The hotel opened in the 1930s, to host aspiring actors like Henry Fonda, James Stewart, and Margaret Sullivan who were performing at the summer playhouse on the shore. It's a large three-story property with traditional Cape Cod design and well-kept gardens. Decor is humble throughout, and some carpets and furniture could use an upgrade. Bricks line the roundabout driveway, and blue striped awnings liven up the entrance. Kites dangle from a pitched ceiling, and fish decor hangs over the front desk, creating a beachy and intimate atmosphere in the spacious lobby, which has light blue and green furniture. Rooms, reached by stairways, have outdoor hallways that give the hotel a distinct motel-like vibe. A private 700-foot-long beach has lounge chairs and waiter service, and the sand reaches some ground-floor patios. The Sea Crest is a bustling year-round property attracting tourists -- mainly families and couples -- and business travelers attending conferences on site.

The hotel sits on a private beach that stretches for 700 feet and is within walking distance of the popular Old Silver Beach, with water-sports rentals, and windsurfing and stand-up paddleboard lessons. On a small road in a residential area, there are no shops or restaurants within walking distance, but shopping and dining on Falmouth's Main Street are within a 15-minute drive. Bikes can be rented on site, and it’s a 20-minute ride to the Shining Sea Bikeway. Golf, at the Cape Cod Country Club, is a 15-minute drive. The Knob and Nobska Lighthouse are a 20-minute drive. Ferries to the Martha's Vineyard towns of Vineyard Haven and Oaks Bluff depart from Woods Hole, which is 15 minutes away by car. The drive to the Boston Logan International Airport takes about 90 minutes.

The 263 rooms at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel have a simple cottage-like design, with light-green carpeting, pale-blue furnishings, black-and-white beach photography, and jute or blue headboards over pillow-top beds. Rooms and suites can accommodate up to four people, and have private balconies, ground-floor porches, or shared patios. While the look is generally the same across all room categories, some have slightly more modern or attractive furniture -- like the hardwood pieces in the Three-Bedroom Cottage. The best rooms face the ocean, while others have unspectacular parking lot views. White- or mosaic-tile compact bathrooms have modern fixtures and shower/tub combos. Not all rooms are spacious, though One-Bedroom Suites have separate living rooms. All rooms come with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, mini-fridges, Keurig coffeemakers, irons, and some also have sofa beds and fireplaces in the sitting areas. For families or groups of up to eight people, the Three-Bedroom Cottage is separate from the hotel and has a kitchenette, washer/dryer combo, computer, and deck overlooking a backyard with a fire pit. The hotel hosts plenty of events -- including weddings and conferences -- and noise from music and merry-making can be an issue in some rooms. 

The main draw at this hotel is the private beach with beachside service, but views of the sea are available from the outdoor saltwater pool, which has bar service. There is also an atrium-style indoor saltwater pool complex, with a children's pool, adult's swimming pool, and a hot tub. There are adults-only hours at the pools. Volleyball and boot camp classes are offered on the beach in season, and there's also a modern indoor gym. With a ballroom and 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, this hotel is a popular wedding and convention venue, and the business center offers computers and printing services. The hotel has a kids' game room, with Ping-Pong and video games. Children’s and teens' clubs also offer group games and crafts.

Popular among outside visitors and guests, Red’s Restaurant serves chowder and such local specialties as sauteed oysters, either in a casual dining room or on a terrace with picnic tables and ocean views. Red’s also has an outdoor bar with a terrace that hangs over the beach. The lobby cafe offers Starbucks coffee and a fireplace lounge. Breakfast is available at the hotel -- the buffet includes waffle and omelet stations, but it isn't included with room rates. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.