Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica

“Loved our stay!”

My famiy and I stayed at the Hampton Inn, Santa Monica, for a week during Spring Break in March 2026. I was looking into this property as it seems very family friendly, but was also looking at the Shore Hotel which seemed like a more luxury stay. After trying to contact both hotels via email/their … more

My famiy and I stayed at the Hampton Inn, Santa Monica, for a week during Spring Break in March 2026. I was looking into this property as it seems very family friendly, but was also looking at the Shore Hotel which seemed like a more luxury stay. After trying to contact both hotels via email/their online form, and not receiving a reply from the Shore Hotel, I decided upon the Hampton Inn. Ian responded to my enquiries incredibly quickly, with a ton of information, and made me feel like a valued guest. Thank you Ian!! Location: A quick 5-10 walk to the Pier, this is a fantastic location. We had the Pier and Third Street Promenade within an easy stroll. It is also across from the metro which we took to downtown LA for the Lakers game to avoid traffic on a busy Friday night. Target is down the street and Trader Joes is a 2 minute walk away! Security: The hotel requires guests to scan their card to access the hotel's lobby, as well as within the elevator. This could be tricky if you're coming and going, but they also have a buzzer outside if you forget your card or don't have it handy. We never felt unsafe, despite the large homeless population around. Room: We had a room with two queen beds; it had some seating, a desk, drawers, small fridge and Ian had kindly provided us a microwave which came in so handy for the week. The bathroom had a barn style door, and when open, it hides the small closet behind it. So that was the only pit to the room; when someone was exiting the bathroom and someone else was at the closet or getting something from the safe, it was annoying. The other downside was that the TV didn't have Netflix or other apps; we could only watch live TV (they have a large selection of channels, but we would have preferred the ability to hook up Netflix or something). Our room was facing a condo building, and was off Colorado Ave, so this isn't a place with a view. However, we never heard street noice and never had issues with not being able to sleep. Other than that, we were happy with the room, the size and the very comfy beds and pillows. Breakfast: Breakfast was a great bonus especially for saving money and not having to worry about this meal, especially with two teenagers. There are two waffle makers, with two different flavours of batter per day (malted vanilla, strawberry, banana bread, lemon, etc.) and toppings. The hot selection was usually scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes and a meat selection (chicken sausage, pork sausage or bacon etc.) Some days, there were also premade omelettes. The breakfast included cereals, oatmeal, yogurt, hardboiled eggs, juices and there were also lots of bread, bagels, muffins, scones, etc. My family and I were really happy with the selection and found that items were replenished right up until it closed promptly at 10 am. I would just suggest the hotel staff consider adding in a couple more tables as sometimes it was hard to find seats. Lobby: The lobby was large, with lots of seating. There is a small business centre, small shop to buy items from, and small touches like apples on the large table. You could also take advantage of the breakfast seating area to have a snack, dinner or just hang out. The best part was there was fresh coffee (regular and decaf) as well as hot water available ALL the time! I would have my morning coffee, then grab another on my way out, and at night enjoyed a cup of nighttime tea before bed. My kids also loved that they included packets of hot chocolate. This was such a treat for all of us. Pool area: The pool and hot tub are on the second floor and although outdoor, it is semi-covered. The pool is a decent size, heated, and shallow - so very family friendly. The hot tub was pretty small and got crowded on the weekends but it was a lovely treat at the end of a long day to soak our tired bones. There were times when there were no towels available, but there is also a phone next to the towel area, and the staff were quick to replenish towels once asked. There is also a fire table with lots of seats around it if you just want to hang out. The fitness area is next door to the pool, and my teenage son loved it and found it well equipped and clean. The fitness room has a water station which we used to refill our bottles. Across from the fitness room is the coin laundry; we didn't use it but it was nice to have. Parking: I read lots of reviews about how expensive parking was, so we used SpotHero and found a spot around a 10 minute walk away for our rented car. Staff: The real highlight at this property is the staff; they are all so welcoming, hard working and make you feel like a wanted, valued guest. Every single person we encountered, whether they were from the front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, etc. were all quick to greet us and say hello with a smile. It makes a huge difference when the staff is hard working and show pride in their work. Special shout out again to Ian who went out of his way to ensure our stay was incredible! I would definitely recommend the Hampton Inn, Santa Monice to anyone! It is very family friendly, has great perks and staff, and we had a very comfortable stay. I look forward to staying here again, if I'm ever in the area.

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