We were going to the Rose Parade to see our son march in the band. We called the hotel and agreed to pay the high price because he guaranteed a spot on Colorado BLVD and a shuttle near by to the game. BOTH WERE LIES - we had to stay up all night to reserve our spot - we had to WALK to the game. Breakfast was not very good - owner was snobby - he took advantage of us - because we were from out of state and trusted what he said! VERY disappointed - do not stay there - do not believe what they promise!

I recently stayed at the Vagabond Inn on a three night stint. All I can really say is this place is pretty awful. Every waking minute I spent in my room I was thinking about how I would never stay here again. First and foremost, I have no idea why this place is so highly rated on all the websites. It was the primary reason I booked the place (despite some hesitation) and can honestly say it was the first time tripadvisor has let me down.

Specifics: The hotel has obviously recently had a facelift but like all facelifts it is only skin deep. The best example is the smell. This place reeks of cigarettes and over-washed linen. While a fresh coat of paint may cover it up, the fact of stench is unavoidable. The bed was so-so and the sheets were stiff and uncomfortable. I did not care for the layout of the bathroom and the complimentary soap is of the kind that probably does more harm than good.

Location is also a disappointment as nothing worth seeing is within walking distance (although that is probably a general comment on LA...). About the only positive was the presence of a flat-screen TV, but who really cares? I haven't used a TV in a hotel room in years...

If you want to see all of the sights of Pasadena - the Arts and Crafts homes, the shopping, the dining, museums, etc., this is a great place to stay. It's within a mile of Old Town Pasadena, near the Huntington Gardens and museums, the Gamble House and galleries. Lots of shopping and good dining choices in the Old Town area.
The Vagabond was clean, well maintained, quiet and totally non-smoking. Lots of free parking.
A good bargain, at a price most of the other decent hotels/motels nearby couldn't beat!
The continental breakfast room offered both hot and cold foods, so we didn't have to eat out for breakfast any of the three days we stayed there.

I stayed here for 3 days while relocating to the LA area. The room was a good size from my European standards as even with 4 suitcases/large bags I could still move around. The room I had came with a fridge and a microwave which was useful for making food. I did not test out the pool but did test out the breakfast which was okay, not the best and the room is very small. The area of Pasadena although a little further out from the main centre was still safe and I even walked all the way down to Old Town and back at night and felt perfectly safe. There are a few restaurants/cafes/bars nearby and a very cheap movie theatre. Only problem I had was one night there was a large group that decided they wanted to have a party in the corridor but otherwise it was very quiet. There was a safe in the room which is something I really appreciate.