Redondo Inn and Suites

It’s a nice place to stay for its location and the nostalgia. When I lived in LA in the 90s, I passed by here a lot. It was definitely an old Motor Lodge back then, maybe 1970. It’s very clean now, inside and out. The walls are a little thin if there are people around you.

The front desk agent made a great impression, from handling check-in to arranging late check-out. We flew in from Canada with 2 adults and 1 teenager on a late flight in October, so we didn’t arrive until almost 10 pm. Most nights we took over the little front area with chairs to listen to music and chat with locals. There’s lots within walking distance, and Trader Joes is about a 15 minute walk, which was perfect. If you’re going to California to see places like Hollywood Blvd, though, you’re a bit out of the way. We took the Metro when we wanted to explore. It was quiet enough for some serious relaxing, but busy enough that no one got bored. Great place, highly recommend it, and we’ll be back soon.

What made our stay was the front desk service. Our Booking.com reservation wasn’t showing in the hotel system when we arrived, but the young man at reception was incredibly kind and helpful. He called Booking support several times himself to sort it out and made sure we had a room right away so we could rest. We’re grateful for his professionalism and kindness, and he really went above and beyond. The rooms were fine, the free parking was very convenient, and the location worked well for Redondo Beach. One tip: don’t rely too heavily on third-party booking platforms. Once they’ve taken your money, they may not help if there’s a problem. Book directly with the hotel, you’ll be in much better hands.

We picked this classic roadside motel because the price was good and I liked being close to Torrance for Japanese food reasons. It’s a few blocks from the beach, so it works well if you want to relax for a few days. Getting around LA to sightsee is less convenient. Even though downtown, Disney, and other attractions aren’t actually that far, traffic makes it hard to get anywhere fast. The main downside is US 1 noise. It didn’t bother me, but it could be an issue if you’re a light sleeper. Our bathroom door seemed poorly fitted, maybe from age: it scraped the floor when closed all the way and squeaked when opened. Annoying at night, but not a deal-breaker. Bring travel shampoo, the packets they gave us were pretty bad.