La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Paso Robles

This La Quinta looks like any other in the chair with a cookie cutter three-story sandstone-effect exterior. Inside, decor is fairly traditional, with a classic, homey lobby that features patterned cream floor tiling, and dark wood on both wall panels and the reception desk. A central focal area holds sofas in grays, reds, and pinks, placed on attractive black-and-white-patterned carpet. However, the breakfast area, with dated vineyard-themed tabletop prints and gaudy orange-brown-padded seats, misses the mark. Large, attractive picture windows in the stairwells look onto neighboring greenery. Most of the guests are wine-loving tourists or people on business.

The La Quinta is a three-minute drive from downtown, on Paso Robles’  Route 46 wine trail. The area is famed for its over 200 wineries and vineyards, and the hotel is a short ride from a number of them. The Pacific Ocean is less than an hour’s drive.

• 14-minute walk to River Oaks golf course
• Two minutes to Eos Estate Winery and Ravine Waterpark by car
• Three minutes to Paso Robles Event Center by car
• Four minutes to Eberle Winery by car
• Five minutes to Hunter Ranch golf course and Paso Robles Municipal Airport by car
• Six minutes to Paso Robles Amtrak station by car (40 minutes by public transportation)
• Six minutes to Le Vigne at Sylvester Winery by car
• Nine minutes to Lawrence Moore Park by car (45 minutes by public transportation)
• 36 minutes to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport by car
• 38 minutes to Cayucos Beach by car
• 39 minutes to Avila Beach by car
• 45 minutes to Hearst Castle by car

Rooms are well-appointed, though some (notably entry-level options) are considerably more dated. Most have off-white walls and brown-and-blue-patterned carpets, plus neutral sofas or armchairs. Old-fashioned dark wood figures prominently in cheaper categories, while higher priced rooms feature furniture with a sleeker, more up-to-date finish. Amenities include air-conditioning and heating, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, phones with free local calls, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, microwaves, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and irons and ironing boards -- but only some rooms have safes. 

Pricier rooms add sofa beds and wet bars, while Apartments and some King Rooms have impressive full kitchens, complete with stoves and dishwashers. Junior Suites and Suites have separate living rooms, some featuring four-seater dining tables. 

Differences in bathrooms are drastic: the majority, including in some of the priciest suites, are dated. These feature cream wallpaper, old-fashioned granite countertops with submerged sinks (double sinks in some), and shower/tub combos with fixed showerheads (plus whirlpool jets in some Junior Suites). Garden View King Rooms have walk-in showers, plus soaking tubs submerged in matching granite mounts. Some King Rooms and Apartments have more handsome, up-to-date bathrooms with purple-brown walls, submerged double sinks, and large, more attractive walk-in showers with fixed showerheads. All rooms have hairdryers and Judith Jackson Spa miniature toiletries.

All but the cheapest rooms have small furnished balconies with basic seating; most look onto the parking lot, but a few have more pleasant pool or garden views. 

Facilities at this La Quinta include a lovely outdoor pool and hot tub on a deck lined with sunbeds. The 24-hour gym is on the small side, but has a good range of Precor cardio and weightlifting equipment. The free hot breakfast buffet gets good reviews, but there’s no other meal service. The hotel puts on wine tastings several times a week, and an on-site shop sells local wine and other souvenirs. There’s a small business center with a computer and printer. Elegant meeting rooms are available. Wi-Fi and on-site parking are both free. Pets are allowed for free, too, though note that some guests have complained of noise disturbances caused by visiting dogs.