We stayed at this Best Western during a recent trip down Pacific Coast Highway before heading to Hearst Castle. I must admit that I was leary when I booked the room based on the price. I was expecting minimal amenities, but was very pleasantly surprised upon our arrival. The room boasted ocean views, a wood burning fireplace and a mini-bar stocked with beverages and snacks for the whole family. The hotel exterior featured a heated pool, on-site restaurant and beach-front firepits and benches for viewing the spectacular sunset. The room itself was spacious and the hotel was generous with the toiletries-everything from soap and shampoo to make-up and nail polish removal pads, a sewing kit and post-beach foot cleanser! When the room got too warm from the fire, we were able to open the windows to our room and listen to the waves crashing all night. We dined at the restaurant for dinner and ordered room service for breakfast--both meals were fantastic and reasonably priced. The hotel is very conveniently located for a visit to Hearst Castle. I would gladly stay again.

We had a handicap room because my mom is in a wheelchair. Not all "handicap" rooms are wheelchair friendly, and the Cavalier was perfect for our situation. Everyone was attentive to our every need...The paths on the bluff were easy to go on, also. We loved hearing the crashing waves from our room! We were told it wasn't a room with a "view" and were so surprised to still have "ocean" out our window! Very clean and comfortable. Good food at the resteraunt and at the Mexican place close by. I will stay there again.

After a somewhat nervous drive down through Big Sur from San Francisco this little gem of a hotel awaited us. Good price with ocean view, but best part are the fires lit each night on the bluff above the beautiful ocean and beach. We sat by one of the three that were lit after dark and chatted with other travelers while drinking some good regional wine we purchased at the liquor store across the street. Beds and pillows were fantastic - the best we had on that trip. Front desk staff alerted us to the impending sunset while we were checking in - gorgeous - don't miss it! Decennt but not overwhelming dining choices just 5 minutes south in Cambria - recommend the ones on the ocean side of the highway for view. Perfect place to stay when visiting Hearst Castle. Just a minute north on the highway and you are at the entrance to the Visitor's Center. Check out Sebastian's just across highway from Castle entrance in San Simeon for lunch after your tour - great sandwiches using Hearst Ranch beef. Better to go there after your tour - lines can be long. If you are looking for a Marriott Marquis feel, this is not the place for you. But if you want a relaxing down-home atmosphere, comfortable rooms, and an incredible view in a very convenient location - this IS the place for you. I have no criticisms - it exceeded my expectations.

We liked this lodge. But get an ocean view or dont bother. Reasonably priced with pleasant rooms nicely furnished with mini bars and huge safes. The hotel lights open air log fires just on the edge of the beach which made night watching the waves a pleasure. Some rooms have log burners, and face-on ocean views but these are more expensive. We were slightly annoyed that both the booking confirmation and the guest directory mentioned a DVD player but in fact has abandoned those as they have upgraded their TVs. Not a deal breaker but we had some US bought discs we would have liked to play. San Simeon may seem the obvious stop for visiting Hearst Castle. And without wishing to knock this inn we wished we knew about Cambria a few miles up the road. It is charming with far more choice of ocean view inns. Cambria is full of galleries and restaurants and is clealy over-endowed for its own tiny population. Somehow despite being a tourist magnet and its crazy folksy attempt at English village architecture it escapes tacky by some margin and as English visitors we were charmed. The town is divided by the highway but this wouldn't matter to most.