Cannot say enough good things!! Wow wow wow…read morePricey but worth it If you're looking for kick back and listen to waves on a beautiful Cliff over looking the ocean here it is !

WOW! "Come for the view, stay for the experience" is one of the mottos for this GORGEOUS retreat…read more Another, more simple motto for this property: "BREATHE". Established in 1953, the Beachcomber in is quintessential California bungalow motor hotel. It's unique placement on a San Clemente bluff, with panoramic views of the pier and coast are nothing short of stunning. The rooms have full kitchens, king beds, sofa beds and patios with Adirondack chairs, in case being inside, staring through an enormous picture window just doesn't cut it. The staff obviously knows what a special property this is and there is great pride in the presentation and up keep of the grounds. Friendly, welcoming faces morning, noon and night. Because this is a vintage property, maintaining its original build and charm, it does not conform to modern accessibility requirements. Some may find the rooms small compared to modern, chain hotels, but I found everything cozy, comfortable and - dare I say - sumptuous! Given the hospitality of the staff, I'm sure they would do all they could to accommodate any guest. In addition to the amazing evening sunset views of the Pacific, a plus for me, was the Amtrak Surfliner passing through, down below the bluff. Paul Simon may sing, 'Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance', but I love the sound of a train close by! I find it very soothing and romantic. After the sun has set, it's time to gather around the large fire pit for easy conversations with fellow guests, maybe while you wait for your steaks to grill on one of their guest use BBQs. A lovely, relaxing way to ease into the night. We forced ourselves to leave the property and stretch our legs, walk the pier and roam the shops of nearby Avenida Victoria. But for REAL shopping in San Clemente, we took advantage of the free hop on/hop off trolley that runs seasonally and weekends(see separate review) that picks up just below the Beachcomber, at the San Clemente train stop. Weleft our car parked in our allotted parking space (1 parking space for those staying in Villas #1-12). Really, Beachcomber had everything we needed to settle in for a few nights and, yes, just "BREATHE". Cheers! "CC"

4.5 stars We've been coming to Sea Horse Resort for years…read moreand have stayed in various rooms, but our most recent stay in Room 5A was the best yet. The views are simply unparalleled -- nearly panoramic and absolutely stunning. The accommodations are comfortable and clean, exactly what you need for a great beach trip. Room 5A is a gem -- no elevator or modern extras, but the breathtaking views more than make up for it. It's an older property and the exterior shows it, but that's part of its charm. For a classic, relaxed beach getaway, the location and scenery are simply unbeatable. We'll always request this room.

This is the second time we have stayed at the seahorse and both times were amazing…read more The rooms were clean and bright. Great location overlooking the pier, which was exactly what we were looking for. Staff were friendly, professional, and helpful. We got a great recommendation for pizza at Sonny's, which was amazing. We were celebrating our anniversary and the seahorse was the perfect place to do it. Thank you.

I was here last week and I fell in love with the hotel the location that I had to come back the…read moreprevious week to bring my son fishing and just hang out in San Clemente do some shopping some eating we went to Asada restaurant and it was delicious. We also went to the outlets and the pier for some food today we will go fishing. The management is the best here!! Ricky, Edwin and the young lady that checked us in are amazing!

Just a little B-Dat getaway last February, Superb Owl weekend. As an IHG member, I booked online…read moreand paid AAA price to take advantage of a points promotion for 2 night stays. The special noted to management included that it was a Birthday getaway and something on the high floor, away from elevators and quiet would be appreciated. I know there are no guarantees for what room you get, but other properties, in the past, have at least read these notes and left a message of Happy Birthday for us at check-in. She have even put a handwritten note in the room. When we arrived here, Ricky greeted us at check-in and set to get us settled. I inquired about the room and asked him if my Platinum Rewards upgrade had been assigned. He hesitated and said described the room I booked. Hmmm.... I went to the room assigned and oh - no, no, NO - it simply would not do. Immediately there was a moldy odor and the room was dark and I found dust in a couple of common areas which made me think it had been awhile since this room was occupied. We walked out on the balcony and saw we were on the back part of the parking lot and it was deserted. I guess they DID read the "quiet" request after all. We returned to the lobby and I expressed my dismay. Ricky agreed, it is a pretty dark area, but he didn't think anything else was ready. No problem! You know we're here, we want to get some lunch, we'll head to the outlets on the hill and give you time to prep a room you would proudly put your mother in, Ricky. He smiled a knowing smile and said, 'Got it. Ok, I've got your cell on file, I'll text you when its ready.' 'Do you think that might be before 5pm?' 'Ummm...it should be.' Well, yes, it SHOULD be.... We went to the outlet, had some lunch and did some shopping. We were tired and in need of a nap before dinner. Our drive was 2 hours to the hotel, now another 2.5 hours on our feet and we were DONE! But no text yet. We decided to head back. The look on his face told me he forgot either: 1) to text or 2) to ask the room to get made up or 3) to make sure it was ready or 4) who we were. It was definitely 1, with some 3 and a pinch of 4. Then recognition set in and he was off like a rabbit 'Scuse me a sec.' He came back in a couple of minutes, walking quickly to the check-in desk saying, 'Your room is now ready and its on the 3rd floor, closer toward the front.' 'Would you let your mother stay in this room?' 'Yes I would!' Great. Yes, Ricky took care of business! This room was what I was hoping for and we walked out to the balcony just in time to see the sunset. Later, on our way back out, I thanked him and told him I appreciated him handling my request and that the room was very nice. 'Great! Yeah that room is for our members, so we tend to hold those back or allow late check-out.' I was in a good mood for dinner, so I just smiled and walked out to the awaiting Lyft. Had Ricky missed that I was a member? Curious, but no, my Welcome Points and all others were accounted for a few days after my stay as per usual. The next day we arose for HIExpress cinnamon rolls - YUM! Additionally, on this day, the breakfast fare was scrambled eggs, turkey sausage and buttermilk biscuits. We had brunch plans, so a couple of cinnamon rolls, a hot chocolate - or was it, 2? - and we were back in our room, enjoying the NW view from our balcony whilst planning our day. All-in-all, I would stay here again. The staff was friendly, the area was central for our needs, shopping, relaxing, wandering around, brunch at the pier and a quick Lyft to Main Street for dinner and a nice stroll. The room was comfy, clean and fresh smelling. I would not oppose my mother staying here. Cheers! "CC"

My husband I spent 3 nights in the grotto. We can not express enough, how wonderful this gem is!!…read moreDo yourself a favor and experience this beautiful hacienda! Super clean, location is the best and the grounds are immaculate! We slept with the windows open to enjoy the sounds of the turf! The proprietor lives on premise and is kind and considerate. We'll be back for sure! David and Cindy Gonzales

I took my husband here to surprise him for his 30th and we stayed in the Bonita-Oceanfront room. It…read morewas so charming, relaxing, and the perfect romantic getaway. Thanks to the owner John for being so accommodating and for just being an overall cool dude! We will definitely be back!

We have stayed here twice now and absolutely loved our experience both times…read more This most recent visit, we were staying for a mini-moon right after our wedding. Everything about this place is wonderful. It was just as affordable as the Hampton Inn we stayed at right before, but ten times nicer. They even called us to let us know that their rates dropped from when we initially booked, so we saved money without having to do any of the leg work. You simply cannot be the location of this resort. You can walk to the downtown or the beach. It's also a very quiet resort - you immediately feel relaxed here. We have also always been super pleased with the welcoming staff. This is a repeat booking for us whenever we come to San Clemente.

Stayed at the cove the end of my grandparents timeshare week. They had decided to leave I guess…read morebecause one of the lady's at check in wasn't the nicest. The time I was there was good housekeeping was attentive when I came to the needs of the room. The balcony rooms will always have the best views if that's your goal. Very close to the downtown so lots of food options nearby along w the Sunday market. Room was very cold at points even w the heaters and the fireplace on but my guess it's because of the tile. I went in the winter but they do offer beach equipment if needed and towels which is always great. Plus the sauna and jacuzzi are always great to enjoy.

I enjoyed my stay here. One of the highlights of my stay was the staff that I personally…read moreencountered were great. I wanted to check in early and I first called and spoke to an Aaron who said that he could help me leave a note for early check in, and then when I got there I was checked in by Estrella who was also great and she let me check in early. I came here for a wedding block and did not check the reviews until after my stay and was shocked at all the negative reviews. A lot of the prior reviews all mention outdated rooms, but now in 2026 the rooms have been redone and they're great. The hallways/exterior/common areas are still quite dated, but the rooms themselves have been redone well. They're spacious and large and well apportioned. With that said, there are some negatives. First of all, they're still working on renovations in the common areas. A large portion of the lobby is petitioned off, and the pool and spa are both closed. Secondly, the room we were in the beds seemed on the small side, so if you were trying to put two larger people on one of the beds it may feel a little cramped. Lastly, there still seems to be some issues with management. I was lucky and all the staff I dealt with were great, but one of my friends had her room canceled last minute. Otherwise, the location is great, there's plenty of parking, and you're either facing the ocean or golf course.

Stayed here over the long weekend and unfortunately it was one of the worst hotel experiences I've…read morehad. The pool area was very dirty, and the common bathrooms were not being kept clean throughout the weekend. On Sunday night, there were guests drinking beer around the property, and the entire place felt overcrowded and poorly managed. There seemed to be no order or supervision -- towels were left everywhere, mud was all over the floors, and the overall cleanliness was disappointing. We also paid extra for an ocean view, but the view was honestly pretty bad and not what we expected. The breakfast was below average as well. For the price we paid, we definitely expected a much better experience and honestly would have been better off staying at a cheaper hotel. Unfortunately, I would not recommend staying here.

Terrible stay for my family and I, walked into a room that smelled like it had been hot boxed. We…read moreopened the screen door and turned on the noisy air. We left and went out and hoped that it would be better. It took awhile but you could still smell it, then trying to go to sleep with the noisy air was an adventure. Not to mention the thin floor so you could hear everything going on upstairs. They were nice enough to leave a jar with two sets of earplugs. Nice location we made the best of our one night stay but wouldn't recommend this place.

There was a camera up in the bathroom vent located in the shower. As soon as I discovered this I…read moreconfronted the owner and he just said it was a ventilator, had the police come and they said it was some type of camera that had been turned off , the blue light was not lite anymore. So they must of turned it off. I packed my things and left immediately! I would never go back there nor recommend this place to anyone. The only good thing was its location and it was unique in design. Stay clear of this hotel. This was a few years ago but it doesn't matter, they still did what they did and it's disgusting!!!

Clean room, had a good stay and would come back if I'm on a budget and am not concerned about…read morebooking a stay close to the water (this is not within walking distance from the beach unless you're good with walking 45 min or so). Manager is nice. Room was stuffy upon getting here so when we do leave for the day to go explore I set it at 70 degrees. She always turns it off. Backstory: I'm the last person at work who wants the AC on, but I can't stand a stuffy room after getting back, so I'd appreciate it if they just leave it well alone if I'm setting the room to 70 degrees. It's not like I put it at 50. So that irks me. Walls are thin. Woke up at 1:45am to moans from the room next door. Luckily the woman hit the right soprano notes so it wasn't too bothersome, nor did it last beyond 10 minutes, but just something to be aware of if you're a light sleeper like me. But other than that, the room is clean, shower's hot water comes on relatively quickly and works well so overall we had a good stay.

Stayed here Saturday night and it was a great stay. The owner was friendly, check in was fast, room…read morewas clean and bed was comfortable. I also loved how the bathroom had a fan, you don't get that a lot in hotels. It's not a close walk to the downtown area....about a 5 min drive. But it is close to the freeway which is nice without any of the freeway noise.

Great value! Stayed in a renovated room and loved it! Beautiful pool and central location. Super…read morenice desk person, too! Can't wait to go back

Nice hotel about a mile from downtown San Clemente. My brother and I decided to walk instead of…read moretaking Uber and it wasn't bad. Rooms were clean and they do serve a breakfast for free. Waffles, egg sandwiches, fruit and a few other items. Prices are very reasonable compared to the hotels near the pier. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone.