Casablanca Inn

The staff were amazing, and the location worked well for us: Dana Point is about 10 minutes away, while downtown San Clemente is only around five. It’s a quaint older hotel, built in the mid-80s. Our room had plenty of space, a nice king or queen bed, and a small sofa that was handy for watching TV and could also fold into a single bed. The continental breakfast was good, with someone there to prepare it.

I’ve stayed here several times over the years, and this time I had a standard second-floor room with two queen beds that hadn’t been renovated. The furniture and decor are dated, but everything was perfectly acceptable, with no stains or strange smells. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and there were plenty of towels. I had everything I needed and slept well. The hotel was full, but there wasn’t a noise problem, and guests tend to be considerate. Staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast is basic but does the job. I didn’t use the pool, though it looked clean and well maintained. For the value, it’s the best deal I’ve found.

The rooms are clean, roomy, and well furnished, with plenty of towels and a large TV carrying local and national channels. This is a nice local motel, though there aren’t really services. The bathtub dispensers for soap and shampoo apparently aren’t being refilled. We brought shampoo, and the hotel gave us one small bar of soap. We usually book through the hotel’s website or by phone to avoid broker commissions, and that often saves money. This time it didn’t: Hotel com quoted $110, while our direct booking cost $150 even after the senior discount.

We left an important item behind, and the hotel contacted us about it, which I really appreciated. Free parking was another plus. Our king balcony room had a huge patio overlooking a charming courtyard with a fountain, where we also had breakfast. The breakfast concierge was wonderful and made fresh avocado toast. The room was comfortable, with very soft sheets and beach photos. The pool looked beautiful, though it was too cold in January. Cafes, restaurants, and North Beach are all walkable, and San Clemente has a free trolley and bike rentals. I loved the place and expect it’ll be my new go-to in San Clemente.