Last Updated on November 8, 2026 by Marybeth
Yes, we stayed – once again* – in a chain hotel. All the while guiding fellow travelers to choose locally owned, independent and unique places to stay. But when someone gives you a gift card for a chain, you don’t exactly say, “Thanks! But no thanks. We don’t stay in chain hotels.”
*Read here, about the other time we stayed chain: a luxury stay in Delray Beach, where my friend and I swanned around like luxury-stay aficionados, and made up our own luxury-stay hashtag.
“You know why we fiercely champion non-chain hotels, right? Our mission all along has been to stay, dine, drink, and shop at small businesses. The big guys don’t need our dollars, our input, or my long-form articles raving about how cool and unique they are. (Because to be honest, they often are neither of those.)” – Me, in that article.
New Smyrna Beach offers an abundance of lodging options, mostly independently owned. From a small oceanfront boutique hotel with just five rooms, several riverfront historic Inns, a cute riverfront mom-and-pop, a basic 1960s motel with its own tiki bar, to an affordable quiet luxury beachfront townhouse, you can find the perfect spot for your travel vision.
There are two well-known chain hotels beachside: one is within walking distance to the beach, the other is oceanfront.
Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach, within walking distance to the beach, is the prettier of the two beachside chain hotels. The Hampton Inn has been recently totally remodeled (melody to my soul) while the other hotel group chain (oceanfront) needs updating and is ~$100 more a night.
I did what I always do before a trip: I “drove around” on Google street view to check out our hotel and the surrounding area. The Hampton Inn is directly on Flagler Avenue, the main historic shopping / dining district, which draws a lot of foot traffic and a number of partiers gathering at the various taverns and saloons. I also combed through hundreds of reviews, many of which talked about the noise level on the street. While we enjoy being close to the fun, we don’t enjoy being kept awake by other people’s boisterous festivity.
Here is the beautiful positive about staying at The Hampton Inn on Flagler Avenue: most of the property is set back, tucked away, and surrounded by trees. We requested a room on the top floor overlooking a narrow tree-lined residential street. So many trees! So much so that we could leave our curtains open and our view was pale sunlight filtering through a leafy oak tree. Calming. Peaceful.
The parking lot is gated: a huge bonus. You wand in and out with your gate key. I don’t normally worry about my car (it’s not exactly a car that says “Look at me! I cost a ton of money and I may have some cool stuff in here to steal!”) but my traveling companion worries. Gated parking lot = no worries. Parking is $25/day.
The Hampton Inn’s fresh renovation brings a friendly, contemporary spirit. The public spaces are airy, with spots to lounge or catch up on correspondence. Complimentary breakfast happens in a large room overlooking a lovely courtyard, offering long high-top seating, and tables for two. You can choose to sit outside shaded by patio umbrellas next to a huge ancient oak tree that the hotel seems to have been built around. You might forget you’re staying in a chain hotel, from the beautiful grounds.
Until you walk into your room. This is not a criticism: the rooms are pleasant. Clean, modern, comfortable. Unimaginative. A fine place to relax while on a vacation where you’ll be spending lots of time outside walking up and down that eclectic main street and parking yourself on the beach and then on a bar stool!
AROUND TOWN
While staying at the best chain hotel in New Smyrna Beach, go explore this classic old-Florida beach town. Begin with right a stroll through your hotel’s tranquil leafy courtyard, onto Flagler Avenue.
Last image for today of places you’ll want to visit on Flagler Avenue: famous The Breakers Restaurant. The building dates back to the 1900s, and has been living its best pink life since 1990. The interior has a delightful sports bar / dive bar atmosphere, and the burgers are renowned for a reason. Hand-formed, half pound, and char-grilled to order. “Big burgers. Beach views. No need to overthink it.”
Our favorite spot to sit is on a stool by the long bar counter right in front of the window overlooking the beach. For this trip we opened our window wider to let more breeze in. Friendly service, outstanding food. Choose from salads, sandwiches, seafood and more. Put The Breakers on your must-visit list!
HISTORIC BUNGALOWS AROUND TOWN
What captivated me almost more than the quaint Old-Florida main street was the adorable historic neighborhood just behind it. I don’t need to remind you that our last name is Bungalows, and that we’re drawn to the small old structures like a kid on a scooter is drawn to whooshing through muddy puddles. (True story, and just recently after the one-in-1000-year rain event here in Florida. My granddaughters Ellis and Rhoda raced their scooters through mud puddles and then wanted to lie down in them. Gross!) (Maybe not the best analogy?)
Funny, this article’s focus was / is about finding the best beachside chain hotel in New Smyrna Beach. And, we did find it! And as sometimes happens, I talk more about food and drink, places to shop, and cute old cottages.
We highly recommend staying at The Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach, if you like the predictability of staying at a known hotel group. Very recently renovated, bright and modern. Sparkling clean, friendly staff, great breakfast with many choices.
If you’re looking for a place to dump your bags and go explore, a place to rest midday before setting out for an easy walk to the beach, a place to rest your (possibly tipsy, given the plethora of drinking establishments nearby) head at night, this Hampton Inn checks all the boxes!
