I needed an affordable place to stay while on business, and this fit the bill. It was definitely an interesting mix of amenities and services. It was clear tha most guests were vacationing, which was fine. The front of the hotel has a lovely view of the ocean, while the back looks at a wall of dirt. The downside to the front of the hotel is noise- a major road and an active train track run just in front of the hotel. I found the trains bothersome the first night, but really didn't hear them after that.

The biggest advantage to this place is the full kitchen in each unit. And I mean full kitchen! Range top, full size fridge, nicest microwave I've ever seen, dishwasher, regular size coffee pot, blender (!), all the dishes, pots, and pans you could want, PLUS, a full size Weber grill on the balcony! If you want to save money by eating in, this is the place.

Downsides include the fact that housekeeping services are not daily- just once a week. This would have been ok, had I been told about it up front, but no one mentioned it when I checked in. In general, the hotel looks like it's been around the block a few times, particularly in public areas. The rooms are nicer than halls, etc. The building I was in had one old, small elevator, which was very slow.

The ugly- parking. Each building has an underground parking garage, which is great. However, the parking spaces are the smallest I have ever seen- and I was driving a compact car. If you are used to city driving and parking, this would likely not phase you, however, I found the lot to be a challenge. Overnight street parking is not an option. There is a large parking lot across the street, however, it's part of a local park and costs $15 per day to use. If you drive a large vehicle, beware.

Would have been perfect if Amtrak and Metrolink trains didn't roar thru every few hours especially at 6am. Beach was very rocky and need to cross over highway via a walkway about 2 blocks away. Staff was pleasant but not overly so. Lots of road noise from traffic. Easy ride to Dana Point which was scenic quiet and peaceful.

We stayed at the Riviera Shores May 18 - 20, 2012 while attending the Doheney Blues Festival. There is a pedestrian overpass nearby which takes you over the Pacific Coast highway and the railway to the beach. The Blues Fest provided a complimentary shuttle service to the Festival which was a couple of miles away. We were on the fourth floor so didn't find the passing trains too disruptive. Large balcony with a BBQ. The kitchens are well equipped for those who wish to cook their own meals. The rooms were well appointed and good value @ $141 CDN/night. We made use of the large pool, however one of the hot tubs looked a bit "green". Extra charges for room WiFi. Front end staff very friendly and accommodating.

Our anniversary was in April, so my husband booked a surprise retreat to this resort. We stayed in the one bedroom. We had been here before about 2 yrs. ago. Since then I noticed they have done a few upgrades. They updated the kitchen cabinets and appliances and they updated the bedroom mattresses and bedspreads to a more comfortable & modern look. Also they upgraded the TV from the bedroom. We saved a lot on eating out since we took food to cook/ grill. They have a kitchen supplied with everything one can need and they have a gas grill in the balcony. They also have salt and pepper and complimentary coffee for the first two nights, more is available in the vending machines. The unit was huge, and it had a huge jacuzzi, which we enjoyed very much. They have onsite bike rentals for $3 for 2hrs. We rode the bikes down the Capistrano Creek Trail which is a pretty nice scenic trail, We rode for about one hr to and back and did not reach the end of it. I loved the view form the suite, the ocean is right across the street and you can hear the waves of the ocean, very calming. Once your ready to sleep you can close your bedroom windows and not hear a sound.
There are two kinds of balconies, one has a short see through fence and the other a wood divider. The wood is more private since it goes all the way up. The glass balcony is not, your neighbor can pretty much walk outside and join you. There are more of the private balconies though than the clear ones 2/3 more.
The staff is not very friendly as you often see in other resorts, that is why I put a 4 not a five.