Just last week I took a vacation to the LA area with my husband and 2 year old daughter. Our goal was to spend a few days on the beach and then head over to Disneyland. I really love the Santa Monica area, so I was eager to find a hotel there that was close to the Third Street Promenade, the beach, and the pier. And since we were traveling with our 2-year old I really wanted to ensure the hotel had a pool.
The Shore Hotel fit the bill for everything I was looking for. An added bonus was that the pool was heated and there was a nice size hot tub. It was just a few blocks from the Third Street Promenade, across the street from the beach, and only a block or so away from the touristy pier. The hotel was also right next store to a bunch of restaurants.
Overall, I had a great stay. It is a swanky hotel with a very modern look in both the lobby and the guest rooms. The pool area also has a lounge area with couches and a bar.
The Rooms
All rooms at the hotel have a generous size balcony. We faced the ocean which was very nice and did not hear any noise from the main street. Some reviews on TripAdvisor complained about the outside noise, but I didn’t hear anything at all. All rooms face the ocean, the pool, or a private courtyard in back.
The rooms were on the smaller side, but that is what I expect from a boutique hotel on the beach. They provided us with a crib for my daughter and that fit with no issue. The bathroom was very open with a large stall shower and a rainforest shower head. If you need a tub for a baby/child, you might be out of luck. The shower looked into the bathroom, but fortunately there was a curtain to utilize for some privacy. I also enjoyed the Aveda products.
The Pool
The pool area was great as it allowed for relaxation, socialization, and swimming. There was a regular pool heated to probably about 80 degrees and a large size hot tub probably at 92 degrees. Since it was a little on the cooler side for swimming, we stuck to the hot tub pool. There were a bunch of lounge chairs all with cushions and pool towels.
On the other size of the pool area was a lounge area and a bar. There were also high top tables. It appeared to be a trendy setting in the evening.
The Restaurant
While they have a poolside bar, there is also a makeshift restaurant until they get an official restaurant up and running. We ate there for breakfast one morning and I would not recommend it. The restaurant does not have expensive hotel prices tied to it, which is nice, but for better service you can eat at almost any other breakfast place within a few blocks for the same price. We were the only ones in the restaurant during the meal. Service was slow – my daughters greek yogurt came out well after mine and my husbands omelet. And the worst part was that almost everything we ordered was priced incorrectly when the bill came. Fortunately, I caught this and had them re-adjust the prices but I can only image how many people have been charged incorrectly. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. However, it works for those that are looking to grab a quick bagel or drink. As I side note, I highly recommend Blue Place Taco for dinner which is right next door!
Overall, I had a great stay at this hotel and highly recommend it when searching for hotels in Santa Monica.
Disclosure: I received a media rate at this hotel, but all opinions and reviews are mine.
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