We just returned from Santa Monica and stayed at the Ocean Lodge Motel for four nights. We had a very nice stay and our room was clean and just what we expected. We like staying at family run hotels so we were very pleased with our accommodations. The room was small but we weren't there to stay in the room. We we across the street from Lowes and the pier. The bed was comfortable and our room was quiet. The staff was very nice. We would definitely stay again. Our room was updated and they were working on other rooms while we were there. If you are looking for a high end hotel, this isn't it.

Stayed for two nights, you cannot beat the location, nealy across the road from Santa Monica Pier.
They put us in 108 which is street side, very noisy and it's as if all the street traffic is in your room. We were lucky we were dead tired when we crashed but the noise did not let up.
The Staff are the best you will come across, they moved us the next day and were very helpful.
The Rooms are average at best and I believe for the money they are charging they should be better. Yes I know we are in Santa Monica but really it's a $50 room in any backwater motel in America.
The second room we were given had sticky carpet, really it desperately needs a steam clean, bathroom had black dirty silicon coming away from the floor(oouuh).
Bathrooms from the 1950's.
Luckily the room had a small fridge and air Cond.
I would be using this place for one or two nights max if you want to be close to everything Santa Monica has to offer including the street bums. If Staying longer cough up the extra cash and stay in a better pad!
Last Comment, it served us perfectly for what we needed, would I stay there again. No! If I was desperate? Maybee.

We got stuck looking for accommodation in LA due to changes to our flights made by Virgin. Options for the last minute arrangements were limited due to the increased number of bookings during the American summer season. With only a mobile phone to search the net and make this booking, we chose the Ocean Lodge because it was mid price range ($240 AUD a night) and close to Santa Monica Pier. We read the reviews and NONE mentioned it was on a 6 lane highway! The traffic noise was unbearable. There was also a dreadful diner next door that played horrible live music until 2am further adding to the inability to sleep. The walls were also paper thin so you could most of what was going on around you and in the hall outside. There is a vast expanse of wasteland around the motel and the accommodation was ultra basic (think motel NOT hotel).
The staff were great - helpful and informative - but this place was not worth the money paid. The pillows were old and flat, the shower had NO water pressure (think a minimal leak), there was hair in the shower and dental floss on the sticky carpet and the fridge sounded like a jet engine. The underside of the bed was hanging down and the rooms are generally run down. The website is super misleading claiming it was newly renovated (maybe in 1994) and that they had a deal with a nearby hotel for use of their pool and health club. What they fail to mention is that this would cost you $25 USD per person per visit!
Pay the extra and stay elsewhere.

We didn't want to pay an arm and a leg to stay in Santa Monica so we drove up to this motel saw the room and thought the price was good. The person @ the front desk said the room had a queen size bed and a twin but the queen was more like a full size. It's on a really busy and noisy street and parking is very difficult and limited but other than that it was clean and within walking distance to everything. I wouldn't mind staying there again.