Sonesta Select Los Angeles Torrance South Bay — Hotel in Torrance

Short version: Comfortable stay, very friendly staff, good location.

We chose this hotel for a last minute family stay (3 adults) and were very pleased. The property is about 10 miles from LAX airport and has the I-405 freeway on two sides, a nice office park on the other, and some sort of aggregate processing facility in front of it. While the outdoor views weren't breathtaking, we never noticed any street or industrial noise, nor heard any other guests through the walls, despite indications that the hotel was mostly booked.

In terms of amenities, we opted for a room with two Queen sized beds, and found it clean and comfortable. It had a mini fridge, and was only a few doors down from the ice machine, which also had a microwave. None of us brought swimwear, but the pool was open and inviting, and accessible via keycard. The lobby had plenty of seating and tables that it shared with their own Starbucks, and one morning, we even got some work done over the free wifi. There was a small 24-hour "market" nook near the front desk, which had snacks and easy-to-forget-to-pack items, which I thought was a nice touch. There was also at least one conference room on site (possibly more, I wasn't actively looking), for those who are considering this property for a group and/or work visit. We didn't use it on this trip, but I also appreciated that the property had a 24-hour gym available in case we wanted to fit in a workout while there. While we ventured into downtown LA during most of our stay, there are some restaurants near the hotel, and even a Walmart, where we bought some bagels for one of the mornings. There is FREE PARKING at this hotel, too, and though I mention it last, is kind of a big deal. Other properties in this price range and proximity to downtown and the airport have valet and self parking, and I refused to opt for the pay-per-day rates which STARTED around $40-$50.

As for staff, what a gracious team. Well done hiring really pleasant folks, Sonesta. Amir and Rafa greeted us very warmly for check in, and the latter actually went out of his way later in the evening to turn on lights and move some chairs in the lobby, all so we could better enjoy some brief family time before turning in for the night. Lawrence helped us print out some very important documents when we asked where the nearest Fedex/Kinkos was, which he didn't have to do, but saved us an extra trip, and Ashley was just delightful to talk to upon checkout, which was the final impression of our stay, and a happy one.

Some things I noticed but were not dealbreakers: -There was no free breakfast included, but with the store so close by, and our plans to be out of the area all day every day, it was really not a big deal. -Yes, housekeeping only comes by every 3 days. They tell you this upon check in, but ALSO mention that they can send someone to collect trash and provide additional towels in the meanwhile. With California in a seemingly perpetual state of drought, I honestly don't mind reusing my towel and sleeping in the same sheets for more than one night. If you find this policy to be too insulting, you're welcome to spend hundreds more a night for a five star hotel, like the Ritz, Four Seasons, or Omni, and I can tell you from experience, those places will still ask you to reuse your towels to conserve water if you are willing. All I'm saying is, let's not hate on humble Sonesta, doing their part. I'd venture to say if you are a person of average cleanliness who doesn't soil themselves every night and can spend the two extra seconds to hang your towel on the hook in the bathroom instead of throwing it on the ground for someone else to pick up, you, too, will not understand why some other reviewers made such a big deal out of this.

Final takeaway: I liked it. Good value for my money, easy to get everywhere I wanted, was safe, clean, and run by...

I checked in earlier this week after finding it within my company’s per diem budget and thinking with its nice design, I would be in for a nice stay. Boy was I wrong! Staff are cold and don’t even greet you as you walk in or out each morning or evening. Benefits for Sonesta Travel Pass Elite Members are poor - being a Gold Member only gets you a 1 PM late checkout and no upgrades. Internet is so slow, you’re better off streaming on your cell phone data plan. Housekeeping will only clean once every 3 Days and even then, the hotel executes on this extremely poorly. I had my Do Not Disturb sign on the door until I left at 7:30 AM and they skipped over my room, claiming I had the sign on the door when they did their morning rounds. The Operations Manager gave me such attitude about it, showing very little to no empathy to my concerns and frustrations. I have my Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management and was a Former Hotel Guest Services Manager myself - you have poor management if you think determining room counts should be done as early as 7:30 AM for housekeeping. They did end up cleaning my room at 7 PM at night which I appreciated but they left a bottle of cleaner in the room and I was strongly encouraged to leave while they cleaned. I wouldn’t have minded but after a long day at 7 PM at night, I’d prefer to stay in rather than having to leave and ultimately would have preferred if they had cleaned my room in the 11 hours I was out of the room during the day! When I returned to the hotel this evening, the hallway reeked of a particular kind of smoke that would be considered illegal in many places and lots of kids were running up and down the hallways at all hours unsupervised. Walls are paper thin as I could hear conversations in neighboring rooms and even my phone ringing behind a closed door halfway down the hallway. Overall, this was my first and now last stay at the Sonesta Group of Hotels. Such a shame because I came into this week excited to discover a new hotel chain to start staying with for my Frequent Business Travel but left having discovered one of the most disappointing properties I’ve stayed at in a long time and one I would never return to! If this is the standards Sonesta expects their hotels to deliver, they have a LONG way to go before being considered any sort of threat to the other players...

I recently had the opportunity to stay at the Sonesta Select Los Angeles Torrance South Bay, and while there were some positive aspects, my overall experience was disappointing.

First, the location of the hotel is undeniably convenient, making it a strong choice for exploring the area. Additionally, the pricing was reasonable for the season, and the availability of free parking is a significant advantage in the Los Angeles region.

However, I encountered several issues that detracted from my stay. We upgraded to a one-bedroom suite with the expectation of a more comfortable experience. Unfortunately, upon our arrival, we found the room to be unacceptably dirty. There was sand from previous occupants scattered throughout the space, and the room had a musty, unclean feel. Despite the hotel’s branding as a renovated establishment in an up-and-coming area, it appeared to be in disrepair. The wallpaper was peeling, light fixtures were hanging and exposing wires, and the glass on the rear exit door was neither intact nor sealed.

The hotel features a small market on-site; however, it only operates until 10 AM, which may be inconvenient for guests. While I would typically be willing to overlook certain issues for outstanding service, I was met with rudeness from the staff. The woman who checked us in seemed uninterested in assisting me or the other guest in line, rushing the process so she could return to watching television in the back. Additionally, when I sought assistance from the Polynesian Gentlemen (clerk) the following day, I received no verbal response; he merely nodded in silence and returned to his computer.

In conclusion, while the Sonesta Select Los Angeles Torrance South Bay has a great location and reasonable pricing, the poor quality of the accommodations and the lack of customer service left much to be desired. I recommend considering other options unless the proximity to local attractions and price are the only deciding factors...