Best Western John Muir Inn - Martinez, California

Emma F.

I had a mixed experience. While the location and staff were generally good, there were several issues during my stay that I think potential guests should be aware of.||Room Quality: Unfortunately, the room I was assigned was on the first floor, right next to both a personal room and the ice machine. This made for a very noisy environment, with constant sounds from the hallway and the ice machine running throughout the day and night. Additionally, the room had an unpleasant odor that was difficult to ignore and made it less comfortable to relax in. I am not light sleeper ||Noise & Environment: The noise from the hallways was a significant issue. It felt as though the entire hotel traffic was passing through the room, making it hard to get a good night’s sleep. I would recommend asking for a room on a higher floor or further away from the main traffic areas.||Pricing Discrepancy: I also had an issue with the pricing. When I called and I first checked the hotel’s website, the price for direct booking was more expensive than booking through an agency, so I opted for the agency rate. However, when I arrived at the hotel, I learned that the price I was charged on paper bill handled to me was still lower than what I paid and the difference seemed unexplained. It was frustrating to deal with this discrepancy, especially when the hotel staff didn’t offer a clear explanation for the higher charges. ||Conclusion: While the staff was friendly and the location was convenient, the issues with noise, the unpleasant smell, and the pricing discrepancy really affected my overall experience. I would recommend that the hotel consider addressing the noise levels and providing clearer communication around pricing policies.

Martina K.

I spent six weeks with a mandatory break of one day here at the Best Western.
The two rooms I had were smashing.
The staff in the hotel were marvellous.and very helpful.

Breakfast was very good, with a great selection of hot and cold foods, juices, cereals et al.
Favourite was scrambled eggs, lashings of bacon and potato fritters.
Staff at breakfast were really, really helpful and very kind indeed.

A receptionist called Cynthia was exceptionally helpful during this stressful time in my life.

Thank you to all the staff for making my stay an excellent one.

Martina Perry.

Chris

My wife and I stayed at the Best Western John Muir Hotel in Martinez for two nights, and while the staff was friendly and accommodating, our overall experience was disturbing and unsafe.

Pros:
- The hotel staff made an effort to create a welcoming environment with Valentine’s Day decorations and some updates, such as a recently painted stairwell.
- The room was clean, as were the public areas and breakfast area.
- Having a kitchen in the room was a nice feature, even though the layout was awkward (the kitchen was essentially inside the closet/bathroom area).
- Hotel is located directly across the street from a shopping center that includes a grocery store and several restaurants, so this is conveneint.

Cons / Serious Safety Concerns:
- Dangerous Entryway – My Wife Suffered a Concussion
On the night we arrived, it was raining, and there were multiple “Caution: Slippery When Wet” signs at the hotel’s entrance. As we returned from dinner, both my wife and I noted the signs, tried to be very careful, and slipped and fell on the wet entryway. My wife suffered a concussion, and I sprained my elbow. A kind guest helped us up, mentioning that he had also nearly fallen, which suggests this is a known hazard. We informed the front desk, but there was no follow-up from hotel staff during or after our stay.

Additional Issues That Raised Concerns:
- Hot Water Ran Out – On Saturday morning, there was no hot water, which was frustrating and unacceptable.
- Significant Leak in the Lobby – A major leak over the reception area was being collected in multiple buckets right by the check-in desk.
- Burned-Out Truck in the Parking Lot – A completely burned-out, abandoned white truck remained in the parking lot during our entire stay, adding to concerns about overall maintenance and security.

Final Thoughts: If not for the public safety concerns, I would have rated this hotel 3 stars. However, due to the serious safety hazards, lack of follow-up, and maintenance issues, I can only give it 2 stars. I would never stay here again. The slippery entryway is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and it is clear from the design that this is a well-known issue.

Wendy W.

Very nice hotel. Breakfast was very good... a nice variety.
Accomodations were very nice, no complaints. I love the area where it is located. It was fun to see the John Muir Historic Site which doesn't cost any money!! The only thing that stuck out to me is that the people at the front desk, although they were nice, seemed that they were just there to do the minimum requirements. They didn't seem to really care about the customer. Maybe they were having a bad day? But, it was a nice stay, and I would go back for sure!

Martin H.

We spent one night at this Best Western in Martinez. They house people under the custody of the county? to keep them off the street. We got very little sleep as the smoke alarm went off twice. Three fire trucks came and police cars arrived. It turned out that one of the men held in custody broke into the fire extinguishers and sprayed the hall ways and stair well. The police finally took the individual away in restraints. He was housed two doors down from us and had two women tending him. The manager gave us a refund of $35.00 which was not adequate. When I complained, I was accused of not caring about people in crisis.
We don't think that the motel should allow both paying customers and people in custody at the same time. Wish we would have known about this policy when I made the reservation.

des P.

Pros :very reasonable prices. Love that it is located around stores, and not far from the freeway.
Cons: limited on towels , key stopped working before check out time

Evange W.

First I want to state this EMPHATICALLY, NO, ABSOLUTELY, NO, homeless people around the pool. Nice area, sounds like a waterfall in front as well as swimming pool. Close to stores nearby. Elevator next to front desk so they can keep an eye on everything, nice lemon cucumber water there. Nicely decorated for Halloween. ||Try to get room not facing streets. Good breakfast, even almond milk but also lots of hot dishes. Seems like there are some kind of living room (on each floor) so you can receive guests without inviting them to your room. ||It’s centrally located with connections for BART and Amtrak so if you are visiting Napa or places like it, you can save money staying here and using car or public transportation elsewhere.

Emily J.

I couldn’t check in, because no one was working there. There was no bell to ring, so I called the phone number, but no answer. I started chatting with hotels.com to try and cancel the reservation without losing any money, and while I was doing that, an employee finally came out of the back room and checked me in, 30 minutes after I’d arrived.||The room was fine. It was quiet and I felt safe there. I did not feel safe coming and going in the parking lot. There were a lot of men loitering, and one woman who appeared to be on drugs.