The 83-room Comfort Inn is a typical mid-range hotel by Virginia Beach standards. Common areas are a bit drab looking -- even the indoor pool area, which boasts ocean views, can be somewhat dreary as the windows are often too fogged up to see through. But it offers great value for a beachfront hotel. The rooms here, if not up to modern-decor standards, are cheery with bright, floral curtains and colorful furniture. All feature small balconies overlooking the ocean as well as living areas (many with pull-out sofas), microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, wet bars, and flat-screen TVs. The hotel also offers a small fitness center, laundry facilities, and freebies such as hot breakfast and Wi-Fi.

The 38-room Econo Lodge on the Ocean is a two-pearl hotel right on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. Rooms are simple and no frills, with ocean views from basic balconies and nice conveniences including mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers, though some rooms show signs of wear and tear. The hotel offers free bike rentals to cruise the boardwalk, and there is a small outdoor pool and a basic free continental breakfast. This property is geared toward budget travelers looking for proximity to the ocean and Virginia Beach activities at bargain rates -- a night here is cheaper than similar properties.

The 240-room Founders Inn, next to the Regent University campus, has features that make it stand out when compared to the local competition. These include its indoor pool (with a hot tub and pretty French windows in the sunroom), and outdoor pool with a 25-foot-high covered water slide that's great for kids. Kid-friendly as the hotel is, it's also dog-friendly and offers a 30,000-square-foot, fenced-in dog park on its grounds. The hotel’s restaurants serve fresh, seasonal fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including fresh seafood and homemade pastries. And the traditionally elegant rooms come with flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges.

Popular with budget-conscious visitors to Virginia Beach, the Belvedere Beach Resort is more of an inn than an actual resort, though it does have a pool and direct beach access. All 50 rooms have a nautical theme and look out over the ocean. There's an on-site diner serving breakfast and lunch, and rooms have mini-fridges and microwaves for guests who want to prepare basic meals. Note that it is only open seven months out of the year.

At the northern end of the Virginia Beach boardwalk, the oceanside Holiday Inn & Suites North Beach is a mid-range hotel with resort-style amenities. There are three pools, three restaurants, and a kids' club, making it a popular choice with family vacationers. Rooms are colorful and have a nautical theme; suites come outfitted with kitchenettes. 

This mid-range Best Western Plus isn’t very exciting, but it does offer a solid range of features -- including two pools, a nice fitness center, game room, and restaurant with free hot breakfasts -- plus unbeatable views of the ocean. The decor is bland and some areas could use updating, but this hotel is a good overall value in a great beachfront location.

This renovated beachfront hotel sits right by the Virginia Beach boardwalk and offers 149 rooms that overlook the ocean. There’s a bright beachfront bar and grill where children under 12 eat free from the kids’ menu, though breakfast isn’t included in the room rate. Other amenities include a large indoor saltwater pool and an updated fitness center (that's tiny). Rooms have colorful decor and are outfitted with mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers, though noise from the beach can be an issue.

Renovated in 2013, this oceanfront property offers 72 spacious suites with private balconies andkitchens, plus plenty of free perks and amenities. Many guests take advantage of the pet-friendly policy, so look elsewhere if dogs aren’t your thing. Considering its prime location on the boardwalk and excellent ocean views, this Residence Inn is a solid value for those seeking a bit more space.

Situated at the southern end of Virginia Beach's main strip, on the boardwalk over the beach, the 142-room Ocean Key Resort is a timeshare hotel with a lot of family-focused amenities. Suite-style rooms have equipped kitchens or kitchenettes, and groceries can be pre-ordered online and delivered at check-in. One of the highlights of the property is a roof sun deck with a lounge area and a large indoor pool in an atrium-like area connected to the lobby. Some guests complain of musty smells, as the windows don't open, and others find rooms not as clean as they could be, but the price is pretty low for the area.

This mid-range chain hotel offers big rooms with fresh, contemporary decor (green accent walls, geometric pattern carpets, dark wood furniture) and lots of freebies that add to the value. But the hotel is not directly on the beach: Guests must cross two busy streets to get to the sand. The hotel certainly offers solid value; low rates include free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking even for oversized vehicles. And all rooms have conveniences such as sitting areas, microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers; some have pull-out sofas and pillow-top mattresses. Hotel features include a fitness center and a pool, though the fitness center is small and the pool is next to the parking lot. 

This 141-room Hampton Inn sits in a group of other hotels right on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. The budget-friendly property offers what appears to be the standard in this part of town, including rooms with balconies that face the ocean, a free buffet breakfast, and an indoor pool. The hotel is a bit worn with bland, chain-like decor and rooms can get noise from the beach, but the on-site 11th St Taphouse Bar & Grille serves good food and has an outdoor patio on the boardwalk.