My daughter and I had the privilege to stay at Hotel Mac Rae recently. We loved the hotel. So convenient, located right on the boardwalk. Our room view was the best. Near shopping/restaurants/great coffee places. We decided to come in January to avoid the crowds but did not end up avoiding the rain. Everyone was so accommodating. Providing excellent restaurant choices. Checking in to see if we needed anything. We were able to leave our luggage after checking out since the boat didn't leave until later that evening. Highly recommend. read more

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My husband and I stayed here for the first time last night, and we were very happy we did. The room was comfortable and clean, and the staff was very helpful and kind. We were in town for the Catalina half marathon/10k and were wondering about the 11 a.m. check out time, but the man who checked us in said we could have until noon if we needed extra time. We ended up getting back in plenty of time to check out before 11, but we were grateful for his understanding. I'd definitely recommend this hotel and plan to stay there again in the future. read more

Great location! Wonderful customer service! I had an amazing and peaceful weekend getaway at this place, couldn't ask for more. Definitely will stay here again. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - Early morning view from our room. - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

We really enjoyed our one-night first-time stay here. It's an old retro-place on the second floor with no elevator. There are two flights of stairs to climb up or down in or out of the place as all rooms are on the second floor. It has such great character and the interior to at least our room was nicely renovated and looked great. The bathroom has a clear ceiling, the shower lip is low for a person with walking disability (it's not flat, though), but the shower is a one-person affair that had very consistent water temperature -- maybe there weren't many other occupants to compete for water. Anyway, the design and lighting are great; the blackout curtains actually work (but keep the bathroom door closed or the morning light will stream in). Everything was clean and comfortable, staff were friendly. There was a small fridge but no microwave. A little pricey, but it was summer tourist season, so I suppose it's to be expected. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - handy hairdryer - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

Hotel Mac Rae on Catalina Island was a wonderful place to stay. A friend of mine and I recently stayed there for 3 days, and we were very impressed with their quick check-in, hospitality, reasonable price for Catalina, and cleanliness. The hotel is located on the main walkway and was just a short walk from the ferry landing. Although their morning breakfast was very scant (mini sweet rolls, scones, and muffins and orange juice), it was sufficient to get the day started. The bedding was very comfortable and fresh smelling. We were within walking distance of everything, including the one and only grocery store. It was especially nice to come back to the hotel and relax on the courtyard patio and listen to the waves rolling onto the beach. Another bonus was the quietness of the bustling city street- no cars, just people. You have to go up 2 short flights of stairs to get to the hotel area. I highly recommend the Mac Rae. read more

No Wifi!! I really enjoyed my stay here- the room was clean, it was an excellent location, the staff was nice and the pastries they offered for breakfast were fresh and delicious. However we stayed for two nights and, unfortunately, the WiFi did not work either night in our room!! It only worked in the Patio area but one of the nights it didn't even work there. We, along with at least one other guest, let the office know about the issues on our first night but nothing was done unfortunately. I would recommend much more highly if there had been WiFi because otherwise it was a great stay. Edit to note that our room was a right next to the office and router so if we weren't getting WiFi I doubt anyone else was. read more

Hotel Mac Rae is all about location - location - location. It's right in the middle of the action on the strand, and though it doesn't have an abundance of harbor view rooms, when you leave the property you walk right onto the sand. Given the location, HMR's prices are very reasonable. Check-in was easy and our room was ready at 2pm. The rooms are nothing flashy - they're quite dated - and can feel a bit cramped but they have a nice seaside charm and completely satisfactory for a night or two. The bed is decently comfortable and the shower has plenty of pressure. The walls are a bit thin and all of the rooms share a courtyard with a noisy door, don't don't expect a silent night, but you don't hear the traffic on the strand. The rooms have flatscreen TVs with a good amount of channels if you happen to be spending time in the room, and there's plenty of closet space to spare. Check out was a snap and they have a luggage storage space if you want to explore after check out but before your ferry. The space isn't secured but it's in direct view from the reception window. The continental breakfast is certainly nothing noteworthy, but I did enjoy a fresh muffin. Save your money for Catalina's slew of fun activities and get a budget-friendly room at Hotel Mac Rae. read more

I would give no star if possible. Do not waste time or money at this place. The long hair Hispanic lady was rude and unprofessional. We checked in and complained about the room being next to ice maker, tv not working and she told us to go find another hotel if we do not like it. . The courtyard view was facing another door. Their idea of breakfast included was coffee and bread. It was my husband's birthday and it was beyond disappointed. read more

Great option to be on the Main Street. This place is PRIME location!! Pros: - affordable - location is the BEST -let's you keep luggage there before and after check in times when waiting for your boat ride back to mainland and/or if you get there early u can leave your luggage there before check in - free beach towels to use! Cons: - old and outdated - rooms are very small and plain - our room had black mold in the shower.. yikes! - if you have a disability or elderly I wouldn't book here, the lobby is upstairs and you have to walk up 30 stairs before even getting to the lobby. Overall: we would prob stay again. If you want to spend all your money doing fun things on the island rather than a fortune on your hotel- this is the place. Just don't expect a luxurious stay. It's not bad- just not a fancy place. You get what you pay for- and we were very happy with our decision! ***If you want a super nice and fancy hotel this place is not for you We wanted to spend our money on activities like zip lining. It was our anniversary so we wanted to spend time out on the town and on food and drinks and activities. Def recommend this place if you have the same plan as us- to get a cheaper place but spend the money on activities rather than a nice hotel room. read more

If you are looking for quaint and charming, this is the place. Our room appeared to be recently remodeled, was clean, and basic. I found the staff at the front desk to be helpful. Breakfast was basic, hot tea, coffee, orange juice and pastries. If you are elderly or have difficulty with stairs, beware that the only way to the hotel is a long flight of stairs. We had an ocean view room, and the view was wonderful. The hotel is walking distance to restaurants, shops, and Vons. My only suggestions for the room is it either needs a coffee pot in the room, or they should have coffee and tea available at all times of the day at the front desk. A small refrigerator in the room would be nice. While we were there the ice machine was out of order, so we had room temperature beverages, not ideal. After reviewing some of the reviews of the hotel on Yelp, those that rated the hotel poorly, were apparently expecting a different type of experience. This is not the Embassy Suite. It's an old hotel, which means it is small and simple. If you are looking for a marble entryway, & room service, look elsewhere. If you are wanting a great location, history and charm, this is the place. read more

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This hotel gets a 0/10. No I take that back -10/10. They lack basic customer service skills. Please if you are going to work in the hospitality industry you need to at least know basic customer service skills. Maria and Karen were rude and unprofessional The rooms were dirty and old. Just like the other reviews say, this hotel is compared to a motel 6. Do not stay here even if this hotel is your last option. Your better off renting a golf cart and sleeping in that. read more

We had set up a reservation with this hotel in August. They called us the day before our vacation telling us that we did not book two rooms. We told them that we did and then front desk receptionist Maria LIED and she told us that only OUR room pipe bursts. How could only one Room pipe burst? Then she finally told us the truth and that she gave our room away to someone else and tried to fit my whole family in ONE room with two twin beds and one full bed. Mind you were a family of 11 and we had family flying ALL OVER to come and visit Catalina. The manager KAREN would not pick up her phone or return our emails. Very unprofessional. We had agreed to take the room and thought everything was handled. Later on the day our booking agent called us and told us that they had not handled the issue at all. The manager Karen and the front desk receptionist Maria would not pick up the phone to help us. We told them to hold on to our reservations to see what we can do. Not even after 5 min later and they completely canceled our reservations. This establishment is horribly managed and the employees including Karen and Maria were very unprofessional with a nasty attitude. This booking experience was the absolute worse. They first made the mistake, lied about it, try to cover and ended up canceling our whole reservation and completely ruined our vacation. Another thing: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RUN AN BUSINESS AND NOT HAVE A MANAGER PRESENT? IN CONCLUSION I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND BOOKING HERE. read more

Fantastic experience staying here over Memorial Day weekend. I would definitely stay here again. --Older hotel with a slightly historical feel, but the building and our room was very well kept and clean. --Budget-priced, especially compared to the neighboring hotels. Even though we were arriving the day before their summer sale started, they gave us the upcoming 50% discounted rate, so we paid $124 for one night in a room with two double beds. We got this rate as part of a package with two roundtrip boat fares from Long Beach to Catalina island. Whereas are you going to stay for such a price and be basically ON the beach? --Exceptional customer service and a no-bureaucracy feel. We checked in with the front desk staff several times and they were always very helpful -- even after we had officially checked out of our hotel! There is a storage area near the front desk, so we were able to keep our bags there while we gallivanted hours before leaving the island, and they didn't mind us coming and going. Also, they provided colorful beach towels and we were on the honor system to return them, even though we were already checked out. --No problems in the bathroom, plenty of hot water in the shower. No weird cracks or mold on the tiles or anything. --Beds were comfortable and the room didn't feel cramped --Free reliable wi-fi --This hotel is located above a pretty happening bar (El Galleon), and we noticed we could hear the karaoke going on from our bathroom, but if you shut the door you couldn't hear it. You have to walk up a long flight of stairs to get to the rooms and there is an outer door leading into the open air courtyard for extra security. --Cute mural painted by a Mac Rae family member decorated our room! Made us feel like we were in a 1960's Hawaii bungalow. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - Inside our room - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

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Clean and accommodating - super friendly! The hotel is right on the main drag and a stones throw from the ferry.

Buyer beware this hotel is equivalent to a motel 6 on the beach. We paid $386 a night for a 2 star hotel at the very least it should be clean. There was mold and an awful smell in the shower. Yes the room is outdated nothing has been done since the 1960s which means everything is old. The lamps didn't work properly and there was no working fan in the bathroom. Terrible customer service due to the owner only accessible through email. read more

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Small rooms, but it does the job and clean. Would have given it a 3 or 4 star, but because Frankey was so nice and helped look after us during our stay, I am giving this place a 5 star. Thank you Frankey! read more

Pros: Excellent location, great customer service. Cons: Bathroom had a bad smell. Carpet was dirty and there was a hole under the door. Heavy smell of cleaning spray. read more

So this place had me had hello but didn't have me by goodbye. This pictures advertised on the site and on hotels.com were nice and fairly honest pictures but it doesn't show a lot of anything else besides the beds. We walked inside our room and noticed a little smell, just like old hotel smell. The doors and locks were old, keys to open but the bathroom door had an oldschool lock like from the late 1800's. The closet was definitely old, the wood seemed like from 1950's as well as the dresser inside the closet. The bathroom was a bit more updated minus the sink area ( I noticed the old pipes underneath). One thing that stood out right away is when you got there, it was a flight of stairs. The hotel is located on the top of stores located below and there is no elevator or bellhop to help you up in case you brought heavy luggage. Other than the flight of stairs you had to go up and down on (a little tough if your older or have kids with suitcases) it was a decent hotel. The older man in the office smiled a lot but he I felt like he was watching my every move. When I went to get ice one late afternoon, he stood up to watch me so that he can see I was filling up an ice bucket and not an ice chest (which I never did). Just felt like I was being policed while I was there. However it is a great location, right in front of the small beach, the pier, the resturants... I mean it really was one of the best locations the island has to offer. read more

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Pros: Excellent location, historic, nice patio area to sit and read a book or hangout, clean, price was right, nice murals / history board. They let you store luggage before or after checkin, free beach towels. A 1 minute walk to the beach. Free continental breakfast ($5 voucher per person) from the next door coffee shop. Potential Con for some Travelers: Rooms are small (bathroom is also small), compared to modern hotels. For me and my travel companion, this was NOT an issue for us. We are small-ish people (5'5" or shorter, under 150 lbs each). We did not mind the room size at all, but if you are a taller / bigger person, you might find the space uncomfortably small. read more

The hotel manager/owner was very rude to me during our call. She did not have great customer service and if the leader of a business does not have great customer service I can only imagine how the staff is. I would never stay here , I wouldn't recommend anyone staying here. Unprofessional, and unwelcoming. read more

The best part of this room is the location. It's right in the middle of everything and when you walk out you walk directly into the sand. The rooms are pretty small and outdated, but everything was clean and the room smelled of cleaning supplies right when you entered. There is a small open patio area that has lounge chairs and tables that is open to the public. There is a complimentary breakfast that consists of mostly muffins and is pretty standard. The staff was pleasant and helpful. We weren't supposed to check in until 3 PM, but we got there around 11:30 AM and the lady at the front desk had our room ready by 12:15 PM. They also have a place where you can store your luggage if you arrive early and the room is not ready yet. Check out was a breeze. We just put our keys into a slot near the office and were on our way. We utilized the luggage area since we checked out in the morning, but did not leave the island until 7:00 PM. We would definitely stay here again! read more

The rooms are small and basic, and way overpriced for what you get. Continental breakfast consists of cheap rolls, coffee, tea & orange juice. Again, very basic for the price of rooms. Very weak wi-fi that does not reach the rooms in front. Thse staff blamed it on the system in Avalon, but why would the area around the office receive receiption? Appears to be a weak router. read more

I come here every year and stay in a new hotel and I'm usually pleasantly surprised by how nice they are. This did not happen this year! The hotel room was the tiniest I've ever stayed in, the bed was so old both my fiance and I could barely walk the whole time cuz we'd wake up with sore backs. The furniture was OLD. The walls were so thin you could hear absolutely everything going on around us.The whole place looked run down and in need of love. The location was great! But even the continental breakfast was the bare minimum with some muffins and coffee. I was just grateful not to have seen any bugs cuz I really woulda flipped out then! I'd say do some much needed upgrading then maybe would be worth staying again. And make sure you can do stairs cuz to my knowledge there's no elevator! read more

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Beware of the photos you see online - this is the cubby hole we were booked into (there are no other windows). Bed is hard as a rock. Was really looking forward to a relaxing beach vibe, but this won't be where I get it. 10/10 would not recommend. Pray you are not on the ground floor. We have extremely loud guests above us but even the quietest guests would probably be beyond annoying. Also - internet connects but doesn't work. Guy at the desk was friendly enough but couldn't get us another room. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - View from only window in room - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

2/5 Disappointing Although it was in a perfect location. They need to focus more on the upkeep of the rooms. We arrived and saw that there was toilet paper left in the toilet along with a floating fake eyelash and a long a long black hair stuck to the back of the toilet, indicating to us that it had probably not been cleaned. The shower dripped constantly. We were also told when we arrived that a Plummer would be coming to fix it that day and never did. The bathroom door didn't close properly and lock was broken. The blankets were paper thin along with a rock hard mattress. When we were checking out I politely mentioned all these complaints to the front desk attendant, she just said okay and not even an apology. I'm really not one to leave negative reviews, but for the price being paid it's a little much for the quality of the room. Very impressed with the location but so disappointed in our room. Would NOT stay here again! Pay the extra few buck and stay somewhere else!!! See review read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Mac Rae. We had a harbor view and we're able to watch the sunrise and boats come and go. The room was adequate with some deeper cleaning needed but all in all nicely updated. Really enjoyed the skylight in the bathroom letting in all the natural light. Would definitely stay here again. The history of the hotel and family tells a lot about Catalina Island's past. read more

Okay first thing first...there is no really swanky high end hotel on Catalina. Most hotels have 20-35 rooms and were built some time ago. Rooms are going to be small also, like a lower deck cabin on a cruise ship only less well appointed. And since it is an island, there are no bargain priced rooms. You will pay top dollar for a nice room and you usually run into a 2 night minimum. But lets face it, you don't go all the way to Catalina to sit in your room and watch movies. You just want something clean and close to the boardwalk. That said, the Hotel Mac Rae fits the bill perfect. We stayed in room 209 which was some where around a 12 x 12 room with a spacious bathroom (by Catalina standards). I stayed at another hotel last year and comparing the two, my room this past weekend was like a suite...well maybe a jr. suite. The room had a small flat screen tv, huge slider closet, ceiling fan, cheesy mural on the wall, and best of all an air conditioner. The queen bed was comfy too. We had a room that faced the courtyard, but there are bay view rooms. The room that I got was about $60-$70 cheaper per night than rooms at the top tier hotels. For the amount of time that was spent in the room, that money saved went a long way towards drinks and late night snacks at the Pic Nic Fry. As most hotels on the island do, there was a complimentary Continental breakfast in the courtyard complete with coffee, orange juice, mini bagels, and mini muffins. Perfect after a night bar hopping. I would definitely book a room here again on my next trip to Catalina. To the immediate left of the property (when facing it) is El Galleon, home of horrible horrible karaoke. I filled my life's quota of listening to drunk women of all ages sing old Madonna songs...I hope. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

For about three years in a row I stayed at the Mac Rae for a week each spring and fall....just as the off season rates started in the fall and again just before the rates increased again for tourist season in the spring. Very accommodating management. If you arrive before your room is ready they will store your luggage for you. If you want to wander the beach after you check out, they have a shower that you can use. I love Avalon. The best time are the days when the cruise ships do not stop! Otherwise it is overrun by tourists! :) Mac Rae is right on the beach and some of the rooms have a great ocean view! Be warned that the hotel is 'upstairs' over the shops below. There are no elevators. You have to drag your luggage up the stairs! read more

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I stayed at this hotel with a group of friends this fall and we all loved it! I booked an ocean front room and it was well worth it. My two other friends booked courtyard rooms and they where very happy as well. Though we all hung out in my view room. They have a great little breakfast with delicious coffee. I can't wait to come back. read more

Not sure where to start! Someone else booked this hotel for us (family) some went along with it since our favorite places were all booked for Father's Day weekend. We had a few rooms. When my husband came in, he said it reeks of Urine but by the time I got there, he has opened the door/window and or the AC on high with fan going so I didn't smell anything . The rooms are so old, outdated and beat up ! I saw someone paid 124 for a room on Memorial Day and wanted to know what century ago but if that was just few weeks ago(which it really was) Inflation hit because we paid 318/a flipping night for this dive!! They definitely do my use the money to make updates ! Our shower door was missing ...we knew that because the metal trim piece and hole for door clasp were left behind when they took the glass off ! The vanity was all buckled from moisture, chopped on top and the handle was old and tarnished. The smoke detector was hanging slightly from the ceiling and closets were something out of the 70's. The best thing I can say about this place is that it is in a great location! You will be paying 5 star rates for a less than "motel 6" quality !! I will upload some pictures read more

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Rustic , basic, nothing fancy. Great location though. I do wish they had a refrigerator in the rooms though! It would be helpful and not a very costly upgrade read more

2nd worst hotel experience ever! Don't plug anything in to the charred wall outlet in room 211! * clogged sink * their plug shorted out my underwater camera charger (my trip was to get uw pics) * glass bathroom door knob fell off, putting tiny invisible shards on the tile * got locked in door knob-less bathroom * staff said they'd call the owner & she'd talk to us in the morning but never did We continued to play good cop, good cop in the morning & had to buy a $50 replacement charger & gave the receipt to the staff so they could show it to the owner when she got in. Staff told us the owner most likely wouldn't do anything about it because "that's just the way it goes" Not in a descent hotel it's not! Later I went to the front desk to get my receipt back, suspicious that he wasn't going to show it to the owner. He had to fish it out of the trash can! He should've at least warned the next guy to get the room about the wall plug but didn't so I warned 'em as I passed in the hall. I can't entirely blame the employee, if the owner doesn't care, how can I expect the staff to? The fact that the owner hasn't even claimed her listing on yelp is just more evidence that she really doesn't care. Despite all that, we had a great time anyway cuz that's how we roll! read more

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Conveniently located by the green pier, middle of Avalon, beach access a few steps away. The service is great! I arrived early, before check in time and was able to leave excess baggage in a holding area until rooms were ready- what a relief and a treat!!! I forgot my phone charger and the receptionist was VERY kind and sweet that she let me use hers overnight! That is beyond service. I stayed at Mac Rae once before and upon checkout I left my boarding pass and shoes in the room, Mac Rae called to inform me. I had changed my departure time and was already on boat heading off the island, so they shipped my shoes to my home address! Thank you Mac Rae- you guys are awesome!! Rooms are pleasant and kept. Nice outdoor open patio with seating is nice too. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - Beach access a few steps away from the entrance, also good eats right next door that is open late :-) - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

Hotel Mac Rae is in the perfect spot. It's walking distance to so everything and the beach is right outside! They also allowed us to keep our luggage there before and after check in and check out. The rooms aren't super luxurious but the staff is super nice and they also lent us beach chairs and towels. Will book here again! :) I overheard our neighbor say they didn't have hot water but that was none of my business our room was perfectly fine. Lol read more

I came to Catalina for a senior trip with two other friends and we really enjoyed our stay at Hotel Mac Rae! They weren't providing continental breakfast because of covid but they gave us $10 vouchers for Lloyd's, which was a great breakfast spot right next door w/ muffins, pastries, coffee, etc. The room was very clean with lots of natural light! Also literally 20 steps from the beach and right in the center of town :) So convenient!! read more

Loved it! It reminded me of a hotel from those European movies travelers pass through. It's not modern, but kept up just enough to not be "dirty" which gives it its unique charm! It's on the waterfront where all the people experience their happenings, but once you're inside the courtyard you'll be surprised at how quiet it is. Our room was toward the backside (without an ocean view) and we had zero noise from the street which speaks volumes since the town was packed for 4th of July. When we checked in I heard two other families request different rooms which made me a little apprehensive but after being in the room I believe they just expected something a little more "proper" (all hotels were full for the 4th and this hotel only had 2 rooms available on the whole island). Again, this is an OLD hotel that doesn't update their rooms (at least the one we had) but is quiet, has charm, in an A++ location, is just what you need if you're not too uppidy or are looking for luxury! read more

Run away from this hotel and don't look back! I booked a room for my birthday and from the beginning, the hotel seemed to be ok. I knew it was going to be small and have very few amenities, so I wasn't disappointed by that. But before checking out all hell broke loose! From finding bugs under the sheets to a urine stained sheet, and old dirty sock left under the bed. I don't know what could be worse. When I brought these issues up to the front desk, I was told I was going to get a refund but it would take longer because I booked through a third party. As requested, I sent pictures to the manager. Which I was then told that the bugs were lint. How do you get black lint on white sheets??? The manager continued trying to save face by saying that the blow dryer in our room(which did not work) was working therefore I'm lying about the bugs, urine, and sock. She also tried to claim that I only complained after being denied a late check out. But I didn't notice the nasty sheets and old sock until I was doing a check of the room to make sure I didn't leave anything. What's truly sad is that I wasn't concerned about getting a refund in the first place. I was just letting them know the issues going on in the room we stayed in. Their employee Sean was the one who mentioned a refund. I wouldn't have pursued this if he hadn't mention a refund!!! And the fact that the manager wants to sit and accuse me of lying makes me sick. And ya know what?!? Even if those bugs were "lint", and if I planted the sock(as the manager basically accused me of dodoes that excuse the piss on the sheets? If it's not obvious, I'm never staying in this hotel again. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

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This hotel was amazing! Location is perfect! The room we had was a perfect cozy size for our couple retreat! Continental breakfast included muffins, danishes, juice, coffee and tea. I would 100% book with this hotel again in a heartbeat. The staff was very friendly and the beds are super comfy! Thank you so much for the hospitality! read more

Hotel Mac Rae - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

My wife and I spent two nights, we got a king room with a ocean view. The room was clean, quiet, the bed was comfortable, but the best part was the view it was spectacular!! Already planning to stay here again in September. read more

Hotel Mac Rae - View from the room. - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

My wife and I stayed at Hotel Mac Rae for work last week, It was our first time on the Island. Loved It!! Nice place right in front of the beach and the pier and within walking distance of everything. My only criticism is that they don't have an elevator and the rooms are on the 2nd floor. I had to carry my work supplies up the stairs, but I suppose I can give them a break given the age of the building. LOL! read more