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About
4.5
#4 of 16 hotels in Cambria
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.6
Value
4.4
If you are looking for the perfect place to escape and enjoy everything Cambria and Moonstone Beach have to offer, Blue Dolphin Inn is the ideal place. Tastefully appointed guestrooms providing every detail offer a sophisticated environment in this adult-only property. Blue Dolphin Inn is situated steps from the beach and seaside boardwalk that runs two miles along the coast. Take in the scenic sunsets while sipping a glass of renowned local wine. The six full oceanview specialty rooms feature places in the world where dolphins are found in abundance. The lower full oceanview rooms provide spacious patios to delight in the scenery and coastal breezes. The upper level full oceanview rooms allow unparalleled seascapes. If a celebration of any kind is in order, Blue Dolphin Inn is a perfect place to recognize an accomplishment or milestone. Sorry, No pets allowed.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Ocean View
Modern
Languages Spoken
English
Location
6470 Moonstone Beach Dr, Cambria, CA 93428-1808
Blue Dolphin Inn
1,047 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This was our second time visiting Cambria and this hotel was perfect. We got one of the 3 ground level patio rooms and the view is worth it. You can hear the ocean at night and it’s steps away from the beach. The room was clean, comfortable, and the bathroom was modern with a nice jacuzzi tub. Due to COVID, I appreciated that they still clean rooms daily and leave a light breakfast bagged at your door each morning. Room included microwave, fridge, wine glasses, a Keurig coffee maker, and even binoculars! These touches made a big difference. The hotel only has about 20 rooms, so it’s quaint and you don’t really run into any other people. We will stay again!
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We’ve stayed here several times and just keep coming back. The location right across from the beach and boardwalk is perfect, and the rates are reasonable. The room is comfortable and the staff most welcoming. We enjoyed selections from the complimentary DVD collection, especially since the TV and WIFI reception weren’t great. Our upstairs room had a full ocean view and a wonderful soaking bathtub. We were pleased with the morning snack and with the provisions for making coffee and tea. Also pleased that the necessary COVID precautions did not eliminate the much appreciated room service and amenities. We made considerable use of the complimentary flashlight since lighting in the room was minimal. A couple of floor lamps would have been useful. We will definitely be back and highly recommend The Blue Dolphin Inn to all.
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Date of stay: November 2020
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Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent 2 nights here on a drive up the coast to Hearst Castle. The room was clean and comfortable with a gas fireplace to make it cozy. The room also hard a mini-Lovefridge and microwave. Love the location - the Moonstone Beach boardwalk is right across the street and it was a short drive into the town of Cambria, which has a wonderful array of shops and restaurants. The hot "Picnic" breakfast was delicious - definitely a restaurant quality breakfast. Front desk staff was friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend Blue Dolphin.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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Room Tip:Â Suites at front of Inn have direct ocean views, but there is a partial view if you look out the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Audrey Arellano, Other at Blue Dolphin Inn
Responded Mar 9, 2020
Thank you so much for choosing to stay with us. We are so glad to know that you enjoyed your stay and our area. We really appreciate the great rating and recommendation. We hope to see you again soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at the Blue Dolphin years ago and thought it would be a safe meeting place to meet friends this winter. When we planned our visit, we didn't know if outdoor dining would be available so we booked an ocean front room. It has a HUGE patio that is shared with the 3 ocean front rooms. I'm surprised someone mentioned that the patio is small. We sat around our portable propane fire pit, ordered delicious take-out from Robin's, and visited for hours while looking at the ocean. We hope to make this a new tradition! We also felt very comfortable with the hotel cleanliness and other steps they took for social distancing & safety. But I was happy that we still had the coffee maker, microwave, fridge, dishware, and bathroom toiletries. I'm sure it hasn't been easy for the Blue Dolphin & our favorite Cambria restaurants this past year, and I'm very grateful they have survived. Look forward to our return!
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Date of stay: February 2021
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Rooms
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There’s nothing not to like about this place. Across the street from the coastal boardwalk and a short walk to two seaside restaurants, this stay was a great value. Our partial ocean view room on the north side of the Inn was clean and comfortable with a nice view of the water. Staff were friendly and attentive. Complimentary hot breakfast delivered to our room was excellent. Lobby and hallway decor and furnishings added to the ambience.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We love Cambria, Moonstone Beach and the Blue Dolphin Inn. Always a great stay. Clean rooms, nice quality sheets and towels, good, hot breakfast that is made right before they deliver to your room, and able to offer us a dog-friendly room. I feel most inns on this strip are more motels than hotels; I appreciate this is one of only a few that have inside access to room doors. Feel better knowing someone needs a key to access any door; not a fan of cars parking right outside the doors, etc. We always enjoy our stay. This was for an anniversary trip, and they provided us a cute little cake...looked like a small wedding cake, very nice touch.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Rooms on the south side get more sun. Rooms on the north side might be quieter because no parking...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Audrey Arellano, Other at Blue Dolphin Inn
Responded Mar 9, 2020
We are so glad that you chose our property to celebrate your Anniversary! We appreciate the great review and we're happy to know that you enjoyed your stay.
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I have never written a review before but I could not leave the Blue Dolphin Inn without leaving a heartfelt recommendation. My husband and I had a one night stay following our drive through Big Sur. Everything about the Blue Dolphin Inn was perfect! We had the most beautiful room with a partial ocean view. The king size bed was extremely comfortable and the room was meticulously clean! Furnishings were beautiful and the room included an electric fireplace. The bathroom was equally beautiful and clean, complete with decoratively folded towels. The room included a sitting area and we were able to enjoy the ocean view by opening the pretty plantation shutters. The inn provided amenities, such as a Keurig, microwave and mini-fridge, all tastefully concealed in a built-in unit. Additional indulgences included soft bathrobes and a complimentary breakfast that was delivered to our door in the morning. Parking was on premises and just steps away from the reception area. The Blue Dolphin Inn is truly an oceanfront location just steps from beautiful Moonstone Beach. Thank you to Irma who warmly greeted us and provided dining recommendations. She walked us to our room and kindly arranged for us to order breakfast for the following day. It was refreshing to interact with friendly and professional staff who are dedicated to providing exceptional service. Our experience at the Blue Dolphin Inn exceeded our expectations and could not have been better! It was truly a highlight of our vacation!
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You will have so many choices in Cambria but none more perfect than the Blue Dolphin Inn and, in fact, any of this collections' hotels. It is simply a divine experience. Before CoVid, staying here was superb. But since CoVid, we are ever more sensitive to cleanliness, space, privacy, and attention. The staff at Blue Dolphin Inn are artfully successful at all of this. We were warmly greeted and quickly oriented to the space. The room was spacious, clean, and incredibly well appointed. We had a set of high quality flatware, nice sized fridge, microwave, and coffee/tea bar, all perfect for the new restrictions on indoor dining! We slept in beds so comfortable we want to purchase the same for our own home! The entire experience was relaxing--an ideal balance of having attention when we needed it but having peace and privacy as the centerpiece. The proximity to a long walk along the ocean is so fun! You don't need to be staying in one of the front rooms to enjoy an open patio with an ocean view and your glass of wine at sunset or your hot coffee at sunrise. Our only association with these properties in Cambria is relaxation, deep breaths, and serenity. We are ever grateful for the expert care baked into every detail and the love of hospitality this family consistently offers.
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Date of stay: November 2020
Value
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The ocean view room upstairs was extremely clean, comfortable, cozy, and the view was to die for! The bed and pillows were very comfortable, and there were plenty of thick, soft towels. Little touches like a lighted, magnified makeup mirror, thick and cozy robes, and upgraded spa toiletries along with the fireplace and soaking tub made it feel truly luxurious. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.
Aside from the beautiful room, wifi, and breakfast, there were no amenities per se. No pool or jacuzzi, no exercise room or laundry facilities, but it's right on gorgeous Moonstone Beach-- what more do you need than that? I went on long walks along the boardwalk and the beach itself and so enjoyed the peace, tranquility, and beautiful view. I stayed only one night, but went home feeling completely rejuvenated!
This trip I experienced a bit "less" because of the pandemic; they still served an included breakfast, but we didn't get to choose our selections and social distancing was the order of the day, but I would 1000% stay in the same room again, and indeed plan to in the near future!
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Date of stay: May 2020Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Audrey Arellano, Other at Blue Dolphin Inn
Responded Jul 2, 2020
Thank you so much for staying with us and for the great rating and review! We are so glad to know that you enjoyed your room and your time with us. We look forward to when you are able to return.
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We were two couples on a weekend getaway, expecting much more charm than we found. The place was very pedestrian, more like a motel than an inn. The rooms we were given were clean, beds were comfortable enough, but devoid of any personality. The website shows rooms with four poster beds which did appear to have some charm, and were what we were expecting, but did not get. The ‘fireplaces’ were actually room heaters and didn’t work in either room. Instead we were given little heaters (which did heat, but had no temperature control). The outside space was very limited and had a few cheap chairs and side tables, very uninviting. Breakfast was inedible, served in a styrofoam box, delivered in a brown bag. All in all, very much not the expected experience, and definitely not worth $300 plus per night.
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
San Luis Obispo, California130 contributions75 helpful votes
Not sure about the shower.
We were brought a brown bag breakfast with yogurt, fruit hard boiled egg. Juice. Coffee maker in room. Enjoyed it with the ocean breeze through the windows and hearing crashing waves. Good memories!
I did not see any at our last stay, but I don't think there is a policy against them. It is a very small inn with not a lot to offer young children, and it is very quiet. For a family trip I would recommend Cambria Pines. The offer a lot more space and room for families.
There are more places to choose from in the Cambria area.
PRICE RANGE
$185 - $297 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
blue dolphin hotel cambria, blue dolphin cambria
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSan Luis Obispo CountyCambria
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
