Gateway Hotel Santa Monica (Santa Monica, USA)

Guests found this Best Western hotel to be well up to the standard expected from the brand. The location suited visitors using it as a base to explore this movie orientated part of California, and found it convenient for visiting Paramount Studios, and Hollywood. The bedrooms are well appointed and the beds are comfortable.

The staff are friendly and helpful, with suggestions and local information. Guests were very satisfied with the Los Angeles tour that they were able to book via the reception desk. The free parking offered by the hotel is very welcome in this area, whilst the inexpensive bus from outside the hotel to Santa Monica Pier is a great convenience.

The Ihop, next door, is very convenient, and provides good eating, guests at the hotel are entitled to a discount here. The restaurant is flexible and helpful to those who have specific dietary needs.

The gymnasium was a bit on the small side, and somewhat short of equipment. Additionally the Internet connection via Wi-Fi suffered frequent interruptions.

The hotel is of a slightly older variety, with air conditioning that is not as unobtrusive or efficient as the latest equipment. Guests commented that the bathrooms could be better ventilated, and became rather hot. Insulation between floors is not very good, with the result that footsteps above can intrude.

There is a certain amount of noise from the city at night, and the hotel's location at some distance from the Pier and other amenities is a slightly minus factor for some guests. Even without a swimming pool or a free breakfast it was felt overall that this hotel offers clean and well maintained value for money.