Cozy Inn

I’m in Orange County several times a month from San Diego, and Cozy Inn has become my second home. The rates are fair, the rooms are always clean, and it’s quiet and relaxing. Kora is usually at the desk when I check in. He’s friendly and professional, and represents the place well. The location is just right for OC: the beach is a few minutes down the road, the 55 is right nearby, and the 405 and 5 are close too. There are lots of good restaurants and beach activity around, but you can get in and out without getting caught in the beach traffic.

There was no hot water, so if you’re hoping for a warm shower and a rest for the night, stay far away. The room was dirty all over, including sheets, towels, and floors, and there was a spider inside because the window had been left open when we arrived. The walls are paper thin, too, so there’s no quiet or privacy. This motel isn’t cozy at all.

I’ve stayed in plenty of hotels while traveling, and this was easily my worst experience. Both rooms had significant damage, with what looked like temporary fixes instead of proper repairs or replacements. The owner, who I understand runs this family property, was rude and dismissive, talked over me repeatedly, ignored my concerns, and put other customers ahead of me while I tried to resolve the matter. At one point he raised his voice and said, “We aren’t other hotels; this is how we run things!” He wouldn’t give me his name when I asked, and the conversation was unclear and unhelpful. The dispute was over a fee for extending my stay into another paid night. The hotel charged my card directly, but when I questioned it, they told me to contact the booking site. I read the policies on both Hotels.com and the Cozy Inn website carefully. Neither says there’s a fee for extending a stay into an additional paid night. The only listed charge is for late checkout, which didn’t apply. I asked for written documentation of the policy behind the fee and got a receipt showing the charge instead, which doesn’t explain the policy. Charging extra just because a guest extends without checking out and returning defeats the point of offering extended stays. If these are the rules, they should be posted and explained in advance. Instead, reservations are nonrefundable, policies aren’t clear, and extra fees appear after check-in. I also saw several Google reviews from other guests describing poor conditions and reports of fraudulent activity on their cards shortly after staying here. The hotel’s condition and business practices are unacceptable. I would have canceled and asked for a refund, but the nonrefundable policy leaves guests with little recourse, especially when undocumented fees are added. I took photos of the damage when I entered and will upload them to my reviews on Hotels.com, Yelp and Google. I don’t recommend sending anyone here unless the message is “desperate, come here!”

The room smelled strongly unpleasant and felt old, worn down, and not clean or maintained. The staff were rude and unhelpful as well. I’d told them ahead of time I’d check out at 11:30 AM, but they still charged me an extra $25, which felt unfair and unnecessary. I stayed one night at Cozy Inn in Costa Mesa, and the whole experience was disappointing. They seemed more focused on extra fees than good service. I usually don’t write reviews, but I want others to know and avoid the same situation. Save your money and look elsewhere. If I could give zero stars, I would.