I'm what you'd consider a frequent traveller all around the world and Huntley Santa Monica Beach was a very good Hotel to stay the 2 nights 23 December 2012, checking out Christmas Day, coming from Sydney, just to get over jetlag. Huntley is very clean, spacious, very comfortable, excellent air conditioning/ heater controls, fantastic TV, pillows, bed and beautiful hotel foyer & it's aroma. Location is fantastic! Few minutes or 2 blocks to the Beach and Santa Monica Pier. Only 2 unpleasant comments: Shower very noisy within the rectangular cubicle, however the massage setting is beautiful. 2nd: Parking hired car is US$30 per night, too expensive! In fact, majority of Hotels in USA charge for parking hired vehicle and it's the only turn off for visiting USA.

Large hotel that was very nice and clean common areas and rooms. It is located on a quiet street. Walking distance to downtown area and beach. We stayed in a room with partial ocean view which was very nice. Staff was very friendly and attentive.

Ahh the Huntley. It's a great spot to go for a drink on a weekend, but staying there is a bit different. you can definitely tell that it was an older hotel that they revamped into a fun, boutique hotel. How can you tell? Though the lobby and hallways are beautiful, there are lots of details in the rooms that hint to a much older property: old doors, maybe the oldest blinds I've ever seen, a few old fixtures, and walls that are far from sound proof. Even with these issues, it's still a great hotel.

My biggest gripe is the "Ocean View" room that we booked. It was only $20 more, so I thought "what the heck!"..ocean views are always worth it, right? Maybe not. this one is only in the bathroom. The way the hotel is laid out, the ocean views are on the narrow end of the building, and the only windows facing the ocean are in the bathroom. Makes for one hell of a shower, but when you wake up in the morning, you're still just looking at a wall.

Additionally, the hotel is pretty loud. As I said, the doors are old, and don't fit well, so you hear everything that happens in the hallway. And since the hotel has a pretty active bar, people are loud, up late, and drunk. And the (old) doors slam, so put all that together and you get a pretty loud night sleep. I had earplugs and it was still loud. I like to sleep in hotels, so I probably wouldn't stay there again.

Plusses:
Great location
Cool style
Spacious rooms

Negatives:
Loud
Parking is impossible and valet is $$
Party Hotel
Some old features
Watched a couple complain that a bunch of presents in their room had disappeared..so be careful.

The first time we went to The Huntley (and reviewed it) we truly enjoyed the hotel. We mostly appreciated the location and service.

This time, we had a one night stop on our way back (long drive) and badly wanted to return there for a good rest before hitting the road again.

At check in, we've mentioned to the blonde lady checking us that we were returning there.
She couldn't care less. Actually, she didn't seem to care much about anything as long as it was related to her job.
First impression : Bad.

When we arrived to the room, the keys didn't work.
I went back to the front desk and asked for some new keys. No apologize or anything.
They gave me some new keys. I went back to the room. It worked.

Our city view room had an extraordinary view over a ... parking lot. And, oh surprise, 2 queens beds while we reserved a king size bed.

I called the rather courteous front desk (just kidding) and asked for King size bed room.
And then (no kidding) they told me : "we're very busy, we can arrange you that but you're gonna lose the view".
What did they expect me to say ? "Oh sure, I can sleep away from wife, as long as I can have the parking lot view".

Ofcourse, i asked for a king size room. I was then asked to wait in my room till someone comes up with the new key.

5 mins later we had the key and where sent two floors below to the second floor.

Yes. It had a king size bed. Infact, it was all oversized since it was a handicapped room with those lovely plastic curtains in the bathroom, and global low end "hospital feel".
Best of all, the insanely disturbing pizza/burger smell in the room. It was so unbearable that we opened the window and left the room.

I could tell you many more thing about their crowded penthouse bar with less than average but still pricy cocktails, people sitting the chairs but not drinking or doing anything (yes, makes the place look "busy" and "trendy"). Very disgracious barman by the way.
We left and walked toward the very close 3rd street just to find out that the entire area is now packed with tons of homeless people.
I don't blame people for being homeless. It is just that we can hardly have good time when surrounded by desperate people.

So far, we decided to avoid the place. Sometimes, if you're lucky you may have a good time at a given hotel/resort.

But the real difference with quality hotel/resort and those trying to look like is that you may return anytime : the real pros won't disappoint you.

By the way, when we checked out, the same person was there, at the front desk. No asking how good our stay was or if the new room was ok.
I gave my parking ticket to to the valet, willing to move away from that burger smelling place.
3 minutes later, I went back to the valet. He greets me again like he hasn't seen me before (He simply forgot he had a car to bring me back).

To the very last minute, the guys messed up everything.
Last impression : Bad

Try the Huntley if you get a bargain *and* feel lucky.