Review: Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach (California)

Review: Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach (California)

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About Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach

The Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach is a landmark destination right on the beach. It’s one of the only hotels directly on Ventura Beach, making it a prime choice for those seeking a Southern California beach getaway. The hotel boasts 19,000 square feet of space with 12 floors and 235 rooms, including 38 suites, and offers incredible views of the ocean, beach, and surrounding mountains.

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At A Glance:

• Average Nightly Cost During Stay: $159 (plus taxes & fees)
• Loyalty Program: IHG Rewards
• Loyalty Category: N/A
• Discount Applied: Chase Free Night Certificate
• Room Type as Booked: 1 King Bed, Standard Ocean View
• Room Upgrade: None
• Resort Fee: N/A
• Parking Fee: $10 (Self), $18 (Valet)

Booking/Redemption

Location & Parking

Situated at 450 East Harbor Boulevard, Ventura, California, the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach enjoys spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s just two blocks from historic downtown Ventura, making it convenient hotel for guests to explore the Ventura area. Whether it’s surfing lessons on the beach or a scenic boat ride out to Channel Islands National Park, recreational activities abound in Ventura.

The hotel offers two parking options: Valet Parking is available for overnight guests at $18.00 per night, or Self-Parking where guests can use the city parking structure located nearby at $10.00 per night.

FHOP Tip: Free parking is nonexistent down by the beach. As such, your best (only) bet is to valet or self-park in the paid garage.

Lobby

The lobby, adorned with coastal-inspired decor, leads to the Aqua Beachfront Bar—one of the few places in Ventura where guests can enjoy ocean views while sipping cocktails.

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Aqua Beachfront Bar

Front Desk & Check-In

What Does IHG Rewards Diamond Elite Status Get You At Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach?

IHG Rewards Club Diamond Elite members are supposed to enjoy the following benefits at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach:

• Upgraded Room: Expect a room upgrade, subject to availability. Nope, we only got the “higher floor” treatment.
• Late Checkout: Sleep in a little longer with a guaranteed late checkout. We didn’t use this.
• Welcome Amenity: Breakfast for two at Moofish. We got this, and Moofish was excellent.

Hallway

Room Walkthrough Tour

Room Entrance

Bedroom Area

Our 1 King guestroom featured plush bedding, a very small bathroom, a work area, and amenities like free Wi-Fi and a mini fridge. The best thing about this room was its balcony and amazing views.

Living Area

Room Amenities

Closet

Bathroom

The hotel provided Apotheke brand toiletry products, which seemed to be of good-quality.

Balcony

View From The Room

Room Condition

The room itself appeared heavily used and had some major signs of wear and tear. Not only that, but the A/C leaked so much that there was a puddle on the carpet by the balcony door in the morning (and no, it didn’t rain).

Breakfast At Moofish Cafe

Our Diamond Elite status provided us free breakfast for two at Moofish.

Our server was great, he was super funny and fast. The food was excellent, all of it (although they did go “potato heavy” on the entrees), it really exceeded our expectations for a beach cafe.

Marketplace

Aqua Beachfront Bar

The Property Exterior

 Swimming Pool

The hotel features a large outdoor pool that’s practically on the beach.

Things To Do Nearby

• Ventura: Explore downtown Ventura and visit the Ventura Botanical Gardens for beautiful views of the coastline
• Ojai: Head to Ojai for hiking, biking, and outdoor adventures
• Dining & Shopping: Ventura Harbor Village offers various boutiques and restaurants
• Beach: San Buenaventura State Beach is perfect for beach strolls and sun-soaking

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The FHOP Bottom-Line 10 Ratings

The Bottom-Line Review: Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach (California)

The Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach offers glimpses of its former glory as a California crown jewel hotel. Its unbeatable location right on the beach and sweeping ocean views evoke a nostalgia for a beach era gone by.

The highlights were the hotel’s restaurant, Moofish, which was an excellent and fun spot for breakfast. The Crowne Plaza had a prime beachfront location, and there were many things to do there. The biggest negatives on this stay was the ragged appearance and wet carpet (from the leaky A/C) in our room. We also noticed some pest and general maintenance issues, as well as surprise “ghost charges” for several nights, on a stay we didn’t take, several months after our stay (these charges were later reversed by the hotel).

To be sure, the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach was once a celebrated establishment and its landmark stature, architectural charm, and ocean-facing bar hint at its illustrious past. However, time has taken its toll — and the hotel and its rooms show signs of wear and tear. Our stay at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach was a good experience, and I can see why some people really love this hotel. I do hope the maintenance, pest, and billing issues are resolved because this landmark hotel has a lot going for it, and I’m pulling for it.

Final Rating During This Stay: 6.75/10