Everywhere We Stayed on Our California Road Trip (Honest Hotel Reviews)

One of the most common questions we get about our West Coast road trip is:“Where did you stay - and would you recommend it?”

So here it is...every hotel we stayed at on our California (and Nevada) road trip, with our honest thoughts on what we loved and what we didn’t.

🗺 Our California Road Trip Route

• Stop 1: San Francisco — Hilton Union Square

• Stop 2: Carmel-by-the-Sea — Coachman’s Inn

• Stop 3: Pismo Beach — SeaVenture Beach Hotel

• Stop 4: Santa Barbara — Harbor View Inn

• Stop 5: West Hollywood — The Garland Hotel

• Stop 6: Palm Springs — Rivera Palm Springs (formerly Margaritaville)

• Stop 7: Las Vegas — MGM Grand

💡 Tip: This route works perfectly as a one-way road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas. We kept most drives under 4–5 hours and stayed 1–3 nights at each stop.

San Francisco – Hilton Union Square

Our first stop on the road trip was San Francisco, where we stayed at the Hilton Union Square.

It’s in a really central and convenient location, and we found it easy to get to most things using the hotel as a base. The rooms were comfortable and spacious, and the hotel itself is huge.

We did find it very corporate - which wasn’t really the vibe of the rest of our holiday - but for a city break and a practical place to stay while exploring San Francisco, it absolutely did the job.

Carmel-by-the-Sea – Coachman’s Inn

This was one of our favourite hotels of the entire trip. And honestly, that says a lot.

Like most places in Carmel, it felt like stepping straight into a fairytale. The inn itself was really special; cosy, charming, and full of character.

The hosts were so lovely, and the daily wine and cheese hour was such a nice touch. It was close to everything we wanted or needed, and we would return in a heartbeat.

10/10...would absolutely recommend.

Pismo Beach – SeaVenture Beach Hotel

We weren’t completely taken by Pismo Beach, though it would be unfair to judge it fully. We weren’t there for very long, and the weather unfortunately wasn’t great. It was more of a passing-through situation for us.

That said, the hotel itself was very nice. Pismo Beach isn’t a big place, so there probably aren’t loads of options, and SeaVenture is a good, dependable choice.

It’s right next to the beach and within walking distance of the main centre of the area.

Santa Barbara – Harbor View Inn

Our hotel in Santa Barbara was really conveniently located, just across from the beach.

The rooms were lovely, the pool was lovely, and they even had an on-site bike rental shop, which was really handy. (Cycling is a great way to have a look around the area!)

As well as being close to the beach, it’s within walking distance of lots of bars and restaurants. We had a lovely stay here and genuinely wish we could have stayed longer.

Hollywood – The Garland Hotel

Okay…THIS was the peak for us.

We genuinely had to convince ourselves to leave the hotel and explore Hollywood because we just loved it so much.

It’s not a luxury hotel or anything, it just has a really nice feel. It has an on-site restaurant, a pool with an outdoor cinema screen, a bar, a little shop, and even a free shuttle bus to Universal Studios.

Honestly? We’d stay here again in a heartbeat and we recommend you do, too!

Palm Springs – Margaritaville Palm Springs

(now Rivera Palm Springs)

The hotel we stayed at still stands, but it’s since been taken over by new owners and rebranded, so we can’t fully vouch for what it’s like now.

When we stayed, it was a large hotel with multiple restaurants, a pool, and a pool bar. It was good vibes all round and just a short drive to the bars and restaurants of Palm Springs.

Las Vegas – MGM Grand

All of the hotels in Las Vegas are like small villages, and the MGM Grand is no exception.

It had everything you could need… and also loads of things you definitely don’t need but are very nice to have. Like a giant casino, a Ben & Jerry’s counter, and a full food court. Yes...all inside the hotel.

It’s not as fancy as some of the other hotels on the Strip (no designer shops or gondola rides), but it’s a great option if you’re looking for the classic Las Vegas experience at a cheaper price.

It’s also just a short walk up the Strip to many of Vegas’ most famous sights.

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