Great location and service!

I just got back from a long week-end at the Santa Monica Holiday Inn.

We had free champagne upon arrival, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. We had a large size room overlooking the ocean (which was a block away). You can't beat the location of the hotel--- it's across the street from the pier, and a few short blocks from the Promenade and Santa Monica Place Mall. The staff was very helpful with getting our sightseeing trips booked, and giving us tips on things to do in the city. I would definitley stay here again!

Not bad

stayed at holiday inn at santa monica pier, very nice not as noisey as first thought. Staff great main draw back the swimming pool next to the freeway & with access through the carpark.location brilliant for santa monica sightseeing.

Good location, Nice Staff, Average hotel

I just got back from several nights at the Holiday Inn in Santa Monica.

Most of my comments echo previous posters.

The good: Friendly, helpful staff. Free champagne on arrival. Great proximity to the pier, the beach, Third Street promenade, and the highway.

The not-so-good: It is loud on the highway side. While the noise didn't keep me awake, it did interfere with my conference calls. Also, I've really come to rely on in-room high-speed internet access, which is not available at this Holiday Inn. Additionally, they only have one phone line, so you have to pick - dial-in to the Internet or talk on the phone.

The average: Average room, average restaurant (ate there for two breakfasts).

Great Service all round

I thought that the service in this hotel far outweighed any noise coming from the roads around it. As a woman travelling on my own I was made to feel very welcome and felt comofrtable sitting in the bar on my own with their friendly staff. The location of the hotel is also excellent, minutes from the beach, the main shopping area and the freeway make this an excellent choice for both business and holiday travllers in my view. The rooms were large and comfortable. Compared to other Holiday Inns, this was a good experience.

Pleasant enough

Not as bad as some other reviewers have said. Sure it is a liitle noisy and the pool is virtually on the freeway but the staff were efficient, the rooms good and the breakfast excellent. And the location is very convenient. The free champagne on arrival was a nice touch.

The good, the bad & the ugly

THE SANTA MONICA BEACH HOLIDAY INN ON THE PIER was nice when we got there. When we got to the to the restaurant that was a different story. the waters are all very rude and you can actually hear them complaing about the tourist behind the kitchen doors. the supervisor felt so bad that she credited us for a few meals. I felt so bad hearing how unhappy how they felt on their jobs like I should'nt have a nice vacation myself with my family. how they can't stand waiting on their customers. WHEN THE MANAGER SENT US UP BREAKFAST FOR THEIR MIS TREATMENT, I WAS SCARED TO EAT IT! THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE STREET ARE ALL HANGING OUT SIDE THE MCDONALDS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE HOTEL. THE PIER IS NICE AND IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOTEL. I WOULD NEVER STAY HEAR AGAIN. I WOULD GO UP A WAYS TO MALIBU...;)

Excellent

I always stay at the Holiday Inn in Santa Monica. Even though people complain about the nosie level it's still the best location and price wise. The key is to ask for a room on the freeway side of the hotel - less noise. The employees are WONDERFUL!

Holiday Inn Santa Monica Beach Great

I have stayed at this hotel three times in the last year always had friendly service, Close to 3rd St Promanade, Santa Monica Place Mall, Montana Ave and the Beach. I will be staying here again on my next visit

The good, bad and ugly about Santa Monica Holiday Inn

The Santa Monica Holiday Inn is close toSanta Monica Pier, The Promenade, the malland the extemely loud and busy freeway!To get to the pool you must pass throughthe length of the hotel parking garage. Thepool butts up against the freeway. Incredibly noisy. The hotel staff isvery courteous, helpful and friendly. Iwould not stay again just because ofthe 24 hr racket.

The noisiest hotel ever!

The Holiday Inn is located close to the Santa Monica Pier, which is nice, but it is also at a very busy intersection with noisy traffic, including idling buses and trucks which ran until 3 am. We were unable to get any sleep, since our room faced the traffic. Although booked for several nights, we left after the first night. I would never ever stay there again. I travel frequently but have never stayed in a hotel on such a noisy street again--it was like sleeping at a truck stop!