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Dolphin Cove Motel: Traveler Reviews

170 Main St., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Hotel amenities
Dolphin Cove Motel
Ranked #26 of 27 hotels in Pismo Beach
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34 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    7
    5
    5
    2
    15
Date Rating
Sao Paulo, SP
Senior Contributor
28 reviews 28 reviews
11 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
“Funky old motel in a good location”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed August 6, 2012

I'm sure there are many nice hotels in the area... but we arrived late in the day, so we had to take what was available, and this was it. Just by looking from the outside, you can tell it is not a prime property. It looks kind of shabby, peeling paint and all. The manager told me James Dean used to hang around the place, and I believe her. I guess it hasn't changed much since his time. The room and bathroom were OK, clean and fairly well maintained. The beds were comfortable enough for a night's rest. There is a very narrow balcony all around, with some cheap plastic chairs. The "breakfast" (just coffee, really) they were supposed to serve from 8 AM was not there until we left, well after 8. So, what's good about this place? Well, you can enjoy a great view of the sunset from your room, and you can walk right down to the beach or to the pier on the elevated walkway. The little tourist area with restaurants and shops is just around the corner. Prices are reasonable. Our stay was very short, but enjoyable. This is by no means a great place to stay, but it was enough for a good rest before resuming our drive along beautiful Highway 1.

Room Tip: Rooms on the upper floor have a good view of the ocean; the ones on the ground floor face the parkin...
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  • Stayed July 2012, traveled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 2
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ridgecrest, California
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“It is a DUMP now > AND going downhill <”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed July 13, 2012

Was there 7/10/12 for ONE night in ROOM 6 > a two room "suite" as Mgr. Kathy referred to it set me back $166 including tax. NO LOCKING BAR ON DOOR from inside. MOLD IN SHOWER on the seams. RIPPED SCREEN in bathroom. STAINED CARPET. The entire ROOM smelled MUSTY. The hide-a-bed was old, ripped, and HELD TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE. Carpet in one room was DAMP. Furniture was yard sale bachelor pad quality, complete with sweaty beer bottle raised bumps on particle board veneer/ finish. I stayed here 4th of July 2004, and it is even MORE rundown NOW. They OBVIOUSLY put ALL $$$ into their pockets and NOT BACK INTO THE PLACE. This place makes a bed bug infested Motel 6 look like the Taj Mahal. >RUN , AS FAST AS YOU CAN , IN THE OTHER DIRECTION< Do NOT pay FIRST ONLINE > they DO NOT REFUND< DEMAND TO SEE THE ROOM FIRST > if they do not, GO ELSEWHERE.
You have BEEN WARNED...

Room Tip: If you value your possessions & families health, RUN AWAY...
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  • Stayed July 2012, traveled with family
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 4
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Marathon
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
9 hotel reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
“Good location”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 9, 2012

This is an older motel that's slowly improving the rooms. The first room we looked at was a little rough but the next room we looked at was fine. Nothing fancy but it was clean. We were on the beach, and within short walking distance to the main tourist area. We absolutely enjoyed watching the sunset from our room.

  • Stayed May 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 3
Ask islandfish about Dolphin Cove Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“I have many childhood memories of this place and I love it”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed June 1, 2012 via mobile

My family spent many spring breaks there back to the 70s and80s have always loved it. The owners have always been nice to us. My
Grandparents used to go clamming and abalone fishing there. Just bring you're sleeping bag for the bed . We tried another high end hotel down the beach and it had bedbugs! The DC is our favorite and the best views yes mngmnt can be picky but their parking lot is well protected from potential beach goers not staying there. Also a lot of Harley riders are there a lot, doctors lawyers ext and personally I feel safe. They redid the rooms in 2011 and it's much better now

  • Stayed June 2012
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask Dmarymariah about Dolphin Cove Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Santa Cruz, California
1 review
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Heinous!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed March 31, 2012 via mobile

My family and I considered staying here but it looked rundown and was practically vacant. Before we could leave we were accosted by the owner who came out screaming and waving his cane at my man and our one year old son! Apparenly he thought we wanted to park in their empty lot and got belligerent on us.
If that wasnt bad enough some other lady came out and threatened to call the cops on us. All apparently for checking out their hotel and deciding not to stay there.

  • Stayed March 2012
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 5
Ask heatherose8 about Dolphin Cove Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Additional Information about Dolphin Cove Motel

Also Known As:
Dolphin Cove Hotel Pismo Beach
Dolphin Cove Hotel
Address: 170 Main St., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Region: United States > California > Pismo Beach
Hotel Style:
Ranked #26 of 27 hotels in Pismo Beach

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