HotelChatter

Room prices seem to be the same on the weekends or weekdays — starting at $275 a night — and most weekends require a three-night two-night minimum. And forget about a winter stay: Bungalow Hotel is a seasonal hotel open between May and October of each year.

If you do manage to score one of the 24 rooms, don't expect your typical hotel room service. Bungalow offers delivery service from any of the restaurants within the adjoining Pier Village, with selections like sushi, breakfast, hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza or a more formal meal from Avenue.

For an additional fee, you get full access to Le Club, which is a private beach club that offers cabanas, couches, and, of course, beach chairs and food and drink service. If you're looking to go to the beach for free — remember, you're in Jersey, so that's not easy — you can use the regular Municipal Beach by getting a beach badge for a nominal fee. Also, Bungalow has an antique pool table and table tennis setup in the lobby which also features a bar; all open to the public, but mainly intended for hotel guests to use.

From the looks of it, Bungalow has what it takes to launch a successful run as the Jersey Shore's and Long Branch's first boutique hotel, giving the area more of an upscale family vacation destination feel, a bit of an alternative to the Shore's party scene.