I absolutely LOVED my stay at Freda's!!!! Make sure you arrive hungry, because you will leave happy. Not only does Freda offer you a five-course breakfast, but there are all sorts of snacks and other foods on offer during the day. You will also have the benefits of a San Clemente insider, who can give you tips about places to visit in and around San Clemente, including San Juan Capistrano and (weather permitting) Dana Point for a whale-watching trip. I would like to thank Freda (and her assistant, Veronica) once again for making my stay so memorable. I will be back! Delmar Larry Rourke Rockville, Maryland read more

Stayed there over the long weekend with my girlfriend. It was really wonderful, all around. Freda, the owner is the sweetest person. Everything about the experience was above and beyond. The accommodations themselves were very comfortable. She is an excellent cook (and generous; bring an appetite). The Inn couldn't be located in a more walkable location, and Freda was always available to recommend restaurants, bars, beaches, etc. What's more, her recommendations were all on point. Great spot. Great host. Great town. Excellent B&B experience. read more

Freda, the property owner and host could not do enough for us! She even went out of her way and picked us up in Anaheim. It was incredibly kind, she had car trouble that day and asked her friend to help get us. We really appreciated it. We were well fed, and very well informed about San Clemente and what to do. We spent a great 4 days there. Thanks to Freda! read more

The Always Inn has become my home away from home. I travel down to San Clemente for work and am so grateful to have found this B&B a few years back. The location provides the opportunity to walk to the beach in less than 10min to catch the sunrise, and the best restaurants in San Clemente are within blocks. That being said you won't need to eat out much with the incredible breakfast and snacks that are included with your stay. For anyone that appreciates good food and local ingredients this place is for you. It is truly a rare gem and I couldn't recommend it more highly. read more

There is something to be said about caring personable people. I honestly haven't stayed here but I parked in the parking lot on my way to the pier. When we got out of the car, the owner Freda stopped us and asked if I would like to borrow a hat because the sun was so strong! I thought that was so sweet, considering we were just strangers to her. She ran in and grabbed one of her hats for me to use while on our walk. When we were leaving the pier and lunch I stopped by to give her back her hat and use her bathroom. The ambience was super cute and beachy and makes it feel like you are at home. The bathroom was clean and everything was well stocked, from soap to shampoo to fresh new towels. Needless to say if I ever need a place to stay in San Clemente I would definitely stay here. She is a small bed & breakfast so she doesn't compete with the prices of a hotel/ motel chain. read more

This is a long time coming in writing this review. Last year I made a reservation for two nights. My husband is active duty military and received notice in writing from his command being extended on his deployment which conflicted with our reservation dates. This correspondence was shown to the owner in hopes of rescheduling a new reservation date. There was no mention of rescheduling fees on the website but we were charged $25 anyhow. I also had to keep following up with the owner for the refund and acknowledgment. In the end, the owner seemed polite with thanking my husband for his service but somehow managed to turn this around on me like I was the bad guy and stated she could never accommodate me as a guest in the future and added me to a "do not rent" list. I guess in my dealings with her, she took my communication as a negative when I was trying to resolve an issue. I wasn't going to write a review in the beginning but after all this time had gone by and seeing others' reviews shows I wasn't alone in how badly we got treated by the owner. For those that experienced excellent service, that's good. But for some, just be weary. We ended up going to the Blue Lantern Inn just off of Dana Point which was a truly wonderful experience. read more

The always inn B&B is one of my favorite places my boyfriend and I have had stayed. The host, Freda, was so kind and helpful and the location of the B&B is unbeatable! You can walk to over a hundred of San Clemente's shops and restaurants, not to mention it is less than a 5 minute drive to the beach. The food was delicious and the space very clean. We won't stay anywhere else when we come back to visit! read more

Loved this place and so will you!! The owner is so friendly & nice. Would love to come back. Location is perfect, walking distance to shops, restaurants & beach. Rooms are smaller than what you would get at a regular hotel but very cozy & comfy. Patio area very relaxing. Breakfast is bomb!! Home-made, delicious! read more

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My husband and I stayed with Freda for our sixth wedding anniversary. We had a lovely time staying at the Always Inn. Her breakfasts exceeded expectations, even after reading everyone's rave reviews about her amazing cooking. Freda herself was a delight; kind, thoughtful and generous. She cooks for her community and has a huge heart! She gave great recommendations for restaurants in walking distance and as well as shops to find vinyl (which was a goal for our anniversary). We will be back for sure! read more

Always Inn - Lovely garden on the patio - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - San Clemente, California

false advertisin, the owner kept saying this is a hotel type experience but it's a room for rent in her house. she welcomed us into the home then sat with a friend at the table just outside our door making it uncomfortable. she was rude & the home has rats in the walls. I would recommend a stay somewhere else read more

Stayed here a few years back. Actually, my family and I were one of the first guests at this location (there are a handful of "Always Inns" about the country). Our home was being pest treated so we took the opportunity to get away to one of our favorite beach cities. Our hostess was the owner (and her daughter, I believe). Because she was just setting up the inn, there were only two rooms available. I don't recall the name of the room in which we stayed (first room on the left as you walk in). It was well appointed and cozy. It's only a short walk from the inn to the beach, to the library, or the many local shops and restaurants. Even so, we only had to walk outside onto the patio to enjoy the day. Breakfast was excellent! We felt very much at home. We even had a couple of wonderful late night chats with the owner (over a glass of wine, next to the fireplace). When we left, she wrote a personal note on the back of a small, framed seahorse and signed it with the date as a memento of our stay. I am not one to give five stars unless I am completely blown away. This place came close. Highly recommend. read more

My first experience in a bed and breakfast and it was most amazing! John and I felt right at home, Freda our host, made us feel so cozy and we now have a new friend! For sure -- we can't wait to come back and see you! I am still thinking about the amazing breakfast, your home is truly a home away from home for both of us!! In the heart of San Clemente, CA. Many attractions with-in walking distance and the stunning view from the beautiful beach is right down the street!! We played in the sand and watched a breathtaking sunset. Thanks for everything! read more

Always Inn - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - San Clemente, California

Wonderful place. Food is amazing (Frida is a wonderful cook), Accommodations are in a great area right in the heart of SC. Frida treated my boyfriend and I like family and was a superb hostess and even more of a superb woman and now friend. If you are looking for generic, starchy and cold hotel like accommodations, look elsewhere. Always Inn is quaint, eclectic, interesting and original. One of the best places I've ever visited. Cheers to Always Inn and Frida ! read more

Always Inn - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - San Clemente, California

Our first experience at a B&B...and we're sold! Freda took great care of us. She is so warm and sweet. It's obvious that she loves catering to her guests. Earlier today, she went out of her way to take some out-of-state guests to go get pampered. The place itself is clean and cozy. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow! read more

We thoroughly enjoyed a brief but wonderfully relaxing stay at the Always Inn Sea Lion Townhouse. It had the perfect amount of room for our family of four and was stocked with beach equipment. Speaking of the beach, it's a short walk to the beach but be prepared to walk down a lot of steps. Freda was very accommodating for us. We enjoyed visiting her Inn downtown. We can't wait to go back! read more

This was my girlfriend and I's first experience with a B&B since moving to the west coast. We are celebrating our third anniversary out here since moving from NY. We booked Always Inn from Groupon and it was just as quant, romantic and intimate as we expected. Freda is amazing, very welcoming and caring. A true B&B owner. On site parking was even cute- we had a spot right out our back patio. The patio is adorable, even though it is on a busy corner with public parking Freda has put in a fence, palm trees and garden which not only looks quant and peaceful, but also blocks out all the noise. Whether inside your room or out on the patio you always feel at home. We also took her advice on where to eat, South of Nicks, amazing! But we were so full we could not enjoy Freda ' s breakfast the next morning. As a chef and knowing she learned to cook in France, I could tell just by how amazing the house smelled when we woke up that her food is as amazing as the rest of Always Inn. I am so glad we discovered this little Inn, we will surely be back when we are in the area. read more

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My wife and I stayed there for the first two days of our honeymoon. We loved the specialized attention that we received from Frieda. She made us feel like we where spending a couple of days at our grandma's house instead of a B&B. Although she was very friendly, we did not feel like she was intruding. She really respected our privacy. The first night we checked in was on our wedding night. We had to check in rather late due to the wedding. Frieda waited patiently for us and made us feel welcome from the first moment we arrived. The breakfast was top notch. Everything she cooked was very fresh and the food was delicious. Overall, we where extremely happy with our experience and would highly recommend Always Inn. read more

Ok. Here's the thing...in a world of AirBNBs we often forget the magic of an actual B&Bs. Even though the Always Inn is steps away from the beach, you won't want to leave. Frieda welcomes you into her lovely home with all the amenities you could every want - beach hats, towels, chips, drinks, and LOTS of chocolate! Nothing beats waking up in the morning to a fresh pot of coffee, relaxing in her beautiful garden and eating the BEST 5 course breakfast you could ever dream of! Seriously this is the best B&B should you be so lucky to grab one of the rooms! read more

This is one of the best places in San Clemente. Freda is an amazing host. We checked in late at night and she was awake to make sure everything was perfect for us. The place felt like home and the 5 course breakfast was fantastic. The room was perfect and had a patio opening. The patio has beautiful decor and is filled with a lot of plants. The location is great and is a short walk to the beach, pier and the historical Casa Romantica. Our vacation couldn't be anymore perfect. I would recommend this place and would love to stay here the next time we visit San Clemente. read more

We have visited San Clemente many times over the past 20+ years, always thought this B&B looked interesting / a little funky / kinda kitschy so my wife and I decided to stay last Saturday night. We ended up having the strangest experience ever... Read below for the pros and cons: Pro: I am giving two stars for location, Location, LOCATION!!! It's a block off of San Clemente's main strip (Del Mar) and is within walking distance of several interesting restaurants and bars. If it were not for the ideal location I would give it 1 or 0 stars. Con: The property backs up to a public parking lot and people coming out of the restaurants and bars can be noisy. Also the parking spaces are very tight. Pro: The property is very "homey", has lots of sitting areas, the owner is trusting and it is clean. Con: Our bed was well worn (big trough in the middle of the mattress), and very squeaky, the proprietor may not be around so you may end up taking the 20+ year old dog on a walk so she can pee and whoever cleaned our room used so much pine sol we had to air it out for an hour. To sum up, we never checked in, never saw the proprietor, met two people who were staying there (???) houseguests (???) who wandered out around 3:15 PM and wished us a good morning (weird!!) and left without breakfast the next morning around 8:00 AM. Not really sure what's going on at this place but it could be an adventure for sure! read more

A wonderful little B&B. Freda catered a 5 course dinner for us. She also had a 5 course breakfast. One street away from Del Mar Ave where there are shops, restaurants, Cabrillo Playhouse, and a short walk to the pier and the ocean. Walking distance to Casa Romantica. This is like staying at a good friends home. Very cozy. Bathroom has a shower/tub with Jacuzzi like jets. room has wi fi and cable t.v. Lots of free cookies! A very relaxing place and you can walk without getting into a car, which is a big plus! Wonderful Place. Highly Recommend you book here. read more

Best B&B I have ever stayed at. Steps to amazing restaurants and the beach. Frieda was very hospitable and cooked an amazing 3-4 course breakfast every morning. Very beautiful house and the rooms were very cozy and each have their own private bath. We will be back very soon. Thank you so much Frieda! read more

If you are looking to be in San Clemente, this is a perfect "home away from home" get away. It's quaint, sweet and feels like home. Freda and Indy make all of their guests so comfortable and we can't wait to come back. The food was incredible, freda's place is a perfect location as it's right in the Downtown shopping area and you are walking distance to EVERYTHING! We parked and never got in our car again until we hit the outlets. I count us to be lucky to be able to stay at Freda's and look forward to our next visit! read more

This motel is absolutely filthy. Flies, ants and vermin! I had to step over vomit to access the common areas. The owner leaves the keys to the rooms under the room doormat, so anybody can pick up the key prior to your arrival, go have a copy made and return later after you have checked in. Upon arriving it was very clear that this place was too disgusting and filthy for us to stay at. However the owner refused a refund and kept our money. The photos she provides on the various websites she advertises on appear to have been taken a very very long time ago. There is no honesty in advertising here. What you see is not what you get. We arrived to find food left out with bugs and flies everywhere. Do not stay here! read more

Terrible hostess. No one was available when we arrived. We had to walk around and guess which room was reserved for us. We were unable to contact owner by phone or email. She was apparently out of town for a wedding and just left the place in the hands of her tenants. No parking anywhere overnight that isn't a tow away zone. The only available parking was in a sketchy alley full of the owners junk which I was not willing to park my expensive car overnight at. We ended up leaving the first night and stayed somewhere else. When the owner finally did contact us she was extremely rude and arrogant. Worst anniversary experience we have had in our 13 years of marriage. read more

This is not your typical B&B setting, but the location right in the heart of downtown San Clemente, is perfect. Frieda is so warm and friendly, she makes you feel like you're at home with family. We will definitely be back the next time we want a weekend getaway in San Clemente. read more

Freda is a sweet-talking owner on the telephone until you see her real side when trying to do cancellation with her. If you don't believe me then try to tell her you are canceling the booking and you will see her real nasty personality come out. I didn't have my confirmation number from the web booking site so I asked her to look it up for me before the 14 days cancellation period and found it was from Hotels.com. I asked her to cancel but she said she can't before the 14 days because the website is the one that is charging me, not her. This turns out to be a LIE that she told me after I spoke with Hotels.com on 1/4/19 after they finally sent me the confirmation number. Hotels.com told me that she is the one that is going to charge me not them. Who am I going to believe Hotels.com or a lady renting out her dirty old house with bad carpet and bed? Hotels.com asked her to cancel my reservation but she would not. Yes, there are good reviews too if everything goes well. If certain not going well she will ruin your room stay. You certainly do not want to take a chance and book at this place to have your vacation or special occasion ruin. Reviews: "Terrible Hotel. Ruined my vacation. Which one d " You still haven't sent me my second night return. you are double dipping. Verified Expedia guest review" ""A Traveler US 2.0 Poor "Very dirty hotel. Carpet disgusting. " Very dirty hotel. Carpet disgusting. I don't know they rate it 4.1. Really, the dirtiest house I ever been in. It is not a hotel, just a house. Verified Expedia guest review"" Bottom, I'm canceling because Hotels.com didn't give me the confirmation number to manage and cancel it before the 14 days. Secondly, I do not want to stay at this dirty house with many bad reviews and dealing with this small business owner turning her house to let people stay the nite. Lastly, this has been a bad customer service experience. Tyler read more

A lovely place! Multiple glowing reviews have already been written about the quirky Always Inn and the charming Freda, who is, yes, an excellent cook. Ask for her home fries for breakfast; they are really well-spiced, flavorful and delicious! My boyfriend and I stayed for just a night between Christmas and the New Year, and she was very welcoming and kind, recommending restaurants and places to visit. The location is central, less than a half mile from the pier and beach, and in the middle of downtown. Shops and restaurants surround the converted house, and a bakery is across the street. Freda has built a parking spot for guests, and there is all-day public parking nearby as well. If she happens not to be home when you arrive, just call her for the code to the door. Her sweet, rather elderly dog likes to wander the house and sometimes the grounds, including the quiet garden patio. Our room, Palm Whispers, was adorably decorated with palm trees on the armoire, paintings on the wall, and other small touches. We also loved the jacuzzi bathtub and comfortable bed, with its nice sheets and quilt that was exactly right for the (mild So-Cal winter) temperature. Overall, we had an extraordinarily pleasant stay here! read more

I live a few blocks away from the Always Inn. My well-traveled brother came to town for a visit and decided he would rather not stay on my couch. He was very happy with the Always Inn and Freda, the charming innkeeper. Freda is quite the hostess. I really appreciate that she invited me to have breakfast with my brother all the mornings he was there. And she is a fantastic cook! One of her meals can keep you going for the entire day. Freda starts out with fruit and a pastry. Then the main course comes. My favorite was the breakfast burrito with homemade salsas and guacamole yum. The meals are vegetarian friendly. There is also a piano in the living room, which we made good use of. Glad to know she is right around the corner. Now I know where to send my guests. read more

Freda, our host, was fantastic and had lots of recommendations around the area. The Inn is small but comfortable and makes you feel at home. The rooms were a good size and very clean. It was easy to walk to the shore/beach and local bars and restaurants. Parking is easy. Breakfasts were 4 or 5 courses and huge. We didn't have to buy lunch because we were so stuffed. The only reason why I didn't give 5 stars is because the breakfasts were a little too big. I would prefer to pay a little less and get less food as a 1,500+ calorie breakfast was a bit excessive. read more

Disgusting and dirty. Today there was rotting food sitting in an open plastic container outside on the grounds. Stinky. The place looks like it's nothing more than a residence for hoarders. Junk everywhere. It's a very noise location and there's nothing relaxing about it at all. There's a restaurant just across the street. They play loud music at all hours. It's close to shopping, but that's about the only thing this garage sale location has going for it. There's an older dog who lives on the property and roams freely....everywhere. read more

Excellent location. Very cozy - it felt as if I was walking into my own home everyday. Freda, the owner, is more than amazing. Her customer service couldn't be better. She makes sure you are well taken care of and puts so much love into her cooking. The rooms have so much character and are well kept and clean. You can smell the ocean from the patios. Everything about our stay at Always Inn was beautiful. Definitely recommend and will be back! read more

We enjoyed or Valentine's Weekend stay with Freda and Indy 500. She is a friendly hostess and outstanding cook, serving fresh organic fruits and vegetables and amazing breakfast burritos and her quiche-tata. The home is an Ole Hanson home - which means it's small and Spanish style - so don't expect the hotel feel; but if you want a beach cottage, a few blocks from the pier and surrounded by great restaurants and shops, then give Always Inn a try. read more

I stayed here for 2 nights. The con's-When I arrived at check-in time, there was no one there, and when I tried to call the owner I could hear the phone ringing but no one answering. So, I wasted close to an hour of my time sitting in the living/dining room waiting to find out which room was mine because all the doors were open (she also keeps the door unlocked so be aware that anyone could walk in). She eventually came home and let me know which room was mine. She was supposed to send me a bunch of information ahead of time which I never received. The parking is very tight and I found out when I returned my rental car that it had been scraped on the side-very possibly from the ridiculous parking space I was assigned. The room was fine (couldn't figure out how to make the TV to work) but the next morning breakfast was supposed to be at 9am but apparently some lodgers were leaving early and were being served early and being loud without any thought of people who might still be resting (the eating area was right outside my room). The next morning, the lodger next to me started playing his guitar at about 7:15am again with no regards for other lodgers. Plus Freda walks around talking loudly. So, don't go here if you would like to sleep in a little. There were buckets and boxes everywhere inside and outside which kind of lead me to believe she might be somewhat of a hoarder (tall piles of buckets in the back of the property-safety hazard?). She advertises complimentary aromatherapy toiletries, a complimentary snack basket, complimentary Belgian chocolates which I never saw. I did see some old looking cookies but that was it. Pro's-Huge breakfast which was very good-SO MUCH FOOD. Closeness to Del Mar. read more

We stayed at this B&B this past weekend and had a wonderful time! Freda is so warm and welcoming, down to earth and easy going, non pretentious and an amazing cook! We will be returning! She made our stay so enjoyable, had great recommendations of what to do, (including dollar days at the local thrift store), where to eat and sights to see. We loved eating breakfast amongst the gorgeous plants on the front patio. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a place to feel like you are a welcomed guest in San Clemente, that you consider this charming place. read more

If you're looking for a small little B&B for a relaxing weekend down in San Clemente (or the Beach Cities area), look no farther than Always Inn. Craig and Sonia are the newer (since the end of 08' if I remember correctly) property managers and are doing an excellent job of running the place. Unfortunately Sonia was on a personal trip so we did not get to meet her but Craig took great care of us. We stayed in the "Palm Whisper" room which was just big enough for the two of us. Comfortable bed, nice flat screen with a very nice selection of DVDs to watch if there was nothing on TV. They had several patios to relax on and have breakfast on, if you so choose. Craig cooked us an amazing breakfast both mornings and is quite the coffee aficionado (make sure to ask what he's brewing). The B&B is one block from Del Mar (one of the main shopping/dining streets in San Clemente) and about a mile or so from the beach (easy walk down Del Mar). All in all a great place to stay for 5 star amenities without the 5 star stuffiness. We'll definitely be back! read more

Always Inn - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - San Clemente, California

I've waited a long time to write this review because of an unusual incident that happened just after our stay here and I was hopeful that it would get resolved and I could honestly post a positive review. While our stay at Always Inn, in April of this year, was pleasant and the owner, Freda was conversational and the food was good, our conversation over breakfast led to her side-business, Always Spice. We sampled one of her herb mixtures in one of the breakfast dishes and when we got home, I emailed Freda and asked if we could buy a jar/package. She said to just send $10.00 and she'd send it the following Wednesday. I sent a check, got a subsequent email from her letting me know that it was expensive to send just the one package and she was looking for a cheaper way to do it. That is the last I have ever heard from her. I have emailed and called and just stopped short of stopping in at the Inn (I live in San Diego so it's not often I am in that area). She has never, EVER responded to any of my inquiries about my order and my measly $10.00. Is it possible she would risk a poor review for $10?? Anyway, back to the Inn. The rooms are very small but pleasant and "funky-in-a-good-way" but the walls are thin and you'll share a patio - and parking is tough if you don't reserve a certain room. But the food (breakfast) was delicious! So I'll let you make up your own mind - just don't buy those spices unless you can take it with you on the spot!! read more

This place is a dump. No a/c, TV worked sometime, coffee was never fresh and the place was a mess

I can't say enough good things about our experience here! I was looking for an Airbnb rental in the area for our anniversary, and kept getting "oops! Our calendar says we're open, but we're not." So I called around and found this gem. The rate was great, location perfect, and innkeeper absolutely amazing. She had great recommendations for restaurants, and made us a breakfast to beat any of the cafes in town. She even sent us home with clippings from her succulent garden! We'll be back, you should stay here too! read more

We had a very nice stay at Always Inn over a long weekend in the summer. Enormous, rich breakfasts provided enough food to last us most of the day, plus snacks and fruit available all day, and the location of the Inn can't be beat. The room was small, but quieter than I had expected - a great bonus being so close to downtown - and the little patio out back (shared with the guests in the next room) was a real bonus. read more