Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Marina - State Beach Area by IHG

Nice artwork and a central location. The toilet sits very low, like a child's, and the fridge made an odd humming noise. The elevator is in a weird spot. Police cars sped by all night long.

Housekeeping deserves huge credit for keeping the hotel up. My friend and I stayed three nights last week, and both rooms were clean. We asked to have rooms next to each other, and staff moved them without any issue. We were on the main floor and could hear other guests in the hallway. The bed was comfortable, the air conditioning worked fine, and the bathroom was spacious. The shower looked a bit worn, so I wouldn't use it without flip flops, though I do that at every hotel anyway. The location was easy to find, with a beautiful beach up the road. It felt a tad pricey given the distance from tourist attractions, but we found delicious local food. Walmart next door was handy for snacks before our Point Lobos hike. I was looking forward to using the hot tub and sauna, but both were out of service and seem to have been that way for a while. That was a bummer and should be addressed ASAP.

Our tour brought us here, and it's a nice hotel near HWY, though not close to anything else. The room was spacious and clean, and the toilet was big. I didn't like the shower and think a handheld shower head would be good. Breakfast was included and not bad at all. There wasn't much choice in the hot food, but plenty of other things to eat. They also have a very nice table with free coffee and tea.

The beach is close enough to make up for a location surrounded mostly by Walmart and other businesses. For an affordable hotel in the area, this is a great option, and I'd definitely stay again. We only booked one night, but my wife and I would have extended our stay if we'd needed to. I used reward points, so this stay didn't cost me money, though after being there I'd have happily paid. Staff were friendly and accommodating, the breakfast was awesome, and the room was spotless and nicely decorated. The bathroom was large and felt modern. I was pleasantly surprised throughout, and can't figure out why it only has 3.8 stars.