Best Western Corte Madera Inn

After 19 hours on the road from Texas toward Seattle, we walked in without a reservation and got a room for the night. The price worked for us, and we especially liked the breakfast and the service from the gentleman and lady there. They suggested taking 101 North toward Seattle, and we were glad we followed their advice. Breakfast is served next to the hotel, in a space I first mistook for a fine dining restaurant, though it’s part of the hotel. We left early and didn’t get to try the pool or mini golf I saw there. A nice option when visiting the San Francisco area.

On our second night, I dropped a diamond heirloom pendant over the sink and it slipped down beside the drain. Christina, the front manager, was so sympathetic and quickly sent maintenance expert Judas to our room. He took apart the pipes and fittings and patiently found it tucked in a crevice. I was so relieved and grateful for his kindness. We chose this Best Western for two nights because it was close to friends and the room photos looked good. Our king room was clean and updated, with a view of the green grounds, striking pool, basketball area, BBQ, and putting golf. It was also a lovely place to walk our dog. The property is older, but clearly has lots of upkeep and nice touches, and it was very quiet at night. Breakfast was in a huge former restaurant decorated with a great vintage western feel, with the usual Best Western offerings. I especially enjoyed the Keurig and fridge. We’d stay again in a heartbeat if we’re back in the Bay Area.

Breakfast was delicious, with so much to choose from that it was hard not to overeat. I also slept wonderfully on the soft, cloud-like pillows. The room was spotless, and the staff were friendly from the moment I checked in with Santoes. At checkout, Santoes and Lana made sure my needs were met and that I’d enjoyed my stay. They even gave me the website for ordering those great pillows. I had a lovely time at the Best Western, which is conveniently right off the freeway.

The one thing I didn’t like was the breakfast building, which wasn’t heated. In November we ate our first meal of the day wearing coats. Staff were extremely helpful and friendly, though, and the courtyard looked adorable even in Thanksgiving week, when the pool wasn’t usable. I could picture it coming alive in summer. The price is hard to beat for the Bay Area. It’s laid out more like a motel, with room doors opening outdoors. There’s a cozy lounge where I worked a couple mornings using the free internet, several two story guest room buildings, a pool and recreation area, and a separate breakfast building. Our room was very clean but not especially updated, and it faced the highway, though many rooms look onto the pool. You’ll need a car here, since it’s in a busy suburb without much walkability or public transit.