Gualala Country Inn

The room was comfortable and exactly what we needed, and they were great about having our dog with us. I’d highly recommend The Gualala Country Inn as a coast stop. We’d planned a last-minute road trip last December, and I accidentally booked the Inn for the wrong night. After driving from Pismo Beach to Gualala all day, we tried to check ourselves in around 8pm the next evening and found no key. I rang for the onsite manager, who was already in her robe. I felt awful, especially when she explained we hadn’t arrived the night before. I thought I’d planned every stop carefully, but had mixed up the dates. She quickly reassured me she could find us a room. I told her my daughter and dog were waiting in the car and we were worn out from the drive. She offered me a beer, got us a key, and let us know about nearby food and grocery options. I was so grateful for how kind and accommodating she was after hours.

We were lucky to find a room at the last minute, and I’d happily stay again if I’m back that way. It’s a cute, convenient place for the wedding we were attending in Sea Ranch. Check-in was easy, and the owner, I think, was really kind and offered helpful tips about nearby places. Our cozy room had a lovely ocean view.

The staff are kind, and the rooms are nice and clean, but the construction next door made it impossible to get a good night’s sleep. There’s an active Caltrans site right beside the hotel, and guests aren’t told about it. A gas generator runs through the night to power a very bright light cart, which also stays on all night. Once both stop at 6AM, it’s quiet for about an hour before workers start heavy equipment at 7AM.

The location is nice, and the ocean-view rooms look out over a great view. Reception was friendly, and there are restaurants nearby, though breakfast isn’t provided. The rooms are a bit basic. There’s a shower cabin but no tub, and the bathroom has no heat. An electric fireplace warms the room enough, but there’s no Airco if it gets hot. This isn’t Sea Ranch, though a little updating would help. The second-floor rooms aren’t ADA compliant because there’s no elevator. Luckily, we got a ground-floor room.