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Free cancellation until 07/16/22
Reserve now, pay at stay
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Room & Suite (106)
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Travel safe during COVID-19
Visit our Travel Safe hub to see how we're helping you make more informed travel decisions during COVID-19.
What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
- Face masks required for guests in public areas
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Floors marked for social distancing
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
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Updated 01/05/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel
Updated 01/05/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#32 of 42 hotels in Carlsbad
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.0
Service
3.9
Value
3.7
Enjoy your best vacation - a getaway in Carlsbad California is like no other. And choosing Carlsbad by the Sea Resort guarantees the perfect location for a fun-filled experience for the whole family. LEGOLAND California Resort is located just a mile away and Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel is a designated LEGOLAND "Preferred Hotel." We offer special packages that include hotel rooms, tickets to the theme park, and a shuttle ride to the entrance. Carlsbad by the Sea is centrally located to everything the North County San Diego has to offer. Pristine Carlsbad beaches or a game of golf are just minutes away. You are only 30 miles from the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park and SeaWorld San Diego. Spend time relaxing at the hotel, walking on beautifully landscaped grounds, and playing and exercising in our year-round outdoor heated pool, Jacuzzi and fitness center. And when it is time to dine, the Windmill Food Hall with over 10 eclectic eateries are located on-site.
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Property amenities
Paid public parking on-site
Wifi
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Snack bar
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Free shuttle or taxi services
Business Center with Internet Access
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Shallow end in pool
Fence around pool
Vending machine
Shuttle bus service
Meeting rooms
Photo copier / fax In business center
24-hour security
Convenience store
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Clothes dryer
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Washing machine
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Sofa bed
Bath / shower
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Seating area
Sofa
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Iron
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Microwave
Refrigerator
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
Full view
91Great for walkers
Grade: 91 out of 100
38Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
5Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
850 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad, CA 92011-4443
Getting there
Rental CarsSee rental cars from $40/day
805Reviews19Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
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Most Recent
So I booked a room 2-1/2 months ahead, confirmed with the hotel by phone 4 weeks before arriving and everything was OK. We drove 12 hrs to the hotel and they said 10 days prior the general manager called our credit card company and said they over booked and we had to find another hotel. NO ONE told us. The hotel has no right to bump someone last minute. They should have called the most recent booking and canceled them. On top of everything the young man that was working had no empathy at all for the situation. He was rude and condescending and made a point saying he didnt get paid enough to deal with upset customers. The woman that worked that night was very apologetic. Bottom line is all of this falls on the GM. he has no business being a manager. We sat in our car for almost an hr trying to find another hotel with no help from carlsbad by the sea. We did get better accommodations at the Hilton. Nicer people and less expensive and right on the ocean instead of other side of the freeway.…
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Helpful
Hotel's Favorite
We had such a great experience here. Customer service was amazing!! They have a free shuttle to legoland and it’s located across the street from a outlet with a Starbucks and the flower fields ( must visit) the pool area was nice and the kids got free beach balls and they have canvas that are nice as well. Rooms are roomy and have hard wood floors. This was a great hotel and price our vacation existed or Legoland, sea world, mission beach and Sesame Street park and it wasn’t a far drive to anything. Will be going back soon
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Use the free shuttle to Lego land and they have car seats and boasters for the kids!
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Sarah Andersen, Guest Services / Front Office at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel
Responded Apr 29, 2022
Thank you for taking the time to post a review of our property. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your time at the Carlsbad by the Sea. Our goal is always deliver excellent customer service that goes above and beyond expectations. If there’s anything we can help you with during your next visit, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We hope to see you soon!
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Stayed at property in June with grand kids to go to Legoland and Beach. Great location for that and they offer free shuttle service to both which is very convenient as did not need to find parking at the beach which can be a nightmare. Lisa at the front desk was great and very accommodating. Entire staff was on top of things. If you are looking for a 5 star hotel this is not the place for you but based on the price and accommodations we will definitely return. Many restaurants within walking distance. Hotel might want to consider offering a continental breakfast.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
Helpful
We just came back from our trip to Legoland. I will start out with the good as it will be a shorter list: Pro: location, as it was right across from the outlet with tons of food/shopping choices. The windmill food hall (upstair is a banquet hall) attached to the hotel had a wide variety of selections, I am pretty sure everyone can find something suited to their liking. The shuttle drivers were courteous and friendly. Con: the walls are thin, and our room had a conjoined door with the next room. It certainly did not help when the after party of a wedding is also next door. There were at least over 10 people in there partying (yelling, hollering, loud music) well past 12am. To top things off, people kept knocking on our door with beer in their hand wanting to join the party, thus it's no surprise it woke up my kids. We called the front desk twice, the first time they said they will call their room. The 2nd time, they told us the room next door claimed to be sleeping, imagine my rage, couldn't they at least check it out after the 2nd complaint. We used towels to block off all the crack on the bottom of the doort, but it barely helped. The room was rather dark as all the lightings were not very bright and one of our bed had a squeak in it. My husband also squashed two beetles? in our room. The shuttle was great in the morning, they told us to call them when we need a ride back. We called after legoland closed, but the front desk never picked up, so we ended up walking back. Thank goodness the walk was not too bad (15-20min), but it was not ideal with two young kids as it was just a narrow sidewalk on the side of the highway.…
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Date of stay: May 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: choose a room without a conjoined door.
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We stayed here in April and booked it largely on the Carlsbad by the Sea name. The hotel is on a busy road across from the outlet mall, granted this actually turned out to be a positive thing as we could walk across and have a wander round. However, we had to drive to the beach - we went to Tamarack Beach and it is truly beautiful. There were lots and lots of hotels right across the street from the beach which we would rather have been in. As for the rooms in the hotel, ours was run down, the drawer on the dresser was chipped and broken, the tv remote had no batteries, the handyman came and replaced them when we called but its not ideal given that it was in a bag and had been checked and cleaned apparently. The bathroom was really really dated. We felt that for the price we paid this was not what we expected.…
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This place is a dump. The paint and woodworking is cracked, peeling and stained. The upholstered furniture is ripped and horribly stained, and the rest of the furniture is broken, cracked, scratched and in horrible condition. The quilt, if you want to call it that, is a thin and sleazy nylon fabric that gave me a rash. They do not clean the furniture on the balcony and it is black and encrusted with dirt. The location is directly on a very busy thoroughfare with an outlet shopping center right across the street. The price charged is exorbitant for the quality of lodging this is.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This unique hotel was a great respite from our busy Legoland trips! The rooms were very clean and comfortable. The pool was great for the kids. Lisa and Chad were so helpful and nice! The food hall had a lot of choices, which was great for our picky little eaters. Outlet mall across the street was convenient, too.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Sarah Andersen, Guest Services / Front Office at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel
Responded Apr 29, 2022
Thank you for choosing our hotel, and for taking the time to write a review! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay and the proximity to Legoland. Our hotel aims to provide a truly unique experience, and we are thrilled that we were able to exceed your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
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Family trip for 2 nights. We got 2 adjoining rooms. The staff was Very Friendly Our room drawers kept opening fridge leaking. Maintenance came in put several wedges under dresser due to the unleveledness and caused refrigerator to leak as well. It did NOT help. My son’s room the sink was clogged. Maintenance snaked and poured drain chemicals. He turned off hot water and my son had to go under sink to turn on water when needed! Rooms had a moldy smell !
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Sarah Andersen, Guest Services / Front Office at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel
Responded Feb 28, 2022
Thank you very much for your candid review of your recent stay at our hotel. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us, as we strive to improve with each and every stay. I greatly appreciate your comments about aspects of the room that need updating. Our rooms will be getting new mattresses, patio furniture, in-room accessories, and much more! In taking great care of our charming hotel, our main priority is to be able to offer a very well-maintained and comfortable atmosphere. I hope that I can convince you to change your mind about another visit to our property. Please reach out to me directly if you would be willing to give us a chance to turn your experience around. It would be such a pleasure to personally welcome you back to our new and improved hotel!
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The hotel has a great location and that’s it. We reserved this hotel as part of a Legoland package and it’s a shame Legoland considers a place like this for families with young kids. The cleanliness needs to be dramatically improved. The room and the towels have a moldy smell. There’s no microwave like It’s written in the description of the rooms. Our room was facing the parking lot outside the gated area. I couldn’t let my 2 year old play in the patio area. Also very noisy with trash trucks in front of our room 3 times a day. Very disappointing.
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Sarah Andersen, Guest Services / Front Office at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel
Responded Feb 28, 2022
Hi Bianca, thank you for your feedback. I was disappointed to read that you did not have a pleasant experience. Microwaves are available for delivery to rooms upon request. We appreciate your valuable feedback as it helps us identify the areas we can improve the guest experience. I truly apologize for the shortcomings you experienced and hope you will give us another chance next time you're visiting Carlsbad.
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We stayed here recently as we were attending a wedding on the site, and the convenience of staying right next to the venue was definitely unmatched. It’s a cute hotel with great character in a nice location close to lots of shops and restaurants. There are definitely some pros, but in our opinion, a lot needs to be improved for it to compete with some of the other hotels in the area. Pros: Great location, mostly quiet, cute courtyard area, lots of parking, attached to Windmill food hall with great dining options; room-wise: room was spacious, nice balcony, modern furniture designs. Cons: the bathrooms were very outdated, both the toilet (but especially the shower) seemed like it had seen better days, the entry door had a gap in the bottom, leaving light to come in and bugs to enter, some cobwebs by the entry, lighting in our room was dim, beds were firm (although some people prefer it that way). Perhaps the main annoyance we had was that in the morning, when we were due to checkout at 12, we had housekeeping try to enter our room twice to start cleaning, once around 10 and again at 11:45. We were told at check-in that housekeeping doesn’t come into your room until after you’ve checked out. We were not provided a “Do Not Disturb” sign in the room, but after the initial housekeeping knock, we went down to the lobby for a DND sign, but were reassured that housekeeping would not enter until we were gone. This then happened a second time, AND the housekeeper did not even wait for us to answer verbally, she opened the door on us after less than 5 seconds. I totally understand trying to get the rooms ready as quick as possible (we did have a late checkout) but maybe there needs to be a better system for the housekeepers to know which rooms are still occupied/have a late checkout; there is obviously a disconnect between what the front receptionists told us and the housekeeping staff. Our stay was fine for one night and for the convenience of crashing on our bed immediately after the wedding. It’s also close to Legoland so I’m sure that’s an advantage for people too. We had a good rate via the wedding group code, and appreciated them allowing us to check in a bit early and checkout late. However, we would think twice about staying here again for any other reason until certain things are improved.…
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Sarah Andersen, Guest Services / Front Office at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel
Responded Feb 28, 2022
Hi Lauren, we are happy to hear you enjoyed our great location, and cute courtyard area. We sure do have plenty of parking available and are conveniently located next to the Windmill Food Hall with great dining options. We are also glad to hear you liked our newly renovated rooms with modern furniture design. I was disappointed to learn of the shortcomings you experienced and we're currently taking steps to upgrade some of the bathroom facilities. I have made sure to follow-up with our housekeeping staff to make sure our communication is better between departments for those who request a late check-out.
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PRICE RANGE
$188 - $346 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
carlsbad by the sea hotel carlsbad, holiday inn carlsbad, carlsbad holiday inn
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Holiday Inn Carlsbad by the Sea
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaCarlsbad
NUMBER OF ROOMS
141
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Nearby attractions include The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch (0.1 miles), Carlsbad Premium Outlets (0.2 miles), and Spirits in Stone Gallery (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, a fitness center, and a hot tub.
Which room amenities are available at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Guests can enjoy a snack bar during their stay.
Is parking available at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Yes, paid public parking on-site is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include In-N-Out Burger, Tip Top Meats, and Miguel's Cocina.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness center during their stay.
Does Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to a business center and meeting rooms during their stay.