Well, the Venice Beach Suites & Hotel is definitely as simple and easygoing as the Venice beach itself. It's a good choice for students, budget travelers and for people who want to feel what the real venice beach is. You have only two choices: to love the hotel or to hate it :)
The look of the Venice Beach Suites & Hotel reminds european hostels, but inside it is quite lovely hotel with vintage squeaky lift. The room is quite clean with small kitchen and additional folding bed for extra guest. It's little noisy from the beach during the night, but it's the part of the Venice beach experience stay.
The staff is very kind and helpful. Hotel doesn't have own parking, so you could park the car on paid public beach parking or ask the staff to give you the map of free parking places.
So in general the hotel definitely has own face and character and absolutely fit the character of the Venice beach place.

this is i think the 'truest' venice beach experience - the place is laid back, deprived of any sort of luxury, yet ultimately comfortable and friendly.
it all starts with friendly staff who do not rush to make sure you are clear where its ok to park your car to avoid fines. and even provide you complimentary upgrade to part ocean view room. then, you continue to scary looking elevator, which with some dramatic sound delivers you to your floor. then the room, understated but comfortable, with wood floors and brick walls, nice fitted kitchen and comfortable bed.
and in the morning, you look out of the window, and the palm trees and the beach say 'good morning' to you. absolutely loved this place. so laid back and relaxed.
one warning though - while standard bed is nice, avoid extra rollaway bed at al costs - its absolutely not suitable for sleeping!

Big fan of hotel.
In the middle of Venice Beach, near the canals and overlooking the beach,
Best coffee shop within 100 feet.
Staff was extremely nice and courteous.

We stayed here back in June and this hotel - and the whole Venice experience - has stuck with me. Straight off the bat the staff were welcoming and made us laugh. There was a problem with the room we had booked so they upgraded us to a partial ocean view. The room itself was awesome, no it's not your shiny, bleached and disenfected hotel room but that's what makes this place so special. The location is unbeatable and although there is some street noise it didn't bother us at all. We came to Venice to get amongst it and this hotel is a great starting point - the staff can advise you on anything you want to know about local life. Also anyone who complains about the lift needs their head checked - coming from Australia I have only ever seen birdcage lifts in movies so I was stoked to see it and it works just fine. If I am lucky enough to get the chance I will definitely be coming back.