The room looked ok but the service and intangibles at this motel was pathetic. I am convinced that many of these reviews are fake.

We had booked an upgraded room on an upper floor directly with the hotel. (strike 1 - bait & switch) When we got there, we were informed that that class of room we booked does not exist, and an upgraded room would cost us an extra $30 per night. (strike 2) We were then told that, since there was no bell desk, we would have to bring up our luggage to our room ourselves. Of course I hurt myself. (strike 3) There was a wedding party across the hall making noise until about 3AM. (strike 4) The walls are paper thin so you can hear conversations, etc. in the adjoining room - we tried running the fan to drown out all the noise, but the room became too freezing for our 8 month old baby who was up crying all night. (strike 5) We found out on the second day that the lock on the room door didn't work. (strike 6) We wasted about 2 hours of a nice day waiting in vain for the lock to be fixed, then for someone to find us a new room, then discovering that the room class was a few levels lower.

You probably don't believe this, but I usually am not one to complain. However, this stay was extraordinarily bad, and people should be warned about the fraudulent reviews. At least they refunded the room upgrade amount after I complained at the front desk. If you just want a room and are on a tight budget, maybe this hotel is passable. If you want even the minimum level of service, please go elsewhere!

After reading the reviews here, I decided to try the Ambrose. My check-in was easy by a helpful desk clerk that I only saw once in my 5 day stay. The rooms are clean and spacious and very comfortable. HOWEVER, noisy TV'S can be heard from your next door neighbors' rooms. So, bring ear plugs! A Whole Food Market is within walking distance and good for breakfast as you will want to pass on the continental one served here. The pastry was soggy and the fruit was over ripe and mushy. I hoped each morning it would improve.!

We stayed at the Ambrose for 1 week in early May 2004. The hotel looks very new as it is only 1 year old. No worries about worn carpeting or furniture. However, we did encounter a leaky aircon duct. But this was promptly attended to by a friendly handyman. The hotel is indeed very nice and 'Zen' looking with many wood panels and Asian tones. A 'Koi Pond' (with no Koi) in the front of the building is nice to have your morning coffee in front of.For those of you who like to go to the gym, The Ambrose has a nice one that's a bit under-utilised. So the machines are very clean and new. Nice. Best time to use the gym is in the late mornings and afternoons.However, for all its serenity and cleanliness, we found that the hotel could do with a few more 'nice touches' which I don't think would cost a lot. For the price you pay for staying here (and its not cheap, even by Santa Monica standards), these improvements should be looked into. The Ambrose has a really large bathroom with marble floors, I think they should provide disposable slippers so guests don't freeze their feet off. Also, housekeeping wasn't really effective. I don't think they even tidy up anything else in the room other than making the bed and replenishing the amenities in the toilet. The bathroom could also do with a clothes line for guests who want to do some laundry.The Ambrose is an above average hotel which gains points for the mere fact that it is new and clean. Staff at reception are OK but not overly friendly. Give the hotel a couple more years and you'll probably start noticing some differences in its look. They serve a continental breakfast in the mornings like muffins, danish, juice, fruit salad, yoghurt, bagels and coffee/tea. Adquate but not lavish. Don't look for anything hot to eat other than toast.On the whole, a nice hotel but location is far from shopping and beach. You'd have to walk about 1/2 hrs (one way) to get to the 3rd street promenade for any nice restaurants or shops. Nearby restaurants are IHOP, koo-ko-roo and Sizzler. The neighbouhood is very quiet perhaps because it's opposite a chapel and funeral home. But if you're looking for peace and quiet, this place is it. However, remember to bring those bedroom slippers and a good book to read.

This hotel is very beautiful. The quality of the reviews is very high. I would say it is in the top tier. You get Aveda products, beautiful linens etc.

The breakfast in the morning is lovely. There is a pretty brook and feng shui atmosphere right outside the breakfast area.

I stayed there in August 2003 and had no problems. The rooms aren't very large, but they are of decent size.

Overall, this was a very pleasant experience. This is a very good value for Santa Monica (whic is generally overpriced for what you get)!