Oxford Suites Pismo Beach

The Oxford Suites has a bit more character than the typical mid-range hotel near a highway. The hotel is housed in a two-floor white building with arches, blue doors, and red trim, and the high-ceilinged lobby features tile floors, wood furniture, floral-print armchairs, and rich colors of red, burnt orange, and brown. Art and decorative objects have a hint of Spanish Colonial style to complete the look. Guests spend much of their time outdoors at the nearby beach or here at the freeform swimming pool, surrounded by a landscaped deck with sun loungers. The hotel draws mostly leisure travelers, and with its kids’ pool, spacious suites, and pet-friendly policy, it's particularly popular with families. 

The Oxford Suites is right off the U.S. Highway 101's entry and exit ramp, a little more than a five-minute walk from the James Way @ 4th Street NB bus stop. A few restaurants and a supermarket is within walking distance, and Pismo Beach Premium Outlets shopping center is a 10-minute stroll. At a little more than a five-minute drive from downtown Pismo Beach, with its beach, shops, and dining, the hotel isn’t as conveniently located as some other area properties. The Oxford Suites is also a five-minute drive or 45 minutes by bus from Pismo Preserve (features hiking and mountain biking trails), Shell Beach, and Dinosaur Caves Park atop oceanfront bluffs. The tree-filled Monarch Butterfly Grove is five minutes by car or 35 minutes by bus from the hotel. The center of San Luis Obispo is a 15-minute drive or 40-minute bus ride. Grover Beach Station is five minutes by car or 35 minutes by bus. San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is a little more than a 10-minute drive from the hotel, or a little more an hour by a combination of train and bus from Grover Beach and San Luis Obispo stations.

All 133 guest rooms are suites come in various configurations. While they feature quality materials -- granite countertops, wood flooring and furniture -- the suites have a slightly bland look, with traditional decor that's a bit dated. Still, units are comfortable and fairly spacious, with thick mattresses and living areas with sofa beds. They're also very well-equipped, with AC, two flat-screen TVs, with the living room TVs featuring DVD players, mini-fridges, sinks, microwaves, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are spacious and come with hairdryers and shower/tub combos. Hearing highway traffic is generally not a problem, but noise from kids and pets in the hallways and around the pool can sometimes be an issue.

The Oxford Suites has a nice lineup of amenities for a hotel in its category. It features a year-round heated outdoor swimming pool that's freeform in shape and fairly sizable, but it’s a bit smaller than the pools at some similarly rated hotels in the area. There's also a hot tub and children's pool sharing the area. No on-site restaurant is perhaps the hotel's biggest drawback, but a breakfast buffet is offered free of charge that gets favorable reviews from previous guests for its ample spread of hot eggs, sausage or bacon, pancakes or French toast, and range of cold items. The Oxford Suites is one of the few hotels in the area to host a free evening reception (except on Sundays), with beer, wine, soft drinks, and light fare such as salads and chips and salsa. Each guest receives two free drinks, with additional drinks for purchase. Outdoor seating is available for both the breakfast and reception, and there are also barbecue grills on-site for guests to use. The on-site fitness center is small has limited equipment that includes weight and cardio machines and free weights, but the there's no natural light. Other amenities include a meeting room with catering, business center, 24-hour front desk, free on-site parking, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Up to two pets per suite are allowed for a per-pet, per-stay fee. Guests with mobility issues should note that the hotel is in a two-floor building with no elevator.