This place got some very nice reviews and I'm not sure why. The room we had boasted a great parking lot view with a rickety staircase to descend in order to get to the lot from the room. The room was damp, unclean, and you get your choice of staying up all night with the mega-decibel A/C or sweltering to death. That's assuming the people in the next room are not making any noise because the walls are paper thin. We had lunch at the poolside bar and that was nice. The restaurant was closed for an affair. I'm not sure what the attraction is to Beach Haven. In my youth this was a nice, quiet beach resort with a great beach. This area has become over commercialized and the beach, at least where we stayed, was about 50 feet wide and over crowded. I wonder if there is a beach at high tide. I guess everything is relative because compared to some of the other places we looked at, the Sea Shell might just be the best thing there.

For the Jersey Shore, this was a totally acceptable place to stay. Beachfront location could not be beat. We went for two nights for the Chowderfest at the end of September. We were pleasantly surprised as to how much fun we had. Room was adequate - very clean for the Jersey Shore. Two double beds, dresser, tiled floor (which is cleaner than old carpet). Beach Tiki Bar was awesome - right on the beach & fun everynight. There was a wedding going on, so we didn't get to use the club, but the Tiki bar stayed open late and we had a blast Sat. & Sun. nights. Hotel is walking distance to shopping & restaurants. I found the facilities to be great for the off-season price we paid. I would definitely go back next year.

We booked a 4-night stay at the Sea Shell Motel (Thurs thru Sun nite) for my wife and two boys (ages 7 and 10).
We wanted an oceanside room, and were told that it was right above the Club, so we would hear loud music on Saturday nite. We like Beach Haven and LBI so much that we were willing to put up with one night of loud music.
Little did we know that the Sea Shell Motel was non-stop booze and music for all 4 days and nights.
The first night (Thurs night) had a Hip Hop band/DJ playing well into 2am, with our whole room rattling and trembling. My poor kids were terrified of the noise and vibration and only fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion atfer midnight. This went on for ALL FOUR NIGHTS with different bands. On Sunday, we were told that there would only be an acoustic guitarist playing in the evening by the pool (which was also below our room balcony). This guitarist played well after 2am, with a loud microphone, and was encouraging all the drunk pool-side guests to sing along loudly. My pleas to management fell on deaf ears until I finally called the local police to break up the party.
And the days were no better. The Sea Shell pool, beach, Tiki bar, and restaurant were constantly over-crowded, since there was a live band and alcohol flowing from noon till the wee-hours of the morning. I couldn't understand how the hotel was able to accommodate all these people until I started to talk them. It turned out that over 90% of the people I spoke to didn't even belong to the hotel... they basically walked off the streets to enjoy the pool, Tiki Bar, and music. So my $400/night room rate didn't even buy me exclusive rights to the pool or a good night's sleep.
Each day at noon, the band woould over-take the pool and prevent the kids from walking, swimming or splashing at that end of the pool! One day, we were resting inside our room, trying to get a breather from the crowd and noise outside, when we were startled to see one of the band members jumping on our 2nd floor balcony, in front of our sliding glass doors! Apparently this was part of the act. When I went to complain to the manager that this man startled my family beyond belief, his response was "they are authorized to use the guest's balcony for this" !! He re-iterated this point when I told him I did not feel safe any longer, since the glass doors failed to lock.
Also, the continental breakfast was the worst display of food I have ever seen, and the service was horrible.
And did I mention the crowded beach and pool?
If you're a young family and wanted to spend a nice, relaxing time with the kids on the LBI shore and pool, then this is defintely NOT the place for you....only BAD memories here... take it from me, we will NEVER be back!
It's too bad, because Beach Haven is a great town and location to bring the kids to LBI.
The Sea Shell Motel ruined our stay.

My wife and I stayed at the Sea Shell for two nights. We were in room 224 which was horrible. We were located right above the bathroom in the niteclub. So we were up all night to the very loud DJ and band along with the bathroom door slamming all night . When I spoke to the lady at the front desk the next day she had to talk to a manager to move us to the same room on the other side of the building but added "tonight is quiet nite". The hotel is a bit overpriced and our room had cracks in the ceiling from what looked like recent repair.