Hotel Erwin, A Joie de Vivre Boutique Hotel - Venecia

Hotel Erwin sits 2 minutes from the Venice boardwalk, is a friendly and relaxed hotel with helpful and friendly staff. The rooftop bar is impressive but their practice of taking your credit card away for security until you leave is a little unnerving. The only negative of our stay were the disappointingly tough buckwheat pancakes at breakfast, go for one of the egg dishes in the small hotel restaurant instead!

I had a great time but the parking was a bit pricey and we got our room for a good price but it was 50% off. I don't think it would have been worth it if I had to pay full price. The customer service was ok, but not as good as I am used to when I stay in a hotel. All in all I would give it a 7.5 out of 10 rating. Very cool, trendy vibe they got going.

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The location of this hotel is fantastic and the new remodel is awesome as well. Unfortunately it has become a hot spot and a few problems incurred. The elevator is sooooo slow! and with lots of traffic going to the new roof bar, which is awesome, it makes getting to your 6th floor room tough. Also, a lot of the time there was only one guy working the valet, not enough! Cars were stacked up and it took a while to get your car. If you are willing to work around these things this hotel is great! Right on the beach the views are awesome, the new rooms great! and right at Venice Beach.

"Outstanding Hotel"

I'll start with the good for what it's worth. The staff was very friendly and the bar on the roof is a bit pricey but has a great view. Hash also made a great breakfast. As for the bad and the horror. There were a number of little irritating things about the hotel (key cards didn't work for the first three attempts, there was wiring and brackets for a flat screen, no flat screens even though it was advertised, poignant fresh paint smell) but none of this can touch the nightmare that stemmed from this stay. I was sitting on the fold out couch (in a one-bedroom suite) and noticed a bug crawling on me. I was grossed out, but I thought it was a sand fly that must have traveled in from the beach on someone. Once the bug was taken care of I was still leery to sleep on the fold-out so I wore long pajamas. Everything seemed fine but fast forward a few days, when all of a sudden hundreds of red itching bumps started appearing all over my hands, my feet, my neck, and all over my face. I went to the doctor and he confirmed it was bed bugs. In doing research, I now know that the bug I saw was a bed bug (I recognized it immediately) and the fact that I saw it in broad daylight was a clear sign that the room was badly infested. Additionally, the person that stayed in the room with me is also going through this, but they didn't get bites on their face. My life has been overtaken by this horror. I'm a professional and with all of these bites I look like a homeless person. So, besides the terrible irritation and pain I'm in, I look like a disaster, have had to try to clean my home from corner to corner. I still don't know if there is any infestation in my house and can barely sleep at night checking out any and every twinge on my skin. I'm hoping this is where the nightmare ends, but it can easily grow exponentially (cost of an exterminator and pain) if the infestation did in fact follow me home. Honestly, I'd hate for anyone else to go through this hell. I'd pay good money to

First, we did not get the one bedroom suite that I booked. We got a studio instead. The manager, "Vee" was very nice and gave us that night free and did move us to a one bedroom suite for the remainder of the stay. Part of the hotel was still being renovated and some minor things missing or not ready. The staff was very nice and accommodating, but it seemed a bit frantic for that weekend of the opening of the roof top restuarant. Great location for Venice Beach, one block away. Parking was expensive.

Problems, problems, problems, dirty room, we'll move you. Another slightly less dirty room, maintenance problems, miscommunication, dirty, noisy, sloppy, chaotic. More problems, I'll send somebody up, head scratching, shrugging shoulders, no english, "not my department", more problems. 10 visits from "houseman", not my department, more shrugging, we'll move you to a suite, sorry there's no DVD player, no newspapers, the lights on the balcony don't work, the door of your room doesn't lock, more shrugging, no follow up, new room's not ready but you must vacate NOW because we need your room! No thanks, noisy housekeepers @ 7am, dirty room again, sloppy cleaning, more noise, debris and dirt everywhere, no communication, more visits from "houseman", more incompetance, no resolution to maintenance issues, chaos, incompetance and failure to provide basic service. If you value your serenity, go elsewhere. Great location. Not worth the drama to stay in this overpriced hostel.

There was only one tiny garbage can in the room and when you have a toddler you need a little more than just one small garbage can. They didn't supply us w/any toilet paper and we were always asking for it. They missed our room one day and did not clean it. And when I checked in the person had a little bit of an attitude. Other than that, the location is great, right on the beach. Definatley a hotel for a younger crowd. Not so much for families.

I was surprised to see the hotel I often stay at became Hotel Erwin (part of the joie de vie Hotel Group). The renovations are still going on - but the upgrades are amazing - the beds, the pillows, the furnishings - aslong as they carry the furnishings on the 6th floor down to the 3rd - you will love it. The new restaurant "hash" looks amazing, and the upstairs lounge (on the roof) beautiful views of the beach. Worth staying there again.

hotel is badly located.still with constructionsworks. definetely not a boutique beach hotel! too LOUD!!! technichal problems w phone/net. reception is a chaos.

But I was a bit disappointed with the construction going on. We had to walk through the garage to get to the elevator. Also, we had to move the bed and plug in the clock and lamp, but the wall outlet didn't work. Not a big deal, I mean, it happens, but a hotel should be on top of these things, right? Especially if it's not a flea bag hotel.

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Hotel Erwin is located one block off the boardwalk on Venice Beach. In trying to to sound "uppity" I will say there is a wide variety of people and lifestyle. Next door to one another you can find and almost shack coupled with a million dollar townhouse. Probably anywhere U.S.A. downtown has a variety of what you might see. The hotel is older but trying to update. The front desk told me I was lucky to have an upgrade to a suite. This meant a large living room/dining room/kitchen area which I never used. The room I did use was the bedroom which was completely filled with the bed. This is a place you will either love or hate. If I had to stay there again I would but I would not ask to go back. Another thing I found lacking was access to restaurants which I saw to be nill. The staff was wonderful and that counts right?

The hotel is under major construction. There are so many contractors running around, ladders, exposed wiring, paint/stain fumes and noise. Construction staff exclusively uses the elevator in the lobby and you have to trek through the underground garage to get a single, long delay elevator to your room. No bar, cafe or room service of any kind. Nice big balconies with no furniture. Old showers and tubs with leaky plumbing and hot water faucet gets so hot you burn yourself on it when turning off. Registration staff is very slow, had to wait 15 minutes to check-in. They hound you to upgrade and pay additional charges. If you're a smoker, forget it. They don't say non smoking hotel on website but tell you when you check-in. Wait until they are done and check back to see if they got their act and the property together.

The rooms were adequate and the beds pretty comfortable, a big plus. The ocean front view isn't really ocean front. You can see it, but it's not like you walk out of your room and there's the sand. It cost 16.00 to park, which I think should be disclosed at time of booking or included in the hotel room cost. Their is only valet parking and pretty major construction going on throughout the hotel. The deco is mediocre I can't say I was pleased with my stay. The neighborhood/atmosphere is very poor. All the garages are under lock and key.

Excellent location, friendly staff, and love the rooftop balcony.

The Hotel met our expectations with the exception of the construction currently taking place and the dirt, dust, and closure of elevators. The rooms were spotless and the staff friendly and cooperative. The Valet parking attendants were especially attentive and friendly.

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I loved my stay at Hotel Erwin, they are located in the heart of the hustle and bustle that is Venice. The decoration of the room itself was great. The room was filled with art from the local artist and bright colors. All of the employees were extremely helpful and pleasant. The valet/parking rate was always lower than the parking in the surrounding areas. I will definatly return.

It was acceptable in most ways. I got a good deal on my room at the last minute -- though I wouldn't stay there again! -- but if I had paid anywhere close to what they cite as their normal rate, I would have been very upset. (I was unhappily surprised by the valet parking rate.) The staff was very attentive and friendly and helpful -- really great! -- but it was almost like they were preserving the facade of an actual nice hotel. The room was OK: spacious with normal bed and necessities. But when you start looking closer... the faucets don't turn the normal ways, there's dust and trash under the furniture, the BR is tiny, there's construction down the hall, and... something caused little red dots to appear the next day on my shoulders and chest. I'm not 100% it was the hotel, but I sure don't get anything like that ever usually... and the room wasn't very clean. Again, great service, but I walked away not convinced that the location was worth it... and thinking the hostel around the corner might've been as good... and a helluva lot cheaper.

I would highly recommend this hotel!!! I am still very satisfied with the treatment I received from the staff. Most (99%) of them went above and beyond their jobs in ensure my stay was a happy one. My room was clean and comfortable with a pretty good view of the ocean. No other hotel in Venice can/could compare to the Marina Pacific!!!

The hotel is under renovation but they have very nice rooms for being in that condition. Venice will always be a bit weird so the area is a bit shadey but the hotel is very nice. The hotel is walkind distance to the beach. The staff was not as bad at what other people say. Some of them are pretty funny!

I like to stay and recommend hotels in the California based Joie De Vivre corp. because of their consistent quality and unique properties. This hotel,one of the newest under Joie De Vivre management, fell far short of my expectations. While the room was renovated, the bathroom was not. I was unable to take a bath because of the peeling abrasive traction take on the bottom of the tub. The only towel rack was a flimsy wire contraption directly over the toilet - which is where I found the waterlogged fresh towels that housekeeping had not secured in the rack. My north side room was noisy all night from the bar just behind the hotel. Location was great for a walk along the beach or a quick walk to Abbot-Kinny street for window shopping or a meal. Staff was friendly and helpful (particularly the parking valets - they know where everything in town is.)

The hotel is at a great location, just steps away from the Venice boardwalk! The room was nice for the price we paid. Although the front desk people were a bit rude since the night I checked in. I asked for two rollaway beds a few nights into my stay which were offered to me in the beginning and I was told they didn't have any. The room I recieved was also not an ocean view which is what I was expecting. Overall the hotel is nice.

The beach is so beautiful here, but there are many homeless or needy people in the area. This can cause scary situations at night. Plan on parking and valet related charges. I did expect all of these things before I chose to stay here. That is why I provided a satisfied score. My expectations were sasisfied, but my expectations were average. I would recommend this hotel for people who find that they need a feasible price compared to pricier hotels in the area, and who also know what the area is (good in the daytime). The beach is beautiful. It was the reason we came, and this hotel fulfilled our needs.

Nice commuter hotel. close to beach not the very best neighborhood, but its cool

Nice, well kept room. Very comfortable bed. Very close to the beach. NOTE: Parking is NOT included...but reasonable, budget for it. Nice walking areas. Venice Beach Boardwalk area within a block behind the hotel...older shops and lots of street venders and street musicians and dancers.

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We weren't given the type of room we reserved at first - they were a little slow at the front desk - but after we were sent to a lesser room they called and sent us to the 6th floor. That's the place to stay. Great people watching on the Venice boardwalk.

The staff went beyond regular customer service, were extremely helpful and very friendly. I plan to stay there again.

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Great service, courteous, friendly staff

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We booked this hotel because it was right on Venice Beach. We literally stepped out of the hotel's back door and were steps from the sand. When we arrived, we were greeted by a very friendly Valet and Desk Clerk. We were offered an upgrade for a small price. We weren't sure if it was what we wanted until the showed us both rooms. We chose the 1 bedroom suite of course. Everything was clean and comfortable. Parking charge was reasonable for LA ($15), many places charge up to $40 to park. Overall, our stay was excellent, no complaints at all!!

The couches and pillows had "love stains" all over them and the so called ocean view was a dirty alley that u could catch a tiny glimpse of the waves. I was extremely unsatisfied by the experience. The TV was the nicest part.

We stayed on the 4th floor in one of the suites. The kitchen amenities were severely lacking, but we made do. I had to ask for dishwashing soap. There were 3 of us and 4 dinner plates, 2 sandwhich plates, 3 forks, 2 knives, 4 spoons, 3 glasses, 4 coffee mugs. I asked for more and the housekeeping was quickly on it and we got what we needed. You get the idea. I had to supply paper towel, napkins, and a cleaning sponge for the sink. The towel rack in the toilet room was in need of repair, and the towel rack in the sink room was missing altogether. The pull out queen couch bed was really bad. The furniture was really nice otherwise and there was a great flat screen TV and fireplace. The location was great for hanging out at Venice Beach. It was close to Hollywood; San Diego was 2 hours south and Santa Barbara was 2 hours north. I would definitely recommend staying here. The staff was always pleasant and helpful.

The hotel was a good value. The staff was quite friendly and responsive to our needs. The immediately surrounding neighborhood was a bit rundown with homeless people quite prevalent. I wouldn't recommend walking around much at night. The proximity to the ocean was definitely a plus and you can't beat Venice Beach for people watching on the weekend.

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For the bargain price through hotels.com, this hotel surpassed all expectations. The room was clean, comfy and spacious. The hotel staff was very friendly, courteous and helpful. Would definitely stay here again and recommend!

Housekeeping ---skimpy on the soap,towels,did not clean room until late in the day. Only one drinking glass and it was not even wrapped. One coffee mug wrapped the other not. One luggage rack ,had to ask for another, we are 2 people. Since it was remodeled ,now not a Best Western, prices increased for room, Also Now Valet Parking $16.50 ( tipping every time car goes in and out!), self $9.00 before. Remodeling did not change the sink area or bathroom. The breakfast room was closed because it was being turned into a cafe,only coffee in the lobby and apples. The only good aspect is it is 15 minutes from LAX by car and 5 minutes from a brand new Super Whole Foods on Rose and Lincoln. And steps to Venice Beach.

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We booked a suite and specified 4 adults. They had one set of towels and one small bottle each of shampoo and hair conditioner and one bar of soap. No cotton swabs or the usual basket of necessities that is expected of a 3 Star hotel. We called for extra towels, but the night front desk said we had to wait the next morning since housekeeping was closed. The next morning, I told the front desk man about the issue and when we came back in the afternoon, it was all taken care of. The space was roomy enough for 4 people. The kitchen was complete if you wanted to cook and eat in. The rooftop offers great views. Walking distance to the beach. The staff was very cordial, helpful and offered pertinent information on the area, the valets were very accommodating and retrieved items we forgot in the car after they had already parked it in the basement. We enjoyed our stay overall and would recommend this as an apartment-type hotel.

Upon arrival we were greeted by extremely friendly staff. We had an effortless check-in and were offered an upgrade at an incredible price. They showed us both rooms and of course the upgrade was the only way to go. We had to leave early due to a very large storm coming in and had to get home so we weren't snowed in over the mountains. They didn't even charge us for the extra night and overnight parking even though we didn't leave the room until 9:30 pm. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone who is looking for comfort and cleanliness with outstanding service!

Expensive for parking, inconsistant breakfast selection of muffins, partial ocean view is very partial

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Stayed in an ocean view suite- was very impressed with the modern decor, the spaciousness of the room, and the view. Would definitely recommend.

Hotel and personnel were great. Very pleasant and helpful. The area is rather distressing but maybe that is the "draw." Would be nice if there were at least one decent rest. in walking distance. Other than that our experience was very nice. We were dismayed at the many "homeless" in the area - although no one bothered us other than to panhandle a bit.

I was traveling for business and had several other staff with me. The first room had one king when two beds were requested, so we had to change. We paid more for an upgrade as rooms were limited, but when we got to the second room the sink was plugged and overflowed onto the floor. Got another room that worked out fine. Garbage trucks were banging around at 3:00 in the morning. The room and hall ways are just fine. Clean and relatively new. Great location, which is why I chose that hotel. Good restaurants in Santa Monica, good breakfast places in Venice, the broadwalk was fun. Easy to get to LAX and the rental car return. Summary, the hotel is just fine and the location is great.

Very friendly, helpful staff. Great views from the roof deck. Right on the beach block in the middle of Venice (if that's what you want). Not walking distance to any NICE restaurants. Besides Venice beach, plan on driving everywhere else (but what do you expect in LA) Valet with daily fee required. Hotel in general is medium grade (in a "nice if you had to stop on the highway and get a room somewhere and it was pleasant" kind of way, if you know what I mean). It was well worth the price we paid though.