Redondo Pier Inn

The location is the strongest point, but the service and upkeep made this a disappointing stay. At check-in the lobby smelled strongly, and the desk attendant wasn’t rude, just not welcoming. The parking charge differed from the website, and nobody confirmed the rate or total, which was strange. The room was clean but very basic. The fridge didn’t work and a closet shelf was broken. The toilet clogged almost right away. When I called, staff offered a plunger, but there wasn’t one in the room, so I felt dealing with it was the hotel’s responsibility. Another employee later said maintenance doesn’t work at night. It was eventually fixed, but toilet water was left trailing behind and nobody apologized. At checkout, there was no one at the desk, only a bucket to drop the key into. A friendly employee eventually helped and emailed a receipt, but it didn’t itemize the charges. I expect clean, safe rooms, working amenities, decent service, and an easy stay, and this place fell short.

The best part is the location. The beach is about a 10-minute walk, and there are plenty of good restaurants nearby. If you’re up for it, you can walk to Hermosa and Manhattan beach too. The neighborhood feels safe, and since it isn’t touristy, the stay feels more local. Parking costs $6 per night, though street parking was very easy and free. There’s a microwave and mini-fridge, plus a spacious, bright room with lots of lights and a balcony. The downsides are hard to ignore. There was mold, a bad smell, itchy sheets, hard pillows, threadbare towels, and cheap toiletries. The Wi-Fi didn’t work at all, with a test showing 1.42 MBPS, and there was nothing on TV. The coffee machine was really gross, and they take away the cups, so bring a mug if you want tea at bedtime. For an LA rate of $125 a night, booked through a third-party site, it could be worse, but you may see some riff raff here. I used to live in the neighborhood and felt it was pretty safe, though I can’t speak for the other guests. It’s far from the rest of LA’s attractions, so you’ll need a car. I’ve lived in LA for 10 years and traveled a lot. I’ve stayed in worse places, and this was survivable.

Misty was friendly, the room was clean and roomy, the sheets were fresh, there was no smell, and the cold unit worked. The TV worked too. The location is lovely, just minutes from the pier and coast. For a night or two, it seems like a fair deal. I wasn’t sure at first after reading the reviews, but I don’t really see the fuss. Parking costs extra, though it wasn’t as wildly overpriced as at some other places. I still don’t agree with those fees.

The staff were honest and kind, and I didn’t see any riff raff or feel unsafe. Housekeeping will clean the room daily if you ask. There isn’t much parking, though, and the place feels dated even after remodeling. It needs major upgrades, and there was no breakfast beyond coffee or juice. Still, I’d stay again because it’s close to the beach. I left housekeeping a bag of gifts.