Hotel 505

The hotel offers a distinctive experience, with many rooms featuring private balconies that provide guests with pleasant views, including cityscapes and mountains. This unique amenity allows for a refreshing outdoor space, contributing to a memorable stay for many. The property is often chosen by budget-conscious travelers and families looking for an affordable option, as well as business travelers due to its convenient location. While some aspects of the hotel show their age, guests frequently commend the friendly staff and the overall value provided. For those planning a visit, it is advisable to manage expectations regarding the hotel's older infrastructure and consider requesting a room away from the freeway to minimize noise, ensuring a more restful experience. Additionally, guests should be aware of the hotel's deposit policy upon check-in.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel provides several amenities for guest enjoyment, though feedback is mixed regarding their condition and functionality. Most guests appreciate the presence of an indoor swimming pool and a hot tub, which are often highlighted as enjoyable, especially for families. However, some guests have reported issues with the pool's cleanliness, high chlorine levels, or the hot tub being cold or having non-functional jets. The elevator is frequently mentioned as being old, slow, or occasionally out of service, causing inconvenience. Parking is consistently described as tight or limited, making it challenging for larger vehicles or during busy periods. While Wi-Fi is available, some guests experienced connectivity issues. The hotel also offers a laundry room, though one review noted a musty smell.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest experiences regarding room cleanliness and comfort vary significantly. Many rooms are described as outdated or worn, with common complaints including peeling wallpaper, stains on carpets or furniture, and visible rust or water damage. Some guests reported issues such as holes in walls, non-working televisions, or broken phones. Despite these concerns, most guests found the beds comfortable, contributing to a restful night's sleep. However, noise is a recurring issue, with many reviews mentioning significant freeway noise and sounds from neighboring rooms due to poor soundproofing. The bathrooms frequently receive negative comments, citing mildew smells, discolored bathtubs, leaking fixtures, or general lack of cleanliness, leading some guests to avoid showering.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel offers a complimentary continental breakfast, which receives mixed reviews from guests. Most appreciate the availability of hot items such as scrambled eggs, sausage, and waffles, which are often highlighted as a positive start to the day. However, some guests found the overall food quality to be subpar or the selection limited, with specific mentions of cold items or a lack of fresh fruit. The coffee quality also garnered varied opinions. Several guests noted that breakfast items could run out quickly, especially if arriving later in the service period, or that the breakfast hours were too short, particularly on weekends. Despite these inconsistencies, the breakfast is generally seen as a convenient and acceptable option for a quick meal.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's location is generally considered convenient, offering easy access to the freeway and proximity to various points of interest, including the university and medical facilities. This makes it a suitable choice for business travelers or those visiting for appointments. While some guests found the immediate surrounding area to be somewhat sketchy or noted the presence of homeless individuals, others felt safe and secure within the hotel premises. The hotel is situated on a hill, providing some rooms with pleasant views of the city. However, parking is a consistent point of contention, frequently described as tight, limited, or challenging, especially for larger vehicles, with guests sometimes struggling to find adequate space.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receives high praise from guests, with many highlighting their friendliness, helpfulness, and professionalism. The front desk team is frequently commended for their welcoming demeanor and efficiency during check-in and check-out processes. Guests appreciate the staff's responsiveness to issues, such as quickly addressing maintenance requests for non-working lights or assisting with Wi-Fi connectivity problems. While some isolated incidents of rudeness or unhelpfulness were reported, the overall sentiment is that the staff strives to provide good service. Housekeeping efforts are noted, with some guests appreciating daily room cleaning and towel replenishment, though others experienced missed service or issues with towel availability.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware of several important policies and unique aspects of the hotel. A deposit is required upon check-in, and while it is refundable, many guests reported significant delays or issues in receiving their money back, leading to frustration. The hotel has a pet-friendly policy, which is appreciated by those traveling with animals, though finding suitable outdoor areas for pets can be a challenge. A notable and controversial policy mentioned by several guests is the hotel's practice of denying service to local residents, which has led to accusations of discrimination and an unwelcoming atmosphere for community members. Furthermore, rooms with balconies facing the freeway often experience considerable road noise and issues with sliding doors not sealing properly, allowing noise and light to enter.