Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Calabasas

The hotel itself was nice, and the room was a good size and comfortable. But I was charged a $250 deep-cleaning fee for smoking, even though I don't smoke. I was the only guest in the room, and I stayed just one night. I called about the charge. They investigated and said the room smelled of smoke, then refused to refund me. I understand that odors can travel from another room, but I don't see how smell alone is enough to charge me when there was no other evidence of smoking and I didn't smoke in the room. It was a nice stay, but I'll never go back. I don't want to pay for something I didn't do.

The pool was nice, and it's a clean, good-looking place in a pretty central spot. Calabasas traffic is the one downside, though that's what you expect in So Cal. Sagebrush Canitna nearby was the best part, a very underrated Mexican restaurant.

The location is great, the pool is nice, and some of the staff are really friendly. It's pet friendly too. But there are other places nearby with the same advantages, sometimes at a better price. My husband and I have stayed here for a few years and have been let down repeatedly, especially in the last couple of years, with ownership changing twice. It feels like a dressed-up motel, and the price sets expectations the hotel doesn't meet. The rooms are the biggest problem, along with the noise. They're cleaned to a basic standard, but there are lots of stains and marks on the furniture and walls. Some are cosmetic and could be cleaned off, while others really grossed me out. It needs a proper deep clean. Our room also had a shower head that barely worked and a sink handle that wouldn't turn. The noise is hard to escape. The walls are paper thin, and the wood floors make it worse. A couple of years ago, the renovations took out the carpet, which had helped muffle sound a little. The doors are extremely heavy, so even on a good day you hear them slam, along with voices and shoes echoing down the halls. It was hard to drown out, especially if neighbors were obnoxious. I'd attach photos to show the stains, including the gross stuff down the side of the bed. It costs too much for what you get and doesn't match the quality at other places nearby at similar prices. Until the needed work is done or the price comes down, it's a tough sell. At checkout no one asked how the stay was, so we had to ask to give feedback. The front desk wrote down only a tiny fraction of what we said. Then the General Manager called to “try to rectify” things, but spent about 20 minutes talking about all the things new ownership planned to do and never acknowledged the problems we actually had. Plans that may or may not happen don't help guests paying for the hotel's current state. We won't stay at The Anza again.

My friends and I booked a month ahead. When we arrived, they confirmed they had our reservation but said we couldn't have the room we'd booked. They put us in a downgraded room, still charged us the suite price, and claimed the price was the same when it wasn't. It was a terrible experience and ruined my vacation. I wouldn't recommend staying here.