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The Little Inn by the Beach: Traveler Reviews

2.5 of 5
1819 South El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672 (Formerly Motel San Clemente)
Hotel amenities
The Little Inn by the Beach
Ranked #13 of 17 hotels in San Clemente
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31 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    6
    13
    7
    4
    1
Date Rating
Oro Valley, Arizona
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
13 hotel reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
“Old school fun place”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed October 24, 2012

This is an old school style motel with a great design, but it does show some age. I went there with 3 other guys for a guys weekend at the beach and we had a blast. The balcony layout is really cool and we had our door open most of the time we were at the place hanging out on the balcony. The view from the higher floors is ok and you can see the ocean, but not really from the 2nd floor. The staff and owners are very nice and do what they can to make your stay a good one. The rooms were clean enough for me, but I'm sure if my wife was with me she would have found something to complain about. We did have to ask for extra towels and soap, but other than that no issues.

Some comments:
The parking is tight, but that is too be expected in a beach town.
There is a propane BBQ free for use that we used that was a nice feature.
The continental breakfast was pretty basic (oatmeal and fruit), but it was nice to have coffee there 24/7.
It's about a mile walk to the "downtown" bars and restaurants, something we did each evening. You could get a cab, but the walk was not bad.
The donut place across the street is a must.
The traffic noise from the freeway is an issue, but did not really bother us (not overwhelming). When you are in your room with the door closed, it is quiet.

Room Tip: You'll have a better view of the ocean on the higher floors.
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  • Stayed October 2012, traveled with friends
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask AZTrojan about The Little Inn by the Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dana Point, California
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
“convenient, reasonable and pleasant surprises”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed October 23, 2012

The white duvet, fluffy pillows, granite counter top, covered free parking, new tiled bathrooms and sunset view were pleasant surprises. I was on a staycation while I had company at my pad and just wanted a place that I could walk to restaurants, ride my bike from to the beach trail along the ocean and have a fridge/microwave.

The room was clean. I utilized the Free Wi Fi, in room snacks and on premise BBQ grill. The rooms at the beach are pricey. The National chain hotel which was closer to downtown (8 minute walk) was $189 for the same night I paid $73 here and didn't include breakfast or WI Fi.

I hit several really nice restaurants in a two block radius including El Mariachi and Happa J's. I enjoyed the walk to the beach and loved the convenient access to the highway in the morning when I didn't have time.

Room Tip: Ask for a 2nd or 3rd floor room as they have the best views. I liked being on the end so I could us...
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  • Stayed September 2012, traveled solo
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Lisa T about The Little Inn by the Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Oxnard, California
1 review
“Great place/great value”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed October 11, 2012

My husband and I travel to visit friends in San Clemente two or three times a year and we always stay here. The rooms are spacious and always clean. Traffic noise is minimal and everything is within easy walking and/or driving distance.

Staff is friendly and courteous, plus the outdoor balcony/patio is perfect for afternoon wine/appetizers to hare with friends.....

  • Stayed September 2012, traveled with friends
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Rose_S32837 about The Little Inn by the Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Seattle
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
9 hotel reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
“Lots of pluses, but needs work.”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed October 1, 2012 via mobile

Close to freeway but good sound proofing except when children were running upstairs. We had a few issues which the owners did their best to resolve. They gave us a discount for the things they couldn't fix. The coffee was good, but nothing especially exciting for the continental breakfast. One car parking per room. Close to beach, town, restaurants and shopping.

  • Stayed September 2012
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask RLKonBI about The Little Inn by the Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Riverside, California
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
5 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
“You Get What You Pay For”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed October 1, 2012

My wife and I traveled to San Clemente to attend my nephew's wedding on the beach. We only stayed there the one night, fortunately. The one-bed room was clean and of average size. There was a small refrigerator that was noisy enough at night to make getting to sleep a little difficult and a microwave we did not use. There is no central AC/Heat but there is a wall unit you would have to run constantly to avoid opening the old single pane window because of the traffic noise from the close-by freeway. My wife says they should name it "The Little Inn By The Freeway".
Parking is very limited and tight. A notice posted in the elevator warns that if you park at any of the nearby businesses you car will be towed. Don't do that. When we returned from the reception at around 11:00 pm that night we had to park on a side street. There were a few open spaces but they are so narrow I would not have been able to open the car door to exit. There was one of the few spaces open in the small parking garage but a large concrete support pillar prevented me from getting my mid-size car into the parking space. All things said our stay there was just ok. Next time we stay in the area we'll spend a few extra dollars for better accommodations. There are plenty to choose from.
BTW, we did have a wonderful breakfast the next morning at The Fisherman's Restaurant And Bar on the pier. The food and service was very good and so was the Bloody Mary.

  • Stayed September 2012, traveled with family
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Joe H about The Little Inn by the Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Additional Information about The Little Inn by the Beach

Also Known As:
The Little Inn By The Beach Hotel
The Little Inn By The Beach Hotel San Clemente
Little Hotel San Clemente
Address: 1819 South El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672 (Formerly Motel San Clemente)
Region: United States > California > Orange County > San Clemente
Amenities:
Free Breakfast Free High-Speed Internet Free Parking Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
Ranked #13 of 17 hotels in San Clemente
Price Range: $
Hotel Class:2.5 star (2.5*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Quaint local family owned Inn with ocean view, yet near Hwy 5, restaurants, shops. We offer a king or 2 queen bed clean, comfortable and spacious rooms with the following amenities:Continental Breakfast Daily Patio and ocean/sunset view Microwave and mini fridgeCoffee maker, iron, iron board, and hair dryerDining and office table and chairsAlarm clock radio with adaptor for Ipod, music deviceTV, DVD player and DVD moviesParking – some coveredLocal restaurants, surf board and bike rental, shopping and night life walking distanceEasy on and off Hwy 5 access, just minutes to San Onofre, Camp Pendleton, Dana Point Harbor, State Park, Beaches ... more   less 
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The Little Inn by the Beach
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