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Gateway Thunderbird Motel – reviews, photos

1.5 of 5
1909 Fremont Boulevard, Seaside, CA 93955 (Formerly Gateway Lodge Motel)
Hotel amenities
Gateway Thunderbird Motel
Gateway Thunderbird Motel
Gateway Thunderbird Motel
Gateway Thunderbird Motel
Gateway Thunderbird Motel
Gateway Thunderbird Motel
Ranked #10 of 12 hotels in Seaside
2.5 of 5 stars 26 Reviews
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26 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    1
    6
    3
    7
    9
Date Rating
London, United Kingdom
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Worst motel ever”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 September 2011

Firstly let me be clear: I'm not someone who expects a 5* hotel at 1* prices. The proprietor charged us $150 for one night (we were desperate for any room at that time of night, so we took it...) but clearly he 'saw us coming' so to speak and ripped us off - a 5* hotel in Vegas costs less than this place. Usual price seems to be about $35 per night.

Cockroach on the floor, cat biscuits behind the beds, haven't been cleaned clearly for a number of months possibly years, STANK of urine. I think the bedsheets were clean but the pillows definitely weren't. Suspicious stains on the floor. Telephone and lamps not even wired in (no cables connecting them to anything??!) and the curtains don't open at all (I kid you not).

To it's credit, I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep that night due to being in the Red Light District of Monterey (which is a dump in general...) however I was pleasantly surprised when I slept like a baby! ...Though that's probably due to the copious amount of alcohol I drank so that didn't jump in front of a car thinking about this place. Horrid! Monterey Town isn't much better.

  • Stayed August 2011, travelled with friends
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask spunko2010 about Gateway Thunderbird Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
London, United Kingdom
1 review
“Avoid at all costs”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 September 2011

We stayed here for about half a night during a holiday which involved travelling around Nevada and California. Due to it being extremely busy in the area at the time and after trying several other hotels, we considered ourselves fortunate when we were told that there was one remaining vacancy at the Thunderbird. How wrong we were...
Most of the limited facilities that were offered were of absolutely no use and in some cases dangerous. Examples included a telephone with no means of connection to electricity at all, a television with a wire but no plug, a fire-damaged smoke alarm that presumably did not work and a chair that had considerable damage to two of its legs and could therefore not be used.
The linen was unclean (you could tell this by the smell of body odour on the bed sheets and pillows) and there were several stains throughout the room, including the carpet, curtains and bedding. There was also what can only be described as some sort of cat food underneath one of the beds. This of course created a rancid stench in the room, and explained why we thought we saw a cockroach in the reception area. There was also apparent insect faeces in the "sterilised" cup provided next to the sink.
Our complaints got us nothing but a rant in another language by the disgusting landlord who was sporting nothing but jogging bottoms with several holes in them, so we decided to cut our losses and sleep in the car instead.

Room Tip: Choose a room in another motel. If you are really desperate, sleep in the car.
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  • Stayed August 2011, travelled with friends
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask PotJana about Gateway Thunderbird Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Travellers are raving about these Seaside hotels

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3 reviews 3 reviews
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1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“OK if you have low expectations”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 August 2011

Pool locked up, office locked up when they say they will open for coffee, nothing like in room coffee, iron & ironing board, clock radio. Did have a refrigerator that made a whirring noise.

  • Stayed August 2011, travelled with family
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Alyn123 about Gateway Thunderbird Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Seaside, California
1 review
“Recommend if your in between places as I was”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 May 2011

I recently stayed at the Gateway for the months of April and May of this year. The room that I rented was given to me at a reasonable rate on a monthly basis. For the most part my stay was comfortable. In other words, I can't complain. As usual the owners were friendly and helpful if I had any requests. Prior to my departure they did ask if I could give them a review and here it is. I'm one of those that's not hard to please. I would rent from them again if need be.

Room Tip: Call in advance or go online.
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Stayed May 2011, travelled solo
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Ask RobertM54 about Gateway Thunderbird Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
San Mateo, California
1 review
“stay away!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 July 2010

stay away!!! this is a smelly, dirty, rude, and disgusting place to stay. there are plenty of other inexpensive places to lodge. i'm rating this less than zero, we booked on priceline and they didn't live up to their amenities. plus they don't even wash their linen. it smell and the towels felt like sand paper! please don't stay here, don't support poor services and quality.

  • Stayed July 2010, travelled with family
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask dollface348 about Gateway Thunderbird Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Additional Information about Gateway Thunderbird Motel

  • Gateway Thunderbird Hotel
Address: 1909 Fremont Boulevard, Seaside, CA 93955 (Formerly Gateway Lodge Motel)
Price range (per night):* INR3,137 - 10,586

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