Pismo Beach Hotel Offers Great Ocean Views at Affordable Prices: A Review of Spyglass Inn

What better way to wake up in the morning than to sit out on your patio with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee, gazing out at the deep blue ocean and listening to the waves crashing on the beach. At the Spyglass Inn in Pismo Beach, California, you can start your morning off exactly like that.

The Spyglass Inn sits high atop a bluff overlooking the ocean, giving guests a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean. From my patio, I could see oak-dotted golden hills jutting out from the mainland and plunging into the sea on either end of the sweeping view of the ocean, framing my view of the ocean perfectly.

Rooms

The Spyglass Inn has two stories and most rooms have an ocean view or partial ocean view. We opted for a downstairs ocean view room with a king-size bed and a gas-burning fireplace. Being able to open the sliding doors and step right out onto our patio suited me just fine. Some people, however, go for the second story in order to get a broader view of the ocean. Either way, you can hear the ocean right from your room. Go for the full ocean view room - it's well worth it.

The rooms are nicely decorated and clean, and the bed was quite comfy. One thing I particularly liked is that Spyglass Inn is a non-smoking facility. Rooms have a coffee maker, refrigerator, free local calls, and my favorite - free high speed wireless Internet access. As an added plus, the Spyglass Inn offers guests complimentary white robes. These people are serious about relaxing in style!

For those who want the ultimate sea-gazing experience, ask for room 226 upstairs. The room is a large junior suite on a windowed corner of the Spyglass Inn and commands a stunning view of the ocean. White shutters in the sitting area open a little to let in just shafts of light, or open all the way to maximize your view of the ocean. There are also lounge chairs on the balcony in Room 226 where you can feel the cool ocean breeze on your face while you catch some sun.

Rates

Possibly the best part about the rooms at the Spyglass Inn are the rates. The Spyglass Inn is probably the most reasonably priced hotel sitting atop the seaside cliffs in the Pismo Beach area. The property just north of the Spyglass Inn, for example, charges upwards of $400 a night in the high season.

Expect prices at the Spyglass Inn to be half that or even less. They often run specials, too. For example, in June, 2010, rooms at the Spyglass Inn are going for as little as $82 a night. That's unheard of in this area, especially for an oceanfront hotel. They do all of this without sacrificing quality or service. Call about their current specials.

Who Should Stay Here

The Spyglass Inn is - obviously - for people who love the ocean. They welcome couples, families, solo, and business travelers. Because there is a restaurant connected to the hotel, the Spyglass Inn can host group events and weddings in a private ocean-view banquet room or out on a patio with a fantastic view of the ocean and the cliffs. When we were there they were just finishing up a gorgeous brand new deck with tables and chairs and elegant burgundy-colored umbrellas.

The Spyglass Inn is one of the few hotels in the area that accepts pets, also. (If you're allergic, don't worry - there are many pet-free rooms.) In the morning I saw quite a few people walking or running with their dogs up and down the sidewalk that runs along the top of the cliffs.

Food

The Spyglass Inn has a restaurant on the premises where guests of the hotel get substantial discounts. When I was there you could get a substantial breakfast for only $5.95 just by showing your waiter your hotel key. Ask at the front desk for the current deals when you go.

Besides the Spyglass Inn restaurant, there are loads of great eating places in Pismo Beach. Try Steamers for a delicious evening meal while you watch the sunset. Or down toward the pier in Pismo, check out Splash Café's famous clam chowder - but be willing to wait. Sometimes the line stretches around the block.

Things to Do

The Spyglass Inn has a pool and spa on the premises, and it is just a short walk down some stairs to the beach for some sunbathing, beach combing, or surf fishing. Watch the ocean carefully - you might spot some dolphins at sunset, as one of the guests did while we were there.

In the Pismo Beach area, there are facilities for golfing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and whale watching. The area is well known for its wineries, excellent dining, and shopping. Any time of the year is a good time to go, for something is bound to be happening in Pismo. From late October through February, for example, you can see thousands of Monarch butterflies in a grove not far from the Spyglass Inn.

If you like going to the beach for some fun & sun, definitely check out Beach Butlerz. They do everything from renting chairs, loungers, umbrellas, sand toys, and even luxury cabanas to hosting bonfires, birthday parties, romantic evenings, and romantic weddings on the beach. Beach Butlerz services can be customized for families, singles, groups, or couples, plus their rates are very reasonable. They will even set up a volleyball net for you.

Someday a brilliant guy will get the idea to propose in a Beach Butlerz over-the-top luxury cabana, perhaps with a bonfire at sunset, then suggest to his future bride they have their wedding through the very same Beach Butlerz right there on the beach. Easy, extremely romantic, and yet inexpensive. Weddings can be held on the beaches in Cambria, Avila, Cayucos, Morro Bay, and Pismo.

We hired Beach Butlerz for the "Awesome Day at the Beach" and loved it. Letting the Beach Butlerz young, energetic "butlers" take care of hefting all the beach equipment across the sand and then afterwards, breaking it down, is well worth the reasonable prices Beach Butlerz charges. Guests of the Spyglass Inn get a 10% discount - ask about it at the front desk. Now that I've experienced what Beach Butlerz has to offer, I plan to make it a regular part of my future weekend getaways to the coast.

Bottom Line

The views and the sounds of the ocean are what draw people back to the Spyglass Inn year after year. Plus, for the price, the Spyglass Inn simply can't be beat. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, which rates high in my book. The rooms - especially the ocean view rooms - will have you coming back again and again.

Contact Information

To inquire about the Spyglass Inn in Pismo Beach, California, get directions, or to make reservations, call 800-824-2612 or directly at 805-773-4855.