Known as the Gateway to the Channel Islands National Park, Ventura is an excellent destination for those who like nature. It’s also an ideal place to hang out if you want to enjoy some of the best surfing in California. Surfers and nature lovers on a budget will appreciate the fact that the Ventura hotels are well-priced, and while they might not offer much in the way of luxury, most visitors spend little time in their hotel rooms anyway. Unfortunately, there are no Ventura resorts, so if you have the resort experience in mind, you might head to nearby Santa Barbara or back down towards Los Angeles and Orange County. You’re just an hour’s drive away from Los Angeles when you secure Ventura lodging, and Santa Barbara is an even shorter drive away, so if you feel like doing some touring, there are tons of things to see and do in the region.

Luxury Ventura hotels might not be part of the overall lodging scene, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a comfortable stay when visiting. Understandably, many visitors will first look to book a room in one of the beach hotels in Ventura. When it comes to beachfront Ventura hotels, the Inn on the Beach and the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach will be your only choices. The Crowne Plaza is the most expensive hotel in town, though it’s rates are hardly lofty. There are 258 rooms to choose from at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, and they are easily among the most luxurious rooms in town. Each room is fresh and elegant enough to impress most visitors, and in addition to a tasteful decor, these rooms boast quite a lot in the way of amenities. For starters, each guest unit has a private balcony with ocean views. Premium bedding helps to ensure a comfortable night’s rest, and cable TV and in-room movies are available when you find yourself with some down time. Complimentary coffee and tea are offered to guests on a daily basis, and other amenities that you can expect include internet access, a work desk, a hair dryer, and an iron and ironing board. As for hotel facilities, the Crowne Plaza offers an outdoor heated pool with ocean views, an exercise room, a lobby lounge, a beachfront bar and lounge, a restaurant, a game room, and laundry facilities.

The Inn at the Beach, which is the only other choice for beach hotels in Ventura, also offers comfortable rooms at a good price. Amenities that you expect in each room include either a patio or balcony with ocean views, a gas fireplace, marble accents in the bathrooms, a Jacuzzi tub, antique decorations, and signature beds. The overall decor of the rooms exhibits a French country feel, which is really quite elegant. A continental breakfast is included in the friendly rates, and while there isn’t much in the way of facilities here, guests enjoy proximity to the beach, which is all that most people will care about. Because of the lack of overall hotel facilities at the Inn at the Beach, more attention has been paid to the rooms, which are really quite impressive for the price. As a side note, those interested in visiting some California wineries might book a stay at the Inn at the Beach’s sister property, which is a bed and breakfast in the Temecula Valley. Resembling a French Chateau, the Inn at Churon is a dazzling B&B where wine-lovers will feel right at home.

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Found right by the Ventura Harbor, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Ventura is an excellent Ventura lodging choice for those who want to be near the water. Like the aforementioned beach hotels in Ventura, the Holiday Inn Express offers comfortable rooms at a price that is hard to argue with. The decor of the rooms and suites here is just as agreeable as it is at the Crowne Plaza and the Inn at the Beach, and the amenities are comparable as well. A buffet breakfast is included in the rates, and other amenities that you’ll enjoy include satellite TV, a complimentary newspaper, a coffee maker, a mini-fridge, internet access, a work desk, and a hair dryer. In-room movies and video games are available for an extra fee, and if you book a suite you’ll enjoy extras like a kitchenette and a whirlpool tub. As far as facilities are concerned at the Holiday Inn Express, there is a nice outdoor pool, a fitness room, and laundry facilities. While there is no restaurant, there are some good places to dine within walking distance.

Most of the Ventura hotels are chain brand properties that offer discount rooms, and among the other hotels that you might consider is the Ventura Beach Marriott, which is one of the better establishments. It offers a similar experience as the Holiday Inn Express, so you can choose accordingly. In addition to chain hotels, a handful of B&Bs are included in the Ventura lodging choices. The GBB&R Guity’s Bed and Breakfast is a favorite with visitors, and you might also check out the funkier Cliff House Inn. If you still find yourself looking for lodging after you consider the B&Bs, the chain hotels, and the beach hotels in Ventura, you can always look to the area vacation rentals to increase your pool of possibilities. Enjoying the added space and privacy that a vacation home affords is always a nice thing, and even the beach apartments and condos are rather nice, so it’s always worth looking into the Ventura vacation rentals.