Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Varden Hotel

    4.0 (161 reviews)
    ModerateHotels

    Services - The Varden Hotel

    Hotels

    The Varden Hotel Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Varden Hotel

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Petite, clean and efficient bathroom
    Keenan A.

    I give this boutique hotel a 4 star rating due to their location, cleanliness, great air conditioning, and crazy nice and helpful staff. These things all make up for the small showers and noise pollution that happens due to thin walls and windows. It's cute and clean, and walkable to lots of great restaurants and shops. It's small and luxury hostel-like.. and not like any of the big chains you might normally stay at. There is no elevator, so be prepared to stair climb. (Yay for Americans because we need more exercise) There is no pool, and no fitness center.. but there are passes to a nearby gym. Private parking lot.. for 12 bucks a night directly connected to the hotel. Great stay for the price in relation to nearby hotels.

    Ronny C.

    Cutest boutique hotel! Felt like my trips to Switzerland! Could not get over how nice the staff were, and amazingly clean! Loved how I was able to walk to the Convention Center everyday and grab dinner late and walk back. Really like the evening wine and having the space to talk with my colleagues

    This is the closet????
    Leslie B.

    Wow...I feel very misled by these Yelp reviews! I booked a reservation for my husband's birthday weekend and a music festival and had wanted to stay somewhere close to nightlife. I saw the good reviews and thought we were going to stay in a cute,historic boutique hotel. Really, it is a crappy, cheap hotel where they painted everything white to make it look modern. I actually HATED staying there. It was so ugly and uncomfortable. The sign on the top of the hotel says "Bath in every room". The irony is that the bathroom is so small that a bath would not fit in the bathroom... and this is no exaggeration. In fact,the bathroom was so small, I hit my head on the small shelf above the sink every time I brushed my teeth. Basically, the hotel consists of a long hall with teeny tiny little rooms (rooms with no amenities) along the side. I feel like the goal is to see how many rooms they can fit along a long hallway. The room was so small, and the bed was way too small for two people. The closet is a few hangers on a rack hanging off the wall. I felt completely cramped and closed in. The lack of a view made it even more cramped. I was really sooo embarrassed to have booked this place for my husband's birthday. The carpet was old and dirty looking. The location is close to restaurants, but not great, as the area itself is a bit run down. I would recommend staying closer to the marina. The hotel staff was friendly enough, but it didn't help my experience at all. My total for the weekend was over $360 for two nights. If I hadn't already paid, I would have walked out. It angers me that they charge so much for such a horrible hotel. Honestly, I would prefer the Red Roof Inn.

    Shane C.

    I was down in Long Beach for a festival and we booked a room here last minute because we didn't like the inn we previously booked. Anyways the staff here are incredibly friendly and helpful. The cleanliness exceeded expectations and they even had a complimentary wine and snacks from 5-7pm. There is a Mexican restaurant and bakery right next door and many places to eat, shop, etc around this area. When I came back from the festival at 11pm, there were staff outside to greet me and open the doors for me. The only thing that I disliked was the sliding mirror that was used to separate the bathroom and the actual room. Other than that my stay was amazing. I plan to stay here every time I go down to LBC.

    Small Bathroom.
    Jeremy T.

    My wife and I just stayed at The Varden last weekend for a wedding. We live local but thought it would be a good excuse to get out for a date night. Thank goodness I have a Smart car because the parking was pretty tight. The area was very scary! There is an alarming amount of homeless that accumulate in this area. I understand that is not the fault of the hotel but I thought it would be a good thing for someone to know. I was nervous walking to the market that is a half a block away. When we walked two blocks in the opposite direction we came across a park that was full of homeless over 100. A few months back we stayed at the Hyatt by the beach and did not encounter any of that and it is three blocks away. Once we walked in The Varden it was bright, airy, clean. The lobby was inviting and had comfortable couches to sit in while we waited. The woman that helped us out was very nice and friendly. She got us to our room very quickly. Just passed the lobby is a small kitchen / seating area. We walked down a tight corridor to get to our room it reminded me a bit like a college dorm with the line of doors all in a line. We opened the door to the room and were a bit set back by how small it was. All of the unique fixtures that in the room are nice. The bathroom is a 5'x5' that has a drain in the center if you don't shut the shower curtain the shower would flow right onto the toilet. The bathroom sink is very small maybe 8" deep by 12" wide. The bed was comfortable but very very small I am thinking it's a double. They don't have closet space. The air conditioner worked well. They offer free wi-fi although we did not stay in the room for long. They serve a small breakfast in the morning with juice, muffins etc. that is ok. My wife and I travel quite a bit and enjoy some of the finer hotels we were excited to find this Boutique Hotel so close. Unfortunately we were not impressed at all. I would not recommend this hotel for $100 a night if you have high expectations for Boutique hotels. I do recommend the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach we spend our anniversary there every year although the price is in the $350 range but well worth it. All in all this was a very clean hotel with very nice people working there in a bad location and a bit small. We had a good time but were a bit claustrophobic. I understand I have high expectations and if you don't set the bar so high you could enjoy this hotel.

    Coziest bed EVER!
    Lynn C.

    This NY Chelsea type hip hotel is everything everyone says about it, ... the bad is the small size, but NOT for me!!! I am small, too. Stayed here two nights after learning the history of this hotel. Sounds to me like some rich guy bought this place a long time ago for his sweetie, Dolly and it has now been renovated. Well, something like that, lol. I am claustrophobic so the tininess did get to me but it is a jewel as far as uniqueness. Well? See the brick wall in the window? Uh, that's your view. You should feel safe sleeping, if you can't get out look at it this way, no one can get in! Immaculately clean. Love the staff, very welcoming and the owner gave us a private tour as we checked in, literally showed us the entire hotel (okay, okay... that took two minutes) and then escorted us to our room. The decor imparts an incredible modern dreamy atmosphere. My big bag is the BED. I am all about what the bed feels like and it was so super soft and luxuriously covered in a crisp down comforter. Slept like a baby. In a good central neighborhood, near great restaurants and downtown shops. Too bad you have to pay for parking, though... should be included in the room.

    Tiny "closet" with 5 hangers.
    Lis M.

    Service - 5 stars. Almost cloyingly so and awkward at times. This ain't the Four Seasons. Location - 3 stars. Walk to Long Beach convention center (the reason I was there), shopping, pier within 10 minutes. Restaurants within 5. It IS downtown. I was not comfortable walking alone at night. There are several homeless people and those w apparent mental health problems near the hotel which approached me day and night - like any downtown. Ambience 4 stars - modern, all white, overall clean. All stairs. Not an issue if you have minimal luggage. They offer to carry it for you if you desire. Rooms 3 stars- as described elsewhere, the rooms are European chic i.e. tiny as heck. I would not want to stay with another person in this tiny room. The shower was awkward - every time I tried to close the shower curtain, it ripped off due to the 90 degree angle. Overall, the room kind of felt like a jail cell. Sheets, towels, bedding - all nice. Bathroom accoutrements- generic hair wash, lotion, soap, hairdryer. They did accommodate my request for a disposable razor. For the life of them, they could not figure out the tv remote. There was a 2 min delay if you wanted to change channel. God bless them for trying as I just wanted some background noise. Wifi excellent. The rooms are tightly packed and you can hear your neighbors - every little detail. I had a room on the second floor away from the street which I would recommend. Breakfast - 3 stars. Standard continental - yogurt (light and regular yoplait), mini pastries which I did not try, oatmeal packets, apples, oranges, oj, milk, keurig. Only one person can fit at a time making your plate/coffee. Happy hour - 3 stars. Tiny "lounge" same as breakfast. One at a time. Red and white wine decent, carbish rich snacks. Apples and oranges. Would I stay again for a conference? Prob. Price 5 stars considering all hotels by convent ctr were ridiculously overpriced.

    Room at the Varden
    Hapto T.

    You know, I really like this hotel. Like a lot. I slept well on the OMG comfy bed, the size was quaint, but it never felt small (the beds, were full size so it may inspire cuddling) the whole thing was all sorts of white, and the huge mirror was much appreciated... Everything was very well designed, ergonomically for moving around the place. The staff was amazing. remembered who my dad was when he dropped me off, and knew our relation, and any casually mentioned preferences...and it seemed earnest in a way that LA usually isn't. it warmed the cockles of my midwestern heart. The breakfast substantial enough (yogurt, fruit, coffee, muffins, etc) though i would have liked a few more mini tables in that area. (or it could have been that I just hit the morning rush) Its location is cute and touristy... not far from Pine Street and the free! bus that takes you the the Harbor/ Queen Mary... its all good. I enjoyed my stay there and would hope to stay again! And at a 100 bucks a night, its a deal!

    The mural on the side is beautiful, and checkout the birdcage cafe around the corner!
    Matt P.

    I really enjoyed my time at the Varden! The hotel itself is very much like a European hotel... It's an older building with some inherent quirks, there is no elevator and there are stairs, and some may consider the rooms small if they were planning on entertaining guests in their rooms. Although my room was a single and I had plenty of room to do yoga with room to spare, so I thought my room was pretty big. I like the fact that there is someone at the desk 24 hours, and everyone is very friendly. There is also a nice guest lounge that has breakfast in the morning and wine and snacks in the evening. There is a lot to do close by and I thought it was a great base to explore Long Beach! I think if you are the kind of person who likes staying in a place with some quirky charm then you will love the Varden!

    Mural in the side of the hotel.
    Rob H.

    Small hotel, small rooms, phenomenal service. Don't let the small throw you. It's an old hotel, wonderfully restored. I don't remember staying in such a classy place since the Waldorf Astoria. The entire staff knew my name and were so very polite and courteous. They were always at the ready to do anything to make your stay better. My new favorite place to stay in Long Beach.

    Dyan M.

    Clean, excellent beds and bedding. Thick walls so you don't hear the next door's TV. :-) Enjyed having a PC and printer in the lobby. Was able to print the airline boarding passes there.

    The Varden Hotel

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jeni R.
    0
    32
    39

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ronny C.
    256
    181
    276

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeremy T.
    29
    122
    60

    15 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lynn C.
    74
    146
    356

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lis M.
    128
    169
    102

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tori B.
    312
    640
    1426

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt P.
    15
    17
    8

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lea N.
    848
    152
    1845

    10 years ago

    Helpful 33
    Thanks 0
    Love this 31
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andrea M.
    37
    48
    14

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kara Y.
    30
    176
    3

    16 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of josh b.
    1
    38
    11

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ronald M.
    2833
    1046
    4211

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    The Varden Hotel Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Varden Hotel

    Review Highlights - The Varden Hotel

    Stayed here July 2014 because it was really close to a block party that I was attending.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hotels 45,771 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach - Guest Room

    Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach

    (391 reviews)

    $$

    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"

    Hotel Royal - Bathroom

    Hotel Royal

    (188 reviews)

    $$

    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.

    Fairmont Breakers Long Beach - Sky Room

    Fairmont Breakers Long Beach

    (93 reviews)

    $$$

    The Fairmont Breakers in Long Beach is the best hotel in town. It is a 5 star luxury resort hotel,…read moreand you never need to leave there, but do, because you have to have a meal on Pine Street, the staff will give you directions. This is a vintage hotel on the outside and and a fully remodeled interior and all of it is stunning from the lobby to the rooms. They have a great pool and gym, steam room and relaxation room. If you want a massage they will handle it. The rooms are all comfortable and quiet. They are spotless and the beds are great. It is quiet and the amenities are great. The service is very good, but they do need to work on getting you into your room on time. The maid service is exceptional. We also love the valets. This hotel is expensive, but great for a special occasion. It has a full bar, room service and at least 3 eateries. We loved having brunch there. Their eggs benedict are just great as is all the food. We did not get a chance to try the other eateries. We loved the pool. The only issue I had was the AC kept going on and off and that is not okay with me, but I assume they have repaired it. You will love this place.

    I had high expectations staying here given the fact that this is a five star hotel with a price…read morepoint to match (nearly $1800 for two nights via Amex) but the service experience really missed the mark. After housekeeping cleared a used teacup from my room earlier in the day, it wasn't replaced...something I'd expect as a basic standard at a hotel of this caliber. I called to request a new one and ended up waiting 21 minutes before calling back for the status on it. I was then told that they would follow up on it and I'd receive an update on the status. 7 more minutes go by - no cup, NO UPDATE. I called back one final time, to which the man on the phone said, yes he put in a rush order and the man who's delivering it is elderly and it might take him just a few minutes longer. I said no problem but just so you know, my cup was taken earlier in the day and not replaced. The man then said he can definitely let housekeeping know for next time. I proceeded to respond and intended to say okay great but before I could even get to the great, he STRAIGHT UP HUNG UP ON ME. Also the person who delivered the cup was a younger boy so idk if the elderly man reasoning was just an excuse for the moment. I went down to the lobby immediately to speak to the manger in person and let her know how insanely unprofessional, unpleasant, and UNCOOL this was. They made an error and I got attitude back for it?! AT A FIVE STAR HOTEL. To their credit, she did apologize and sent up dessert, but by that point the issue wasn't about the teacup or a free comped anything. It was about the breakdown in communication, lack of respect, and service quality. Overall, not the level of service I anticipated for the price, which is disappointing. I will not be staying here again and don't recommend it for anyone else looking for a true five star experience.

    The Westin Long Beach

    The Westin Long Beach

    (632 reviews)

    $$$

    This was my first time staying at a Westin hotel, and I enjoyed every minute of it! The front desk…read morestaff were incredibly accommodating, and since I recently became a Bonvoy member, they upgraded me to a suite. It had multiple bathrooms, couches, and even connecting rooms--such a great surprise. The bed was extremely comfortable, and the view was amazing. Everything about the stay felt relaxing and well taken care of. If you have to stay in Long Beach, stay here!

    The staff are amazing. I was immediately greeted upon arrival by many of the staff members and was…read moreoffered help with my luggage but I declined. The front desk was friendly and polite. She was very kind and offered a room upgrade for free to a deluxe room with a partial ocean view. Now the room is where the ratings start to go downhill. The bathroom does not have a vent so it gets very steamy and it takes awhile for it to evaporate. The bathtub did not drain quickly so the water started to pool at the beginning of the shower. The fan in the bedroom hardly works. The low and high fan are practically working at the same speed and I didn't notice any difference. The room finally got to the desired temp after about 2-3 hours. The cabinet door to the fridge was broken at a hinge so we weren't able to access the fridge at all. Also, some of the channels on cable tv were not accessible. There is a $18 resort fee they charge upon arrival that caught me by surprise. I don't remember seeing this at the time of booking but I could've overlooked it. I really wanted to like this hotel, but the defects with the room were hard to miss. However, I did enjoy the amenities and the location. There were a lot of nearby restaurants that are within walking distance.

    Hotel Mai - Hotel Mai King Room

    Hotel Mai

    (42 reviews)

    Very quite hotel loved how everything was walking distance they have a train and bus right in front…read more..the bed was comfortable they had a beautiful seating area on the roof ... great customer service

    Hotel Mai is a quaint boutique hotel near the convention center. I booked it at for a conference…read moreand it was much cheaper than the main venue and it fit my needs well. The neighborhood is a typical downtown area and can be seedy but the hotel itself is secure with the main entrance by key card only at night and the elevators also require your key card to be operational. My room, a single king, was clean and in good shape. There is a large TV, desk area, adequate closet, and mini-fridge with Keurig machine in the room. The iron is of high quality and perfect for pressing my clothes for my meetings. The bathroom is very nice with a Toto Washlet that are common in Japan. The room's thermostat, however, is in Centigrade so do brush up on your metric system! My only real criticism was that the room safe did not open all the way as the closet door blocked its full opening. The top floor has a nice sitting area to relax and there is a quaint workout room and pool area. There is also a sauna which I did not use. Upon checking out, I had a nice conversation with Yogi, the owner, who told me a little about the place and how it was named. Overall, my stay at the Hotel Mai was a wonderful one and I would certainly go back the next time I need to stay in Long Beach!

    The Queen Mary - @ Queen Mary - 11/12/25

    The Queen Mary

    (1.7k reviews)

    $$

    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.

    The Varden Hotel - hotels - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...