Hotel Royal exceeded our expectations…read more We stayed here for one night before our cruise. The service was excellent. Our room was super cute! Very comfy bed, great AC! Bathroom a little small but easy to work with. They had a fridge and coffee maker. In the lobby they have a small room in the back behind the receptionist that has tea, coffee, utensils and other things you may need on your trip! Plus it's a cute area to sit in the morning or while waiting for your Uber. They have plenty of water in the lobby. Bottled and ice water from a large glass dispenser. There are bikes available for use. It's a pretty great location - we were able to walk to really incredible restaurants, and it was super close to our cruise port!!! We highly recommend this place and would book it again on our next Long Beach stay!

We were here for an event recently and spent the weekend here. For starters they do have available…read morepaid parking in the back. The property itself is located in the heart and soul of downtown Long Beach. Our room was cute, cozy, and clean with beautiful hardwood floors. We had a comfy king sized bed and also a sitting area with a couch. Just to name a few of the amenities there was a microwave, mini refrigerator, coffee maker with Starbucks coffee. The bathroom had a shower and it also provided full sized bath and body essentials. They do not have an elevator but we managed to bring our stuff up a flight of stairs with no issues. The guy who was working in the lobby did offer to help us but we declined. Overall we had an amazing experience here and can't wait to return.

Our stay at Beachrunners Inn was exquisite. The property is beautiful, clean and well managed. The…read morehost/innkeeper was friendly, inviting, and made sure we had everything we needed. We were very comfortable and satisfied. The breakfast, too, was amazing. We will definitely be back!

I've always heard of bed and breakfast establishments and decided this would be the perfect…read moreopportunity for my boyfriend and I. We were welcomed by the mother and daughter duo who made sure our stay was met to the Tea! Pat and Courtney offered us their generous hospitality. The home had such a homey feel to it that both my boyfriend and I immediately felt so relaxed when we stepped in. It is located in the heart of Long Beach so we were able to do so much during our short trip. The best part is that it was super close to one of my favorite views of the 3 major cities in SoCal (Hilltop Park). If you are traveling to SoCal and need a place to stay, I highly recommend this place if you are looking to relax during your vacation.

This is my go to hotel. Sleep amazing here. Beds are comfy and it's quiet. It's also clean. Love itread more

We enjoyed our stay at Hotel CURRENT - we booked a Snooze and Cruise package where we stayed…read moreovernight and they shuttled us to the cruise port and our car stayed in their lot for the week. We were anxious going into it, but Hotel CURRENT really has made a good setup, we booked our time slot and the van was there waiting for us when it was our time. The pool area is beautiful, good space to lounge and enjoy. The water was a bit chilly for me, but my kids enjoyed it to the fullest. The room we had was spacious, good sized bathroom, and the bed was quite comfy. We'd definitely stay here again for another snooze and cruise or even just a stay.

Brunch on a Wednesday in the Promenade restaurant…read more 1. Food: superb / top notch 2. Ambience: very good 3. Cleanliness: excellent 4. Service: pretty slow (fortunately, we were in no rush) 5. Staff: most seem noticeably disgruntled / unmotivated / unhappy 6. Ship walkabout: wonderful / a fascinating time capsule 7. Fantastic artwork / historical photographs on display throughout. 8. Huge ballroom / event rooms / very quaint wedding chapel. 9. Period costumes, decor, memorabilia. 10. Step back in time on a 100-year old grand luxury ocean liner. Tips: 1. Make an advance reservation for restaurants - we saw walk-ins wait almost an hour. 2. Allow at least 2 hours (minimum) to explore the ship after your meal. 3. Lots of stairs between decks / huge ship / lots of walking. 4. Make sure your phone is fully charged - hundreds of photo opps. Summary: We came on a fairly quiet weekday, but still restaurant reservations are highly recommended. The food was top-notch. Will return to eat - a real treat. Dropped a star only because many of the staff seemed somewhat unfriendly, unmotivated, disgruntled. Otherwise, the ship is stunningly beautiful and the experience quite profound.

Decided to stay at the historic Queen Mary for a night before leaving on a cruise, it felt both…read moreappropriate and I was crossing a bucketless must off my list. I will start with the good, the staff is incredibly friendly, accommodating and seems to genuinely understand hospitality. Even when an incident that I will talk about it the bads happened they were accommodating and friendly. Additionally, there are parts of the ship that truly still demonstrate the glamor of a forgotten age in ocean liner history, the small exhibits some furnishings that are touches here that take you back. The food at the chowder house well expensive is quite delicious and both the wait staff and the bartenders are friendly. Now for the bad, vast areas of the ship have been left to the ravages of time. Untouched unfixed unpainted just left to rot. Even surfaces in areas where guests are sure to visit like the bow of the ship, there's unpainted rusted, chipped paint and splintering plywood everywhere. Wow! All three members of my party booked the same class room, what we got were three very different rooms, it felt almost very Goldilocks with one room being too big. One room being too small and one room being just about right. However, my room had mysterious yellow brown wet spots seeping up through the carpet, I discovered this at almost midnight and so had to be moved to another room, the room they moved me to was even smaller than my original room and had a bathroom so small that when I tried to open the door it hit the toilet. And then there's the little matter of temperature control, the rooms themselves have no HVAC, but you can open the portal windows, which would be lovely if not for the fact that there is nearly no airflow at least on the side of the ship where I was, And more than a dozen insects decided that my open windows were an invitation to party in my room. Then given the proximity to the port, because I had my windows open, I was awoken at 6:15 a.m. to the sounds of shipping containers and little bells and alarms. I think this hotel has Great value and great potential but at a price point of over $300 a night putting it well into the luxury category, it needs help. To be totally transparent, I will be coming back here. We only booked one night and there's so much more to the ship. I want to explore and see I want to do the tours. I want to do some of their events including their murder mystery dinner. There's so much here, that I truly do think it's worth experiencing, however, I also think it's worth experiencing with your eyes open to what the experience will be. If you're expecting a luxury hotel with luxury amenities and luxury finishings, you are not getting that here, what you are getting is a view of history that may someday go away so enjoy it while it's here.

This was my first stay at Snug Harbor. I visit Catalina/Avalon annually and of course had seen the…read moreInn right on the corner of Crescent and Sumner above Leo's Drug Store, but it was not until my stay last year at nearby Hotel Vista Del Mar that my interest in Snug was piqued. Last year, Vista and Snug were under the same ownership, which is no longer the case. Snug now has closer affiliation with Hotel Aurora a bit up the hill. Snug is a cozy and charming 6-room inn. There is staff on duty during the day; welcome in-room wine and snacks are provided as well as daily continental breakfast. There is no staff on the premises at night, although someone is on-call. My stay was lovely and somewhat surreal. I visited during the February rains which caused the cancellation of all Catalina Express boats on 2 days during my Avalon visit. This forced guests here for the long Valentines/Presidents Day weekend to leave early or relocate. I ended up being the sole guest for my 2-night visit! And with minimal visitors on the island, evenings were also pretty quiet, despite being right above the main drag (Crescent). Snug does provide earplugs and eye masks if needed. I moved up my arrival date due to the weather and Snug was able to accommodate me, even offering the same room, which was the Santa Catalina room, the inn's "crown jewel" situated on the corner with two large bay windows, one facing Avalon Bay with Casino, Bay and pier views, the other with a built-in window seat facing Sumner and the hills above. All rooms have a fireplace and deep soaking jetted tub. The rooms are not particularly large but are full of charm, coziness and warmth. No robes or slippers, but there were 2 clock/music/alarm machines. Complimentary reusable water bottles are provided; there's a water/ice machine in the hall. The welcome snacks offered were olives, pretzels and high-end nuts (i.e., no peanuts). The continental breakfast was quite ample and includes a small loaf of warm banana bread, yogurt, fresh berries, granola, milk, juice and coffee or tea. You fill out an order slip as to what you want exactly and what time you want it delivered. There are 6 delivery times for the 6 rooms, which of course was not an issue for my stay. There is a common room with a sofa, fireplace and machine for coffee and tea. There is a closet for luggage storage, a public restroom and umbrellas. The front door is open 8-5, key access is needed in the off-hours. Shout-outs to the great staff I met--Jackie, Destiny and especially Johnny at the front desk and housekeeper/breakfast preparer Alicia. Overall a fabulous stay. I usually split my time on the island between Mt Ada and a property "downtown". Snug Harbor has moved to the top of my downtown list!

We stayed here with a group of friends over the Christmas break, and they really took care of us…read more They bring breakfast in the morning, and the welcome platter is such a thoughtful touch. We loved hanging out in the common area, and the hot beverage bar was especially welcome in December. We usually avoid hotels because they tend to feel generic, but this place is the opposite -- a true boutique experience with only six rooms. The location is perfect, close to diving spots and great food, and the attention to detail is exceptional.

I'm a bit of a Mt Ada regular; this was my 6th stay and, due to the rainy/windy weather, the most…read moresurreal. I stayed just after the long Valentines/Presidents Day weekend. All boats to and from Catalina Island were cancelled on 2 days of my visit, forcing other guests to change their travel plans. I ended up being the sole guest for all 3 nights of my stay here! With some whispers of Mt Ada being haunted (but not as many as Banning House Lodge in Two Harbors), I was a bit concerned, but fortunately had no paranormal experiences. To briefly review Mt Ada's history, it was once the Catalina home of William Wrigley Jr. and family, of chewing gum and Chicago Cubs fame. He was instrumental in putting Catalina "on the map", and his descendants still own the Catalina Island Company, which runs Mt Ada, Hotel Atwater, Pavilion Hotel and Banning House Lodge, as well as other businesses. All my stays at Mt Ada have been with the Company, although it was previously run as a private B&B. Mt Ada still runs as a B&B, as opposed to a hotel. It's a pricey stay but has many many perks that justify the expense. These include transportation to and from the boat or helicopter terminals, use of a golf cart throughout your stay, daily made-to-order breakfast and lunch, pre-breakfast continental breakfast, afternoon wine/cheese/charcuterie, 24-hour butler's pantry with snacks like gelato, chips, cookies and popcorn plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, discounts on Island Company tours and activities. Currently there are about 4 main people interacting with guests at Mt Ada, plus "behind the scenes" kitchen and housekeeping staff. My past reviews have mentioned a stay here is more like a visit to a home, as opposed to a hotel. There will be times when you may not see any staff (especially at night). But Pierre, Liz, Tim and Yoli (Yollie?) work their hardest to accommodate guest needs--they are the chauffeurs, front desk, waiters, luggage handlers, concierges, etc. I applaud them all. One of Mt Ada's pluses is its location on the hill (Mt Ada) above Avalon Bay, even above the main Bay viewpoint that all the rental golfcarts stop at (traffic jams are common here). It's quite peaceful, although in busy times the noise from "downtown" does carry uphill. Mt Ada has 6 rooms. The room I booked was the Grand Suite, Mr. Wrigley's former bedroom. It's the largest room, with a separate living and bedroom, a bathroom with a separate shower and tub, and a large terrace above the first floor terrace. It has a fireplace, as do 3 other rooms, and a raised bed that requires stairs to access, as does one other room. The living room has an antique "radio" that is seen in photos with Mr. Wrigley. There are radio stations hand-written on it; I was appalled to see "graffiti" defacing this historic relic. The terrace is fabulous, but alas the weather prohibited much use; I feared the high winds would blow the cushions on the chaise lounges over the railing. Even the dining tables on the first floor terrace were stored; in more temperate weather it's the loveliest place to enjoy breakfast or lunch. The breakfast and lunch menus have some new items and some old faves. Once again a fabulous and peaceful stay. Thanks again to all the staff. With the Pavilion Hotel reopening soon, Mt Ada may be the next property to undergo renovations. I hope it does not lose its charm or homey character.

Absolutely the best accommodation on the island. Spectacular views, the house is gorgeous, the…read morestaff is impressive and attentive. Highly recommend!!! There are only six rooms so book early!

So glad I found this great place so close to the beach and restaurants near Ballast Point,…read moreliterally like 4 minutes away. Made the reservation over the phone and the lady who helped me was so great and helpful. She managed to find the room I was just looking for. Once there, checking in was super easy and fast. There's also someone in the lobby all night in case something is needed. All the staff are super friendly and attentive. Room was super clean and spacious. The jacuzzi in the room worked perfectly and they have a pool and a jacuzzi outside as well. I really recommend this place in you're in the area. So easy and convenient.

Great location within walking distance to restaurants, shops and the beach…read more Warm, welcoming staff. Clean, spacious, well appointed rooms. Free breakfast.

I had a really great 2-day and 1-night stay here! The location is close to stores like Starbucks,…read moreColdstone, and Levi's. It's also very close to the downtown area. From the hotel I was able to walk to downtown and explore cute shops! The staff was also amazing! They were quick and thoughtful with the check-in/check-out process. When we had an issue with the TV, they came over quickly and helped us troubleshoot it. They also were helpful when I realized I forgot my toothbrush. Very much high-end hotel experience. I was also able to study in the lounge which was quiet and peaceful. I will say, I didn't exactly love the sliding door in the bathroom. It doesn't lock (or if it did, I wasn't able to figure it out) so there's not much privacy. I've been seeing this sliding bathroom door trend among many hotels, so this isn't a negative towards this specific hotel. Overall, it was a great experience and I would stay again! They had a dining area where I was able to order a full breakfast meal or a quick to-go food item depending on my needs.

Personally, I LOVE this Hyatt Centric. I bounce btwn the Hyatt Regency LB, which is just about .25…read moremiles away and adjacent to the LB Convention Center, but if I'm doing a walkable staycation and don't plan on driving during my stay, I choose Hyatt Centric at The Pike. The Pike refers to a shopping and entertainment area within this city block. So it's real convenient to restaurants, outlets, a movie theatre, and ALLLL the Long Beach Harbor and Shoreline Village offer: shopping, a arcade with carousel, Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Aquatic Park, Long Beach Pier, LB Boat Rentals and Wheel Fun Rentals. Not to mention a really nice, easy walkway along the shoreline with postcard views of the Queen Mary. Hyatt Regency is great of you're attending a conference at the convention center and can write off biz expenses. Otherwise, I find the parking fees, even with in/out privileges for guest, to be steep($44/nt self; $49/nt valet), I addition to the "Destination Fee" ($30) charged at Hyatt Regency. NOW, that being said, sometimes they have package deals, so these fees can be absorbed. Compare it to Hyatt Centric The Pike, where you will be parking at a Long Beach City Public Parking structure next-door to the Hyatt Centric(separate review), NOT having in/out privileges, unless you pay each time you leave, but paying $24/day and no "Destination Fee", and I think Hyatt Centric makes more sense for pedestrian explorers. Since both hotels are within the same walking areas, choose what works best for you, but those are my strongest considerations for choosing at which Hyatt in downtown LB I'll be staying. Hubs doesn't give a rip. LOL Anywho, here is ALSO why Hyatt Centric feels "homier" to me. First and foremost - THE STAFF!!!! Jorge, Dir. of Operations, reached out ahead of my arrival(standard), but continued to be of assistance when I engaged with him about my stay and what our celebrations for the New Year would be. Very thoughtful. Emma was friendly and very helpful in checking us in and making sure I received all my Hyatt Member amenities and perks. David, Front Office Manager, followed up to see that our stay was a successful and happy one and to further offer any assistance for future stays. Throughout our stay, we were greeted by staff cheerfully, but they never imposed. Honestly, remember when Hyatt use to boast about "the Hyatt Touch"? THIS is what they meant. They may not refer to that in marketing, but Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach seems to be one property that is still very committed to this idea. I have been staying at this property since it was an Avia. Hyatt purchased the property in 2011 and began renovations in 2012, which I believe finished in 2020, just in time for a pandemic to hit. We came back in 2021 to beautiful new decor that really features the sights synonymous to Long Beach, but especially the harbor and nautical history. Cute details like hallway lights resembling portholes, or some Queen Mary history lessons in the elevator halls, highlighting her use during WWII. The wallpaper in the rooms, has a focus wall of an aerial shot of the shipping containers at the Port of LB, and the carpet coordinates a flow of that same idea. Yeeesssss..., in some areas the decor is already looking a bit worn, but I believe its a pretty popular property so I don't mind because it's all familiar, comfortable and there are no problems with anything broken. Amenities! I ADORE the roof poolside patio for city scapes and views of the Queen Mary during any season. I'm not typically a pool user, but have dipped during especially hot weather when staycationing here. Plenty of room to spread out! I find the rooms really comfy, and plenty big, the shower and bathroom fabulous! A cozy robe, efficiency fridge, Keurig with pods, extra blankets and pillows and motion sensor lights on the bed frame, assisting your way to a middle of the night bathroom sesh. Also available: gym, water stations, poolside cabanas(for a fee), poolside lounge chairs and seasonal rooftop bar, a business center, free wi-fi throughout and meeting/banquet rooms. They also have a really cute outside patio on the ground floor, adjacent to the lobby, that the banquet rooms can open onto featuring a HUGE chess board! Each of our stays at Hyatt Centric The Pike LB has had a special memory. I'm already planning my next stay. HC@TPLB makes a PERFECT location for a long Catalina Island Day trip! Catalina Express is a short, easy, maybe 5min, walk and then coming back to a cozy room after a Catalina excursion is the icing on the cake. I plan on booking for the night before, to catch the earliest(calmest seas are early morning) boat the next AM, then returning to our room after we return on the last boat back, around 8pm. Whatever your plans are for seeing Long Beach, check into Hyatt Centric at The Pike Long Beach for an easy, comfortable stay. Cheers! "CC"

beware! not all units are created equal. I believe that these are owned by separate individuals so…read moreI would try to find your room number in any reviews that you check. Our room was absolutely filthy. There was dust and grime buildup on all of the ledges, stains, crumbs, hair, dust, along the bed frame and in the crevices of the chair. just no attention to detail at all. we did contact the owner and opted to leave and were provided a full refund, but the kind of build up that was in that room was either from a long term stay that wasn't cleaned up properly or just terrible cleaning over and over. side note: wifi signal was not good, bedding was bare minimum and no hand towels or face cloths provided. I'm not looking to trash the owners, I just don't want anyone to be in the same situation we were, having to look for another place last minute after a long day of traveling, I was almost in tears, plus I had to pay way more to stay somewhere else because there weren't a lot of options.

I've been to Long Beach a few times this past year for conferences and events and usually am…read morestaying at the big box hotels that are immediately adjacent to the Convention Center (like the Hyatt Regency, The Renaissance, The Westin) but I was late to the game to reserve a room this time and missed getting the discounted conference block rate. So rather than pay an astronomical fee for the privilege of proximity, I did a quick search of the area. There are plenty of options, but many of them just seemed suspect. The I came across the Varden. Definitely a boutique hotel, but definitely worth checking out. The rooms are typically small with barely room for a bed, a partial desk and a small bathroom area. But the room was extremely clean, the fixtures and bed were new and cool and for one person, really perfect. Particularly since other than sleeping and checking emails, what else do you really need? Well, for starters you need to feel safe. And this place does a great job of securing the facility at night, but you don't feel you're in a bad neighborhood anyway. You also might like to enjoy a welcoming attitude, and the staff and place has plenty of that. The young staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. Being forewarned that the property has 3 levels and no elevator is important, but honestly, it's not a tough climb to floor 3. And as a testament at how great the staff are, they wouldn't take no, and they carried my bags to my 3rd floor room. Since I was there for meetings, I needed to press my clothes, so a call to the front desk resulted in a brand new Iron and Board appearing at my room within minutes. And being welcomed by a reception with snacks, wine and drinks between 5:00 - 7:00 everyday, is just super nice. They also do a continental breakfast from 6:00-9:00 daily. They have a hip space right behind the registration area for these treats so it's easy to walk through on your way in/out of the property. And best of all the price per night was less than 1/2 of what those big chain hotels were charging. And I was less than 4 blocks (and a very nice walk past lots of local stores/restaurants to give me a feel for the area) from the Convention Center. For all these reasons, if you're in Long Beach solo, I would highly recommend you check out the Varden.