Cal Mar Hotel Suites
220 California Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403, Santa Monica, United States
3-star hotel
Guest rating: 3.8 / 5
Cal Mar Hotel Suites is a 3-star, all-suite budget hotel tucked into a quiet residential street in Santa Monica, about a 13-minute walk from the beach. The property has an old-school California feel, with landscaped courtyard greenery surrounding a heated outdoor kidney-shaped pool. Suites are down-to-earth in style, each with a private entrance, full kitchen, dining room, TV, ceiling fan and pull-out sofa; upgraded units add a separate bedroom and/or balcony for more space and privacy. There's no full-service restaurant on site, but guests have access to free coffee and tea, laundry facilities, and passes to a nearby fitness center, while Wi-Fi is offered for an additional fee. Its location puts it roughly half a mile from Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park, and the shops and restaurants of Downtown Santa Monica, with Santa Monica State Beach an easy walk away. Venice Boardwalk, the Getty Villa, and the Getty Center are all reachable by a short drive, making the hotel a practical base for exploring the Westside.
Best for
This hotel suits budget-conscious travelers, extended-stay guests, and small families or groups who want the space of a full kitchen and dining room rather than a standard hotel room. Its walkable proximity to the beach, pier, and Downtown Santa Monica's shops and eateries makes it appealing to leisure travelers who plan to spend most of their time on foot. The pool and courtyard setting also suit those looking for a relaxed, low-key stay rather than a full-service resort experience.
Travel tips
Plan to walk to the beach, pier, and 3rd Street Promenade area, all within roughly half a mile to a mile of the property, since the hotel itself sits on a residential side street with limited on-site services. A rental car or rideshare is useful for reaching farther attractions such as the Getty Center, Getty Villa, or Venice Boardwalk, and especially for Hollywood-area sights like the Walk of Fame or Universal Studios, which are well beyond walking distance. Because Wi-Fi carries an extra fee and dining options are limited to in-suite kitchens, consider a quick grocery stop nearby to make the most of the full kitchen.
What guests say
Guests frequently praise the property's old-school California atmosphere, lush courtyard greenery, spacious suites, and the appeal of the outdoor pool, with several saying they'd return. The location draws consistent positive comment for its walkability to nearby beach, pier, and downtown attractions. On the negative side, some reviewers cite nighttime disturbances from homeless individuals going through trash cans in the surrounding residential area, pointing to occasional neighborhood noise and safety concerns after dark.
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