Surf Motel & Gardens, Fort Bragg

We stayed at motel in Oct. 2008 and found it to be a great experience. The office staff was extremely friendly and helpful in providing answers to our many questions. The grounds were delightful with all the flowers in full bloom. We will be staying again in June of 09 and looking forward to it.

I have stayed here several times over the last few years. Even though the location isn't great, the price has been decent, and the rooms clean, and staff friendly. The previous owners were very nice and accomodating. The current owner, however has been making a lot of changes to this motel. It is upsetting to see that the prices have almost doubled in one year. It now costs as much as a room on the water! Way OVERPRICED. I was told by the owner that a late checkout (12:00) would not be possible, I have never had this problem before. I was also told that my pet would be $10 a night, when before there was just a $10 deposit for the full stay. I was going to go up for the salmon bbq, but was shocked when I was informed it was a 3 night minimum! even 2 nights at a place like that is ridiculous. It isn't like it's a 5 star hotel. There is no reason that a low end motel should have such rules. So we decided to just drive up for that weekend, and stayed the next. The supposed gardens are another thing that I find strange. They are promoting themselves as having a large garden area to walk through. The truth of the matter is that there's a couple plants in an island in the middle of the parking lot. I never thought much of it before, but with their name being changed, I thought maybe they'd expanded. Allthough the girls in the office were nice, my room was not as clean is they used to be and it is not worth over $100 a night! I am no longer a customer at the Surf Motel.

This was one of the worst motel experiences I've ever had. The staff is awful. Rude and uncaring. I have tried to contact the owner to discuss the horrible stay we had, but he has ignored both calls and letters. I was injured do to the negligence of the staff. Had to go to the emergency room. They could care less. Not even an apology. My wife works in the hotel industry, and she says this is the worst guest treatment she has ever seen. Fort bragg is a great place to visit, just don't stay here.

The "wireless internet" was very weak, I couldn't hold a signal for longer than 10 minutes. An inconveniance that had high consequences as I was in Fort Bragg on buisness. The rooms were mediocre at best. The bed was very worn and saggy in the middle. The man behind the desk actually wanted me to write my name, address and credit card information on a little peice of paper! I refused and said that I would pay in the morning. I was also slightly offended that there was a hindu prayer shrine in the lobby. Freedom of religion is fine, but it shouldn't be forced on your customers. The incense that was burning the next morning was sickening, as I have allergies. I agree that the continental breakfast was pretty skimpy. The gardens are not as promoted. They are just in the middle of a parking lot. Now the good points. Location was ok, if you don't mind driving to the beach, or don't want an ocean view. The shopping center next door is very conveniant. The girl at the desk in the morning was very helpful. The room was painted nicely, and it was quiet, and clean aside from missing towels & soap. The mini frige and microwave were nice. It's not worth over a hundred dollars a night, however. When I return to Fort Bragg, I will choose another hotel.

I had a recent stay at this motel. I had read other reviews on this website, and that is a large part of why I chose to stay there. First thing. The rates are double what it says on here. I was looking at 99 dollars with my aaa card, plus there were 3 of us in a room with two beds, so I was charges 10 dollars more. a fact I was unaware of until I checked out the next day. I was told that they don't have any rooms that are 57 dollars a night, so I don't know where that came from. Number two. The room was dirty. there was something like food on the wall, there was a microwave, yes, but it apparently had not been cleaned, food was splattered all over inside. the mini fridge didn't work, there was hair on the counter, no tissure in the box, the toilet was not cleaned, I had to call the office for shampoo, a tear in one of the top blankets, it smelled like a dog (which I am allergic to). I was told that they had been remodeled, but to me it just looked like somebody painted, and not very well. there was paint in the bathtub, and floor, and it was apparent that the beds were not new. when I called the office to ask about moving rooms the man who answered was very rude. he told me that it would be impossible to move me, and that I didn't specifically ask the be in a non-pet room as he put it. I didn't realize that I would have to.I could be moved the next day if I chose to stay. I was going to stay for three nights, but we left after one, I am happy that I did not make a reservation for the full amount, as I would have hated to pay another night. I was in the back of the motel where traffic noise was very loud, as were the other people staying there. the 3rd thing would be the so-called continental breakfast. it consisted of apples which weren't ripe, bananas which were over ripe, and really sweet hostess like pastries, and coffee. no juice, no milk. A huge dissapointment. Not worth over one hundred dollars a night. I was visiting family in Fort Bragg for a wedding, and they have said that they will no longer reccommend this motel to any of our family or their friends.

Plus: big, clean room; price was lower than market (but higher than you'd pay on average); friendly staff; great location - can walk to ocean, grocery, restaurants; continental breakfast (fresh fruit, pastries, hot bevvies); beautiful garden Minus: had a room without AC!; a broken slat in the blinds allowed people outside the room to peep/look in; furnishings are worn Bottom line: I'd stay again.

Great Picnic area for family gatherings, also great for fisherman and divers. Outside shower and fish cleaning area really make it nice. Have been here several times before and will continue to return. Great overall experiance.