Beach House Hotel at Hermosa Beach

We loved being able to take a morning walk on the beach, and the view is hard to beat. The Beach House is also only about 20 minutes from LAX. Our room was comfortable, clean, and had everything we needed. The L' Occitane bath products were a nice touch. So glad we stayed here, and we'd definitely recommend it.

The room had a two-burner stove, but there weren't any pots or kitchen tools. When I asked, the front desk said owners usually bring their own, which I would have done if I'd known there was a stove. Bring cookware and utensils if you'll need them. The room did have dishes, cups, silverware, dish soap, and a sponge. The bathroom was spacious, the bed was very comfortable, and the staff were helpful. It's right on the beach, too.

The oceanfront room and the hotel's location were great, but dealing with the front desk was really unpleasant. I booked it as a birthday surprise for my husband and kept asking if we could check in at least 30 minutes before the usual 4 p.m. time so I could put up decorations. They wouldn't agree. When we arrived around 4:30, the place looked quite empty, so I didn't understand the fuss. Shontel, who answered the phone, was impatient and had a very rude attitude. At first she couldn't find the booking because of my long last name and kept saying there was no reservation under my name. The staff were unhelpful throughout.

We've come from Colorado and stayed here four times. The oceanfront premium room is worth the extra money if you can manage it. Opening the door to that unobstructed view of the beach and waves is pretty amazing.