Costa Art Hotel

The location worked well, with free parking, complimentary water and chocolates in the room, and a fairly decent breakfast. But our double-queen room, 112, was still not ready at 3:30, and once we finally got in, it looked nothing like the Booking photos. The furniture was scratched and old, the sheets seemed so worn that we doubted they’d been washed after the last guests, the shower barely worked properly, and there was mold in the corners. Most unbearable was the strong chemical odor, apparently used by the cleaning staff to cover a smell from the pipes. We could hardly breathe. A receptionist asked whether we liked the room and then apologized, saying they had real problems with their cleaning staff and no other cleaned double-queen rooms available. We accepted it for one night and left our bags while we went for a walk, hoping the smell would clear. It didn’t. My eyes were irritated after half an hour, and after three hours of coughing with the door and window open, I felt intoxicated and struggled to breathe even outside the room with its door open. My husband went back to ask for another double-queen room. The receptionist shouted at me, asking why we hadn’t told him earlier and waited until I was nearly fainting. He had to know what room he’d assigned us, and it felt like he was waiting to see whether we’d put up with it for the night. Never stay here. The overall state has nothing to do with what I’d call a hotel, it’s a very cheap, worn-out motel, though we paid over $200 a night.

Patrick really went out of his way to make us and the other guests feel at home. He’s kind, welcoming, and clearly loves his work, which made our stay even better. The staff overall were friendly, and the rooms were clean and cozy. The beach is an easy walk away, and the location is great.

We left two days before the end of our booking and found a nicer place farther south in Laguna Beach, but the hotel charged us for the full stay under its policy. When we were told the area was expensive and this was an affordable option, it came across as condescending since we know the area. It seems cleanliness is what gets sacrificed for the price. We wouldn’t recommend it or book here again. The first room was gloomy, with one window facing the outdoor hallway and another facing the alley. The alley window was broken, stuck open, and couldn’t be operated, so we asked to switch rooms. The second room was dirty too: sticky floors, dried caulk on the bathroom walls, exposed 2x4s beneath the tiny sink, no toilet-paper holder, and towels left outside the bathroom. The hotel was rundown and disappointing from the moment we arrived.

After a nine-hour drive, we arrived late and couldn’t stay even half an hour. The room was filthy and full of mold and insects, including spiders and book lice. Dust covered everything, the floors were sticky, and the furniture was broken and worn. My wife has serious insect allergies, so this was a health hazard for us. We sent the property proof of the room’s condition and asked for a refund, but they refused despite knowing we couldn’t stay. The management was the worst I’ve encountered. This place was terrible, stay away.