Suite, Ocean View | Tempur-Pedic beds, individually decorated, individually furnished
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Reviews of Cardiff by the Sea Lodge

3 out of 5
Cardiff by the Sea Lodge
142 Chesterfield Drive, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 267 out of 596 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 197 out of 596 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 73 out of 596 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 37 out of 596 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 22 out of 596 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a hidden gem! Room is clean and feels brand new. Rooftop alone makes the stay worth the price. The sunset was fantastic and so was the service!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Apr 16, 2024
Hello Michelle. Thank you for review. I see you liked our renovations. We are happy the our work interior & exterior, up & down to make for a calming, renewed environment. Especially our rooftop. Cheers!

10/10 Excellent

Marcelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I had a wonderful stay at Cardiff by the Sea Lodge. The rooftop is incredible with a lot of seating options and the view can’t be beat. I loved the extra touches like a record player in the room and vinyl to borrow at the front desk. The newly remodeled rooms are very nice, stylish and comfortable. I appreciated the fresh juice options with a muffin in the morning and unlimited coffee/tea in the lobby. All in all, I hope to return again sometime soon!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Apr 13, 2024
Hello Marcelle,I appreciate your review. I am so glad you were able to find the rest you were looking with us. It is cool to hear that the rooftop and room had numerous extra touches that made your stay wonderful. We are really happy with the interior styles. Good luck in the next stage of your journey Marcelle. Cheers!

10/10 Excellent

Philip W

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The rooftop deck was a fantastic place to watch the sunset. Without firepits or heaters, it was a little chilly, but it was beautiful. The room was wonderful, and the staff members were friendly and helpful.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Mar 25, 2024
Hello Philip W,Thank you for reviewing Cardiff Lodge. It is great to hear you enjoyed our fantastic rooftop. We have a different sunset each night! We are happy that our renovated rooms have a calm, individual feel. It is great to hear our Team Members made a good impression. Hope to see you in the future. Cheers!

6/10 Okay

Rob

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Our stay was very much tainted by the noisy gate that was directly below our room. Every time someone came in and out of the gate we could hear a horrible noise. We asked to move to another room. This new room was located over the “Shanty” which is a restaurant/bar for the local area. It was also noisy because of the music playing until at least midnight. Our first room was also disappointing as the shower did not drain. For some reason the tv wasn’t working either. We were booked for two nights ,but we didn’t stay mostly because of the noises.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Mar 19, 2024
Hello Rob,Thank you for letting us know about the parking garage gate. We have since taking steps and addressed the issue, eliminating the noise caused by the gate. Guest feedback always helps us to make future stays better. Please consider staying with us again in the future. Thank you.

8/10 Good

Verity

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
loved it
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Mar 16, 2024
Hello Verity,We are glad that you loved our property! Our renovation sets a pleasant back drop to our peaceful property. Thank you for the review. Cheers!

8/10 Good

Adriane

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our toilet was clogged & there is no on the property to check in 24 hrs. They open at 7am.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from Nick on Mar 8, 2024
I am sorry to hear you had difficulties with the toilet. We do have 24 hour communication via the Hotel phone number if there is a problem. I hope you will try us again on your future visits to Cardiff. We do appreciate and value your business.

10/10 Excellent

Bri

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
bob was great! real sweet heart
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from Nick on Mar 2, 2024
Bob is great!. Thank you for your feedback. See you soon.

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
What was unique was it was an adorable, Botique type hotel. Small and quaint.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Feb 28, 2024
Hello Lisa. We are very happy to hear you found our renovated hotel adorable. Our unique architecture allows for a quaint setting. The rooftop adds a view of the area and calming sunsets. Thank you for the review. Cheers!

2/10 Terrible

Mitzi

Business traveler, Traveled with partner
Disliked: Amenities
Property listed as 330 S Cedros Solana Beach CA…..It’s an office building . I called to inform of late check in, but desk clerk said she was leaving at 10 pm. Left instructions how to get key from “cubby" but we could open locked gate. Met a person in parking garage who said she didn’t know of any hotel. We had to call front desk who NEVER answered or returned my call. End result, had to rent another room for the night.
Response from Nick on Feb 26, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, and we do apologize if it was anything less than exceptional. While we are unaware of our address being listed incorrectly anywhere online, we invite you to reach out to us directly with information as to where this was found so we can have it corrected to avoid issues like this in the future. Kindly note that our front desk closes daily at 11 pm, but we do have procedures in place to ensure guests arriving after this time will have a seamless check-in experience. We are sorry that our communication with you did not better outline these procedures as we would never want to leave our guests with any confusions or misunderstanding. Again, our sincere apologies for any inconvenience and we hope you will allow us another opportunity to welcome you.

10/10 Excellent

Nicki

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Cardiff by the Sea is a great place to stay across the board, from the great room, to the awesome rooftop to the breakfast delivery in the morning! I’ll be back!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Feb 24, 2024
Hello Nicki. Thank you for reviewing Cardiff by the Sea Lodge. I am very happy to hear that your stay was great from the room to the breakfast experience. I agree, the renovation on the rooftop is amazing. We are happy we will see you in the future. Cheers!

10/10 Excellent

morgan

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had the best experience- it was such a lovely place and the location and views were unbelievable!!!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Feb 24, 2024
Hello Morgan. It is wonderful to hear from you about Cardiff Lodge experience. We are glad you like the renovated lodge. We are lucky to be in Downtown Cardiff and that area view from the rooftop. Thank you for reviewing us. Cheers!

10/10 Excellent

Anissa

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location. Beautiful sunsets and bright and cheery rooms. Very clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from Nick on Feb 20, 2024
Thank you for the kind words regarding your recent visit. It looks like you had some time to enjoy our rooftop for the amazing sunsets. We look forward to your return.

10/10 Excellent

Antonio

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from Nick on Feb 10, 2024
Thank you for rating your experience at Cardiff by The Sea Lodge

8/10 Good

Blaise C

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff was very kind. The property is in a great location, and the rooms are nice enough. My only drawback comment would be if you get a room with the courtyard access it could be noisy just because people move in front of your unit not the quietest place.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from Nick on Feb 10, 2024
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience at Cardiff by The Sea Lodge. We hope to see your return on your next visit.

10/10 Excellent

Millie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from Nick on Feb 10, 2024
Thank You for rating us during your recent stay.

10/10 Excellent

Heather

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was all exceptionally helpful and friendly. Room was clean and very well done. The rooftop area is gorgeous. I loved the fresh juice and muffin delivered to my room every morning. I'd definitely stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from Nick on Feb 6, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience. Nothing beats fresh muffins and juice delivered to your room!. Hope to see you back on your next trip to Cardiff.

10/10 Excellent

Beverly

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from Anthony - Front Desk on Mar 26, 2024
Hello Beverly,Thank you for reviewing your stay here at Cardiff Lodge in Downtown Cardiff. We glad you enjoyed your stay in our newly renovated rooms and easy to walk around town. Cheers!

10/10 Excellent

dena

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from Nick on Jan 27, 2024
Thank You for taking the time to share your experience. Hope to see you again soon.

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Response from Nick on Jan 22, 2024
Thank you for the rating during your recent stay.

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My wife and I spent our first anniversary here and it was a delightful little hotel. The room was fantastic. The bathroom was beautiful, from the fixtures to the tile. The furniture was very tasteful and comfortable. The staff were so friendly, greeting us by name each time we entered the lobby or saw them on the property. They took very good care of us. Cardiff is a wonderful sleepy surf town, just what we wanted. We will be back for sure.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023
Response from Nick on Dec 13, 2023
Hello Mr. White,So glad you enjoyed your anniversary here in Cardiff. We really do love getting visitors from other parts of the USA such as Chicago. Definitely can't wait for your next visit at Cardiff By The Sea Lodge. We will be waiting!Nick DowlerGeneral Manager

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
One of my favorite places!
The hotel was wonderful before and now after renovations it is even better! The staff is very nice and helpful. Each room hss a record player and there are new records of all music styles from which to pick. Rolling Stones! Street parking is available for free or paid garage parking. The rooftop area is outstanding with Pacific views. The area is beautiful with restaurants close by. Cannot wait to stay again!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Response from Nick on Dec 13, 2023
Hello Mr. Sands,Thank you so much for the amazing review. It is great to see our return guests return back and experience the new Hotel. Nothing beats listening to the Stones and enjoying our amazing views. We look forward to your next visit.Nick DowlerGeneral Manager

10/10 Excellent

Rich

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Response from Nick on Dec 28, 2023
Hello Rich,Thank you for the ranking. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you in the future.

6/10 Okay

Sarah

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
It would have been a cute little place, but the rooms are really outdated. There was damaged property here and there taped off. Our room had a musty smell that made it difficult to sleep. BUT the location and free parking were really convenient. We were able to walk easily to the beach and local coffee shops, bakeries, and taco joints.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Oct 14, 2022
Thank you for the review.

10/10 Excellent

Adele

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place just needs some updates. Anthony was great!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Sep 20, 2022
Thank you Adele & Bill. And to Genie & Roy. I had a great time hosting a wonderfully cheerful group. I very happy you all enjoyed your time with us. Thanks.

10/10 Excellent

monica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Sep 12, 2022
Excellent. We our happy you fully enjoyed your stay with us. Hope to see you in the future. Thank you for the review.

8/10 Good

Mi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The location & room is pretty nice to stay but the one of staff in front desk is not friendly at all. As a customer someone is not responding or a little friendly greeting in the morning not supposed to be there.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Sep 11, 2022
Hello. We are sorry that we dropped the ball that morning for you. We will consult with our Morning Team Members and see what happened and what we can do to improve. Our Team is glad the rest of your stay went great. Thank you for the review.

2/10 Terrible

parteek, bakersfield

Traveled with group
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
room electricity was poor fuse again nd again
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Sep 5, 2022
Power is important, I give you that. Though only 1 of 2 rooms had that issue, the 2nd Room was fine. And I paid extra care to both rooms as I could. So only One Star? Sad Panda.

8/10 Good

JAMES

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice Get Away
A nice get away for a romantic birthday celebration.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Aug 31, 2022
We are glad you had a great time with us. Cheers!

4/10 Poor

James

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The location and view were great, the people were friendly and courteous. The cleaning smell knocked us over. It was a strong scent that required airing the room out for several hours. The wallpaper was peeling, and a shelf fell down and narrowly missed my wife's foot. The GFI plug next to the sink did not work, and all of the other outlets would not hold a charger transformer plug for our phones. I had to borrow an extension cord from the front desk. They should not be renting out rooms until the renovation is completed. There is no elevator, and I can't find anything in the description of the property that stated that. I am waiting for a hip replacement surgery, it was difficult for me.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Aug 30, 2022
Thank you for your review. We will look into these issues.

6/10 Okay

Michelle

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Aug 31, 2022
Thank you for the review.

2/10 Terrible

Kandy

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

2/10 Terrible

TONY

Business traveler
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
As soon as we pulled the sheets back on the bed a 1 to 2" bug ran across the bed. They gave us a different room. The furniture and bed were terrible old and falling apart. The paint and wall paper were peeling off the walls. In the morning I had to run the hot water for over fifteen minutes before it got hot.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Aug 27, 2022
Sorry for your inconvenience. We will look into this issue.

6/10 Okay

carol

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Room was very dated, was placed in the "sweetheart suite" which was decorated very 70's with hearts everywhere. Not a fan. Bathtub was cracked, had areas where the finish was missing. Had a floor a/c unit, which was not working well until the middle of the second day. Roof deck was very nice. Location good.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Aug 15, 2022
Thank you.

4/10 Poor

Robin

Traveled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The good thing is that the location is great. It's really close to the beach and other amenities. The downside is that the room smelled like a sewer and the bed and bedding was terrible. This place is in need of some remodeling/repairs.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Aug 9, 2022
We will look into this issue. Thank you.

8/10 Good

Ralph

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
the property is very unique. It is scheduled to be closed soon to update somethings that are showing the effects of time. property is perfectly located in the hart of Cardiff close to the beach.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Aug 8, 2022
Happy to hear it was a good experience. Thank you for the honest answer.

2/10 Terrible

Jim

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Better to drive
I tend to trust customer ratings. This "lodge" was rated 8.2, which I think the location is worthy of. Beyond location this facility I would rate no higher than 2 and for the cost per night would lower to a 1 star. Similar to another 1 star reviewer's experience, we were first put into room w/ musty smell, very squeeky bed and oddly configured bathroom along with VERY dated fixtures and decor. After complaining we were put into another room - The Lattice room. The only saving grace of this room was it was better than the first, which is not saying much. Dated design and fixtures, oddly configured bathroom, smelled funny, broken down fixtures, etc., etc. Worst part was bed that sunk toward the middle. The view deck is run down. The Jacuzzi was in disrepair and even had caution tape on the entry/exit ladder that was broken. So disappointing was this overall experience that we checked out a day early to go down the street to a much nicer hotel for $40 a night less. Yes, it was worth losing over $200 to leave this location. If you want to visit Cardiff, better to stay elsewhere and drive in. I have used Hotels.com many times without being disappointed. This experience will definitely put me on guard for future bookings.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jul 27, 2022
The first room the guest was in was Victorian-style. Fixtures should look dated as theme, the bathroom has a porcelain-style sink, wooden attire, etc. Many of our rooms are themed and being small we have limited means to move people around on busy days. I am curious about the Lattice room bed, as the both guests tested the bed in my presence before choosing to move rooms. Aside from the one side of the ladder, the Jacuzzi tub is very much in use daily. I do not understand the general rooftop nitpick but to each their own. The guest was not comfortable here. Many more are and are welcomed. Cheers.

4/10 Poor

rachel

Traveled with family
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Old property, not worth the money
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jul 26, 2022
Yes, we have a couple rustic rooms. We keep things clean and try to help out where we can. We are looking forward to our renovations. Thank you for the honest answer.

10/10 Excellent

Debra

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is a quirky little hotel and not for someone who wants an updated business hotels. Our room was huge and comfortable and felt private. Each room is unique with a theme. There are sitting areas outside that have views of the ocean. We enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Hayden

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved the hotel and location. Was a little hidden so was hard to find, but that also made the hotel nice at the same time. Lots of places around the hotel to walk around to eat and shop. Room was older but was still nice. Would love to visit again!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jul 26, 2022
We are very happy that you have a great time with us. We are luck to be centralize in town. Hopefully you will compare the difference after the renovations. Cheers!

4/10 Poor

Brian

Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jul 26, 2022
Thank you for the High Marks! Take care.

10/10 Excellent

Marie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location is perfect! Coffee shop across the street. Plenty of places to eat. My room had a view of the ocean which was 5 minute walk. The staff were very nice. The room was clean. Bed was okay. Parking is under the lodge and it’s very tight. If you have a bigger vehicle you won’t fit. The only negatives I can give this place is it is next to a bar which gets rowdy late in to the night. It didn’t really bother me very much but for others it may. I will definitely go back and stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jul 17, 2022
We are happy to hear you had a good time with us. Thank you for the thorough review. Hope to see you in the future!

4/10 Poor

Renee, Lucas

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property was run down, front desk morning staff was not friendly at all and made you feel like it was putting him out to ask a question. Property needs a face lift - towels were paper thin, beds were soft and uncomfortable
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jul 16, 2022
While I am on the Evening Staff, I can say we try to make everyone feel welcome and be helpful. While rustic, we do work to keep things clean and comfortable for people. We do cycle out older towels. Sorry to hear your experience was so negative.

8/10 Good

Heather, Pullman

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Wonderful stay for a beach getaway! The staff is wonderful and friendly. There is a parking lot. Very walkable to the beach and surrounding food and coffee and bar options. Clean bedroom. Our bathroom (the tub specifically) needed some TLC. The bathtub had a big hole/dip in it that had been covered. It was a little unsettling to shower when a spots dips way down if you step on it. Otherwise a fabulous stay and would stay here again anytime!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jul 16, 2022
Glad you enjoyed your stay. We are lucky to be in centralized in town. Thank you for the review. Cheers!

10/10 Excellent

Sam, DECATUR

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Loved it! A quirky property with outdated tub and hard-to-use AC system (which was not really needed, except a couple hrs in the evening). Also, no elevator. However, it had a great view of the ocean (2 roads and a RV park between the property and the beach). My room had a view of the ocean, but the highlight of the property was the Rooftop Garden. Fantastic! Also, great location, convenient to places to eat, grocery store, etc.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jun 27, 2022
Thank you for the review. Cheers!

8/10 Good

Diseph

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Loved the staff but I had a bug in my room and the wall paper is coming off however the rooms were nice and I love the themes and view every morning other than some minor renovations this is an amazing place to stay relax and soak in the beautiful view
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jun 24, 2022
Thank you for the review. We are looking forward to our renovations.

10/10 Excellent

C. Maury W.

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Penny

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The exterior architecture is a bit unique; I hope you incorporate it into your upcoming remodel. The desk helper Tuesday morning (Somy?) was very very pleasant and quite helpful. The interior of the rooms is ready for an upgrade. Too dark, too dated. Location is nice. 3rd floor deck is not bad but needs updating and needs an elevator. I will return after remodel and try again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jun 18, 2022
Glad you enjoyed your time with us. We would love to have you back after the Renovations. Cheers!

8/10 Good

Stephen

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Located near the beach, the price was not bad. However, the hotel is very old and needs some serious TLC inside and outside of the property.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022
Response from Cardiff Lodge Staff on Jun 16, 2022
Thank you for the review. We are looking forward to our Renovations to enhance our guests' stay.