http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/hid9650 TravelPost.com - Hotel reviews, information, and rates from thousands of websites http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r1092172 I wanted to just get away from my life for a couple of days and you made that possible. It was hassle free. thank you http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r1092172 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r374511 Staff was not friendly & not professional. I asked them about possible places to see and didn't seem to be familiar with any of the wineries or even Zoo thats less than a mile away. I was very disappointed with them. http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r374511 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564504 Our room service food was raw and the only reason they picked up the tray of dirty dishes from a late night snack was because we ordered breakfast. Our breakfast dishes sat outside our room until 6 p.m. Saturday night and were only picked up after we called and asked if that was a normal practice. The Bell Boys were a group of guys that seemed more content with watching guests fumble with their horrendous parking gates rather than simply push a button to open the gates (which they were able to do). My first experience with them was the night I checked in. As I was walking out of the lobby, the door closing behind me, I was startled by a loud "boom" and the door swinging back open barely missing me. This due to one of these having had punched the door (literally) to open it (bad day?). He then proceeded to man his post, sour face and all, and watch me have to get out of my car twice to open the gate. I could go on about these guys but I won't. Bottom line is that parking at Mar Monte was ridiculous-Don?t be fooled. After taking a luke warm at best shower the next morning we called to ask if there was something wrong with the hot water. As it turned out our hot water heater was turned off for the brilliant reason of "I don't know". Granted this problem was fixed promptly it is still something that shouldn't happen much less without an explanation. Between everything mentioned above as well as the gigantic spider I discovered as I was packing up to leave and the exposed corner (no floor molding) my girlfriend cut her toe open on I don't think we would ever consider staying here again. The pictures are NOT accurate and truly give the illusion of staying somewhere far nicer than what you drive up to. There are a number of hotels right behind Mar Monte that I recommend everyone checking out before putting yourself through what Mar Monte claims to offer yet fails to deliver on. The one and only bright spot of this debacle was XYZ at the front desk. I had spoken to her a couple times prior to check in and she was always friendly and service minded. After sharing with her some of my issues with the location upon check out she took care of my room service charges and apologized profusely. It is walking distance to the Zoo and across the street form the ocean but so is Motel 6 so weigh your options. http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564504 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564505 We checked out 15 minutes after checking in. The hotel was overbooked, we didnt get the room we had reserved, the room was small and smelled of urine. Would not recomend staying there to anyone. http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564505 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564506 The location is great, just walk across the street to the beach. The hotel had kind of a musty or mildewy smell, especially in one of the eleveators. Also, it's a split level so if you're in the main building on the 3rd floor, you have to take an elevator to the 2nd floor and then walk to the end of the hallway to catch another elevator or walk up the stairs. Fine if you aren't carrying a bunch of luggage or shopping bags. The city itself was AMAZING http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564506 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564507 The hotel staff was friendly and accomodating. The room was clean and quiet. The hotel restaurant food was great. Nice pool and spa. Located beachfront with easy access to the bike path and the beach. I will recommend this hotel (and already have) to all my friends and family. http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564507 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564508 We enjoyed our stay very much. We booked an ocean view room with a balcony (not all ocean views have balconies), and it was spectacular. The front desk and valet staff were very helpful. My only complaint would be that the toilets were extremely noisy, and I wished that the bathroom lights didn't have such a noisy fan attached. Otherwise, it was a clean, distinctive hotel in a very nice location in close proximity to SB attractions. I would definitely stay there again! http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564508 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564509 Hotel changes our room reservation without notice. Puts us next to giant air conditioning units above kitchen.If I wanted to stay next to a runway at LAX, I wouldn't have gone to S.B. to do it. There are -much- better hotels. http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564509 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564510 Would not stay here again. Old rooms that smell bad. Uncomfortable beds. Missinformation from staff http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Hotel_Mar_Monte/r564510