BytheSea Inn

What a great spot in Half Moon Bay. Many thoughtful touches (tea and coffee with a cute sitting area when you walk in), very clean and beds were very comfortable. Beautifully decorated as well. Will be back!

I can’t believe no one is talking about the fact that there is no staff here and barely anyone running this place. I came and couldn’t check-in or get in. There was no sign or instructions or note even to say they were away at lunch or what in the world was going on. To get in, I went around the back to a door that was open then into another open door that said “staff only” (unsafe!) to go into the main office where there was no reception staff and seemingly no guests in that main building. I had access to all the keys (unsafe!) and finally after an hour of waiting for someone in the lobby that I had basically broken into, I looked behind the desk and found a phone number of an emergency contact for Dave. I had to call the number twice to get an answer, was told check in was at 3pm which is no where on booking this place via an online portal (by that time it was 2.15pm) and then to top it off a random maintenance staff came from somewhere unknown to help - not the guy I called! Apparently he was upstairs which I had actually shouted “hello” several times when I arrived and got nothing but crickets! This guy didn’t even care that I had basically broken into the place to get service, nor did he apologise for the inconvenience of it all! There is no breakfast and I literally never saw any staff at reception. He told me I can just leave the key in the room. I honestly could have probably just stayed in this place for free for days without anyone noticing. It was the most bizarre one night I’ve ever had at a B&B. The room was clean but I didn’t have any bath towels, only hand towels for the shower. The bed is awful. The mattress is so old that it squeaks any time you move. It was also itchy. It may be bed bugs or just the sheets. No breakfast. I’d never stay again. It’s a shame because the place has so much potential and charm with a good location, but it’s run worst than a one star motel in the middle of nowhere. I paid $202 for this crap experience and it was definitely, DEFINITELY not worth the money!!! Avoid!!

Not the place to stay period look around this is the last resort place over rated..no breakfast rooms smell rooms very old no air old hot tubs .management very rude and unprofessional. The parking is the worst everif I could give half a star I would.

On first entering our room (a suite) at Zaballa House the room looked rather lovely, with a definite Italian flavor to the decor. But on closer inspection, the baseboards were dirty and in dire need of a paint job, there was a hole in the wall next to the bed about the size of a golfball, and a big hole in one of the window screens The windows did not operate in any way that we could fathom, and we had to prop one of the windows open to get some fresh air. It was definitely not worth the price we paid, although it was spacious and had an adequately equipped kitchenette.

We stayed at Zaballa House Bed and Breakfast during the week of Oct. 4. Our reservation was made through a major hotel booking site and clearly indicated that our rate included breakfast. We’ve stayed at Zaballa House many times before because it was a Bed and Breakfast that has served a very nice breakfast. However, to our complete surprise, a sign was posted outside the entrance stating that they stopped serving breakfast due to Covid 19. The sign went on to say that our rate had been ‘adjusted’ to compensate for that. I called the manager to verify the amount of the adjustment and he said that we would be charged the full amount on the reservation (which included breakfast). He blamed the major booking site for not stating that the rate did not include breakfast. The very least the manager could have done was send an e-mail or text to alert us of no breakfast and offer the option to cancel the reservation. It is quite understandable that the hotel wanted to reduce the risk of Covid spread. That said, there are at least 4 ways they could have provided breakfast while minimizing risk: 1) provide a Grab N Go breakfast like almost hotels during did during the height of the pandemic, 2) guests could get breakfast and take it back to their room (like some hotels do), 3) they could set up tables for outdoor dining (like almost every restaurant in Half Moon Bay!), or 4) they could issue a credit for breakfast at a nearby restaurant. I think the reason they are unable to do what most other customer-focused hotels would do, is not because of Covid concerns, but because they cannot get staff. When we arrived, our key was outside on a table because there was no staff in the reception office. In fact, during our entire stay, we did not see a single staff member. It was as if the hotel was a vending machine. Our complete disappointment with the stay goes well beyond breakfast. This hotel is in decline. Neither the heating, the fireplace nor the bathroom fan worked. There was not even a box of tissue in the room. We’ve stayed at Zaballa many times before but we will stay there no more because the decline in the quality of the stay is so striking. We’ve already found other good places at comparable prices….that serve breakfast.

It was pet friendly, but that is the only good thing I have to say. The bagels in the morning were stale and so was the butter, old. The bed was very hard. It does need a lot of repair. My husband wouldn’t even take a shower. I think some one needs to call hotel impossible to save this poor historic hotel. Not worth $225 a night.

Different in that my room was over a business, as many of the other rooms are. Hardwood floor - an area rug would be very welcome - large room and bathroom. Complaints, an outlet closer to the bed would be handy, as I use my phone for my alarm clock. Also, a small note posted about how to operate the fire place would be good. TV didn't work so well, so be ready to watch Netflix on your laptop/phone. Good location downtown though, close to food, and good parking.

What a treasure. It doesn't look like much on the outside. Oh, but rooms have been redone. Clean, clean and comfortable. Fun to walk through town. Breakfast was European style. Fruit, yogurt, toast, excellent granola. Bonus was quiche. We had fun talking to other guests at the communal table.

We were set up to stay in the next door motel portion of Zaballa House but I requested a change to one of the upstairs rooms of the main historic house where I had stayed before. I love this place where you walk into a cozy seating area in the front room, then meander into its history room, and the next morning enjoy an excellent breakfast at a big table with other patrons.

We stayed here for one night at the start of our honeymoon. Didn’t have any complaints. Room was a good size, and good value for money. I liked the area too. Staff were also friendly. I would stay here again.