Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel

The white-and-blue Tudor-inspired Carlsbad by the Sea Resort looks like a charming, seaside cottage from the outside. Inside, the lobby is dated, with brown leather sofas on a faded rug and a bright-red wall behind the front desk. Outdoor walkways connect rooms, and palm trees and rose bushes decorate the grounds. While the hotel has meeting rooms for business travelers, it's particularly popular with families, and the pool area can get busy, with lots of children playing. Breakfast can also be a lively affair as the breakfast room can get crowded, but the space's tall ceilings help create an open feeling. 

Carlsbad by the Sea Resort is not -- as the name suggests -- right next to the sea; it's actually around a five-minute drive to the nearest sandy stretch of beach. There’s also a golf course within a five-minute drive, and Legoland takes seven minutes to reach by car. The hotel is across the street from an outlet mall with some fast food options, and down the street is a P.F. Chang’s and King’s Fish House. The busy street the hotel is on has easy access to the freeway, putting downtown Carlsbad within a 10-minute drive and the San Diego International Airport within a 40-minute drive.

Rooms at the hotel have typical chain-hotel decor, with dark patterned carpets, white walls, and dark wooden furnishings. Abstract art and red-and-gold bedding add color to the space, but their patterns can feel loud and dated. All rooms have several amenities including 32-inch LCD TVs with cable and pay-per-view channels, microwaves, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. Some also have patios or balconies. Bathrooms have large mirrors and tub/shower combos, but the sloppy caulking and chipped vanities could use a refresh. Signs in rooms announce prices of towels and washcloths, warning that items are inventoried daily -- which guests may resent. 

Carlsbad by the Sea Resort has an outdoor pool and whirlpool with cushioned lounge chairs. The hotel tacks on a resort fee, which includes a breakfast buffet with items such as omelets, sausages, cereal, fruit, and bagels. There’s a fitness center with cardio and weight equipment and an Internet corner with one computer and a printer. Meeting rooms are available for private events of up to 300 guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and there's plenty of on-site parking. Guests that prefer not to drive can make use of the hotel's free shuttle, which makes trips within a five-mile radius. Pets are allowed for a fee.