Name: The Surfbreak Hotel
Address: 1819 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, California, United States of America, San Clemente, California, US
Price range: US$115–US$294 per night
Rating: 8.1

What guests think

At The Surfbreak Hotel, travelers highlight clean, spacious, beach‑styled rooms, friendly staff, and a convenient location near shops, dining and the beach, while also noting freeway noise, limited parking, and inconsistent technology like Wi‑Fi, TVs and keypad entry.

Many guests praise welcoming staff, but report inconsistent service with hard‑to‑reach or absent front‑desk support and occasional problems during self check‑in. Cleanliness and upkeep are mixed: some rooms feel freshly updated, while others show dirty floors, odors or mold, cracked flooring, bathroom barn doors with limited privacy, and slow or missing hot water. Expect a convenient, value‑minded base with a beachy vibe, but prepare for some noise and a hands‑off service model.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Parking experiences vary: several guests found it easy, but many reported limited or tight spaces and occasional lack of availability. Keypad entry and in‑room tech (Wi‑Fi/TV, hot water) were inconsistent, while some rooms offer small patios or balconies.

Related guest reviews

2

James

27 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Code room entry concept reasonable. No office staff was available when we arrived for 3:00 PM check in as promised in e-mail we received that morning. No code was provided prior to check in. When we called number provided we were told number did not exist anymore. text inquiry for code response answer was a code that did not work. Second code request gave us a code that worked. We got into the room at 10:00 PM after attending a wedding which required me to change into my tux in the parking structure because we could not get into our room in a timely manner. Very poor office staff management. Limited parking in structure.

8

Rochelle

10 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The keypad was really hard to work.And we had to ask for assistance to get in several times.

10

brendhan

10 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

beautiful rooms, easy parking great value

8

Rex

28 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Centrally located and easy parking. Staff was friendly and efficient in checkin.

6

William

21 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location! Rooms really could use a microwave. Internet is totally unreliable and that means the tv won’t work either 😒 Needs new mattress Dogs ok but they charge an extra $30 which I don’t remember being disclosed on Expedia

8

Kelly

21 Feb 2023

·

Stayed 4 nights

Excellent stay overall. A few things I would mention to the staff- the internet doesn’t support the platforms such as Netflix etc and freezes quite often. Also- the tub in our room had peeling paint and needs to be refinished. Great customer service! I would return and recommend.

8

Lucas

20 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I like the hotel, but the problem i had was parking. If the parking spaces are full you will be out of luck. You will have to find parking somewhere else and risk a chance your car might get tow. Also there were molds near the tub. the tv in my room wasn't working properly. You can hear it but no pictures

10

Erika

5 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

There was not enough parking

8

Susan

9 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The room was nice. Loved the balcony. Updated bathroom. Only gliche was that it took forever to get hot water for the shower. Great location. Yummy donut shop across the street.

6

Andy

21 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It's a beautiful, recently remodeled hotel with several covered parking spots. Rooms are updated also. But instead of a key or card you get a 6-digit code to enter your room, and it always took several tries. The walls are thin, so I had to run the nice AC all night to block out the noise from the highway. The water took 5 minutes to get warm in the shower. And the TV is a Roku, so they had no local channels, and not the cable channel that had the NL Playoff game, so I missed it. The king size bed was very old and too soft.

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Cleanliness

Feedback is mixed: many describe rooms as very clean, but recurring reports cite dirty or sticky floors/carpets, stained linens, and occasional odors or mold. Some maintenance‑related grime (e.g., dust buildup or black tubs) was noted.

Related guest reviews

2

Diana

14 Mar 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The inside of room smelled very clean but dont walk in socks because the Wal to the bathroom from bed will leave you socks black. Pubic hair was seen when toilet seat was lifted and in the shower. the shower did not drain quickly and spider webs on the lights in bathroom and on lights in room in between the 2 beds. the mirror int the bathroom had not been clean was dirty it was all in all pretty nasty my daughter swears there was pubic hair in the sheets . no phone and not enough towels for 4 of us in 2 queen beds. but that was ok because we were not staying to shower after the water not draining. Pretty gross but it was the cutters hotel and room it just needed a good cleaning and mopping and a phone to call and complain, mirrors no mirrors except the one int the bathroom.

8

NICOLE

23 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice hotel but they could do better with room cleaning. The freezer had hair in it. The tub is black and needs to be resealed. The shower handle was broken. There was a huge fall risk due to the huge crack in the floor. The number of dust bunnies behind the bed and in the fake plants were egregious

2

Katherine

3 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This room smelled heavily of Clorox for the first day and the thin gross towels were completely stained. Unbelievable. It was dirty and loud due to highway noise. Don’t stay here.

10

JUANITA

11 Mar 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

OMG!!! What can I say I love this place this was my second time staying there and the staff is so darn friendly, Ms. Stevie is so nice and friendly really kind soul, the other gentleman I didn’t get his name but he was also amazing, both times I booked the stay was amazing. First was back in November 2023 and the second was this past weekend, rooms were super clean both times beds were nice and comfortable with 4 pillows I was in heaven when I slept. I’m just sad that I won’t be back for a long while, reason being is my son is a Marine and will be moving from there to the West coast, but if I’m ever there on vacation I will be booking with y’all!!!! Best place ever!!!! Much love From Houston Tx

10

Ryan

4 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

My stay at the Surfbreak Hotel was great. The room was air conditioned, very clean and everything worked as it should have. The bed and bedding was extremely comfortable. The staff was extremely nice and always available if needed. It is located close to a lot of shops and places to eat and just minutes from the pier and the beach. I was on the third floor and could see the ocean from the front balconies of the hotel. All in all I had a great experience at this hotel and would recommend it to anyone else that asks me where to stay in southern California near the beach.

2

Stephen

7 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We had a terrible stay at Surfbreak Hotel. Upon entering our room we could see visible mold and water damage on the ceiling, and in the bathroom on the wall. We requested a different room due to the uninhabitable circumstances and they were unable to change our room. We cancelled the rest of our stay but I have yet to be reimbursed or compensated at all. The office staff is unable to refund our stay, and they said I need to contact the manager. Upon many phone calls, voicemails and messages, I received one call back and the issue has yet to be resolved and we have not been refunded for any of our stay. I tried to handle the issue with the hotel before leaving any reviews but considering they have not done anything to remedy the issue of their uninhabitable room conditions, as well as costing us a lot of time and extra money to move our family vacation, I am now leaving a review. Would not recommend at all. The rooms have appeared to be somewhat remodeled but there are bigger issues than what shows in photos.

8

Kyle

7 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The carpet in the room was dirty.

10

Amanda

14 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was spotlesss great views

6

Patricia

4 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room 304 Middle on top View of freeway, a sneak peak of ocean. No sunset view. Large comfortable king bed. Seweage smell in bathroom sink. The floors & carpet made our feet black w/in 30 mins! Shower was srong KURIG coffee pot Fridge,freezer, micro. Have to chek in on phone & no info on how to check out. The 3pm desk clerk had no idea how to make our TVwork

10

Scott

3 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location, a nicely updated old gem. Super clean and one of the most comfortable beds ive slept on.

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Rooms

Rooms are spacious with simple beach decor, but mattress comfort is mixed—several guests found beds overly soft or sagging. Traffic noise from the nearby freeway is common, and Wi‑Fi/TV reliability and bathroom barn‑door privacy are recurring complaints.

Related guest reviews

10

Valerie

16 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff that checked us in were very cool and super friendly and nice. The property seems like it's older but has been somewhat recently renovated. The rooms are spacious and clean. Beds are very comfortable. The rooms are not super quiet. You can hear traffic noise from the freeway. We stayed on the second floor and we could definitely hear people walking around on the third floor. This hotel is nothing super special. But it is great if you just want a clean comfortable place to stay.

10

Ana

12 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Cute cozy hotel close to the beach, and downtown ,spacious clean bedroom, comfortable bed. Lovely town

8

Sharlo

26 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Cute little hotel. Very clean close to food and beach! It’s right by the freeway and on a busy street so it’s kind of loud. But, other then that great place!

10

Melissa

4 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very spacious room! Clean and comfortable.

6

Brenda

25 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beds were not comfortable, sunk too much. Cable was horrible. Bathroom door was barn door so no real privacy

8

Claudia

3 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The property was nice. My only complaint is that’s it’s listed as soundproof and it isn’t. Staff was nice though but no staff after 10 pm.

6

William

21 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location! Rooms really could use a microwave. Internet is totally unreliable and that means the tv won’t work either 😒 Needs new mattress Dogs ok but they charge an extra $30 which I don’t remember being disclosed on Expedia

8

Angela

1 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Employee who checked me in was very welcoming and friendly. Parking was free and easy. Room was decorated nice and clean although some things could be retouched or deep cleaned, not a big deal. The overall value for what it was plus the proximity to the freeway and beach was excellent. Only major issue was the street noise that can be heard even with the windows closed; it kept me up at night.

6

Andy

21 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It's a beautiful, recently remodeled hotel with several covered parking spots. Rooms are updated also. But instead of a key or card you get a 6-digit code to enter your room, and it always took several tries. The walls are thin, so I had to run the nice AC all night to block out the noise from the highway. The water took 5 minutes to get warm in the shower. And the TV is a Roku, so they had no local channels, and not the cable channel that had the NL Playoff game, so I missed it. The king size bed was very old and too soft.

10

JOSEPH

9 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

My wife and I were very satisfied with this place. Loved the atmosphere, felt very clean, and the front desk staff was superb. A couple of not so great things: Mattress was way to soft, and the Ocean View isn't really much of a view at all. Other than that, everything was perfect!

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Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly and helpful, with several shout‑outs to managers. However, guests report hard‑to‑reach or absent front‑desk support, code/access problems, and uneven responsiveness during check‑in or when issues arise.

Related guest reviews

2

James

27 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Code room entry concept reasonable. No office staff was available when we arrived for 3:00 PM check in as promised in e-mail we received that morning. No code was provided prior to check in. When we called number provided we were told number did not exist anymore. text inquiry for code response answer was a code that did not work. Second code request gave us a code that worked. We got into the room at 10:00 PM after attending a wedding which required me to change into my tux in the parking structure because we could not get into our room in a timely manner. Very poor office staff management. Limited parking in structure.

6

Rafael

9 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The check in process was horrible. The front office was closed before 3pm. The online system did not provide the necessary link to allow me to get access to the code for the room. I was on the phone with the reservation desk for over an hour before I was finally able to get into my room.

2

Kevin

22 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

There is no hotel staff or reception. Only people there are housekeeping staff who did not clean my room even when requested during a multi day stay. The locks to the rooms do not work, and take several attempts to open. Exposed plumbing in bathrooms, dirty halls, rowdy crowd. Towel rack missing from wall. Since hotel has no staff or attendents you must upload your drivers license to a third party website to check in. No privacy tags for doors. Sheets smell like bleach. Rowdy surfer crowd that stays up and drinks in shared hallways. Do not stay here. Absolutely not worth the nearly $200 a night cost, a simple motel will be quieter and better attended. This is a ghost hotel (no staff) operated by a parent company Excelsior Stays who you will have to be in contact with during your visit to open your room door every time. Avoid.

10

Jessica

3 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Amazing management and service here. We had the BEST time and my kids are already begging to go back!!

10

Randi

2 Mar 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The check in was super simple and the General Manager was phenomenal. He was so kind and down to earth!

6

Tiffany

3 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

TV did not work. Let our "concierge" know. Said they would come right away. Guess they came while we were gone at wedding. TV was not fixed and no communication. Very disappointed. Would expect more for the price paid.

10

Chiara

11 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel manager, Julie, provided exceptional customer service. Will definitely book at this hotel in the future.

2

shaun

4 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I was told I could check in early..Surfbreak staff, nobody showed up or no code was sent till 3:30 wife went up to the room and it hadn’t been cleaned we were than advised room should be ready by 5:30 ? We cancelled with hotel staff at that point and stayed elsewhere

10

Francesca

12 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The beds were super comfortable, and we were greeted warmly by Angkit. He gave us great suggestions and also told us about the free trolley we could take to town. The place wasnt too far from the beach, about a mile.

4

EKATERINA

16 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Maybe I am old school. I have a bachelor degree in hospitality business and I have worked 5 years in this industry.. I have never had such a bad experience to check in . First of all I waited about 10 minutes near a lobby, no one answered the door. It says that they opened until 10 pm then you need to call this … number . I have called no response twice… thanks I saw a staff and this guy checked me in even he was not on the clock. I want to say Thank you very much! . then no one explained directions to my room… so I kind of felt lost. After a long day work I would like to see a friendly face , who would check me in and explain me everything. I think they should have front desk at 7 pm . I did know you have to check in via text ! The room is super clean , but then the shower makes awful noises and I couldn’t watch news , because smart tv was spinning…it looked like the internet signal, not good enough for TV . I will definitely would not stay at the Hotel, there is no front desk service.

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Location

Convenient base near shops, dining, and the beach, with a trolley stop nearby and easy freeway access. Proximity to the highway also brings noticeable traffic noise.

Related guest reviews

8

Rebecca

4 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice hotel for an overnight stay. Easy freeway access and close to downtown restaurants and shopping.

8

Sharlo

26 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Cute little hotel. Very clean close to food and beach! It’s right by the freeway and on a busy street so it’s kind of loud. But, other then that great place!

10

Michael

15 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location, nice room, good price

10

Jasmine

4 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent boutique hotel with wonderful amenities! Very cute layout that is walkable to nearby eateries and even the beach! Perfect for a romantic getaway!

10

Stephanie

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Our second stay at Surfbreak Hotel and still love it! Quiet, family-friendly, and super convenient with the free San Clemente trolley stop right at the corner. We’ll definitely be back!

10

Nathan

7 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was great! Minutes from the beach, shops and restaurants. Would definitely stay again

10

Ryan

4 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

My stay at the Surfbreak Hotel was great. The room was air conditioned, very clean and everything worked as it should have. The bed and bedding was extremely comfortable. The staff was extremely nice and always available if needed. It is located close to a lot of shops and places to eat and just minutes from the pier and the beach. I was on the third floor and could see the ocean from the front balconies of the hotel. All in all I had a great experience at this hotel and would recommend it to anyone else that asks me where to stay in southern California near the beach.

4

Adam

24 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Right next to a freeway

10

Barbara

25 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great lodging. Close to freeway. Very convenient to shopping in downtown San Clemente.

2

Edward

5 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Was not disclosed 500 feet from major freeway. Would not even check in, and canceled on the spot, and will contest penalty. Went to be near the beach, not a freeway!

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Dining

Guests commonly point to cafes and a donut shop across the street, with plenty of eateries nearby; dining is off‑site and walkable.

Related guest reviews

10

JOANN

14 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a late check in, after a long day, this is just where you want to relax, the staff was accommodating, and provided me with all the info/ recommendations on restaurants and beach to visit. Property was conveniently located and safe and secured. Room was clean and updated with that coastal vibe. will definitely come back.

10

Valerie

16 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff that checked us in were very cool and super friendly and nice. The property seems like it's older but has been somewhat recently renovated. The rooms are spacious and clean. Beds are very comfortable. The rooms are not super quiet. You can hear traffic noise from the freeway. We stayed on the second floor and we could definitely hear people walking around on the third floor. This hotel is nothing super special. But it is great if you just want a clean comfortable place to stay.

10

Yvette

17 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Quick stop in San Clemente. This quaint inn is just off the highway and was pleasantly surprised how spacious the rooms were. Great donut shop across the street to grab a quick bite before hitting the road again.

10

Carey

29 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I will absolutely be making a point to come back to Surfbreak in the future. Everything from checking in, finding a room assignment that worked for me and my partner, and even getting restaurant recommendations was stupendous. The staff is incredible, I absolutely adore the lot of them. They ensured that we had a good, quiet room with a lot of privacy - and in general the other patrons were awesome to talk to. The overall vibe of the people around this place was great. Nice and great temperament. Also, this place is less than 2 miles away from the beach! There is a park nearby for easy access as well. Whenever I'm in San Clemente again, I will absolutely prioritize Surfbreak. Very memorable place, in a great location.

10

Christopher

14 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A little different from your normal hotel but I liked it. Very clean which is a plus, new and modern. We arrived late when the lobby was closed. I checked in via text message and they sent me the info to access the room. Surrounding are is very nice too.

10

Nathan

7 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was great! Minutes from the beach, shops and restaurants. Would definitely stay again

10

Ryan

4 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

My stay at the Surfbreak Hotel was great. The room was air conditioned, very clean and everything worked as it should have. The bed and bedding was extremely comfortable. The staff was extremely nice and always available if needed. It is located close to a lot of shops and places to eat and just minutes from the pier and the beach. I was on the third floor and could see the ocean from the front balconies of the hotel. All in all I had a great experience at this hotel and would recommend it to anyone else that asks me where to stay in southern California near the beach.

8

Susan

9 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The room was nice. Loved the balcony. Updated bathroom. Only gliche was that it took forever to get hot water for the shower. Great location. Yummy donut shop across the street.

8

Joan

25 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The room is comfortable, clean, and a good size. Dogs are accepted for modest fee which is a major reason we picked the hotel. Staff is terrific in terms of offering to help with issues. Great coffee and donuts across the street. We didn\'t eat out but there are a couple of eateries and a tavern within walking distance. Room is comfortable and access to freeway is a cinch. Reason for the "4" stars is because the bed is so soft it\'s almost impossible to get out of; also, there are some repair issues that need attention, but on balance, these were cosmetic and didn\'t impact our stay. PRICE IS RIGHT. Also, despite being adjacent to the freeway, with door and windows closed it is relatively quiet.

8

Trevor

16 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I had a very nice 1 night stay here. Plenty of places to walk to and many surf spots to drive to within 10 minutes. The staff I interacted with were very nice and seemed interested in me enjoying my stay. They have a nice little coffee table book to let you know about some of the spots nearby.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	US$116
February	US$121
March	US$124
April	US$133
May	US$157
June	US$169
July	US$214
August	US$185
September	US$121
October	US$111
November	US$106
December	US$112

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $142	2 $279	3 $271
4 $115	5 $124	6 $132	7 $149	8 $147	9 $281	10 $276
11 $132	12 $122	13 $130	14 $125	15 $124	16 $294	17 $290
18 $128	19 $147	20 $135	21 $124	22 $124	23 $226	24 $249
25 $131	26 $126	27 $127	28 $123	29 $127	30 $185	31 $167

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16 $167	17 $146	18 $294	19
20 $145	21 $138	22 $152	23 $205	24 $190	25	26
27	28 $180	29 $174	30 $184

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Coastal Deluxe Two Queen Beds

Coastal King Room

Surfbreak Queen Room with Two Queen Beds

Guest reviews

Very good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about The Surfbreak Hotel

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Prices for upcoming dates