If what you’re looking for is a centrally-located fully-featured resort with easy access to Lake Havasu City (and the lake itself), The Nautical Beachfront Resort is going to be your best bet.
It’s located right on Lake Havasu and just two minutes from the heart of downtown.
Is it perfect? Hell no. It actually felt kinda cheap to me. But as a homebase for a week of hard-core party boatin’? It doesn’t get any better than this.
Location
You’ll find the nautical beachfront resort at 1000 Mcculloch Blvd. North on the shores of Lake Havasu City. It’s not right in the middle of town, but it’s close enough.
I like that it’s far enough a way to feel private and secluded, but close enough to be convenient. Access to gas stations, restaurants, and shopping centers is an easy two minute drive.
To be honest it was so hot (and I was so desperate for air-conditioning) that I didn’t even take the time to figure out what I was looking at before I took this picture. “Welcome to The Nautical Beachfront Resort(ish)!”I might as well have just welcomed you to the surface of the sun, because it felt that hot. Sure would be nice if there was a lake nearby, ya know?
Checking in
The layout of this resort is a bit confusing at first. It consists of multiple buildings, with the main one (where you check in) located right in the center.
It took a few moments for me to realize that this building is where you check in. I know it doesn’t look that far, but when it’s 115°F outside, it might as well have been 10 miles away still.An oasis appears on the horizon. Actually, it’s the main office, and it’s mere feet away, but I was starting to become delirious from dehydration at this point.That building off in the distance (to the left) is where my room is. Straight ahead is the pool, and just to the left is the bar. Rumor has it there’s a big lake here as well, but I haven’t seen it yet.This is the backside of the building that I showed you in the first pic. #datassThe rumors are true. There is indeed a big lake here!
Getting to my room
I booked a Bay Room for my one night stay. These rooms are located in the building adjacent to the pool. It’s about a five minute walk (or a one minute drive) from where I checked in.
“Go outside, walk to the end of the parking lot and turn right. Your room will be on the second floor of that building.” Easy for the lady who checked me in to say. She didn’t have to do all that walkin’ in 115° heat!OK I’m being slightly overdramatic. I drove over here. With the AC on full blast. Depending on how far your room is down this walkway, you may or may not end up with griddle marks on your skin. Use sunscreen y’all.Room two fiddy two! I booked this room for the view, but honestly? All I cared about at this very moment was ice cold air air-conditioning.
Bay Room overview
It’s a good thing that I cared more about the view than I did the room. The view (which I will show you in a moment) was pretty nice. The room was mediocre. It looked tired and outdated. It seemed a little dark as well.
First impressions: not so nautical, but oh so cool. About 70(ish) degrees to be more exact.It may not look like much, but this little AC unit was a total badass. I never knew something so small could produce so much cold air.Now that my phone (and nervous system) is no longer in danger of overheating, I can continue on with the pics. Welcome to my room!You ain’t never lived until you’ve taken a picture of your hotel room with ice cold air from the AC unit blowing directly at the back of your bald head.I’m not yet ready to leave the general vicinity of the AC unit, so here’s a picture of the desk. And chair. Check out that trash can!Still not ready to move. “Interesting. I guess the door looks kinda nautical, eh?”Slowly inching away from the comfort of the ice cold AC. Here’s the TV. A few more inches to the right. Basically what I’m trying to tell you is that I couldn’t quit that AC unit. It was my favorite thing in the entire world at this exact moment.All of that lollygagging around the AC unit prevented me from noticing the FULL SIZE refrigerator and freezer next to the entrance. Nice!“I’d reckon one could fit three full cases of Bud Light in here” he says, while foolishly forgetting that the MAGA crowd boycotted that stuff a long time ago.A microwave too! Guessing on how yellowed that plastic is, it’s reasonable to assume that this thing has reheated it’s fair share of Swanson TV dinners over the years.The closet next to the refrigerator. Speaking of which, I didn’t notice the punch marks in the freezer until just now (no doubt the result of a disappointed Swanson TV dinner eater).A Cafe Valet coffee maker (and coffee). Just what one needs to get pumped up for a long day of party boatin’ out on the lake.
The view
Paying a little extra for a Bay Room was worth it! I had an excellent view of Lake Havasu, as well as the resort grounds as well. No regrets.
Here’s the balcony. It’s nice and all, but I’ve only been out here 10 seconds and I already miss the AC unit inside. “Keep going bro! I’ll be back in a minute!”This stained (and ripped) carpet leads me to believe that there’s been some rowdy Bud Light drinkin’ (and Swanson TV dinner eatin’) out here over the years.Honestly? This looks like a mighty fine place to get drunk on cheap beer and questionable food.I had a pretty nice view of the Cove from my room. Party boat noise was slightly less than I experienced during my two night stay at the Cancun All Suites Resort a few years back. It wasn’t total piece and quiet however. The noise coming from the Naked Turtle Beach Bar confirmed what I feared most (that I’m getting old and becoming intolerant to thumping bass).It got really scary once I realized that I felt like the stereotypical old man standing on his balcony seething with hate (as I fantasized about telling them all to shut the F up). What the heck is happening to me??
In the bathroom
The bathroom looked almost as outdated as the rest of the room. It was very clean however, and very well maintained. It’s worth noting that there was no tub in this bathroom. Shower only.
The vault-like bathroom (a pretty good place to get away from all the party boat noise coming from right outside the window). The towel situation was excellent. And I especially like how everything is sand colored (which will help to keep things looking tidy as you wash all of that beach sand out of your a** crack).What’s better than spending all day on a party boat? Coming home to a party sized shower, of course.
Pros and cons of staying at the Nautical Beachfront Resort
Would I stay here again? Maybe if I ever went back to Lake Havasu City, I would. But I have no idea if or when that’ll ever happen. It’s just not my kind of place.
Pros
If you wanna be right on Lake Havasu (in Lake Havasu City), this is the place!
Being able to sit on the balcony and watch the drunkards action out of the lake was nice.
There are a wide variety of shops and restaurants just a few miles away.
Cons
Everything felt outdated and old. Not dirty though.
The noise from the party boats, the pool, and the bar might get annoying in high season.
It’s too far away from anything else to be considered “walkable”. If you wanna go out to eat (or go shopping) you’re gonna have to drive.
Scott has been traveling the world since 1997, and is the founder and author of SleepAndReview.com. He never had any aspirations of being a hotel reviewer, but one thing let to another, and...well...here we are.
