CALIFORNIA | HOTEL REVIEW
Casa del Mar hotel in Santa Monica: How it rates
How it rates * * * 1/2
New and noteworthy: A multimillion- dollar design update put a beachy- chic spin on the 129 guest rooms and the year-old, renamed restaurant, Catch.
The stay: Despite plush accommodations, hotel guests hide out in rooms or seek out the seaside city's attractions.
The scene: Hotel guests are in the minority in public spaces, as a regular influx of bar-hopping locals and tourists comes for views and a whiff of the good life.
Deal maker: Opulent decor; beach location, within walking distance of shops, entertainment and dining.
Deal breaker: High room rates don't mean ample square-footage; not for the claustrophobic.
Green touches: Recycling efforts aren't evident in guest rooms, but one closet bulb was a low-wattage compact florescent.
Stats: 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica; (800) 898-6999, www.hotelcasadelmar.com.
Rooms: Non-ocean view rooms begin at $520.
Rating is based on the room, service, ambience and overall experience with price taken into account in relation to quality.
* * * * * Outstanding on every level
* * * * Excellent
* * * Very good
* * Good
* Satisfactory
No Star: Poor
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