Although we were quite nervous about staying at this hotel based on the reviews of others on this and other websites, it turned out to be fine for what we paid for.
We stayed here for one night in early November 2010 after staying for a week at a timeshare in San Diego prior to staying at a hotel in downtown LA for a conference. We planned to visit Disneyland for two days and wanted to be close enough that we wouldn't have a long drive ahead of us after visiting the parks all day. We left the park midday to check in and went with the mindset that if it was too horrible we would find another room somewhere else instead. When we checked in we were pleasantly surprised! As many others have mentioned, you are not going to be staying at the Ritz. However, for $35 a night, we weren't expecting the Ritz.
Our room had 2 queens as we had requested (which was not guaranteed at the time we made the reservation). The bathroom was nothing special, but the shower had FABULOUS water pressure and very good temperature control. There were three of us in the room and we all showered in the morning - the hot water lasted for all three showers. There is a sink and counter area outside of the bathroom which was good because it meant that more than one person could get ready to go simultaneously. The bathroom and sink area both seemed perfectly clean and we had no complaints.
As has already been mentioned in another review, the room was somewhat dark. When we first arrived there were no lights on and the shades were pulled closed. We turned on the lights and left the shade drawn because we did not want the sun beating down on us heating up the room, and there was ample light - but it was by no means overly bright. The air conditioner seemed to work well when we first turned it on, but in the middle of the night we could hear it working but did not feel very cool. It appeared to be an older-style unit and it just might be time for them to be updated.
Also, the beds probably could use some updating. I obviously have no idea how new or old they are, but they are the hardest bed I have ever slept on. My father, who thoroughly enjoys a very hard bed, even said that this bed was a little bit too hard. (I will also say though that the comforter on the bed was probably one of the best that I have ever found in a hotel/resort!!!)
Because our stay was so short, we did not utilize the pool/hot tub, internet access, fridge/microwave or continental breakfast. The hotel is down the street from many fast food restaurants that were quick for us to stop at on the way to the park. To get from the hotel to the Disneyland parking lots (we were directed to the parking lots instead of the large parking structure by Disneyland workers/signs) there was one turn onto the main street where Disneyland is and then a second turn into the lot! It was that easy. We returned to the hotel after midnight and did not have trouble finding a parking space.
So - overall, we would choose to stay here again, but might ask for some extra pillows to help soften the blow of the mattress. To us, that was really the only downfall that we encountered during our stay. All in all, the proximity to the park is without a doubt this hotel's biggest selling point.
- Americas Best Value Astoria Hotel
