New Smyrna Beach is a charming place to visit on Florida’s east coast. It’s about an hour’s drive from the northern end of Greater Orlando. We stayed at the Riverview Hotel at 103 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach FL. It is located about a ten-minute walk from the beach past numerous quaint shops and restaurants. Established in 1885, this 18-room boutique hotel has actual keys for the doors and breakfast included at The Mermaid Café next door. The lobby, where coffee and tea are served 24 hours, has an ice machine, comfy seating, and a tempting gift shop. Be aware there are three stories and no elevator. Our room on the second floor had two queens as requested. The bedding was comfortable, although I would have preferred a plusher comforter than the thin one supplied. I got cold at night and had to take out a spare blanket from the closet. The a/c and ceiling fan controls were a bit tricky and I wasn’t able to lower the fan speed.
   
The bathroom came equipped with a stall shower instead of a tub, for which I was grateful. However, it would have been nice to have had a grab bar installed for added safety, and a glass door instead of a curtain. The toiletries included usable shower gel, shampoo and conditioner in the shower, and an array of lotion, bar soaps, and a shower cap by the sink.
What I missed most in the room was a mini-fridge. Without one, we couldn’t take home leftovers from any of the restaurants we visited. Thus, we either shared a plate or ate appetizers. While the front desk offered to put away our take home boxes in their refrigerator, it didn’t offer the same convenience. Otherwise, the hotel’s charming ambiance encourages you to relax. And if that’s not enough, you can sign up for pampering treatments at the adjacent spa.
If you prefer a chain hotel, I noticed a Hampton Inn, Best Western, and Springhill Suites by Marriott in the area plus other B&B establishments.
Walking east, we stopped by the beach to soak in the ocean view.
 
 
We decided to come back in the morning for a beach walk and to hunt for seashells.
 
 
Coming Next: Our Dining Adventures at New Smyrna Beach
6 thoughts on “Mini Vacay at New Smyrna Beach”
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Hi Nancy,
My husband and I stayed in New Smyrna Beach several years old. Great place.
I’ll have to put the Riverside Hotel on my hotel murder mystery series.
It’s an atmospheric place to stay and enough to do in the area for an extended weekend.
I love NSB. I met my nephew and family there several years ago. They were in a townhouse that they rented and I stayed in a hotel in the middle of town. We walked everywhere. The hotel was fine. It had a pool, coffee all day long downstairs along with hot chocolate and breakfast. I wish I could remember the name of the hotel. It was a chain, but really nice. I’m glad you had a good vacation and thanks for the full review of where you stayed.
It’s a fun place to visit. Next posts will be on the food and other area attractions.
Thanks so much for these photographs and comments on hotel.
Wowee looks a beautiful beach with white soft sand and plenty of space to walk around.
What a shame about certain points in hotel. I agree with you on them.
Very unusual not to have a fridge. I like it to keep my bottled water cool.
For safety a handrail is best coming out of the shower and I do
prefer a glass door for shower instead of curtain. They get mould on them
so easily and it feels more secure with a glass door.
Great there was a key for opening the door. These security cards I find
can take forever to get door open. On more than one occasion I’ve had
to go to reception as after so many failed attempts getting in the system doesn’t
work.
Also I wish hotels would leave spare blankets at bottom of bed instead of
hard to reach away at the back of a high cupboard. I did mention this on
customer comments at a hotel in Cyprus and I went the next year and they
done as I requested. Maybe they knew I was coming!
What a lovely name Mermaid Cafe and so appropriate right by the sea.
Hope you found some shells.
Looking forward to hearing about your food.
Take care for now
Mhairi
Thanks, Mhairi. I had to smile at your comments on key cards. Some of them can indeed be tricky, and it’s annoying when you have to go to the front desk to have one reprogrammed.