Wonderful staff. Beautiful location. Comfortable bed. Clean. I loved the variety of outdoor seating options—fire pit area, deck with tables and chairs, benches overlooking the ocean—very serene. EV charger on site was a huge unexpected bonus.

Honestly, the only thing that could be improved is the lighting in the room I stayed in. A quick fix would be to add sheer curtains behind the blackout curtains so that it is possible to maintain a bit of privacy and let the natural light in. The lamps were not adequate on their own.

From the moment I arrived at Surf Inn, my experience was nothing short of remarkable. Jade, the manager, had already prepared my documents well ahead of time, ensuring a smooth check-in process. Despite my additional requests, she went above and beyond to make sure I had everything I needed, including a much-appreciated supply of coffee to revive me after my long journey and keep me energized for the evening ahead. Traveling with my dog was effortless, as Surf Inn welcomes pets in all their rooms. When I requested a last-minute switch from a single queen room to accommodate a friend, Jade made it happen seamlessly. The new room was a delightful upgrade with an ocean view (see photo), ample layout, and exceptionally comfortable double beds. Thoughtfully designed amenities like the coffee maker, fridge, and microwave were unobtrusively placed, blending beautifully into the room's décor. The large flat counter is perfect for minor meal prep and for me, the most comfortable spot to wrap gifts. Adding to the convenience, breakfast service resumed during my stay—a lovely perk—and there is a bright, well-equipped laundry room that will be invaluable for longer visits. While the comfort and amenities were outstanding, what truly set this property apart was Jade. Her thoughtful, warm, and professional demeanor transformed an already excellent stay into an exceptional experience. Her energy and genuine care for guests are unmatched, and it’s clear that her presence elevates Surf Inn far beyond other properties. She truly embodies hospitality at its finest. Thank you, Jade, for making my stay so comfortable and worth the drive.

Quieter heating system. It didn't keep us up but it was noticable.

We got a wonderful deal on an upgraded room with an ocean view! Honestly the nicest view I’ve ever had in a hotel. The bed was extremely comfortable and the room was clean! Easy access to places for your dogs to use the restroom. Mini fridge, microwave, keurig with cups and pods! Very nice touches. Jade was incredible!

Shower didn’t have much pressure and didn’t stay hot long. The position of the room with all the different larger pieces of furniture made it a lil cramped. Microwave was in French with no translations lol

There was no breakfast but that wasn’t needed as there is an absolutely wonderful cafe a short stroll down the Gualala bluff trail called Trinks that was fantastic, there BBLT is a must try and take it for lunch later. This location was perfect, right outside is a wonderful 1/2 mile bluff trail with lots of benches to sit with the dogs and watch the ocean. The manager checking us in had everything ready, super organized with handouts showing how to use the TV remote and the heater/air remote (didn’t need!). She even came over as we were getting the dogs out and said hello, later I saw her own very cute bull terrier on their own walk. A lovely dog friendly facility, dogs on leash and everything is fine. It was quiet, the kitchen was a nice bonus I wasn’t expecting, it had a stove, microwave, fridge and sink and a nice kitchen table. It had light rain on Saturday so we didn’t get to hang out on the patio but there is one with several tables and chairs to enjoy a snack, also some wooden chairs lower down facing the ocean where the fire pit is, which we also didn’t try out but you do need to supply your own wood (tip - there is an amazing grocery store right next door called Surf Market). Room tip - the double bed rooms are roomier, if you’re traveling with dogs or even if not, I’d recommend the double beds for the extra room, nice chairs for sitting too! We were in Rm 116.

Okay, so this will sound silly but the handle to get the shower started was really tough to get started, I was afraid to pull the handle too hard but it did work, I’d recommend they have their maintenance people swap it out before something happens but it did work just fine. The bathroom sink water pressure was very strong, it’s not a complaint but be aware or you might get wet!

A cute funky motor inn, clean and everything worked well. Jade the owner/manager is a super friendly lady. Right on the beach and dog friendly. If you are driving up the coast and don’t want to pay for an expensive place with amenities you want use because you’re just traveling this is a great spot. Easy walking distance to some restaurants and grocery,

Rooms are smallish and my room could have used better lighting and a place to plug in a phone. But the bathroom had excellent lighting. This is not a fancy hotel but economical, quiet and fine for a short stay.

The lovely lady who runs the motel is greeted us and was extremely warm and welcoming. Gave recommendations for good dinner nearby. The location is amazing right along the coast. You have a beautiful trail right outside your door across the parking lot. Our room was clean and everything worked well (occasionally not the case is some older motels). I love the charming calm energy of this spot and will definitely be back again soon.

We arrived late after a long drive on the West Pacific Coast and it felt to soothing to arrive in this warm and comfy place. Everything was made easy for us to check-in on our own, the owner had the kindness to put us in an ocean view room. The motel area is very peaceful and beautiful and Gualala in itself is a wonderful little place. The owner was absolutely kind and friendly, she recommended us a wonderful coffee place. We would come back for sure, our stay was short but this motel was such a happy relief to arrive in!😊🌺

View was great, room was clean and had all the basics, town was lovely. Staff was very helpful.

(for reference my husband is a contractor) Shower head was mounted into the tub surround, which caused the shower head to be too low even for two 5'6" people. Also the shower fixtures weren't properly done so they were loose. Seal at the bottom of the entry door has issues as well and will probably be leaking soon if it's not already. We were only in for one night and in good weather, so these weren't a big deal but would not make a longer stay pleasant.

No breakfast provided but we had a yummy coffee from a fancy coffee machine! The lady who checked us in answered our questions, she was extremely friendly and offered a lot of helpful information about things around town. We only wish we’d had more time to explore. I would recommend anyone staying to stay at least 2 days.

All was great

Chose this hotel simply as it was about halfway on our road trip leg, We didn't expect much, and just booked on price and were really pleasantly surprised. The Motel had a charming log-cabin feel about it and the rooms were large and very clean and way better appointed than we expected. The inn was right by the ocean and we had nice sunsets and wonderful sunrise walks overall really enjoyed our stay. The town is very quiet and only has limited dining options, so it was great to see a detailed guide of all the options and closing times for everywhere, very thoughtful

We never got to meet any staff, they had gone before we arrived and were not around in the morning. The key was left and check-in was hassle-free but a bit weird not seeing anyone.