15 Best Resorts in New Jersey - The Crazy Tourist

New Jersey is a small state, but it’s still got room for lots of great resorts. As you might expect, however, the majority of them are concentrated on its famous shoreline or within the casino mecca of Atlantic City. Of course, there are some fabulous golf courses, spas, and even a ski resort and winery outside of those popular areas.

Bring the family for some quality pool time and golf, plan a couple’s getaway at the classic Cape May seaside, or try your luck in America’s original gambling town. Between that boardwalk and those beaches, you’ll find somewhere entertaining enough for your next vacation.

Let’s have a look at the best resorts in New Jersey:

1. Crystal Springs Resort

As a couple or family looking for serenity or adventure, you’ll check all your boxes at this resort comprised of two hotels in Sussex County. Set amidst the mountains, its rooms have Aspen-theme decor, in-room movies, and if you upgrade, a gas fireplace, wet bar, and balcony. There are six championship golf courses within a five mile radius and lessons available at the golf academy. You can choose from packages that include your tee times and a few nights’ stay.

Experience the resort’s Elements Spa where you can opt for treatments like massages, body scrubs, and nail care accompanied by complimentary organic tea and a rose petal foot soak with essential oils. Enjoy the swimming pool, fishing, hiking, biking, or outdoor games like foot golf, archery, and croquet. For dinner, they’ve got options ranging from fine dining to outdoor bistro lunches to an American grill with a DJ and dancing on the weekends. Did I mention they have an award-winning wine cellar?

Website: http://www.crystalgolfresort.com/

2. Seaview Hotel, a Dolce by Wyndham

Dolce Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club

Located in Galloway, this resort has been around for over 100 years hosting presidents and celebrities amongst other guests. But it’s also great for a family reunion or couple’s retreat. On Reed’s Bay just minutes from Atlantic City, the property has around 300 guest rooms and suites, plus two championship golf courses. Rooms are all equipped with high-speed Internet and come with luxury bedding, complimentary coffee, and views of the grounds or the Atlantic City skyline.

The resort is home to a fitness center, three tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and the Noyes art gallery. Their Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa offers nail services, body treatments, and hair and makeup services. Guests can choose to have a champagne brunch or romantic dinner in the Main Dining Room or oysters and crab cakes at the Coastal Grille. To unwind after a long day on the links (or at the spa), the Lobby Bar & Lounge offers views, drinks, and eclectic small plates.

Website: https://www.seaviewdolcehotel.com/

3. Ocean Place Resort & Spa

A beachfront resort in Long Branch, all of these rooms are fab, from their View Rooms to their Presidential Suites. Each comes with luxury bedding, down pillows, an iHome Docking Station, and a balcony. Hotel amenities include beach access, shuttle services, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a game room with TV, board games, and a life-size chess board.

The Spa at Ocean Place is a sanctuary of 13 treatment rooms and herbal soaking baths, plus the oceanfront relaxation room. They offer a range of spa services along with a full salon menu and body contouring. For happy hour, the resort houses the Seaview Lounge, Tiki Bar, and the breezy Aquaviva Bar, not to mention their Ice Tiki Bar with tropical drinks, Italian ice, and gelato. Then guests can dine at the Seaview Restaurant for seasonal contemporary American cuisine and fresh seafood like lobster salad and glazed mahi mahi.

Website: http://www.oceanplace.com/

4. Tuscany House at the Renault Winery

What could be better than a winery combined with a resort? The Tuscany House offers guests access to a golf course, outdoor swimming pools, their restaurant, the bridal suite (if you’re getting married!) and of course, the Renault winery. The winery offers tours, tastings, dinner dancing, and even horseback riding combined with tastings! The Vineyards Golf Course winds through the Pinelands and past grapevines and it’s open for public play all year round.

The hotel is designed in Tuscan style so you’ll feel like you’re in Italy with its fresco-painted walls and ceilings and statue-filled lobby. Rooms include things like leather sofas and four-poster beds. Dining at Joseph’s Restaurant is like a culinary tour with imported wines and liquors from Italy and France. Their dinner menu includes gnocchi, seafood en brodo, and chicken parmesan, and their brunch is accompanied by live music.

Website: https://www.renaultwinery.com/

5. Icona Diamond Beach

This casually elegant resort on the Jersey Shore is located just a short drive from Cape May and is open all year round. It’s a great destination for romantic getaways, bachelorette parties, and even family vacays. Luxurious studio rooms and condo-style suites are designed with an airy coastal vibe by celebrity designer Blanche Garcia. Guests stay in accommodations filled with contemporary furnishings, floor to ceiling windows, and upgrades like galley kitchens and private balconies.

Dine at the resort’s restaurant Coastal Blue for fresh seafood and elevated American cuisine or check out Bungalow No. 7 for oceanfront drinks, signature cocktails, fire pits, and live music. Guests get access to one of New Jersey’s only private beaches (with lifeguards), a large heated outdoor pool, and a sundeck with chaise lounges and umbrellas. There’s even a splash pool for the kids.

Website: http://icona.com/diamond-beach/

6. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

The Borgata is one of the most famous resorts in New Jersey, and for good reason. Their casino is a staple Atlantic City experience, with over 180 tables, 3,000 slot machines, and the city’s only Racebook, featuring 100 seats and individual monitors for betting on the horses. Accommodations come with 46” flat screen TVs, wifi, and marbled bathrooms. Guests can also opt to stay at the nearby Water Club, the resort’s newest brand with five heated swimming pools and an array of boutique retail shops.

Dining is all about the big name chefs here, from Bobby Flay’s Steak to Michael Symon’s Angeline to Wolfgang Puck’s American Grille. For a drink, head to one of their four bars, beer garden, or Premier nightclub. Visit the Immersion Spa or Spa Toccare for rejuvenation in the form of luxurious treatments, plunge pools, and steam rooms. For a trim or some styling, check out The Salon for their luxury products or The Barbershop for a straight razor shave and wide screen TVs.

Website: https://www.theborgata.com/

7. Congress Hall

This beautiful Cape May property might be America’s oldest seaside resort with over 200 years in the vacation business. Travel & Leisure even named it the best hotel in New Jersey in 2016. At the once-named “Summer White House,” guests can sit in a rocking chair overlooking the Grand Lawn or relax in a private tent with excellent beach service at their disposal. Or they can lounge by the pool, take a bike tour of town, or sign up for exercise classes on the sand.

Two miles away, the resort has its own private 62-acre Beach Plum Farm you can tour to get a glimpse at local produce, chickens, and piglets. Rooms and suites are decorated with attention to detail in a coastal style with whimsical accents and luxurious bedding, plus upgrades like private balconies. The Sea Spa provides unique services like an Aquatic Scrub with sea salts in cabana-style treatment rooms. Dining options are stellar too, and guests have access to all of the bars and restaurants in Cape Resort’s lineup. On this property, visit the Boiler Room, their underground music club and pizzeria, or the Brown Room for cocktails and small plates.

Website: http://www.caperesorts.com/hotels/capemay/congresshall/

8. Ocean Club Hotel

Another fab resort located in the lovely seaside town of Cape May, the Ocean Club Hotel provides what it calls a “modern oasis” in a little Victorian town. All rooms come with lush, custom-designed furnishings, views of the ocean, and private balconies, with upgrade options like the Penthouse Floor and Pool Cabana Suites. Guests can take advantage of the resort’s huge oceanfront pool and complimentary beach service which includes chaise lounges, umbrellas, and towels.

For cocktails and a light menu, the Tiki Ten35 is the place to be on the spacious sundeck with its live entertainment and bar snacks like tuna tartare, sliders, and fish tacos. The resort’s SeaSalt restaurant offers fine dining with fresh seafood dishes, Asian and Mediterranean twists, and a chic beach setting. Enjoy dishes like ginger scallion prawns, pan-seared halibut, and Jersey corn and crab soup.

Website: https://www.capemayoceanclubhotel.com

9. Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino

The Atlantic City branch of this popular Vegas hotel, Caesars offers tons for guests to do without even leaving the property. For great nightlife, shopping, and dining, check out The Playground, their huge mall-like complex built on a 900-foot pier over the ocean. Or hit the impressive rooftop pool for an adults-only outing complete with relaxation and views. The resort’s Qua Baths and Spa is a luxury retreat for guests featuring 15 treatment rooms, Vichy showers, a fitness center, a sauna, and steam rooms.

As for nightlife, Caesars features famous entertainment acts like Donny and Marie, Tony Bennett, and Ben Harper. The resort also houses a nightclub and three bars, plus a plethora of dining options. Gordon Ramsay brought his Pub & Grill here from Vegas, and there’s also a noodle house, cafe, buffet, steakhouse, and pastry shop at the resort. Guestrooms in each tower start at super affordable rates and include bay windows, custom artwork, and mirrored panels.

Website: https://www.caesars.com/caesars-ac

10. The Reeds at Shelter Haven

A year-round luxury boutique resort, The Reeds at Shelter Haven is located right on the bay, just a short walk from the beach in Stone Harbor. It has 32 distinctly different rooms and suites for guests, inspired by the sea with views of the beach and downtown. Suites include a full chef’s kitchen, a balcony, bathrooms with double sinks, and fireplaces in the separate entertainment room. Imported white oak floors and Egyptian cotton bedding are standard in all guestrooms.

The Salt Spa includes a brine light therapy lounge, Turkish bath, blowout bar, and makeup studio. Book a nail appointment, inhalation treatment, or full body exfoliation among other services. In the summer, head out for daily yoga on the sundeck or go paddleboarding or kayaking in the ocean. Enjoy their complimentary beach service or play golf at Stone Harbor where the concierge can arrange a tee time for guests. Dining ranges from shared plates at the Water Star Grille to eclectic fireside dishes at Sax at the Reeds, but there’s also a pizza pub and a cantina and margarita bar.

Website: https://www.reedsatshelterhaven.com/

11. Mountain Creek Resort

Finally, a ski town amongst all these beach and casino destinations! Mountain Creek is a four-season resort located in the largest ski area of the region. They’ve got four mountain peaks and eight chairlifts for days of skiing and snowboarding. In the summertime though, check out their waterpark with 22 rides, including the world’s tallest double-looping slide, a lazy river, and cliff jumping. If that’s not enough excitement, guests can go mountain biking on the nearby park trails, take a ziplining tour, or play golf at Great Gorge.

Accommodations include mountaintop cabins and poolside condos, with the option of kitchens, fireplaces, oak bars with leather barstools, and Apple TVs. On-site, the resort houses a bowling alley, arcade, heated outdoor pool and hot tubs, and even a laser maze. Enjoy intimate, sophisticated dining at Hawke’s Nest, or go for casual American barbecue and beers at Kink. Have a hot dog and brew at their Biergarten or visit the Après ski hotspot Schuss for pizza and drinks at the bar.

Website: http://www.mountaincreek.com/

12. Tropicana Casino and Resort

An Atlantic City original with a sister resort in Vegas, it’s one of the biggest hotels in New Jersey with over 2,000 rooms. Go for the gambling, shopping, dining, or exciting entertainment. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with high-speed Internet, premium TV, and a range of upgrades like suites with separate living rooms, wet bars, and ocean views. Entertainment options include an IMAX theatre, a Broadway-style showroom, live music at the bar, and a light and sound show with fireworks. Plus there’s a dance club for all your bachelor and bachelorette party needs.

The enormous casino houses tons of slot machines, table games, and private poker rooms. Resort amenities include a fitness center, beach service, indoor and outdoor pools, and shopping at The Quarter, the Tropicana’s newest addition of retail outlets. Visit the Bluemercury Spa for oxygen facials and sugar scrubs. Then you can try a range of cuisines from the Jose Garces restaurant Olón serving ceviche in beachy cabanas to Italian dishes at Il Verdi and all sorts of Asian plates at Golden Dynasty.

Website: https://www.caesars.com/tropicana-ac?

13. Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City

Another big one in Atlantic City, they’ve got a casino, spa, and shows on the docket at all times. Whether you play real poker, video poker, keno, table games, or slots, there are plenty of gambling options. Guestrooms are decorated in a contemporary style with plush bedding and fine toiletries, plus a 42” TV, desk, and blackout curtains… because you might be sleeping in after a night on the town.

The swimming pool at Harrah’s is possibly the most spectacular in the city – it’s located indoors and warmed year-round, and bikini-clad servers are there to wait on you. Guests can rent cabanas, bungalows, or daybeds and have lunch or happy hour poolside. For entertainment check out some of the resort’s concerts or shows, or attend their nightclub pool party at The Pool After Dark, complete with DJs, performers, cage dancers, and VIP bottle service available. At dinnertime, choose from a steakhouse, Italian, Mexican, and Asian restaurants.

Website: https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-ac

14. Marriott’s Fairway Villas

Located outside of Atlantic City in the town of Galloway, get out here for a family vacation that includes a host of golf courses and indoor and outdoor pools. Villas come with two bedrooms, plus free wifi, fully equipped kitchens, balconies, and whirlpool tubs. Grab something healthy at their Juice Bar, a quick snack at the Marketplace Express, or sit down for a casual lunch or dinner at Mulligan’s Grill on-site.

There’s a fitness center too and trails for jogging if you want to get outside. They’ve got movie nights for families and the resort can arrange crafts, games, and dinner for kids too. Be sure to visit their Elizabeth Arden Spa for massages, facials, eye treatments, waxing, and use of their saunas, plunge pools, and steam rooms. And the resort is perfectly situated if you want to venture into Atlantic City to check out the boardwalk, or head to some of the smaller beach towns for relaxing seaside.

Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/aiyfw-marriotts-fairway-villas/

15. The Golden Nugget

Another gem in Atlantic City, guests can enjoy contemporary rooms with docking stations for iPods, complimentary wifi, and on-demand movies. For an upgrade, choose one of their spa suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, his and hers marble bathrooms, separate living areas, and private cocktail bars. On the sixth floor, enjoy stunning views of the city skyline at the resort’s H2O Pool + Grill Bar along with light fare and drinks. Guests can even rent cabanas or daybeds.

Book a day’s worth of treatments at the Golden Nugget Spa & Salon, head to the fitness center, or just pop downstairs for some shopping. As for dining, you’ll have your pick of a vintage steakhouse, traditional buffet, high-quality seafood, or a European-style brasserie. For nightlife, you don’t even have to leave the resort. You can start the evening oceanside at The Deck with outdoor drinks, go for dinner, or stop by their wine bar, and end your night at the 12,000 square foot Haven Nightclub.

Website: http://www.goldennugget.com/atlanticcity/