Yes the hotel is pretty cool within walking distance to restaurants, wine bars, coffee and…read moredelicious sandwiches. But disappointed with some of the communication read on. Front clerk failed to mention: When you arrive you may get mixed up seeing two black doors locked go around the corner on Main Street no sign to tell you that. Parking is free on 18th street very easy walk. WiFi is free no password needed. There is a gym on site. Choose "Main Street king" bed huge difference if you pick queen bed tiny room. $20 dollar difference worth it. Wine bar next door is great but you can purchase wine at the hotel cafe much cheaper. I kept going back to the wine bar next door really cool place and people. Try lovers deli for pizza or killer sandwiches walking distance. Great coffee and breakfast at hola cafe across from deli kinda. Enjoy

Great Atmosphere, Friendly Staff, but Some Frustrating Details…read more The El Capitan Hotel has a lot of character, and there are definitely things to like about it. Unfortunately, there are also some practical issues that take away from the overall experience. I wanted to love this place more than I did. The Good The atmosphere is excellent. The hotel has personality, and the first floor is a great place to hang out. It feels like somewhere you can actually spend time instead of simply checking in, sleeping, and leaving. The communal space is one of the hotel's strongest features. The staff I interacted with were young, friendly, and approachable. That goes a long way toward making a stay enjoyable, and I appreciated the welcoming attitude. The rooms are good for what they are. They're nothing particularly spectacular, but they're perfectly adequate. Not every hotel room needs to be a luxury experience, and the rooms serve their purpose. The gym was another pleasant surprise. It's clean, has more machines than they probably need, and offers a good selection of weights. Is it a world-class fitness facility? No. Is it more than enough for a hotel gym? Absolutely. You can get a legitimate workout in without feeling like you're trying to lift a decorative dumbbell in a closet. The Not-So-Good Parking is a major headache, especially if you're driving a full-size truck. The parking situation is difficult for larger vehicles, and the overflow parking arrangement wasn't reassuring. The street parking area was very dark, which made me uncomfortable leaving my truck and belongings there overnight. I'm not saying something would necessarily happen, but the setup didn't inspire confidence. Valet parking is $15 per day, and it starts to feel like the most practical option if you want to avoid the parking hassle. That's another expense to factor into the stay. When you're paying to stay at a hotel, parking shouldn't feel like a separate logistical challenge. Then there's the $400 deposit. Four hundred dollars! That's a substantial amount to have tied up during a hotel stay, particularly if you're not expecting it. Make sure you understand the deposit requirements before arriving. The room door was another concern. My door didn't automatically shut behind me, which is something I'd expect a hotel to get right. I reported it to the staff, and they said they would fix it. I appreciated their response, but a door that doesn't reliably close and latch is more than a minor inconvenience; it's a security concern. The walls seem paper thin. Sound carries between rooms, and I noticed the hotel provides earplugs. Let's just say that little amenity suddenly made a lot more sense. Earplugs are a thoughtful touch, but ideally, you wouldn't need them to get a decent night's sleep. Convenience could be better, too. The ice machine is only on the third floor. It's not a disaster, obviously, but getting ice shouldn't feel like a minor expedition. The gym is good, but getting to it early in the morning is an odd experience. If you want to work out before 6 a.m., you have to go out through an emergency exit and then walk back into the hotel through the front entrance. Nothing says "good morning, time to work out" quite like taking an unexpected outdoor detour before you've finished waking up. The gym deserves credit; the access arrangement does not. A Note About Cleanliness I spotted a live German cockroach on the first floor. To be fair, it was four floors away from my room, and I didn't establish that there was a pest issue in my room. One sighting doesn't prove the entire hotel is infested, but it's certainly not something you want to see during a hotel stay. German cockroaches are particularly unwelcome travel companions, and the last thing anyone wants is to bring an unwanted souvenir home in their luggage. It's worth mentioning, even if I can't conclude anything about the extent of the problem from a single sighting. Overall Impression The El Capitan has genuine strengths: a great atmosphere, an inviting first floor, friendly staff, decent rooms, and a surprisingly good gym. Those are real positives, and I don't want them overlooked. The frustration is that several negatives involve basic practical details: parking, the deposit, the door, noise, and access arrangements. These aren't necessarily glamorous issues, but they affect the actual experience of staying here. My impression is that the hotel has plenty of charm, but some of the details need more attention. A great atmosphere can make a hotel memorable; it just shouldn't require a $15 daily parking decision, a $400 deposit surprise, and a trip to the third floor for ice to complete the experience. There's a lot to like about the El Capitan, but charm alone doesn't make up for everything. With improvements to parking, room security, noise control, and early-morning access, this could be a much stronger overall experience.

Holiday Inn Express, Merced is our go to place when we visit our Son at UC Merced. I remember the…read morefirst year at his school brought a lot of uncertainty in an unfamiliar place. Unexpectedly, Maria was the first person to make us feel welcomed in Merced. She always greets us with a warm smile and makes sure that we have everything we need. Whenever we plan a trip to Merced, my wife says "book us a room at Maria's place". We look forward to staying with Maria two more years. We just might have to invite her to our Son's graduation. I think air fresheners are needed throughout the facility. It smells a bit dingy and dated in rooms and common areas. The facility appears clean, but the smell suggests it's not.

Disappointing experience…read more I had a disappointing experience with Rebecca. I called at 10:00 AM beforehand and was told that I could check in early between 12:00 and 1:00 PM. When I arrived, however, Rebecca was not helpful and spoke to me in a dismissive manner when I tried to get assistance. She called across the waiting area that she couldn't accommodate us and told us to call back at 3:00 PM, even though we had already waited for about two hours. We were already feeling overwhelmed because we were in town to drop off our child at UC Merced, so the interaction made an already stressful day more difficult. When we returned around 4:00 PM, Rebecca apologized, which I appreciated. The rooms were nice and clean, but there was a lot of noise at night. Overall, I hope management takes this feedback seriously and works to improve both communication and the guest experience.

WHY I WENT HERE: - business trip…read more THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located on Parsons Ave in between Westfall Ave and Dinkey Creek Ave - located in between Holiday Inn Express & Suites Merced - Yosemite Natl Park Area by IHG and TownePlace Suites by Marriott Merced - a couple of times while leaving in the morning there were unhoused individuals nearby (adjacent to the parking lot and Parsons Ave) THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - you can tell it's been renovated recently, but for the duration of my week long stay it was very humid/stuffy inside the building (i.e. lobby, stairwells, hallways, and the room itself) - I had the A/C on but it felt like it never actually got to the temperature (70) I had set it to, despite the thermostat reading - room was what I needed it to be - enough space, clean enough, etc. CUSTOMER SERVICE: - I utilized the Digital Key to check in and check out - the fitness center is VERY small and the A/C unit in there was blasting each time I went in there; it was very stuffy as if it needs to be aired out or the unit may need to be cleaned

I stayed here for the night and i had a good sleep. It was comfy and clean. It was convenient. Come…read moreand stay at Hampton Inn, you will enjoy it.

I stayed here on the 4th of July. The room was very large, very clean, and overall quiet. It was…read morevery comfortable. Ample parking. The water pressure in the shower was great! The price, I thought, was great! The pool was closed - that was the only negative. The free breakfast in the morning has a lot of options. I just had coffee though and it was tasty. I was just passing through but it was a great stay. Thank you for the hospitality!

motel is convenient to CA-99. Location was great and pretty…read moresecure; good breakfast and coffee, friendly staff and customer service was excellent: reasonable prices. Pool was very clean and fresh; next to parking lot. Bedrooms were organized and clean: comfortable beds and Wi-Fi access worked well. certainly staying here again when I visit Merced.

I booked this hotel for my family as a middle ground area as we visited Yosemite and Sequoia…read morenational park! It was the perfect middle spot to be able to stay in one hotel during our weekend trip to be able to see both parks. For the most part the room was clean and comfortable but the shower pan in the bathroom was covered with a grey film as if it was stained from everyone else that had used this room before. We have toddlers and we put a towel down in the shower so they weren't standing directly on everyone else's foot filth when we showered them.

The rooms in this hotel are decent and spacious. Employees are very nice and helpful. Hot cooked…read morebreakfast is complimentary with your stay. The problem is location, location, location. It is RIGHT off the highway, dang near on the highway, and there is a homeless encampment right next to the property. (See pictures) The bedroom area of the suite we had was on the highway side which made it even worse. The sounds of the highway are hideously loud ALL DAY AND NIGHT. Tons of cars, huge trucks and trains. There was even a l-o-n-g train around 3AM. Also the walls are so thin you hear doors slamming and people walking and talking too. This is not a place to come if you want to sleep unless you are a super sound sleeper.

We reserved two rooms for our wedding guests and both sets of guests said they enjoyed their stay…read moreand felt welcome and very comfortable. They said the breakfast was lovely and Jackie accommodated their dietary needs. I found Jackie very pleasant to work with and I really appreciate that our guests were able to stay in the same place together.

A pleasant host, a lovely house, and lovely grounds. It's truly a B'n'B, so you get a delicious…read morebreakfast in the morning. It's a relaxing and leisurely place, and Jackie is an experienced host. There are rooms in the main house, a custom-built home on a large lot. There is also a private cottage in the garden. We called from the road, late, and Jackie graciously reserved a room in the main house (the cottage was not available, sadly) for our arrival. It was still early enough to have dinner, and Jackie's suggestions were the best. We woke up to a fine breakfast with eggs from Jackie's flock (not 5 or 6 hens, but dozens) and we walked the gardens and the chicken coop after breakfast. Best to stay a couple of days, or more, but you won't be disappointed by a brief overnight with breakfast.

Hubbs and I needed a safe, clean and affordable place to stay overnight while visiting family…read more Staff was very welcoming upon our 11PM check-in. Do not let the dated front office fool you! The rooms are newly remodeled with wood/laminate flooring, wood shutters and tile in the bathroom. Our small room was very clean and the bed, a pillow top mattress, was very comfortable. The bathroom sink is located outside of the bathroom in a nook and the bathroom itself was very clean! However, the bath towels were on the thin side and a tad small. The included breakfast (served from 6AM - 9AM) had very little to choose from, but I suppose that is to be expected for the price paid. There was cereal, danishes, donuts, etc. Do note, this location is next to the highway. The noise was not an issue for me, but it might be for light sleepers. Thank you, America's Best Inn & Suites! We will recommend and stay again.

We were around the area mountains and arrived to Merced around 8 pm…read more Looked for a place to sleep that won't hurt our budget too much. Got to this place, near the highway so it fit us great, not expensive and the rooms are beautiful and clean. Also, the woman in the front desk was very nice.

This place was remodeled a few years back so it's still fairly decent. It's not in the best of…read moreneighborhood, but if you're just staying for a night or two, it's a good option. Rooms are advertised with mini fridges but there are only a few that actually have a fridge.

Terrible hotel, bedsheets had hairs. Many homeless outside. Reserve a second room because of the…read moresmall rooms. And they didnt gave me the room or a refund. Staff were ok. but couldnt resolve my refund or give me a room i had a reservation and payed for.

The room was absolutely minimal. A small sink with no counter space in the bathroom. There were…read morecockroaches in my room. They advertise a "buffet" breakfast which was actually a continental one. A sign posted in the breakfast area stated, "No hot food, sorry for the inconvenience." The front desk person was a bit icy upon arrival. I wanted to speak to someone at checkout. No personnel at the front desk. Needless to say, I will not be staying at another "Choice" property. I'll chose one elsewhere. Wish I could give it a minus stars rating!

Priceline pretty much scams with the express deals . Even with the discount added to the express…read moredeals it's still almost always cheaper to book it yourself without Express . Also if it says four star you could possibly get a 3-star the customer service says it's based on some BS . When booking Express it'll give you three options one being cheapest room one being mid cheap and one being the most expensive every time I booked it it always gives me that cheapest room so don't fall for the three options

Due to certain circumstances I had to spend the night in town unexpectedly. There were a limited…read morenumber of places to stay in the immediate vicinity so I checked the reviews and found this place to have the better results, though there were only 2 reviews at the time. I went for it and I am grateful it was an overall pleasant experience, considering the pinch I was in.

Let me first start off by saying the manager Miss Nalid is one of the most helpful, cheerful, sweet…read morehuman being I've ever met. The hotels are Immaculate with the the cleanliness. The TVs are modern rather than having a tube TV from the 1990s. rooms have a microwave and a refrigerator. There is a coffee pot Ready to Brew in the morning right next to you. Pricing here is unmatched by any of the motels here, you will not be disappointed.