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It’s Florida. It is hot. You are walking down the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk and everything feels a little too polished, a little too "new money," or maybe just a bit too loud. Then you see it. The St. Maurice Beach Inn isn't trying to be the Ritz. Honestly, it isn't trying to be anything other than what it has been for decades: a reliable, no-frills, incredibly well-located spot to drop your bags and get to the ocean.
If you’re looking for a lobby with marble floors and a concierge named Sebastian who knows your "vibe," keep walking. But if you want to be exactly 42 steps—give or take a few—from the sand without spending five hundred bucks a night, this place basically wins by default.
The Reality of Staying at St. Maurice Beach Inn
Let’s be real for a second. People search for the St. Maurice Beach Inn because they want the Hollywood Beach experience without the Margaritaville price tag. You’ve probably seen the photos. It’s that classic, two-story Old Florida architecture. White walls, teal accents, and that specific salt-air smell that lingers in the hallways of every building constructed before the 1990s.
The rooms are small. There. I said it. You aren’t going to be hosting a gala in your suite. But they are clean, and for most people visiting South Florida, the room is just a place to crash after a day of getting sunburnt and eating overpriced fish tacos. Most rooms come with a kitchenette situation—a fridge, a microwave, maybe a two-burner stove if you’re lucky. This is the secret weapon of the budget traveler. Being able to buy a gallon of water and some snacks at the local Publix instead of paying $9 for a bottle of Evian in a hotel minibar changes the entire economics of a vacation.
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The St. Maurice Beach Inn sits on Nevada Street. If you know Hollywood, you know that’s a prime slice of real estate. You’re north of the main "chaos" of the bandshell but close enough to walk there in five minutes when you want to hear a Bon Jovi cover band. It’s a weirdly perfect balance.
Why People Get This Place Wrong
A lot of travelers come to Florida expecting "The White Lotus." When they walk into a boutique inn like St. Maurice, they might feel a bit of a shock. There is no elevator. If you have three massive suitcases and you're on the second floor, you’re going to get a workout.
It’s also important to acknowledge that this is an older building. The walls aren't soundproofed with modern aerospace technology. You might hear a neighbor laughing or the muffled sound of a bicycle bell on the Broadwalk. For some, that’s a dealbreaker. For others, it’s literally the charm of the place. It feels like a guesthouse from a time when people actually talked to their neighbors.
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The Management Factor
One thing that consistently comes up when you talk to regulars—and yes, this place has regulars who have been coming for twenty years—is the management. It’s usually family-run or handled by a small staff that actually recognizes you. They aren't corporate robots. If you need an extra towel, you ask. If you want to know which dive bar has the best happy hour, they’ll tell you (it's usually Josh’s Organic Garden or somewhere equally low-key).
Exploring Hollywood Beach From Your Front Door
When you stay at the St. Maurice Beach Inn, the Broadwalk is your living room. This isn't like Miami Beach where you have to cross a massive road and walk through a park to get to the water. You step out of the gate, and the sand is right there.
- The Broadwalk Culture: It’s 2.5 miles of car-free pavement. You’ll see people on those weird four-wheeled surrey bikes struggling to pedal against the wind. You'll see professional rollerbladers who look like they stepped out of 1984. It’s the best people-watching in the state.
- Food within walking distance: You’ve got Le Tub nearby—famous because Oprah once said they had the best burger in America. It’s a total hole-in-the-wall with toilets used as planters, but the burgers are actually legit. Then there’s Taco Beach Shack.
- The Water: The Atlantic here is generally calmer than it is further north in Jupiter or south in Miami. It’s great for just floating around like a piece of driftwood.
Budgeting and Logistics
Parking in Hollywood Beach is a nightmare. It is a literal circle of hell. One of the biggest perks of the St. Maurice Beach Inn is that they actually have on-site parking for guests. It’s tight. You might have to do a 14-point turn to get out, but having a guaranteed spot in a neighborhood where public parking is $4 an hour is like finding gold.
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The price fluctuates. In February, when the "snowbirds" descend from Quebec and New York, you’ll pay a premium. If you’re brave enough to come in August when the humidity makes you feel like you’re breathing through a warm wet cloth, you can find some of the best deals in Broward County.
A Note on the "Boutique" Label
The travel industry loves the word "boutique." Usually, it means "we put a funky lamp in the corner and doubled the price." At St. Maurice, it actually fits the original definition. It’s small. It’s unique. It reflects the personality of its location. It doesn't feel like it was designed by a committee in a boardroom in Maryland.
Actionable Tips for Your Stay
If you’ve decided to book a stay at the St. Maurice Beach Inn, don’t just wing it. Follow these steps to actually enjoy the experience:
- Request a ground-floor room if you hate stairs. There’s no lift, and the Florida heat makes carrying luggage feel twice as heavy.
- Pack a small cooler. Since you have a kitchenette, you can pack drinks for the beach. Florida law is picky about glass on the sand, so stick to cans.
- Embrace the kitchen. Visit the Publix on Hollywood Blvd before you check in. Grab breakfast items and coffee. The coffee in the rooms is fine, but having your own setup on the little patio area in the morning is a top-tier experience.
- Check the Broadwalk event calendar. Hollywood often has free concerts at the bandshell. You can hear the music from near the inn, but walking down with a folding chair is the move.
- Bring your own beach gear. The inn sometimes has chairs or umbrellas left behind by previous guests, but it's hit or miss. If you're driving, bring your own. If you're flying, there are rental spots every few blocks on the sand.
- Walk North. If the crowds near the inn are too much, walk north toward Dania Beach. The further you go from the pier and the main hotels, the more private the beach feels.
The St. Maurice Beach Inn isn't a luxury resort, and it doesn't want to be. It's a clean, affordable, and perfectly placed relic of a Florida that is slowly disappearing. It’s for the traveler who cares more about the sunrise over the ocean than the thread count of their sheets. Book it for the location, stay for the nostalgia, and spend the money you saved on a massive seafood platter at GG’s Waterfront nearby.