I stayed at the Beach Place in October 2005 and I couldn't have been happier. You basically get a small apartment for a cheap motel price! Not luxurious, and a little out of date, but other than that, perfect! No complaints. The apartments are clean and spacious! Walked to the beach, restaurants and shops in Ocean Beach. An absolute steal @ $59 a night! Hillcrest was a $15-$20 taxi ride, so not exactly close. However, I used public transportation (bus) from the corner at the Beach Place and was able to get to Downtown and the airport with ease.
