Budget Hotels (Palermo, Nice: renting, crime, home)

[Jose Clua]

I am planning to spend 2 or 3 days in a beach in Ventura County with my wife and 2 daughters who 5 and 7 years old

We are not going to have a car so we need a place at a walking distance from the beach, restaurants and fun places for the kids like parks, playgrounds, etc.

We want to spend the minimum possible as long as we get a clean, comfortable room with a good breakfast.

A swimming pool would be nice since it will be on the last week of July but it is not essential.

Thanks

[sacreole]

I would look into the Comfort Inn, the Amanzi Hotel and the Shores Inn. All three accommodations are located in Ventura, within walking distance of the beach and offer free breakfast.

[Jose Clua]

Originally Posted by sacreole

I would look into the Comfort Inn, the Amanzi Hotel and the Shores Inn. All three accommodations are located in Ventura, within walking distance of the beach and offer free breakfast.

Thank you very much. I am looking at those hotels.

[sacreole]

You’re welcome. Happy trip planning!

[wac_432]

I only have experience with the Amanzi, but I strongly second the Amanzi hotel. It is reasonably-priced, clean, quiet, safe, and as close as you can get to beaches, downtown, train station, parks, playgrounds, hiking, Pier, surfing, etc. without paying for the Crowne Plaza.

The Amanzi has a spartan concrete enclosed deck with a cold clean pool, and a decently warm clean hot tub. The freeway makes the deck noisy, but the interior of the hotel and the rooms are well soundproofed and nicely updated (even though the outside isn't much to look at). The downtown area is very safe during the day, and lively enough to be fairly safe during the early hours of the night. Crimes tend to happen more toward when the bars are closing and there are fewer people and police around, after midnight.

Stay away from the extreme budget motels on Thompson like Crystal Lodge and the rest. Those are meth hotels with criminals and druggies renting rooms long-term.

The Comfort Inn has a bad reputation for human trafficking (prostitution). I've seen it on the police blotter many times. I don't know about the Shores. The area there has the nicest beaches and a calm beach scene during the day, plus a very lively scene at the IN-N-OUT (think classic cruisers on weekends) but it has a lot of petty crime and weirdos stumbling/sneaking around after dark. It's a long walk (short bike ride, but you've got 2 young kids) from downtown, hiking, and the harbor. No busses or trolley service that area any more. I suggest staying closer to downtown.

[wac_432]

If you do stay downtown, here are some highlights for you to google:
Sandbox Coffee: $1 coffee, live music sometimes, nice patio, toys for kids.
Tony's Pizza: Used to be just cheap greasy post-surf pizza at picnic tables on a dirt lot, but now fancied up. Still fun.
The "FISH" place on the pier is actually a reasonably-priced short-order fish place. Nice views. The pier taco place has a good reputation, too.
There are good playgrounds at Plaza Park and on the beach next to the pier.
Lure is a good fish place. Popular.
Palermo Coffee has good gelato and is next to a Rocket Fizz candy shop.
Leashless brewery has tabletop games for kids. So does Fluid State.
The downtown theater is nice if you want to see a movie. Serves alcohol.
Spencer Makenzie's is a great place for fish tacos and the like.
The botanical gardens are free on Tuesdays, but not worth it otherwise.
Hike up to the Father Serra Cross for sure. Easy walk, great views. Take a picnic.

Now the cautions:
Be careful of public restrooms (go in with your kids), and check around before letting your kids go barefoot at parks or busy beaches. The city works hard to keep things clean, but you could encounter broken glass and needles from druggies.
Keep an eye out for (especially younger male) vagrants acting aggressive or erratic. Don't give to panhandlers, please. Donate to a relief organization instead, if you feel the desire.

[Jose Clua]

Originally Posted by wac_432

If you do stay downtown, here are some highlights for you to google:
Sandbox Coffee: $1 coffee, live music sometimes, nice patio, toys for kids.
Tony's Pizza: Used to be just cheap greasy post-surf pizza at picnic tables on a dirt lot, but now fancied up. Still fun.
The "FISH" place on the pier is actually a reasonably-priced short-order fish place. Nice views. The pier taco place has a good reputation, too.
There are good playgrounds at Plaza Park and on the beach next to the pier.
Lure is a good fish place. Popular.
Palermo Coffee has good gelato and is next to a Rocket Fizz candy shop.
Leashless brewery has tabletop games for kids. So does Fluid State.
The downtown theater is nice if you want to see a movie. Serves alcohol.
Spencer Makenzie's is a great place for fish tacos and the like.
The botanical gardens are free on Tuesdays, but not worth it otherwise.
Hike up to the Father Serra Cross for sure. Easy walk, great views. Take a picnic.

Now the cautions:
Be careful of public restrooms (go in with your kids), and check around before letting your kids go barefoot at parks or busy beaches. The city works hard to keep things clean, but you could encounter broken glass and needles from druggies.
Keep an eye out for (especially younger male) vagrants acting aggressive or erratic. Don't give to panhandlers, please. Donate to a relief organization instead, if you feel the desire.

wac_432, thank you so much for such valuable and detailed info. Yeah I like the idea of staying close to downtown and be able to do most of the things walking.

best regards

[Jose Clua]

Originally Posted by wac_432

I only have experience with the Amanzi, but I strongly second the Amanzi hotel. It is reasonably-priced, clean, quiet, safe, and as close as you can get to beaches, downtown, train station, parks, playgrounds, hiking, Pier, surfing, etc. without paying for the Crowne Plaza.

The Amanzi has a spartan concrete enclosed deck with a cold clean pool, and a decently warm clean hot tub. The freeway makes the deck noisy, but the interior of the hotel and the rooms are well soundproofed and nicely updated (even though the outside isn't much to look at). The downtown area is very safe during the day, and lively enough to be fairly safe during the early hours of the night. Crimes tend to happen more toward when the bars are closing and there are fewer people and police around, after midnight.

I've done the reservation for the Amanzi. Thanks for the tip.

I'd just realize we are getting there on July 31, the opening day for the Ventura County Fair! Can't wait

[wac_432]

Originally Posted by Jose Clua

I've done the reservation for the Amanzi. Thanks for the tip.

I'd just realize we are getting there on July 31, the opening day for the Ventura County Fair! Can't wait

It's a pretty good fair. The fair has a dollar day near the beginning, google it. I think they also have a 3dollar day too. Normal entry is expensive. Rich people turn up their noses at the discount days because it's pretty busy, but if you go early it's not so bad. Most people rush home early that day to squeeze in before the 3PM deadline.