The Hotel Oceanside

I booked partly because the owner's replies to some unfair reviews seemed reasonable. It was refreshing to see people called out when they'd done something dumb, like the reviewer who dyed her hair red at the hotel. That's messy and irreversible, and if you wouldn't do it at home, don't do it in a hotel. I wish I could have met the owner during my stay! The hotel is great value for its price and location, and the staff are nice if you're nice to them. I also appreciate the normal pet fee. The beds in pet-friendly rooms are loud, probably because of heavy-duty waterproof covers, but that's understandable. Some hotels charge $150 or more for pets. We also appreciated being allowed to park our oversized box truck in the lot. We called ahead and had permission, and the staff were very nice about it. Just adding my two cents since I rely on reviews when choosing hotels.

The stay itself was average, but watch your card charges. The front desk worker ran my credit card four times and said it was declined, so I paid with a debit card instead. I later found I'd been charged five times for the same room. When I called, they said they hadn't charged me, so I had to dispute the charges with my bank. Save yourself the headache.

It's a quaint little place, and the room was clean and fairly roomy. Although it's on a main street, it was reasonably quiet. You can walk to just about anything you need, and I'd recommend staying here if you're on a budget.

The desk staff were all terrific, welcoming, and helpful. We came from Tucson and felt like locals, more at home than I've felt anywhere away from home. They had good suggestions for things to do nearby and farther out, too. There's a small lobby store with things people forget to pack, like toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, water, and snacks. The room and price were both amazing, and the beach is about a ten-minute walk away, with plenty of restaurants along the way. Please visit these folks. They'll make you feel at home.