Arena Hotel

Don’t let the sketchy reviews scare you off

This is no luxury hotel, as the price and photos should make clear. But the worst reviews here make it seem like a cesspool, and that is absurd. It’s a solid, basic hotel that offered everything we needed for our two night stay. The hotel was booked solid - they even had a sign up saying so, because so many people came in hoping to get a room - yet we were disturbed only briefly, by some guys playing midnight hacky-sack outside our window, and then again when they returned to their room (which was near ours). The hotel is in a neighborhood that is in the process of revitalization - there are a few empty buildings, but no scary people. Pros: * drugstore right next door, * a handful of decent dining choices in walking distance * a five minute walk will get you to the HP Pavilion. * free parking (they even gave us a parking pass for the friend who met us there) Cons: * smoking rooms on the same floor as non-smoking rooms - the elevator and hallways smell like smoke. * an outside smoking section directly outside the main entrance. * we had to drive to find a Jamba Juice

It’s hard to find anything open late. Even the area Subway’s close between 9:00 and 10:30, so be prepared with in-room snacks if you’re nocturnal. Turn to the right as you walk away from the hotel, walk a few blocks and find: a great used bookstore, several coffee shops, a few restaurants (Pomodoro, Chipotle, a sushi place, and, around the corner, a Subway and more coffee shops). Cross the street that’s almost directly outside the hotel and walk 3/4 miles through a pleasant neighborhood to reach a greasy/tasty pizza/Mexican joint with a good beer prices and selection, and big screen TVs.

Awesome Hotel

The hotel was awesome. It had complimentary dinner and breakfast which tasted great. It was conveniently located near downtown and the HP Pavilion and the staff was friendly and helpful. I would recommend this hotel to anyone.

Old-Fashioned Luxury at a Value Price

I stayed here for a few days while at a conference in San Jose. The hotel is hidden from the road by a brick wall, and that plus the unremarkable neighborhood (not unsafe, just not upscale) caused me to expect a run-down motel. Instead, I discovered a lovely, almost tropical-looking courtyard and an interior that I can only describe as "cruise ship" (lots of brass and accent lighting). For the money, my room was awesome: king-size bed, included wireless Internet, kitchenette (included stovetop, microwave and fridge) and a jacuzzi tub (would fit two easily) in the bathroom. I should also mention the included breakfast AND dinner, which were really not bad at all for no extra charge (e.g., breakfast included srambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, as well as the standard toast and cereal, and dinner was a take-it-or-leave-it single item like steak stir-fry). It had the feel of a place that was the epitome of luxury in the 80s and which decided to just stick with what it did best and not to modernize. I felt very at home there and would return in a heartbeat.