As someone who has traveled extensively across the globe--from boutique stays in Europe to luxury hotels in Asia--I can confidently say that Lia Hotel stands out as one of the cleanest, most well-maintained, and genuinely welcoming places I've ever stayed. Tucked away in the Bay Area, where affordable quality can be hard to come by, Lia Hotel is an absolute gem. The rooms are spotless--seriously, not a speck of dust in sight--and the attention to detail in cleanliness is unmatched anywhere I've been. It's clear the team here takes great pride in the guest experience. Beyond that, the rates are unbelievably reasonable, especially given the prime location. In a region where accommodations can easily break the bank, this hotel delivers top-tier comfort and service without the outrageous price tag. If you're traveling through the Bay Area and want a place that's clean, quiet, and feels like a true hidden treasure, Lia Hotel is it. I can't recommend it enough--and I don't say that lightly. read more

LiA Hotel - Hotels Near Me - San Carlos, California

This place is trash. The last time I will stay here. Literally no water even to buy. No housekeeping at all. They have alcohol but can't sell it. The comfort in is a much better place read more

Im looking over the liahotel not motel and im seeing some good reviews ,pepole I promise you the good reviews are written by their friends or family. You will b sorry if u go to the lia in San Carlos ca, if I could give o stars that would be to many,the fat sweaty manager or owner im not sure who he is is the rudest, sloppy , gross man I've ran across the parking sucks ,there's no breakfast the rooms appear clean but, from my personal experience if you do go there check for bed bugs if u can avoid this place at all costs. read more

I did not get pictures i forgot but this was a great hotel the beds are comfortable and i love the pictures they have hanging in the rooms it cute and cozy and they have adjustable lighting and black out curtains i will definitely stay here again read more

LiA Hotel - A picture of caltrain in the room - Hotels Near Me - San Carlos, California

I'm extremely disappointed with my experience at this hotel. My friend and I booked a room together, but the reservation was made under his name. I arrived at the hotel before him and explained to the front desk that my friend would arrive later, and he had asked me to check in ahead of time since we were traveling in separate cars. Despite this, they refused to check me in -- even after I provided the name under the reservation and explained the situation. I then asked if I could use the restroom while I waited. They said there was no restroom available. As a result, I had to sit in my car for over an hour at night, waiting for my friend to arrive just so we could get into our room. Two days later, I returned to the hotel and tried to open the room with my key card -- it wouldn't work, likely because it had been demagnetized. My friend was at work, so I went to the front desk, told them my room number, showed my ID, and explained that I was staying in the room booked under my friend's name. Again, they refused to help. They told me I wasn't listed in the reservation and wouldn't issue me a new key, leaving me locked out of my own room. Once again, I had to wait outside in my car until my friend could return and let me in. This level of service is unacceptable. I understand the need for security, but in both situations, there was more than enough information to verify who I was and allow access. Instead, I was treated with indifference and inflexibility. I do not recommend this hotel -- especially if you're traveling with a group or arriving separately. Be prepared to be locked out, denied access to basic facilities, and left waiting in your car -- even late at night. read more

The front desk people are all very friendly and helpful. The house keeper was very nice too ! The room is clean. I got many extra pillows. I'm really confused why most reviews are so bad here ??? They got TV, coffee maker microwave in refrigerator. And little wardrobe, so many drawers. I put all my personal stuff and clothes inside. And they got many outlet you can charge your phone or computer or other devices. I even use for my electric hot water kettle. The price is unbelievable good ! The location is walking distance to downtown's San Carlos. So many restaurants, shops, drinks. They even have an ice cream and cupcake, of course, Boba milk tea stores !!! I will stay here for 3 nights. read more

See all

On the positive side, the room was clean and pleasant, the bed was very comfortable, and the room came with a bonus office space that was very helpful for me. The price was also very reasonable. So why only two stars? The front office staff was consistently rude and unhelpful. My first contact was via telephone, I called to let them know I had been delayed and would be checking in after midnight. The man who answered the phone acted like my call was the most inconvenient thing ever. With much huffing and puffing and lip smacking, he responded "Fine". I asked if he needed my name and he said "You're the last guest to check in, your name is 'Helen' or whatever". When I arrived, he stood a foot away from me and watched me struggle to get my suitcase over the door sill and inside. No help was offered, he just stared while I wrestled with it. He handed me the keys silently and I had to ask for directions to get to my room. Later I called the front desk to ask if I could extend my stay one more day. The woman who answered told me I would have to wait until 9:30 AM to ask the manager. I had an 8 AM meeting to go to, so I needed to know whether to take all my stuff with me or if I could leave it there. No solution was offered. I took that as a sign to just check out that day as planned and I did. The LiA Hotel is close to having a really nice business here. The addition of just a little more hospitality would make all the difference. read more

Don't waste your time. The property owner is extremely rude. Wanted my card as a deposit. The room was fully paid for. I was not able to go to dinner due to needing my card. He asked me if I was gonna check in or what. The conversation didn't go well. read more

The quality of this hotel is terrible and it is not cheap. It is a motel style accommodation with paper thin walls, poor quality worn furniture and fixtures, and street-facing doors without weather stripping. Our upper floor room was close to the main road and the road noise came through unfiltered into the room. Furthermore there was an all-night party in the room next to us and attempts to reach the front desk in person and by phone were unsuccessful. The next day we informed the manager we wanted a refund and he said it wasn't possible and that we should have notified him the same night, which we tried mutiple times. This hotel already has a number of poor reviews plus some glowing ones which I do not understand - are they reviewing a different hotel? Or are some rooms remodeled? I doubt it. In summary I do not recommend this hotel. The management is unresponsive, and the quality and value are not there. read more

I can honestly say that I love this hotel. Great rooms, great staff, and great price. I always feel safe and comfortable when I stay here. I continue to stay at this hotel when I come to the area. The staff is very friendly and professional. The hotel is quiet and peaceful. The beds are comfortable. Thank you to the staff for maintaining a beautiful hotel. read more

It's ok, room clean does have a electric stove and works. One thing they advertise high speed internet, one of the main reason I decided to book with them and the WiFi/internet is buns can't complete any work here and no phone service here at least for me (T-Mobile) read more

Very Noisy, the train is right across the street. Parking is sketchy. This place was not at all what the website reflected. The room was dirty, and there was a bug on the bed. We did not stay and when we asked for our money back I was told that because I did not take a picture of the bug I had no proof. Ridiculous. read more

Thought you all should be aware of an issue we ran into Wednesday night at the LIA Hotel in San Carlos, CA. We booked a room through Hotel Tonight App, we checked at the front desk and let them know we had a small service dog and showed the registration card (not required by law) the website states that they allow service animals. We had just completed a 2 hour drive and were staying for a surgical procedure early in the morning at Standford Medical. Once the front desk contacted the manager he said he would not honor the registration which is a violation of the law Copied below for clarity and educating the hotel). I will be filing a complaint with the State of California as a violation of this law. Will never book this hotel again and hope nobody else has to deal with this issue. California's laws on service animals are based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). California law expands the ADA's definition to include more types of animals and allows local animal control to issue identification tags. Service animal definition A service animal is a dog, miniature horse, or other animal that is trained to help someone with a disability The work the animal does must be directly related to the person's disability Service animals are not considered pets Service animal rights Service animals are allowed in all public places, including businesses, transportation, and other places open to the public Businesses cannot ask for documentation or special identification for service animals Housing providers cannot charge pet rent or deposits for service animals Penalties for interfering with service animals It is a misdemeanor to prevent a disabled person from using their service animal rights It is a misdemeanor to intentionally interfere with a service animal through harassment or obstruction It is a misdemeanor to falsely represent oneself as a service animal trainer read more

Ac quit working 100 degrees they wont change room as been in longer than 10min no manager ni maintenance.

I'm going to give my honest opinion about this hotel. I got there at 7 pm on 11/5 and there was no one in the office to give me my key. I had to wait 20 mins for the guy (who was really nice) to show up and I needed my key to leave my stuff in my room and leave. Very big inconvenience to start the day. Once I received the key to my room I was pleased with what I saw. This is a 2 maybe 2.5 star hotel so don't expect everything in the room to be brand new but if you are looking for a place that is affordable, clean, nobody bothers you and in a good location then this is your spot. I had read on some of the comments that this place was in a shady neighborhood with lots of homeless people around but those were lies. I didn't see any homeless people around. San Carlos usually is a nice pretty quiet city. Place was clean, I did bring my own sheets just because of what I had read on some reviews but it was all good. I would probably stay here again and just be aware, no breakfast and limited parking although you can park on the street too I believe. Hope this review helps you. Safe travels. read more

See all

The many, MANY times we've stayed at LiA, it's been a positive experience. The price is right; the staff is professional, kind and helpful; sheets and beds are very clean and comfortable. Yes, it's on El Camino across from the train tracks but noise isn't really an issue after 10:30-11pm. It's right around the corner from restaurants and coffee on Laurel Street too. LiA has always been a comfortable stay and if anything was ever amiss, front desk staff took care of it immediately. read more

The hotel is super clean, it's very convenient to restaurants and coffee shops pretty darn close to shopping and it's on the Caltrain line in case someone doesn't have a car. .. and the staff is awesome!!! read more

owner/workers was very disrespectful to me and my family after we came back to give them business a second day. Accused us of smoking cigarettes when the place already stinks of it. Would not stay here again. Please choose a different location read more

First, this place is a remodeled motel, second it is infested with bedbugs. Parking lot is terrible. Unprofessional, and extremely rude employee (Vanessa) and terrible management by Lourdes. Mota! Weird charges on bank account, refund, charge, charge, refund, refund LIKE WTH is going on here?!? Some sort of scam?!? Never will I ever stay here again. And trust that I will take this to corporate. Too many homeless people around the area. Janitor terrible, cleaners mug you and are very rude. Dog poop all over the place. Noisy as all hell. Any problem Front desk won't help, Vanessa. And management Lourdes Mota is terrible at managing employees. The rooms are filthy, they are not taking precautions with this COVID going on. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE! I will make sure my family and friends don't stay here. Pathetic customer service and management. When the problem about my weird charges on credit was brought to Lourdes attention she didn't seem concerned at all. Besides the fact that the week prior I had been charged $550 and than put back on my account and then right after taken out. Lourdes said she would look into it and I never heard back from them again. As mentioned before scam is written all over these peoples forehead coming from janitor to cleaners to front desk employee (Vanessa) all the way to the manager (Lourdes). My father is a well known reputable business man whom I came to visit 3 months ago and stayed here for personal reasons, now my experience here is extremely horrible and we will pass the word on the service here. Did I mention it is filthy and full of bedbugs. Yeah, NEVER AGAIN WILL I STAY HERE. read more

LiA Hotel - MOLD ALL OVER THE SHOWER - Hotels Near Me - San Carlos, California

I had comfortable and pleasant stay here. The room was clean and well kept. The staff is friendly and professional, especially Sophia. Great location and reasonable price. Would definitely hear again. Thank you much appreciated read more

Horrible hotel. False advertising on the breakfast and kitchenette they advertise as part of amenities offered. They do not have either. The Wi-Fi is sketchy and likely will end up with your info being sold off by either staff or hackers. We used VPN at all times and after staying here we had tons of issues with identity theft. Supposedly non smoking hotel yet our room was constantly being filled with rancid stink of smoke from our neighbor. Sketchy people would stand outside the room at midnight playing music full blast on the phones speaker and hotel staff would do nothing. We booked over a week but ended up leaving 4 days early when we had enough. Trust me don't waste your money to somewhere else. read more

For work convenience I stay at this hotel on a weekly basis. I have always had a very pleasant experience. The staff has been very nice and accommodating. I am not sure what happened if there was a change in ownership, but one day all of the staff was gone, and there is one person running the entire hotel. Apparently he lives on site since then the rates have increased and there has been times when nobody is available at the front desk this past weekend I called all day on Saturday and nobody answered the phone for the entire day. I usually arrive on Saturday night, but did not want to make a reservation without speaking to somebody first so I decided just to come in Sunday morning. I arrived at 7 AM And there was a sign on the door to ring the bell which I did but nobody ever came. I have stayed at this hotel each week, even though they did not have a point system just because of the staff the accommodating gestures of them and how nice they all were I will now be going back to a franchise hotel on a weekly basis at least I know that someone will be there to help me when I arrive. I would like to thank Gene and Mayra and other staff members for the hospitality I received in the past as I was there over the holidays and being away from home was a little more enjoyable because of them. read more

Where do I begin? This "hotel" is deceptive. It looks more like a remodeled motel along a noisy street and the parking lot was filthy. Right in front of my room the parking space had McDonald's bag and cup spilled out. The room smelled of strong bleach, I understand aggressive disinfecting during Covid era but jeez it was not safe to breathe in that level of chemicals. On top of that there was a trashy man circling the parking lot smoking and spitting all over the place. The patrons here are disrespectful and just gross, especially during a sensitive time like Covid where you are paranoid about every little thing. We intended to stay a whole week but ended up packing our bags on day one and didn't even stay overnight to experience it fully. I laid on the bed for maybe two hours and my legs started reacting and getting itchy. On top of that if you are on the bottom floor you can literally hear everything even people walking by. I would have given this place a chance for one night however the stranger danger outside made it impossible for me to feel safe and sanitary. It seems like a lot of truckers and construction people stay here because at night the lot was full with big trucks and trucks that had random stuff in the truck bed. It looks decent inside and outside for a "boutique" motel but I just wouldn't feel comfortable lounging around or working here let alone leave my car in the fishy parking lot. Despite all this I will give it another star because the receptionist that helped check us in was helpful and said he would talk to the circling stranger to stop spitting however it wasn't enough to make me want to stay. I understand there's a spot for smokers but there's no need to be circling and spitting everywhere. read more

Flies in hallway. Black hairs in sheets. Sticky stuff all over window panel and beaded curtain string. Lumpy pillows. Loud cal train. Friendly staff, though! read more

My experience with this hotel was terrible. I did my booking through hotel tonight prior to booking my room. I called the hotel to verify if they had two beds available due to me not being able to make that selection through the app. The owner told me there would be no issue and I could make the reservation through the app and he would accommodate and give me a two bedroom bed Once I get there. The owner did the complete opposite. They explained to me that I should've chose the two bad option on the app. I showed him that that was not an option. He saw that I was unable to make that selection and still wanted to charge me $40 to upgrade for a two bedroom room. He began to argue with me and was very unprofessional and rude. There was no accommodation to the customer and did not care that I had called him initially to make sure I got a two bedroom room. He was completely rude. I explained to him that I would not be able to get my money back. Thankfully, I called the hotel tonight and explain the situation and they were able to refund my money. I do not recommend staying at this place. Yes, the price may be nice but the service to a customer is very disrespectful. read more

This hotel is filthy and the sheets are filthy. I asked for a new room but I was told that there were no other rooms. Do not stay here. read more

See all

I live in the area and whenever I need a local place to stay or where to put extra guests - we always use the LiA Hotel. Great location, clean, friendly staff, priced affordably, easy parking. read more

Before booking this hotel on a discount website app I called the hotel to confirm that service pets were accepted as there was no information on the website, but no one answered. Upon arrival I showed the receptionist the dog's registered care animal id, and she called the manager. They did not turn me away but said the reservation hadn't shown up in the system yet, but should in 15 minutes. When I returned the manager was there and asked for the id card again and asked what kind of care animal. I said emotional support, but he claimed they didn't accept those and denied the reservation. When I asked him to cancel the reservation/charge, he said to take it up with the app.The next day I looked at their website on my laptop and it states on their accessibility link that they Do accept service animals. They do not state any specific type. I believe they waited til they saw the rate, then denied it due to the amount they would get. Needless to say, I had to find a new hotel, at night, in a strange city. read more

This place is absolutely the worse place in California. I travel a lot because of work and I stayed here for 4 days. On the first night I got bitten by bed bugs and went to the reception to let them know and maybe change my room. They said i have to stay in the same room. I collected more bites on my body and after 2 nights they changed my room and in the switch my $240 shoes mysteriously disappeared from the room i was staying at. They refused to take any responsibility and said that i had signed a waiver regarding my belongings when i checked in. If my belongings cannot be safe in my locked room, then what is the point?? If you dont like bed bugs and dont want to lose your things, then avoid this place. There are many better options in the peninsula. You will end up paying a lot more than just your hotel rate. read more

I love this hotel. It is my happy place. The staff is great. The rooms are immaculate and comfy. Don't like the early morning noise of walking (stomping?) on the top floor. I love the security and how helpful the staff does everything to help.. loaning out phone charger, fixing door key cards. Great place. Highly recommend. Wish rates were back to a lower amount! 5 out of 5. read more

First of all, this is a MOTEL not a hotel. The room was clean and they obviously just remodeled but staff was horribly rude and there was a bunch of homeless people in the parking lot, which they did nothing about. It's probably one of the places contracted with the state to house them during COVID. After booking, we got an email saying some of the amenities might not be available but didn't specify which ones. Had to ask the front desk for coffee pods and a hair dryer and no "grab and go" breakfast. It would've been helpful if they specified which amenities wouldn't be available instead of their lazy generic email. The only thing we enjoyed during our stay was takeout from the restaurant next door. read more

LiA Hotel - Bathroom - Hotels Near Me - San Carlos, California

See all

I really liked staying here. It's very simple to get to and although it's a bit noisy on El Camino Real once my room was moved to the noice was lessened. The rooms are well appointed and modern. WiFi , flat screens, Starbucks in room & lobby w/ little breakfast ea. Morning. Wine tasting during the week etc. I will stay again ! read more

See all

Booked this great clean bright place on my trip to Cali for the 2nd time in 2 months Josh was so friendly caring and attentive to our needs and made me more happy i chose this place His professionalism goes above and beyond great customer service. The bed and pillows were so comfortable and I slept better than I have in months back home in Boston. Probably all the Boston team sports celly'n...haha There are so many great restaurants and food selections in walking distance and Josh gave me a pamphlet with some great choices and we tried them. I highly recommend Lia read more

I want to first say that you cannot book this "motel" and expect some kind of 4-5 star Marriott type of service and treatment. This is called a hotel but really it's just a nicer motel, and your expectation need to match that or else you will NOT have a good experience. there is a reason this place is affordable if you need to make sure you and your party understands that. Anyhow - i booked this place not really expecting a motel (didn't look through all the pictures) but then got there and was a bit disappointed. It is a motel facing el camino real, you will hear the train sounds, but you will eventually tune it out throughout the evening. However, i like that the motel is very lit, also with plenty of open parking available. I parked and checked in, and the lobby is very nice. The staff also was very friendly and checked me in quickly. There is wine tasting mon-thur from 5-7. I asked for an upstair room but they didnt have any :( i think he did secretly specifically gave me a corner room though, that was probably the best he could do to give me "privacy" or just not be in the open. So that was really nice! I would say the staff are definitely friendly here. When i got into the room, i was pretty impressed by the interior. Nice furniture and decoration, but the floor was a bit dirty to me. I did not want to walk on the floor barefoot. But it's okay, they make that up with other amenities. AGAIN, the motel mindset is very important as you stay here. The shampoo/body wash given were really nice. Also the AC works well. But, the towels, pillows, and sheets weren't particularly soft, but it's okay. Again, i paid like a very affordable price for the night. I took one star off because of the dirty floor and less than average sheets/towels... but i think it is a good motel compared to the other ones around. The area seems quite safe and there were no weird people staying at the motel in the next room or anything. I recommend this place if you are looking for a nice motel. again. PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT MARRIOTT TREATMENT. YOU ARE LITERALLY AT A MOTEL. read more

Very thankful I found this little gem. I booked a room at a DIFFERENT hotel in a neighboring city, Redwood. I arrived later in the day very tired from a long drive, the staff informed me that they had over booked and sold my room to someone else. I found an opening at Lia. I was initially rude (I hated all hotels in this moment, sorry lol), but the staff was patient and treated me well. My attitude quickly changed when I saw the modern room that seemed to be very cleaned (huge plus for me). They had a nice little breakfast in the morning, too! All in all I was pleased enough to write a review. Very happy I found a welcome hotel. read more

LiA Hotel is a special gem in the heart of San Carlos, a (very short) block away from Laurel Street which has a plethora of wonderful restaurants, coffee shops, boutique grocery stores, etc. I stayed here last Thursday night (April 25th) as I had a contract job down in Menlo Park and the commute from the upper East Bay to the Peninsula can be complicated at times. From the moment I walked into the lobby, and was greeted by a very friendly and welcoming young man named Ricardo, I knew I made the right choice. I booked my stay via Hotels.com, and it seems their default room selection puts you on the bottom floor -- this is not a bad spot, per se, because I believe the first floor units all come equipped with kitchenettes; but I asked for an upstairs unit and was graciously accommodated. I was put in an "Executive King" room -- the rooms are interesting, eclectic would be an apt description. Like it's namesake LiA ("Life is Art") the walls are adorned by framed photos and art depicting the local area (not generic abstract "art" you often find in chain hotels). There are two rooms in the Executive King, the main bedroom which has a homey, Airbnb like feel, and then a second room with a large conference table and large (50", I think) flat panel TV. The bathroom has nice amenities; sort of what you might expect to find in most 4 star hotels. A couple of caveats: although I had no regrets whatsoever, and look forward to staying again soon, the LiA is more of a "glorified motel" than a traditional hotel (like a Marriott or Hilton) -- there are two floors with exterior facing doors. There is a parking lot which might fill up if you have a late night arrival -- but San Carlos is extremely safe; you could park on (the aforementioned) Laurel Street, and wouldn't have to worry about your car getting broken into. The second caveat is it is on El Camino Real, which is a busy, arterial street and a major artery connecting much of the Peninsula -- so, I suppose, it's not particularly quiet at any given time, but most of the rooms are set back from the street. Most of the neutral or negative reviews I read revolved around noise (both street noise and lack of noise insulation between rooms) and minor cleanliness issues -- fair concerns...but I believe I paid somewhere around $120 (with taxes), which is an exceptional price for the quality of the hotel and the prime area where it is located. Highly recommended! read more

A last minute trip down to visit friends in Redwood City meant catching up on old times and therefore losing track of time. I needed a place to stay and found LiA Hotel on the Hotels Tonight app. The rate was good, especially since I booked it just hours before I intended to go to bed. And the location was perfect because it was right down the street from my friend's house. The room itself was very modern and had an interesting design and color scheme. The room had a sort of tile flooring and the bed was big and comfortable. My only complaint would be that the bed squeaked loudly whenever I would toss or turn to adjust. Also, the walls are very thin as I could hear everything my neighbors to either side of me and above me were saying or doing. They have their own private parking lot and there is a Keurig in the room. The room was clean and comfortable and, for the price, what you would expect. Not too fancy but nothing that makes you want to run screaming from the hotel room. read more

This hotel is exactly as expected. It is cheap and costed less than 100$. We had a couple issues upon arrival however the receptionist jumped to help and was very proactive. What more could I ask for. I will be coming back again. read more

A few weeks ago, we stayed in a motel in Redwood City. It was a dump & the price was more than the LiA Hotel. We were impressed with the looks of this motel from the outside to the inside. There is plenty of free parking & excellent restaurants are located close by. The room was exceptionally clean with a comfortable bed, free wi-fi, & a Keurig coffee maker. Upon checking in, I was greeted by Ricardo. He was extremely pleasant & very helpful. He was able to answer questions I had about the area. We stayed 2 nights & I was pleased that he was working as I went in to check out. He wished me a good day & safe trip home. Also, he inquired about our stay & I let him know that everything was just fine. read more

We asked for early check in. The staff are lazy, maid said I'm not cleaning it. And the staff kicked us out for life when we told them we had frozen foods that needed their mini fridge and I swore about it. read more