Comfort Inn Half Moon Bay

If you’re looking for a beachfront property, this isn’t it. But with its neat beige and dark green exterior accented with columns of smooth stone, the Comfort Inn Half Moon Bay reflects its environment: sand, eucalyptus, and beach. A wall of windows brightens the lobby/breakfast room, and patio tables announce that outdoor living is the point here. The space is pleasant and light-filled if not high design, with wood floors and marble countertops; rolling library chairs surround breakfast tables. Mission-style armchairs front a small stone fireplace, a nod to the fact that this isn’t southern California: days can be foggy and chilly. Three well-maintained two-story buildings hold clean, well-appointed guest rooms. Note that there are no elevators and buildings are motel-style.

The Comfort Inn Half Moon Bay is located on busy Highway 1 south of San Francisco and 1/4 mile from the Pacific Ocean (the salty sea air reaches this location, but there are no beach views). Set in a commercial strip, the motel is largely surrounded by a neat residential area, and a car is the only practical way to get here. It takes eight minutes to drive to the eateries and browse-able shops of compact and pleasant downtown Half Moon Bay. Four good contiguous beaches -- Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, and Francis Beach -- are a five-minute drive away. The Coastal Trail, which runs alongside the beaches and offers panoramic coastal views, is a 12-minute walk from the hotel. Two popular restaurants take less than five minutes to reach on foot; otherwise there’s not much within walking distance. The drive to San Francisco takes 35 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic, and San Francisco International Airport is 25 to 30 minutes away by car.

Guest rooms at the Comfort Inn are surprisingly stylish for this price point: cherry Scandinavian furnishings and soothing earth tones offset with smart gold touches elevate the rooms above your average motel aesthetic. Crisp white linens top comfortable beds, and bathrooms are clean and functional, if a bit snug. Complimentary toiletries top roomy vanities that sit outside the bathroom door; hairdryers and swing-arm magnifying mirrors hang on the striped wall. Bathrooms have basic white tile, nondescript oatmeal wallpaper, and shower/tub combos. Each room has a 40-inch plasma TV, but digital clock radios scream “dated,” and the in-room Wi-Fi can be spotty and frustratingly slow. All rooms have mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers, as well as workstations with cherry-colored desks and leather office chairs. Longer-term guests might consider the king suite, which has a full kitchen (including full-size refrigerator) and in-room laundry facilities; unfortunately for families, it only sleeps two. Otherwise, rooms sleep three (king plus hideaway couch) or four (two doubles), but all have adjoining doors, making for easy reconfiguration. Due to the motel's highway location, rooms at the back tend to be quieter.

For a two-pearl property, this Comfort Inn offers the expected amenities for its budget status, plus a few surprising perks. The free hot breakfast here is more than sufficient, with make-your-own waffles, eggs, sausage and bacon, yogurt, fresh fruit, and cereal. A nice bonus is the fitness room, the size of a guest room, with cardio equipment -- treadmill, cross trainer, exercise bike -- and a TV to watch while you work out. There’s ample free parking, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the motel, though some guests complain of slowness and spotty coverage. Fax and copy services are available for a fee, as is the Mavericks meeting room, named for the local extreme surfing competition.