On enviable real estate along Ocean Avenue—right next door to the behemoth Loews—this welcoming hacienda-style beachfront motel embodies the surfer/sun-worshiper ambience you'd expect from Santa Monica lodging. The well-tended complex sits above and across an alley from the beach but offers excellent views and direct access to the sand via a private path. The inn offers cheery rooms with California-themed decor, including beds with down comforters, Egyptian-cotton sheets, and surfboard headboards. Five one-bedroom suites also have kitchenettes and trundle beds that make them great for families or longer stays; all rooms have minifridges, 27-inch TVs, and ceiling fans. A handful of rooms only have showers in the bathrooms, so be sure to request a room with a tub from the friendly front-desk staff if it matters to you. (And no, it's not the hotel from the Eagles' hit—that hotel is rumored to be in Mexico, and the album's cover photo is actually of the Beverly Hills Hotel.) Tip: Pay a few bucks extra for a courtyard view, as the cheapest rooms face the parking lot and noisy Ocean Avenue. Be sure to check the website for specials.