My family and I stayed at this "tired" not charming hotel during a recent visit to UCLA. As there were no suites left at the time of our booking, I stated that two rooms near each other would be ok. Our children were given a room on the third floor and my husband and I were given a room on the second floor. While my husband and I slept, the old bed broke underneath us not once but twice. After the second time it collapsed, I told my husband leave it alone and let's just sleep on it sideways. Throughout the night, I heard other beds collapsing through the paper thin walls and the international crowd screaming and cursing in surprise. The price was cheap, the staff was friendly, the free coffee in the morning was decent. This hotel provided lots of entertaining travel stories to share with friends and families, quite an adventure, but I wouldn't stay here again.

I laughed when I first walked into the Claremont. I thought "You have got to be KIDDING." As you have heard, the rooms have no televisions. The paint is peeling and the carpet is stained. One of the beds in my room was missing the headboard. The bathroom tile is extremely old. The soap comes from those soap dispensers you see in public restrooms. Make sure you bring your own shampoo, soap, etc., because they do not supply ANYTHING. When you flush the toilet, the pipes in the walls groan for a while. The walls are thin, so you can here everything your neighbor is doing (and I mean EVERYTHING). The door offers a lousy little push lock, with no bolt or chain. At least the water pressure is good, but it sprays like a high pressure hose, and feels like thousands of needles hitting your skin. Oh, and there wasn't nearly enough outlets in the room. I had to charge my laptop on the bathroom toilet because I didn't want to unplug the alarm clock.
I have to say though, the location is GREAT. There is an endless amount of things to do. The neighborhood feels safe, with hundreds of UCLA students roaming around. There is an endless array of shops and restaurants. Everything you need is within walking distance. I barely spent any time in the room. As long as one doesn't plan on spending much time in the room, this hotel may actually be okay. The location made it worth it for me. Just keep your expectations low, and don't expect room service.

A simple warning -- stay away from the Claremont Hotel. The rooms are stifflingly hot without A/C, some rooms have flea infestations, many room keys open doors to other rooms (a friend had a mentally unstable guest walk into her room this way), and my first floor room had a large, ground level window with any lock or security features. Add to this cleanliness issues, weird smells, and an utterly disinterested management, who treated these problems with a shoulder shrug, and you can see why one needs to avoid this hotel.

In short: the money you might save with their rock-bottom room rates is **NOT** worth the discomfort and potential security risks you'll have to put up with.

This "hotel" is basically a flophouse....a place for students on a budget, a decent alternative to a hostel. Our 2-double bed room was $79 a night in 2006 for 3 people and I would call it a $29 room in a $50 location. The furniture was old (original)...original OLD bath tiles & flooring...not an updated or renovated place by any means. No A/C but this is an area that gets SOME residual ocean breezes and is not as hot as Hollywood/L.A.

If "security" is your issue, this little hotel really doesn't have any but there is 24 hour desk coverage at the entrance. Also, it's in a residential area with apts and people nearby so just a scream would be heard by hundreds. The Westwood area is safe round the clock with lots of students and residents roaming the streets, but like anywhere else you don't walk around screaming "I'm a tourist see my fanny pack and diamond rings?" Yes, there are a few homeless people around at times because they go wherever the crowds are, many movie theatres etc in the area attract crowds. Very safe area as L.A. goes but this is not Mayberry RFD

There was bus service to anywhere we wanted to go right around the corner...$3 got us a daily bus pass and we roamed and toured and observed. When you're done "bus touring" you just get off the bus, cross the street, and take the other bus back towards your hotel.

Very convenient to visiting the Getty Center, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica. On a deep budget, instead of a shuttle you could even take the city bus here from LAX without too much luggage.

If you have a car here the street parking/meters will be a hassle. There are parking garages a short walk as well as a huge grocery and a drug store.

Would I put up my parents here if they were visiting UCLA? Only if they are used to "roughing it". The location would probably be well-worth the dumpiness, but the Hilgard House nearby for $35 more a night is well worth it for the comfort.

The room was clean. I think the other reviews that mention "fleas" are probably posted by the neighboring fleabag motels that want Claremont's customers. And the "glowing" review calling this place charming is a little over the top in the other direction.

Whether or not I would recommend this flophouse would totally depend on the customer. For backpacking students who are used to hostels and European b&bs, TOTALLY. The location is great for students and travelers, one of the best in all of Los Angeles as far as convenient public transportation, cheap dining options etc.

For UCLA parents? Not unless it's the only choice available in the area that you can afford. Expect the worse and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Expect the Ritz and you'll be sorry.