signed credit card. The person authorizing payment is responsible for any damages or losses. Sea Chest Motel reserves the right to refuse any reservation at any time, for any reason.
Rates: All rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and exclude applicable taxes and fees. Published rates are subject to change at any time at the motel’s discretion. A discount is applied to stays longer than 7 nights.
Cancellations & No-Shows
Sea Chest Motel is not responsible for weather conditions, personal emergencies, or schedule changes. Reservations must be cancelled according to the cancellation policy that applied to your booking, which you agreed to at the time of reservation. Failing to comply may result in charges to your guaranteed payment method.
Cancellations made more than 30 days before check-in are subject to a 50% loss of deposit. Cancellations made within 30 days of arrival are subject to full forfeiture of the deposit. Reservations booked less than 30 days before check-in are non-refundable.
No-show charges: Failure to check in on your scheduled arrival date for a credit-card-guaranteed reservation will result in a no-show fee charged to your card and/or loss of deposit. The charge amount varies based on your applicable cancellation policy.
Weather policy: In the event of a hurricane warning or mandatory evacuation of the island, your deposit will be refunded in full with no fees. There are no refunds for ordinary bad weather, including overcast, cloudy, stormy, or rainy conditions.
Damage Policy
Damage or theft of motel property: You are liable for any damage to your room or the motel’s premises or property caused by you or any person in your party during your stay, whether deliberate, negligent, or reckless. Sea Chest Motel reserves the right to charge your credit or debit card in an amount it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to cover the cost of repair or replacement, including cases where damage is discovered after departure. We will make every reasonable effort to keep any resulting costs to a minimum.
Damage discovered after check-out: Rooms found with waste scattered around, in significant disorder, or otherwise “trashed” are subject to a $250 maintenance/deep-cleaning fee, plus any applicable administration or third-party fees.
Damage to room, fixtures & equipment: Damage to or removal of room fixtures, furnishings, or electronics will be charged at 150% of full replacement value, plus any shipping and handling. Any resulting costs will be charged to the registered guest’s credit card; in extreme cases, criminal charges may be pursued.
Damage to mattresses & bedding: Damage to mattresses or linens — including towels, mattress pads, sheets, and bedspreads — from body oils, makeup, shoe polish, or similar substances will result in a cleaning, repair, or replacement charge.
Fire, security & safety equipment: Sea Chest Motel will take action against any guest or visitor who tampers with or interferes with fire detection equipment, fire-fighting equipment, or security systems (cameras, cables, detector heads, break-glass points, extinguishers, etc.) anywhere on the property. Violators will be charged for any resulting costs and evicted from the motel; depending on severity, law enforcement may be involved. This applies even if the tampering is discovered after the guest has departed.
Safety & Health Policy
Candles, incense & essential oils: Candles, incense, and essential oil diffusers/vaporizers are prohibited and treated as a smoking violation, subject to a fine, a $250 cleaning fee, and possible eviction without refund.
Illness & epidemics: Sea Chest Motel reserves the right to refuse accommodations to a guest arriving with a contagious illness. If sickness occurs during your stay, please notify the front desk; in serious cases you may be asked to seek care at a nearby healthcare facility. During epidemics, we may apply additional precautionary measures required by local authorities and may charge a room-cleaning fee as appropriate.
Infestation: If a guest brings any infestation into a room or onto the property, the guest may be charged for all resulting costs, including urgent response and lost room revenue.
Enforcement: All staff are trained to respond to policy violations. Guests who refuse to abide by our reasonable safety standards and policies will be evicted without refund and charged a minimum $250 cleaning fee per room, in addition to standard room charges.
Code of Conduct & House Rules
Smoke-Free Policy
Sea Chest Motel is 100% smoke-free. Please notify the front desk immediately if you smell cigarette, marijuana, or other objectionable odors. Marijuana use is prohibited at all times. A $250 cleaning fee applies to any violation of this policy.
Room, Furnishings & Equipment
Furniture, decor, and electrical appliances may not be moved or removed — within a room or between rooms — or repurposed beyond their intended use. Our staff will restore items to their original place, and any resulting damage will be charged to your card.
Bicycles, Hoverboards & Roller Blades
Bicycles, hoverboards, and roller blades are not permitted in guest rooms and will be removed by staff. Sea Chest Motel assumes no liability for theft, loss, or damage to these items.
Children
Well-behaved children of all ages are welcome. Parents, guardians, and chaperones are personally and legally responsible for supervising children at all times. For safety, please do not leave children unattended in guest rooms or allow them to roam the property unsupervised.
Visitors
Visitors are not permitted after 8:00 PM. All visitors must register at the front desk and remain accompanied by the registered guest at all times. As the registered guest, you are responsible for your visitor’s conduct throughout their visit.
Room Access & Do-Not-Disturb
We reserve the right to enter your guestroom for reasonable purposes such as housekeeping, maintenance, or to verify the condition of the room and its equipment, or to address a potential policy violation. Staff will normally knock and announce themselves first, except in exigent circumstances. Management may enter a room marked “Do Not Disturb” in the event of an emergency, suspected illegal activity, disturbance to other guests, or property damage; in cases of suspected illegal activity, law enforcement may be granted immediate access.
Parking
One registered vehicle per room; cars and light trucks only — no motor homes, trailers, or watercraft. Extra parking is available for $20 per day, subject to availability. Sea Chest Motel assumes no liability for any vehicle, its occupants, or its contents while parked on the property.
Housekeeping & Linens
We provide mini housekeeping service rather than daily full service: staff will remove and replace trash daily and exchange used towels for fresh ones (unless hung up); no other daily housekeeping is provided. For multi-night stays, bed linens are changed on a rotation schedule and/or upon request; if housekeeping is unable to change a bed due to personal items left on it, a note will be left.
Special Requests
We will make every effort to honor special requests, such as a specific floor or room number, noted on your reservation. While we do our best to accommodate these requests, availability cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Lost & Found
Sea Chest Motel assumes no liability for lost, misplaced, stolen, or damaged valuables or belongings. If you believe you left something behind, please call us right away and we will help you locate it.
Found items: Non-perishable items found by housekeeping after a guest’s departure are collected, logged, and held securely for up to fourteen (14) days for the owner to claim.
Returns: We are happy to return lost items via USPS only (no UPS or FedEx). Your card will be charged for packaging and postage plus a 25% handling fee, and a separate receipt will be mailed to you. Sea Chest Motel is not responsible for items lost or misdirected during USPS shipment.
Right to Refuse Service
Sea Chest Motel is privately owned and operated, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason that does not violate federal or state law. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy and may refuse admission, refuse service, or remove a guest without refund for reasons including, but not limited to: failure or refusal to pay for accommodations; being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances and behaving disorderly; violating state liquor laws; failing to supervise children at all times; using the motel for an unlawful purpose; bringing firearms, explosives, or hazardous/toxic substances onto the property; damaging, defacing, or threatening harm to motel property, staff, contractors, or other guests; exceeding the maximum occupancy for a room; or otherwise failing to abide by the reasonable standards and policies established by Sea Chest Motel.
