This is my first official review; I figured it was about time since I have taken full advantage of all the great perspectives out there in TripAdvisor forums.

The Inn at Venice Beach was a pleasant and comfortable place to stay within walking distance of everything we needed. The hotel is standard and is situated next to The Venice Canals, a beautiful part of Venice with the name speaking for itself. The houses are right on the water and it's a great route to walk from the hotel to the beach.

As far as the room goes, the bed was pretty small (queen) and not that comfortable. The rest of the room was spacious with a vanity and bathroom, tub/shower. We were satisfied.

Your stay includes a decent continental breakfast (better than most) complete with do it yourself waffles, cereal, and toast. We felt like the hotel rate was affordable since it included breakfast.

Next to the hotel is Baja Cantina, a restaurant known more for its margaritas than its food.

I picked this hotel as a place to recover after a flight from Australia to LA. We also stayed again for 2 nights at the end of our trip. It was close to the airport and only a quick 15minute drive. The staff were very nice and allowed us to check in early at 11am.

We got the same room both stays and the room was cold and smelt like cigarette smoke which I thought was unusual for a non-smoking room.

The free breakfast and free wireless internet were great.
They don't have any room service or restaurants here but head away from the beach for one block and you'll find an amazing italian restaurant with the yummiest garlic bread.

It's only 2 blocks away from the beach and was a really good spot to stay so we could skate along the beach.

It is hard to believe how rudely and disrespectfully we were treated by the front desk clerk at the Inn at Venice Beach. We are positive people, travel lots for business and pleasure, hate to complain AND have never experienced anything quite like this. For the first time, the previous tripadvisor reviews (we trust in) did not reflect what we saw and experienced first hand - mean spirited staff, noisy high-traffic location, and a shabby, tired hotel. For the last night of a dreamy 9 day California adventure with our children, this was a horrible and ugly disappointment for all of us.

We will never be back to the Inn at Venice Beach.

I was stopping in LA for 2 nights when flying from London to Australia on Air NZ, an airline I recommend. After reading the reviews I requested a room by the courtyard because I primarily was stopping in LA to sleep and wanted the quiet. I was not disappointed.

I'd asked for a "1 QUEEN BED", non-smoking, and wrote on the booking form that I would be getting in between 8 and 10pm.

The nights were nice and quiet. And because I was suffering jet lag I woke early, which was good, because the courtyard gets noisy around 7-8am when people enter it to have the free help-yourself breakfast.

An impressively strong yet soft shower was a delight.

The front staff were polite and helpful, all three that I encountered during my 2 night stay there. Free newspaper.. great way to start the morning! And cable TV (yay CNBC - I love visiting the USA just for the Cramer Mad Money show that isn't aired anywhere else in the world).

At LAX airport I was directed to Super Shuttle who would take me there for $17 (add another $3 for tip, so make it $20). Trouble is, I forgot the address, and no one there heard of "The Inn At Venice Beach". When you print out a booking slip from Expedia it doesn't contain the motel address, so look twice at what you print out before you head to LAX!

Proximity on Washington Boulevard from the beach is delightfully close, just a block away! Then turn right at the beach and a block later you're at Venice beach! Delightful. Wow, groups of girls in bikinis on a weekday in March now and then! Great stuff.

If you head the other way on Washington Boulevard, then a block away is a selection of cafes and corner stores.

As you near the beach on Washington Boulevard there's a small sports store and I bought some Nike sneakers (runners) for US$90 - half the price they are available for in Australia.

Last thing - in California there is SALES TAX. And they don't tell you about it, even when they quote prices to you! It's whacked on top. One minute you think you're paying US$2.50 for a hot dog and the next you think they said the total cost wrong (it's sales tax). There's no sales tax refund program when leaving LAX. Just to warn international travellers who aren't used to being lied to when quoted prices.