Avila Lighthouse Suites♡

Guest review

8.0

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− 👍

Guest review

10.0

− Room was not ready when we arrived at 4pm. Had to wait almost 2 hrs to get into the room.

Great short stay getaway at Avila Beach

10.0

Newly renovated suite that was well located within the property. Pool view with patio. Staff all very accommodating and welcoming. Some renovations still going on in another section- did not impact our experience. Had my dog with us who enjoyed being with us on vacation.

Great location.

8.0

Clean and close to the beach

− Would have liked to know that the property was being renovated prior to arrival.

Once a Favorite, But No Longer Worth the Premium Price

4.0

We have stayed at Avila Lighthouse Suites three times before our recent visit on June 24th, and have always considered it one of our favorite places to stay. We understand the property is currently undergoing a major renovation and will soon be rebranded as Avila Beach House. While we appreciate that renovations can create temporary inconveniences, this stay was unfortunately a significant disappointment. Parking was our first challenge. Because so much of the parking lot was occupied by the renovation project, we had to park in an EV charging space. It also appeared that beach visitors were using the hotel's parking lot during the day, possibly for a fee, leaving very few spaces available for paying hotel guests. We stayed in one of the newly remodeled Oceanfront King Suites. The renovation itself looked attractive, but the attention to detail and functionality seemed lacking. The room included a coffee maker, microwave, and small refrigerator, but there was no accessible electrical outlet for the coffee maker. Although there was an opening in the back of the built-in cabinet where an outlet should have been, none was visible or reachable. We ended up carrying the coffee maker into the bedroom just to plug it in. The room also lacked a makeup mirror, which is a standard amenity in even many budget hotels. The breakfast room felt dark and uninviting, and the breakfast selection was average at best. We chose to eat breakfast elsewhere. In the past, this property has always been immaculate, beautifully maintained, and a pleasure to walk around. This visit, however, the grounds appeared neglected. The lawn was muddy and showed signs of heavy wear. The putting green had no putters or golf balls available, and it was covered with leaves and other debris, making it look abandoned. The pool and hot tub area were clean and visually appealing, but the chlorine level seemed excessively high. After using the pool, my skin itched for quite some time. We tried to keep the ongoing renovation in perspective and made every effort to allow for the disruption that comes with a project of this size. Even so, we came away regretting our decision to stay here. This was meant to be a special splurge to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary, and we had hoped for the exceptional experience we had enjoyed during previous visits. To the hotel's credit, they acknowledged our anniversary with a thoughtful handwritten note and a complimentary bottle of wine, which was a genuinely appreciated gesture. Unfortunately, despite that kindness, this was our least favorite of the four hotels we stayed at during our Southern California road trip. Given the premium price, the overall experience simply did not justify the cost. It saddens me to say this because we have such fond memories of previous stays, but Avila Lighthouse Suites—soon to become Avila Beach House—seems to have lost the charm and quality that once made it such a special destination. At this price point, we expected much more. Sadly, I don't believe we'll be returning.