Clementine Hotel & Suites Anaheim

This mid-range condo-style complex consists of several buildings, with all guest rooms accessed from the outside. It’s a handsomely landscaped, well-maintained property, with lots of palms and other large trees that provide shade. The outdoor patio is a favorite gathering place, as groups of guests use the gas grills and tables for cookouts after their days of sightseeing. There are other comfortable places to relax outdoors, including the pool area that has lots of covered tables and two hot tubs. There’s no denying that this is a Disney family-centric hotel -- a large mural of the Disney castle adorns the wall next to the concierge desk where theme park tickets are sold. Bench sofas provide seating along one wall next to the large wooden front desk, but this is a functional space that's not made for lingering. The homey breakfast room off the lobby is a bit more inviting, with a fireplace and more Disney decorations.

The Residence Inn is located about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Disneyland Park and a four-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center. The Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) buses stop at the hotel and take about 21 minutes to get the convention center and 10 minutes to arrive at Disney’s main entrance. Numerous restaurants are within a brief walk of three minutes or less, and the Anaheim GardenWalk is five minutes away on foot. The Downtown Disney District and access to Interstate 5 are about seven to nine minutes away by car, while the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Honda Center, and the Outlets at Orange are five- to 10-minute drives. Sunset Beach, Newport Beach, and Knott’s Berry Farm are 20 to 30 minutes away, depending on traffic. Approximate driving times to the John Wayne Airport and LAX are about 15 and 45 minutes, respectively. 

The clean, apartment-like suites feature bright and contemporary decor, with bright whites and reddish brown offset by rich aqua blue details. All walls are painted chalk-white other than the aqua-blue accent walls. Beds with soft white duvets are topped with throw pillows with brown and blue squares. Even the abstract artwork picks up the blue and brown tones. All suites have brown upholstered sleeper sofas and orange armchairs. The four-person dining tables and cabinets in the fully equipped kitchens also have a reddish brown finish. Kitchens include a full-size fridge, stoves/ovens, sinks, dishwashers, microwaves, coffeemakers, toaster ovens, and cookware/utensils. The spacious suites come in four options and range in size from Studios (450 square feet or 42 square meters) to Two Bedroom Suites (800 square feet or 74 square meters) that have two bathrooms and can accommodate up to eight people. Most beds are queens, but the bi-level Penthouse Suites (700 square feet or 65 square meters) have kings in their loft bedrooms. The larger suites have gas fireplaces and separate living rooms. Standard amenities include 32-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, patios or balconies, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are pretty average and a bit small, but clean and well maintained. They feature large dark granite vanities and white tile framing the standard shower/tub combos. Some rooms have at least partial views of Disney and the fireworks, but most simply overlook the grounds. Guests report that second-floor rooms tend to be more insulated from the street-level noise, but the hotel is generally quiet at night.  

Vacationing families are the focus of this hotel, but business travelers on extended stays can also find the amenities package attractive. The hotel offers a free hot breakfast buffet that offers a variety of choices. The 24/7 marketplace also sells sundries, snacks, various food, and beverages including beer and wine. A free grocery-shopping service is also available, where food is delivered directly to the rooms and even placed in the refrigerators if needed. Local restaurants also deliver to the hotel, which has an outdoor patio with gas grills for guest use. The heated outdoor pool is a bit small for the size of the hotel, but it’s open 24/7 and there are plenty of lounge chairs and two adjacent hot tubs. Kids can make use of the outdoor playground with slides, while adults can utilize the tennis court that can be converted to play basketball or volleyball. The fitness center is small, with no weights and only two treadmills and an exercise bicycle. Other on-site amenities include guest laundry facilities, valet dry cleaning, and laundry services. A safe deposit box is at the front desk, where free newspapers and coffee/tea are offered. The front desk also sells Disney tickets. The business center has two computer stations with internet access and a printer. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the property. Parking is free and on-site, but it’s limited. Pets are welcome with a surcharge. While the hotel is nonsmoking, there are designated smoking areas outside. Please note that the rooms are accessed from exterior staircases, and there are no elevators to the second-floor rooms.