I grew up in the general area near the Golden Sails and even attended a wedding reception there in August 1980. In later years, I also heard the horror stories similar to some posted on here.

Finally, last month, I was catching a plane to Honolulu right after a conference in Long Beach. I needed a place to stay the night before as well as get a good hot shower—so I decided I'd give the Golden Sails a try in those capacities. I'm glad I did!

The generally immaculate rooms were so large as to be almost cavernous for one person. In fact, they're great for a family with five or six children when airbeds, rollaway beds, and sleeping bags are hauled in (four people of adult size can sleep on the two queen-sized beds). The in-room refrigerator, large microwave, two-burner electric range top, and ample cupboard space are lifesavers for those who want to cook their own...but, at the Golden Sails, that's totally unnecessary since all three meals (yes, a delicious full breakfast, a large bag lunch, and a reportedly excellent full dinner) are INCLUDED under MOST of the Golden Sails' rate plans! This was the first time since staying at the Berkeley YWCA in Boston (1988) that I encountered such food service at a budget-priced to moderately-priced facility.

The Golden Sails has long-tenured staff (one front-desk person has been there since the mid-1960s at age 19!) treated like royalty by management who KNOW the meaning of providing a stellar customer experience. In turn, the staff regards guests as longtime, cherished friends.

My only suggestion is that if you're checking in at night, make sure you're getting a nonsmoking room if that's what you requested. Even then, ask to change rooms if the bedding reeks in the slightest of cigarette/cigar smoke. (I got such a room, but felt I pretty much forfeited my right to move since I arrived quite late and checked out fairly early [after breakfast] the next morning.)

"Marina" location is alongside filthy backwater area and oil derrecks! Looked like there were two types of buildings - a clearly newer multistory and the OLD two story we were in. There was an old baby bottle under the bed, but the room otherwise wasn't that bad - what was horrible was the NOISE. Wedding and quincenara parties and a roving group of drunken partiers toting their cooler outside and all around the hotel grounds until 4 a.m. People stomping up and down the corridors all night and slamming doors. Neighbors sounded like something from Jerry Springer Show. Very classy. NO sleep possible, and no one seemed to care. Don't go here if you want any rest. Can't believe this gets to be called a Best Western.

This is an old hotel that has had some updating/modernization in recent years. I stayed at this hotel for a week on business - I had meetings at this hotel. Some rooms have been updated, and some have not - my room was fine (nicely updated and very spacious), but it was at the back of the hotel, on the second floor, facing an interior courtyard and away from the noisy street and away from the bar/restaurant. If you decide to stay here, request an updated room and request one away from the street and bar on the second floor and you'll be okay. The food is average. Their website would lead you beleive that the place is next to some swanky marina and that is a stretch - it's more like a working dockyard area...nothing to look at. The grounds could use better lighting at night, which is of concern from a safety/security standpoint because the room doors in the motel part open directly to the outside. Given the price I paid, I think the rates are very reasonable for what you get.

Soooooooooooooooo bad. Don't know where to start. Threadbare towels, ants in the room, misrepresentation regarding what was included in our group rate; showers that ran hot and cold (without touching the faucets), low water pressure in the showers (especially when nearby showers were being used), squeaky faucets that could be heard from other rooms, shuttle that didn't work, no lining in the ice bucket (ick!), no closet doors (just a bar). Maybe that's what you should expect with a 2-star property.

Our group chose this property in part because the room rate included breakfast. However, upon arrival we were told that the rate did not include breakfast. In a snide tone of voice, the front desk staff told us we could have breakfast if we paid a higher room rate.

But to top it all off - the service there is the worst I have EVER experienced at a hotel.

There were 4 very large parties in the meeting/party/ballrooms that went until past midnight -- 3 nights in a row. The noise travelled up to the top floor of the hotel, and was so loud that it actually vibrated the entire room (I felt every beat) AND jostled pictures hanging on the wall. We asked the 4 people at the front desk to ask the partygoers to turn down the music, and the entire front desk staff REFUSED to do so -- saying "it's hard to get them to turn down the music." But they wouldn't even TRY!!!! They demonstrated total disregard for the customer. I am disgusted with their lack of customer service and will never return.