Best diving motel in Santa Rosa

[boulderjohn]

I used to use the Quality Inn while staying in Santa Rosa. It had easy access to rooms for loading and unloading gear, had a reasonable breakfast, and it had good discounts for scuba divers and instructors. Now that it is apparently out of business, I am looking for a new landing spot.

I have stayed in some other places and been unhappy. I believe the old Best Western by the Santa Fe Grill had mold in the bathrooms, and it had a really lousy breakfast. I stayed in the travelodge a couple of times--cheap, but a really bad breakfast and only about half the outlets provided electricity. All of those were years ago.

So I am looking for a reasonably priced alternative with easy access to rooms (don't want to have to go through a lobby, etc.) A good breakfast is a plus. Other things to consider are the ability to hang dry suits easily, good outlets, wi-fi, etc.

I appreciate any recommendations.

 

[Scott]

I have only spent a couple nights in Santa Rosa in my life that I can remember but as far as diving accommodations Days Inn has exterior room access, WiFi and free breakfast.
I use Comfort Inn when I dive in southern Utah and they also have exterior entrances, WiFI and a descent breakfast. According to their site, they have a property in Santa Rosa.

 

[boulderjohn]

I have only spent a couple nights in Santa Rosa in my life that I can remember but as far as diving accommodations Days Inn has exterior room access, WiFi and free breakfast.
I use Comfort Inn when I dive in southern Utah and they also have exterior entrances, WiFI and a descent breakfast. According to their site, they have a property in Santa Rosa.

Yes, it is right across the street from the Quality Inn. As I recall (and as it appears in the picture), it does not have direct access to the rooms. I don't want to be hauling DPVs (etc.) through the lobby if I have a choice.

 

[WarrenZ]

I usually do either the holiday in or the super 8. the super 8 is right by the park and they offer a cheap divers rate call them and ask for it. I do the holiday inn if I have free nights. the Holiday inn had a better breakfast but it is more expensive per night.

 

[J-Vo]

I was pretty happy with the Best Western Last time I was there (January). Didn't see any mold. Breakfast was the usual cheap hotel continental.

 

[boulderjohn]

I was pretty happy with the Best Western Last time I was there (January). Didn't see any mold. Breakfast was the usual cheap hotel continental.

I don't think we are talking about the same place. There used to be two Best Westerns in town. The one I am talking about has not been a Best Western in a couple of years, so if you stayed in one in January, it must have been the other one. It sounds as if you like the one you stayed in. Is that true?

 

[J-Vo]

Yep, I'd go back.

 

[boulderjohn]

We stayed in the Days Inn, which is the former Best Western I used to use with the suspect bathroom mold. They bathrooms have been completely redone--at least ours was. The rooms were spacious, the beds were fine, and the air conditioner worked. The breakfast was the worst I have seen in a motel for a long time. The only thing hot was the oatmeal, which was pretty good and in a crock pot--not an instant package. The only protein source was hard boiled eggs. There was no waffle machine for those who like that. There were no bagels or pastries--just slices of bread.

I had called the Best Western first. They do not have a diver rate, and the room would have been $105 per night. The Days Inn diver rate was $59. My guess is that the Best Western breakfast was better, but I figured that if the breakfast was that important to me, I could walk next door to the Santa Fe Grill and get one heck of a good breakfast for $46.

I did not realize that there was a big biker rally that weekend, and that could have affected rates. The Blue Hole was chaos. The main parking lot was blocked off and filled with tables and booths. The bikers were allowed to park in that area. All divers were squeezed into the space between the Blue Hole center and Stellas. Hundreds of swimmers and bikers swarmed the entire area. There was both recorded and live music coming from the stage (very loud) for most of the time. On Sunday morning we all got to be part of a church service led by a biker minister preaching from the stage to maybe 20 people in attendance.The amps were loud enough that we could not help but hear every word from over where we were setting up for our dives.

 

[KevinNM]

Was that you in the SUV and tent across the trail from Stella's, with the white doubles?

 

[boulderjohn]

Was that you in the SUV and tent across the trail from Stella's, with the white doubles?

No. I was teaching an AOW student, so I was in single tank gear.I was located close to the door going into the center, where you pay your fees.