The Belamar-nice hotel
by TripAdvisor Member eagles78
We had a nice stay at The Belamar in which we stayed two nights. The staff is friendly and very helpful. The hotel room was clean and nicely decorated. We had breakfast at the hotel restaurant called The Vibe and it was tasty with good service.
This hotel has valet parking but they don't charge for it. Just what you want to give in a tip to the valet parking attendants.
Manhatten beach area is a nice area with shops and delicious restaurants. We ate at The Kettle ( crabcake sandwich was delicious) and we ate at The Rock'n Fish. The food was delicious there too!
I would definitely recommend this hotel and area to visit. I was glad we chose to stay here instead of near downtown Los Angeles.
Cute little find
by TripAdvisor Member Beth116
After being shocked at the price of hotels in the Manhattan Beach area, I was thrilled to find a good deal for The Belamar Hotel. We stayed there for three nights at the end of July.
The hotel itself is very classy and nicely decorated. The rooms are regular size but the beds are fantastic and the TV is a nice flat screen. The window air conditioner was a bit annoying, as it kicks on and off VERY loudly, which is difficult when you're trying to sleep!
We didn't get to use the pool/hot tub, as it was closed one night for a private function and then closed for "safety concerns" another day. Based on other reviews, it seems that this happens ALOT, and while we weren't too disappointed since we had the beach, it is very frustrating to pay for the amenities of a hotel and have one aspect frequently blocked off. The pool and hot tub, from what we saw, were pretty small though, so we weren't missing out too much. The courtyard area by the pool was very nice though with comfy seating and a nice, relaxing atmosphere.
The lobby offered free coffee every morning, fresh fruit-infused water, and cookies, which was a nice treat! The workout room is small, but adequate if you want to work out. I recommend you just go outside though and enjoy the nice weather!
The only parking available is valet, but that wasn't a problem. It was complimentary (unlike other hotels), and tipping these drivers didn't bother us. The front desk staff was pleasant, but nothing to write home about. I didn't feel anyone went out of their way to help us or make us feel welcome, but no one was outwardly rude either.
The hotel isn't ideally located, but it's not bad. It's in a very ritzy area of nice beach houses, and the walk to the beach is a bit long, but very do-able. There is a jogging path you can walk along instead of the narrow sidewalks. There's a mall across the street from the hotel where you can grab a bite to eat (Corner Bakery, PF Changs, California Pizza Kitchen), but walking to Manhattan Beach is worth it. The beach is beautiful and didn't seem as crowded as the Malibu beaches. The restaurants were good, and definitely try the Manhattan Beach Creamery for some tasty ice cream!
Overall I would recommend The Belamar to others, especially if you can get a good deal, as well as a Tranquility room (which has a balcony -- the Skyline does not).
amazing. best in los angeles area for the price
by TripAdvisor Member robertNewOrleans
the belamar is amazing. everything was great. i recommend the tranquility rooms with the balcony. i love being near the crowds of los angeles but staying in the more quiet area of manhattan beach. the hotel was stylish and sexy without being over the top like the standard in hollywood. obviously there are other more luxurious hotels in the los angeles area, but you will pay at least twice as much. the area around the belamar is nice and with easy access to manhattan beach, you have everything you need close at hand, and yet easily accessible to hollywood, malibu, etc. also very close to LAX, so that you are quickly in your hotel after a flight and back to the airport quickly when you leave. i highly recommend the belamar. i will be back!!!
Nothing Negative!
by TripAdvisor Member talulah46
I was so worried after reading negative reviews of The Belamar. We stayed three nights and it was fantastic! It IS everything the website says it is--the beds were heaven, the rooms were clean, fresh and well maintained everyday; the a/c worked fine--even though the weather was 72+, the rooms do get stuffy w/o the a/c on; did not eat at the restaurant and it did take forever to get a Starbucks coffee, but the staff is very friendly, courteous and service is their main priority. The shuttle was very accomodating; the staff willing to recommend restaurants, sights, etc. I will definately stay here again if the need ever arises and I highly recommend it to anyone who is dilly, dallying as to whether or not to take the negative reviews into consideration.
It is not that close to the beach, but unless you want to be where all the noise and hoopla is, it is enjoyable to walk or shuttle down to the beach and back. The houses and neighborhoods are just precious, neat and clean.
My only caution is the cabs--we took the same trip to Hermosa Beach three times and each time it was a different (and lesser) amount. Same route, same distance, same time to get there...I recommend looking into the bus--we just couldn't get out schedule together with enough time to take advantage of the buses.
Forum Posts
Best Hotel (other than Shade)
by beatchfre
Hi,
i was in Manhattan Beach last year and am planning to take my girlfriend there for a few days next month. I am looking for a hotel in the same sort of area that Shade is currently located in (this is too expensive for me). Can someone recommend the best hotel that's *minutes* walk from the beach?
Re: Best Hotel (other than Shade)
by YVRDave
http://www.ayreshotels.com/hawthorne/index.asp
Re: Best Hotel (other than Shade)
by savvygirl
I don't know if you have already traveled to Manhattan Beach, but the Belamar Hotel is a nice alternative to Shade. Not as expensive, not a chain hotel and it encompasses that cool, boutique hotel vibe.
Re: Best Hotel (other than Shade)
by heryanta
Hi there,
if you want to be able to walk to the beach you might want to try the sea view inn. their url is http://www.seaview-inn.com/index.html and rates start at $110.
it's nowhere near as glitzy as shade, but it's on Highland avenue which is means you are 1 block from the water.
it is slightly south of the pier, but you can walk to shade in 20 mins.
the downside of staying on Highland is you get the commuter noise during rush hours.
-Andi-
