House of Trestles

The location is great, but the hotel needs an upgrade. The old single-pane windows made it noisy all night, and the room smelled like a bathroom. I don’t think the sheets had been washed after the previous guest. I couldn’t sleep at all, and after checkout I managed to nap in my car. Definitely a 1.5-star hotel.

The location is great, and it’s about a lovely 30-minute walk to the surf spots. The beds were clean and the vibe was cool. The lockers didn’t feel secure, since someone could easily break through the wooden panels. Service was a bit off, with no late checkout, and the staff were nice, though the manager seemed like he needed some sleep. The rental boards are damaged and scarce, so don’t count on them.

The murals all over the building were great, and the area is lovely, with an easy walk to the beach and restaurants down the street. The owner made the check-in steps easy to understand, and everything felt welcoming when I arrived. Once I got into bed, I started itching badly and realized it was full of bed bugs. I had welts all over, and it hurt a lot. I contacted the owner, who apologized and refunded me the next day. I was able to switch to a bed without bugs and get a good night’s sleep after taking a couple of showers. It was a wonderful stay otherwise, but the bed bug problem was a lot to deal with. If you get a bed with wood on it, I’d check before getting under the covers.

We liked the Gallery Suite at House Of Trestles enough to add an extra night. Thomas was working while we were there, and he was friendly and helpful when we rented a wetsuit and boards. The suite was clean and roomy, with its own kitchen, living area, and bathroom. It felt like a really cool apartment. You don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy it. If you’re into surf culture, the beach, and cool art, House Of Trestles is a great fit. People were respectful of one another and each other’s space and belongings. San Clemente is beautiful too. We had a great experience and highly recommend it! :)