Nomads Hotel - Near San Clemente Pier

We’re local, but my wife and I wanted a quick overnight getaway, and this worked perfectly. Our room was the "Bali Room", with a really cool layout, and it was super clean. Nomads bar and restaurant is upstairs, which made food and drinks convenient. The hotel’s right downtown, so dozens of restaurants and shops are an easy walk away. We loved our stay.

I was in Orange County for a basketball tournament and needed a budget room for one, ideally within walking distance of the beach. The Boat Room at Nomads fit the bill, and the price for a May weekend was unbeatable. It’s tiny, but I loved it and had everything I needed. The owners were very helpful over text, both for check-in and for adding my rental car details just before we arrived. Digital check-in was smooth, and I got overnight parking in front of the Cantina both nights without much trouble. I ate lunch and dinner there, and both were delicious. Loaded tacos are worth trying. The hotel is walkable to just about everything you could want. As other reviews mention, the Cantina stays busy from open to close and starts prepping in the morning. My room was right under the stairs to the Cantina, but I still slept fine with the room’s sound machine and earplugs, which I usually use anyway. The Apple TV made it easy to open several streaming apps. I plan to stay here again next time we’re in the OC, and I appreciated the variety of rooms for different group sizes.

The Boat Room is small and cute, but it had all the essentials and worked well for a couple. It was a great deal, with the beach and downtown both so close that we could walk everywhere. The AC felt especially good after a day out, and the showers were nice and hot. A simple, solid stay, and I’d definitely come back.

We keep coming back because this has become our favorite place in San Clemente. Room 2 could use some updating, but it’s still a great room, and I’d stay in it again. The shower seat had a frame but no seat, which made us laugh, and the unusual sink is so shallow that water splashes everywhere. We’ve also stayed in Room 3, where the grandkids love the quirky bunk beds. There’s a great restaurant here, with more restaurants and shops within walking distance. We walked about 15 minutes to the beach and skipped the traffic. Self check-in was easy. If you’re going to Surf Camp, stay here. This place is truly awesome.