Best Western John Muir Inn

We left before spending the night. The room felt damp and musty, the appliances looked worn, and it didn’t seem properly cleaned. The hotel’s interior also badly needs work: the furniture was falling apart and the elevator barely worked. At check-in, the front desk interaction was quick and flat, and the associate took a personal call while helping me. We also arrived to find people smoking and gambling around the pool. We had hoped for a relaxing stay, but instead booked at the Hyatt in Pleasant Hill. It was nothing like the website pictures. I’d rather pay more for the Hyatt, where the service and cleanliness are far better. I won’t recommend the Best Western in Martinez or come back. If you’re drawn by the low price, there’s a reason it’s affordable.

The bike rack was cut off our son and daughter-in-law’s truck while we were staying here over Thanksgiving 2025. They had driven from Utah with a $1,200 rack attached, but had brought their ultralight bikes into the room and left the 70-pound rack locked to the pickup, parked beneath a light. We called the police and filed a report right away. When we reported it to the hotel and asked to see security footage, we learned there were no cameras. A desk employee said there had been several thefts in recent months, yet there were no guards patrolling the lot either. There are signs saying the hotel isn’t responsible for items stolen from cars. Given the known thefts and the hotel’s proximity to a major freeway entrance, the lack of security is shocking. I’m also thankful we didn’t run into whoever was cutting locks with tools; who knows what could have happened? We had paid over $800 for two rooms for a couple of days, and still had several nights left. I asked to speak with the manager, but she was never available. After we got home, I called and was told a new manager would arrive within a few weeks. I waited, called again four weeks later, and explained the loss. My son had to buy another rack to get their bikes home. The manager said she’d work with corporate on security cameras and ask whether they could offer some compensation, then call me back. She didn’t. When I contacted her a week ago, she offered one free night worth $105 for a $1,200 loss and hours of hassle. We won’t return, even for that night. If you stay, take everything into your room, however inconvenient, and hope nobody breaks into it, because management may not help.

Cynthia at the front desk is always helpful and really nice. I’m here every week for two nights, and every room I’ve had has been very clean, as is the hotel generally. I can’t comment on breakfast since I’m never around in time for it.

Third breakfast here, and I need to update this: the older Asian woman with glasses who runs the breakfast area has been rude and disrespectful every time. At first I thought she was just having a bad morning, but after three visits her attitude still feels nasty and unwelcoming. It’s morning, ma’am, and that’s not what you want to face at the start of the day. BWJMI, please fix this. Happy holidays! This was our second stay, and we enjoyed it again. The location and weight room are great, and breakfast gets an A from me. Thanks to Cynthia for sorting out our room issue and for the great customer service. The TVs and old Direct TV setup could use an upgrade, though. It feels like we’re still in the stone age during a smart tech era.