Just got back and we went to the Holiday Inn every day but needed their Holiday Inn wrist band to get past the beach and up to the pool and rooms. Blue hologram (metal flake) wristband with Holiday Inn on it it black letters, at least for this past week. I think they change it weekly. I was told you could buy daily wristands if you weren't staying there for like $25 per day (different color) but I didn't check that out. A friend of ours stayed at a local campgrounds called Racoon River Campgrounds and they had the exact same wristbands only with their name on it. We paid the $25.00 plus tax to camp there one night (primitive tent-no electric), got 6 wristbands because there was supposedly six of us camping there, and got past security at the Holiday Inn all week. That was the best money we spent all week.

We didn't even have a tent or plan to camp, although the camp grounds was actually pretty nice with a heated swimming pool and just west of the Holiday Inn and a road closer to the mainland. Too far to walk to things but with a car or scooter you woud be ok. They said there was an area of college kids that got a little louder so it didn't seem like the worst idea to stay there if camping is your thing. I couldn't imagine doing it for more than a night but at least it was cool at night and perfect weather all week.

Oh, and we stayed at the Edgewater and although not one huge party like the Holiday, it was close. But next year it will be the Holiday Inn or closer to the clubs (Boardwalk), mainly due to the wristbands and so as to not have to walk as far. The Edgewater is more for families and older people, some who were more than grouchy when it came to noise and drinking.