HotelChatter

We snapped a few pictures ourself and noticed that only some of the rooms on the side of the hotel looked completed but with serious anti-views of construction garbage. And despite a press release on the hotel's website that says the Hotel Oceana has reopened its doors, beware. Only about a third of the rooms are opened and none of them are the ocean-facing rooms.

When we rang the hotel and inquired a hotel employee told us the renovations would be fully complete by mid-May. That's when all the hotel will hopefully be outfitted with these amenities and services as promised: all-suite rooms, iPods and iPod docks, HDTVs up to 50", a pool, fitness center, boardroom and restaurant and bar.

Indeed, this hotel has one of the best locations on Ocean Ave. It's about six or seven long blocks away from the touristy Santa Monica pier, meaning the surrounding area is largely residential and clean. Plus, it's directly across the street from the ocean so you can stroll along the bluffs whenever you want. However, actually getting to the beach and laying in the sand is a bit of a hike. But we wouldn't recommend laying in that sand or swimming in that water. It's dirty, dirty, dirty!

Tags: Santa Monica Hotel Reviews / Hotel Renovations / Los Angeles Hotels

by juliana