I’ve stayed at most of the hotels big and small around UCLA during my month there, and this one was the furthest from campus. I decided to book it initially because I saw reviews mentioning a free shuttle to UCLA and the Getty Center, plus the pre-tax room rate was around 1000 RMB. Compared to the average small hotels near UCLA, which typically cost 1200-1600 RMB pre-tax, the price was very attractive for a long-term stay. So, even though it was right next to the 405 freeway, I went ahead and booked it.
However, the actual experience after checking in was quite a letdown. Here’s a breakdown of the real situation for everyone’s reference:
1. **The 'Free Shuttle' is a Major Scam, and this is crucial!**
Before checking in, I saw reviews on Trip.com stating there was a free shuttle to and from UCLA and the Getty Center. But after checking in, I found out guests who booked through third-party platforms like Trip.com cannot use it! Only guests who booked directly through the hotel’s official website are eligible.
I booked for six consecutive nights and had to take taxis to and from UCLA. A one-way ride costs 9-10 USD during off-peak hours. With tips, a round trip costs over twenty dollars, which adds up to a significant extra expense for long-term travel. Dining options around the hotel are scarce, so I couldn't always take a taxi to eat out. Even ordering takeout, a simple bowl of rice noodles would cost at least 20 USD in total, not including tip. Daily meal expenses were not cost-effective at all.
2. **Overall Poor Dining Experience**
The hotel’s restaurant on the 17th floor is expensive, and the food quality is very mediocre. I tried a Korean beef short rib udon noodle dish, priced at 37 USD. The noodles weren't the usual thick udon; they were thin, almost like vermicelli. The sauce was sweet and sour, with a flavor profile closer to West Lake vinegar fish, far from authentic Korean cuisine. It was very hard to get used to the taste. I understand American food tends to be high in salt, sugar, and oil, but for Korean udon noodles to be so sour and sweet – I think a real Korean person would pass out on the spot.
The complimentary breakfast was even more disappointing, feeling like charity. The food only consisted of cold, hard bagels and cold bread slices, with most of the butter already melted. Drinks were limited to iced milk and iced soy milk. The fruit was just ordinary, not-sweet enough cantaloupe and honeydew melon. Every time I drank the hotel's coffee and milk, I'd get an upset stomach, which has never happened to me in Shanghai. If you wanted hot food like eggs, you had to order an additional breakfast, costing 16-20+ USD. Breakfast ended at 10 AM, and it wasn't worth sacrificing sleep for such poor quality food. For the remaining days, I just went to Target to buy milk and bananas and had breakfast in my room.
3. **Pay Close Attention to Noise Issues, Room Selection Tips**
Prioritize choosing a room on the 6th floor: The 6th floor has no ice machine, so the rooms are generally quiet.
Try to avoid rooms 5-10 on the 10th floor, as this area is right next to the ice machine. Guests constantly retrieve ice throughout the day, and the falling ice makes continuous clattering noises, which is very disruptive to sleep.
Although the rooms have double-glazed windows, being so close to the 405 freeway means traffic noise can still be heard inside the room. If you’re a light sleeper or sensitive to noise, I do not recommend staying here.
**Harsh Terms, Exorbitant Deposit, Be Sure to Document Everything During Check-in (Especially for Chinese Travelers to Avoid)**
This is the hotel with the most expensive deposit and harshest terms I’ve encountered around UCLA.
Even in high-end hotels, like the upscale one I stayed in near the LA Convention Center for the first week, costing two to three thousand RMB per night, my single booking deposit was only 100 USD.
But this small hotel charges a deposit starting from 200-400 USD.
Inside the wardrobe, there was a full page of extremely harsh, 'take-it-or-leave-it' clauses, meticulously listing high compensation rules for various damages, stains, or missing items. The restrictions placed on guests were numerous and very strict.
The carpet in my room was already dirty with obvious old stains on the day I checked in. I immediately took videos and photos. I strongly advise all Chinese guests: upon entering the room, take photos and videos of the entire space immediately for documentation. Clearly photograph the walls, carpets, furniture, hangers, and equipment to avoid being maliciously charged by the hotel or having your deposit withheld after check-out.
On a side note, the hangers provided by the hotel couldn't even be removed. They were simple, cheap, and an outdated model that's almost phased out in China. It felt very perfunctory. Honestly, almost no hotel in Shanghai would use such hangers; I wouldn't even want them if they were free. The overall hardware, service, and terms and conditions completely fail to meet regular hotel standards, and the experience was very depressing.
✅ **Suitable for:** Guests who book through official hotel channels and can use the free shuttle, have a high tolerance for noise, and are not picky about dining.
❌ **Caution for:** Those who booked through third-party platforms like Trip.com, rely on the free shuttle for commuting to UCLA, have high sleep requirements and are sensitive to noise, or have specific dietary needs.
Original TextTranslation provided by AI
