we stayed at the beach terrace inn on march 8-12. we had a grande room which was huge. Hearing the waves was absolutely theraputic. The hotel itself is nothing fancy but the location and price makes up for it. we will absolutely go back.

I just returned from a six night family reunion at The Beach Terrace Inn. We had four rooms, consisting of three ocean front and one studio. Two of the three ocean front rooms had been remodeled and were nice. (Ask for handicap) Our room was #26 and the studio we had the kids in was #30. They both need updating but they were adequate. Room #26 is right in front of the surf and the view can not be beat. We had many wonderful nights on the balcony over looking the Pacific Ocean and toasting to the beautiful sunset. They just finished a new lobby/reception area and it is outstanding. All the rooms are very large and include kitchenettes. The pool area is very good and kept quite clean. You can lay on a lounge chair, catch some rays, drink a beer and watch your kids on the beach through the plexiglass barrier. Every night we walked into the Village to one of the many nearby restaurants. One morning at breakfast we saw the owner talking to the design committee. I know they have alot of plans to improve the worn areas of the facility. Our son attends the Army and Navy Academy just two blocks away, so we are looking forward to seeing the improvments on our next visit. If you love the beach, appreciate a good location and like Best Western class accomodations, you will enjoy your stay.

We just got back from our stay at the Beach Terrace Inn. Yes, our room was large, but it is in dire need of remodeling and cleaning. The bathroom smelled of mildew and the carpet was really dirty, it felt slimy almost to walk on it with bare feet (I wore socks the entire time). The housekeeping was bad, our room was not vaccuumed once in the 3 days we were there and the bathroom towels were basically thrown on the rack, never folded properly. They keep a toilet brush in the bathroom and I noticed the holder was full of old toilet water, gross, I'm sure that is the reason for the disgusting smell. Also, the bathroom door does not close or lock. You just had to push it alittle and it would open right up which was unsafe for my children. The sliding door leading to the balcony did not lock properly either, we had to prop a chair next to it so our children wouldn't try to go out. It just felt dirty because there was no attention to detail. The doors were so old, dirty and grubby and they looked like they were about to fall off the hinges. The beach is nice, but when you look at the other places to stay on the same beach, you can see a major difference in the upkeep. The other places right next door are modern and beautiful and clean. We will never stay at the Beach Terrace Inn again.

We’ve stayed at the Beach Terrace Inn twice now and will be back again. The hotel itself isn’t anything spectacular. It’s aging a bit, but being remodeled. The rooms are huge, and some have heavenly, newly installed Jacuzzis (great for washing off surf and sand!). The staff is friendly and competent. They have free breakfasts each morning with bad coffee and mediocre muffins, which taste OK when you take them back and eat them on your balcony overlooking the ocean. Most rooms have fridges, some have kitchens. The BTI is arguably overpriced, but is comparable to nearby hotels. It’s a pricey area. There is no restaurant at the hotel, but dozens with walking distance. And the walking is the thing: this section of Carlsbad is downright idyllic.

The Beach
Proximity to the beach is the best feature of the BTI: it’s the only hotel in Carlsbad that is truly “Beachfront”. The beach is clean and pretty and relatively uncrowded, a rarity in crowded Southern California. The water, as well as the summer temperatures, is surprisingly cool: unless it is July or August, most swimmers opt for wetsuits. (Some wear them even then.) Occasional sightings of porpoises and sailboats provide what little excitement there is, serenity rules here, save for some screaming from happy children.

The Town
There are a handful of decent restaurants and shops along Carlsbad Drive, but for a vastly improved selection, walk a little farther to the railroad depot and Village Faire area. There is usually an excellent band playing at an outdoor bar there. Pleasant, safe, and family-friendly.

Recreation Options
Non-surfing twentysomethings will die of boredom, which is one of the reasons we like it there. Recommended family-friendly fare include venturing inland and seeing the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, which zoo-lovers will adore. Legoland is fun for small children, but teenagers will be suicidal, as the rides are too “lame”. Driving to LA or San Diego opens up options for countless theme parks, but there is little point in paying to stay on the beach in Carlsbad if you’re just using it as a base to go elsewhere.

The Rooms
The majority of the rooms are truly “oceanfront”: rooms 50 thru 64 and 10 thru 29 put you square on the beach, a shell’s throw from the water. Avoid the ground floor rooms – these are a little TOO close to the beach and/or pool, and noise/privacy becomes an issue. Rooms 30 thru 45 offer either no view or a partial beach view, but are cheaper.