Dingy Dumpy in a great location
I live in the area and recently when work was being done on my apartment, I decided to take off and stay at this hotel. I really wanted to like it, since it would have been a nice option for a couple of days. Unfortunately, the hotel was so dumpy that I checked out after one night.
This hotel is quite a bargain for the location and setting (in the same marina area as the Ritz), but the dingy, beat up, dirty feel of the place really takes away any advantage. Even the lobby chairs appear to have never been cleaned and are stained and dirty. The front desk area looks like a bus station - I mean it's pretty bad when you can't at least keep up appearances at the front desk. My room smelled like it had been cleaned by spraying 1950's mens hair brillantine on everything. Mind you, I got this hotel for the employee discount available to Expedia employees and even still, I checked out after 1 night.
The hotel is located in beautiful prime real estate in the Marina harbor and it's quite nice to see the boats. It's right next to the bike path, but the place just feels filthy, musty, smelly. I mean when the front desk is stained and dirty, you know there's a problem.
Upside is free parking, there's a pool, the setting is great. You just really feel like, come on guys, you could at least make an effort.
Some good:
Location
Free Parking
Free Wifi
Pool
Some Bad:
Beat up and dingy
Feels dirty
Smells
Patches and discoloration on wallpaper
Patches and discoloration on the ceiling
Dead bugs in the drop down ceiling above the shower
It has the same aesthetic and hygenienic indifference that you'd find in an average hotel on the road in India. I felt like I wish I had brought a bed sheet to sleep in...
Unique Quality: The location is great, the hotel stinks. Literally. Free parking is nice and convenient.
You feel that this hotel makes its money from tourists who want to be near the marina and are attracted by the price. I am somewhat embarrassed that this is the face Marina del Rey offers to visitors.
It would be great if the manager or owner spent less time responding to negative reviews and more time cleaning up and sprucing up the place.