This is the only time I’m going to cross-post and share this information with you all—read my lips: do NOT stay at Malibu Beach Inn.
It has made me question whether I should talk about hotel stays, because this was one of the worst and most misleading experiences I have ever come across. Never mind the food (only the breakfast was just about passable). This place is a trap. And to Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024—I have a bone to pick with you.
You might not notice anything after just a few nights, but give it a week or more and the cracks will start to show—if they haven’t already appeared on the first day. Housekeeping using your phone charger and helping themselves to skincare products (along with smashing a bottle of face oil), rooms that are nowhere near as luxurious as advertised—they don’t even meet a basic four-star standard. This is a glorified motel where they are laughing at you behind closed doors.
Scroll to the bottom of their website and you’ll see claims like TripAdvisor awards and membership in Leading Hotels of the World. Believe me—do not trust any of this marketing.
The food became such a joke that we were forced to go to Nobu every night, when all we wanted was to enjoy the view with decent food after long days, in the comfort of the hotel. Instead of feeling happy and relaxed, you’re constantly on edge, wondering what will go wrong next. And when you raise concerns with the front desk, they simply don’t care. Nobody does.
And don’t even get me started on the price. They are faking it—hiding behind a phoney website full of promises and taking your money without any shame.
Be warned: the entire building is open-air. When you step out of your room, you’re immediately on an exposed balcony with no enclosed walls, leaving you unprotected from the elements. When it rains, you’ll feel the wet, uneven, cheap flooring soaking through your socks and shoes.
This was supposed to be a rant about the food, but I can’t ignore the hotel itself—it’s impossible not to mention it. Yes, it may be more suited to summer (beach and sea), and the rooms come with fireplaces, so it could be cosy if they tried—but they don’t.
As for the food: breakfast is the only thing you can just about tolerate. Forget dinner—it’s low-level—and lunch is just as lazy. Don’t be fooled by the photographs on their website. The reality is plastic chairs, tired décor, and an uninspired, ageing building. You can’t even enjoy the setting while sitting there disappointed.
They are misleading customers. Stay well away—the price does not reflect the quality, and they know it. You would genuinely be better off in a tent outside.
I think that makes my position clear. If not, feel free to contact me directly with any questions or doubts—I’m always happy to help. But just in case it didn’t register the first time: run a mile.
