Moonlight Beach Motel
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#3 of 9 hotels in Encinitas
Location
4.9
Cleanliness
4.5
Service
4.5
Value
4.6
Moonlight Beach Motel, located two blocks from Moonlight Beach in scenic Encinitas, California, is one of the few true "beach motels" left in Southern California. Referred to as the "American Riviera", Encinitas has the charm of the past but all the amenities today’s travelers are looking for. There are many wonderful restaurants and boutiques within walking distance. Its quaint 1970’s charm brings guests back year after year. Whether a romantic getaway, a quiet retreat, or family vacation, you will find a room that fits your needs. We try and honor all requests for special rooms when making reservations, but we cannot guarantee ANY room in the event of changes that are beyond our control, but we will do the best to accommodate your requests. This is an entirely smoke-free and pet-free property. We open the office at 9:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM. We enforce quiet hours between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM which include the Patio – Garden area and the rooms for the consideration of all the guests enjoying their stay. We look forward to seeing you at the Moonlight Beach Motel!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Street parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Beach
Patio
BBQ facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Tennis court offsite
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Sun terrace
Umbrella
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Soundproof rooms
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Coffee / tea maker
Cable / satellite TV
Walk-in shower
Private balcony
Wardrobe / closet
Iron
Private bathrooms
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Kitchenware
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
77Somewhat walkable
Grade: 77 out of 100
33Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
11Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
233 2nd Street, Encinitas, CA 92024
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273Reviews8Q+A98Room tips
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+1
Expectations were low for the room as I knew I was paying a premium for a room during the Holiday Weekend. But I was pleasantly surprised. The room I rented on the 2nd floor did not require use of the HVAC; there was a nice cool ocean breeze from the balcony. Room seems recently renovated and modern and having the Mini-Fridge, Microwave and the patio table, umbrella and chairs were a nice touch. Jennifer (at check-in) and Patrick (at check-out) were cordial and welcoming. I would come back again . TIP: Good ice cream and coffee shop across the alley from the hotel (less than 100 feet) and a nice Asian Fusion restaurant across 2nd St. (CHIKO) I would like to come back here someday. Perfect place, great area! Less than 3 blocks from Downtown Encinitas (starts from 2nd / D Street) at Encinitas Sign …
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip 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.
Helpful
+1
Fantastic DeLuxe room with 2 beds ”King size”. Very fresh and clean. Sea view but not beach front. Wi-Fi worked good. All equipment as well. Welcoming and helpful personel at reception. Not 24 hour service but no help needed as everything worked perfect. I really recommend this motel with less than 5 minute walk to the beach and a lot of restaurants within 10 minutes walk. Worth its price!
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
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.
Helpful
Response from General Manager Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Dec 5, 2022
Dear Clulob, Thank you so much for your terrific "5 Owls" review! We were so happy to hear that your clean, comfortable room, our wonderful staff and our fabulous location made for a great stay! We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This motel is an amazing location but poorly run overpriced and understaffed It a shame really. The renovations are corporate and sterile, it’s a beach hotel but decorated like a doubletree The ocean facing rooms are noisy and over lit. My room didn’t have toilet paper. The front office doesn’t answer phone or email. Let’s hope this motel gets bought by new owners that care about hospitality.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip 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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from General Manager Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Sep 27, 2022
Dear Michelle, We are so glad you enjoyed our wonderful location! Please know that we did have some technical issues while you were with us that definitely impeded our response to emails and our phones, so please accept our heartfelt apology. We are a small, family run property and enjoy interacting with our guests. We wish you would have stopped by our office so that we could have addressed any questions or needs that you had. Regardless, we were saddened to hear that you were disappointed with some aspects of your stay. We wish you all the best in your future travels.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are many things to like about the Moonlight. the location is excellent and it is only a short walk to either the beach or loads of restaurants, ice cream parlors, etc. The room is large. Our room easily fit two king size beds. Second floor and above rooms have a view of the ocean. A complimentary towel and sunscreen was waiting on the bed. Beach chairs, etc are available for free. Things that could have been better include, no kitchen or utensils in our room, lack of explicit directions that one has to ask for new towels or toilet paper, the staff did not answer our calls or return the message we left and of course the price is high but this is Encinitas in the summer. The plusses far outweigh the minuses and we would gladly stay here again. It would be nice if the management added safes in the room to store wallets and electronics while visiting the beach…
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Date of stay: July 2022
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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from General Manager Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Aug 16, 2022
Dear packedandready2go, Thank you for your review! We are so glad to hear that our wonderful rooms and ideal location made your stay an enjoyable one! Please know that if you are ever in need of a kitchen, our family suites and 2 queen bed rooms on our first floor do offer kitchens. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Motel has undergone a significant remodel and the room we had was really nicely appointed. The bathroom was new, clean, modern and spacious. The Beds were extremely comfortable and the pillows were big, firm and not pancake like. But the kitchen... New everything! Fridge, oven, stove, microwave and coffee maker were awesome and we used them all. We even had a dishwasher and garbage disposal in the sink. Really well done you guys. We like to buy our own healthy groceries and cook all three meals at home. You made it fun and easy. The room we occupied is ground floor, however it does have one of the best views of the ocean at Moonlight Beach. We loved going out to the patio area, grilling up our swordfish steaks on one of the two gas grills available and having fantastic dinners with that view in the background. By way of areas to improve... we have just a few. The beds did not have heavy blankets or quilts but only one relatively thin cover blanket. We visited in mid February and the evenings were brisk. The window (glass or plexyglass), from the room out overseeing the ocean view was scuffed and scratched diminishing the view somewhat. We were hoping that management could switch the windows with a room not having our view- but time was not on our side. Lastly, all the above issues were addressed by Jennifer, the clerk who checked us in. She was magnificent. She went and got us a cutting board, a can opener, paper towels and a real bed comforter. She is a doll and the management has a real asset in Jennifer. Loved it- we'll be back. (This is our third visit).…
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Date of stay: February 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Helpful
Rooms have been refurbished. They are clean and the beds are comfortable. To date, there is no maid service, just towel exchange. There is no on-site manager at night. Upper floor rooms all have a balcony. BBQs and table seating are available in the patio area.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: All third-floor rooms offer an ocean view. Half of the second-floor rooms offer an ocean view....
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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.
Helpful
Response from Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Feb 4, 2022
Dear C6115OKpatrickh, We were glad to hear you enjoyed your stay! Please know that the health and safety of our guests and staff are always our top priority. For that reason, and out of an abundance of caution, we are currently not servicing rooms on a daily basis. You are welcome, however, to request housekeeping services at our front desk of you so desire. Otherwise, we are happy to exchange towels, take out trash, refill amenities, etc. We want to meet our guests' needs, as well as ensure their safety. We hope you will visit us again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I wanted a short staycation and chose this motel based on reviews. I grew up in the area and was amazed at how it has changed, but in ways that made MBM even more desireable--it was literally walkable to multiple coffee shops, bars and restaurants--and a highly rated ice cream shop. A short walk to the main beach (although when I was there i found the beach covered in stones at the tide line, so not so great for a beach walk. In these days of pandemic, it was very reassuring to find the room spotless. My partial oceanview 2nd story balcony afforded a very nice view of the ocean and a comfortable table and chair to enjoy it on. The only things I noticed were a lack of usb ports and a clock. In this day of technology, most of us carry charging cords and USB hubs. There were plenty of electrical outlets and the WIFI was strong--I was able to play my video game with no lag.…
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Date of stay: January 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: 2nd floor allowed for more than adequate view of the ocean
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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.
Helpful
Response from Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Feb 4, 2022
Dear Q6420AFcathyg, Thank you for the awesome 5 star review! We are thrilled to hear that your clean, comfortable room and our fabulous location made your stay a great one! Please come see us again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I arrived 10 mins early for my 3 o'clock check-in, and even though Jennifer was doing double-duty by working the front desk, and checking last minute details on the rooms, she greeted me with a smile and welcomed me to the motel. She was friendly, efficient and very personable. The King room, turned out to be far more spacious than I expected, with 2 King beds, a writing desk for two people, with two comfy lounge chairs, a great balcony with the promised partial ocean view, and a patio table & two chairs with an umbrella. The bathroom and bed linens were spotless and everything smelled clean & fresh...something that is very important during Covid! This motel is quaint and welcoming, and it's a great little gem.The location is super close to the beach, and there are countless restaurants within walking distance. All in all, a great visit!…
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Date of stay: January 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Helpful
Response from Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Jan 10, 2022
Dear 334bambic, Thank you! You made our day with your great review! We are thrilled that you had such a wonderful visit and that we exceeded your expectations! Thank you for recognizing our amazing staff, as well. We will be sure to pass along your kind words. We hope you will visit us again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is a great job place to stay ! What a little gem. The views are amazing from the balcony. I spoke with Jordan on the phone and he was very nice and helpful. We then got the pleasure of meeting him when we arrived. Great guy! The grounds are kept up very nicely! There’s beautiful flowers around the property. You can watch hummingbirds from the balcony. We also met Joe, another very nice staff member. Everyone there is very friendly. The room was big and very clean. The bed and pillows were comfortable. The sheets and blanket were okay . Nothing great but clean so that definitely matters. There’s coffee in the room or in the office area along with snacks. The motel is close to the beach and walking distance to the bars and restaurants. It’s our second time here. We will definitely be back ! Thank you for a great visit !!!…
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: If you’re looking for fancy or a party place this isn’t for you. It’s quiet and quaint.
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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.
Helpful
Response from Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Dec 7, 2021
Dear Antoniaswan, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5 star review! We are honored to have you as return guests! It means the world to us to know that our beautiful property and amazing location contributed to a memorable stay for you. We really appreciate the shout out to our incredible staff, as well, and will be sure to pass your kind words along to them! Looking forward to your next visit!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Room was very clean—with a mini fridge and microwave—and only two blocks from the ocean. Nice amenities around the area as well, but the price was fantastic. I’m definitely coming back. The staff was super friendly, and the rooms are nice and quiet at night. Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: September 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Best views from second floor and up
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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.
Helpful
Response from Moonlight Beach Motel, General Manager at Moonlight Beach Motel
Responded Dec 7, 2021
Dear W7257NYalisonr, We were so happy to hear that your clean room, our wonderful staff and great location, made for a wonderful stay! We hope you will come see us again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
$149 - $351 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
moonlight beach hotel encinitas, moonlight beach encinitas
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaEncinitas
NUMBER OF ROOMS
24
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Claim Your ListingMOONLIGHT BEACH MOTEL $162 ($̶1̶8̶3̶) - Updated 2023 Prices & Reviews - Encinitas, CA
Frequently Asked Questions about Moonlight Beach Motel
Which popular attractions are close to Moonlight Beach Motel?
Nearby attractions include Moonlight State Beach (0.2 miles), Moonlight Beach State Park (0.1 miles), and Cottonwood Creek Park (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Moonlight Beach Motel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and barbeque facilities.
Which room amenities are available at Moonlight Beach Motel?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Moonlight Beach Motel?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Moonlight Beach Motel?
Yes, free parking and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Moonlight Beach Motel?
Conveniently located restaurants include 101 Diner, Lofty Coffee, and Encinitas Cafe.
Is Moonlight Beach Motel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.2 miles away from the center of Encinitas.
Are there any historical sites close to Moonlight Beach Motel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park (5.9 miles), Heritage County Park (8.8 miles), and St. Michael's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church (8.4 miles).
Does Moonlight Beach Motel have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Moonlight Beach Motel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.