Ayres Hotel, Anaheim

Hotel in Anaheim CA near Disneyland…

What kind of California family would we be if we didn’t make an occasional trip to visit Disneyland? Since it can take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours to drive from the SF Bay Area to L.A., staying at a hotel for at least one night is a must. Last week, we had the pleasure of staying at the Ayres Hotel in Anaheim (pronounced AIRs) during our time down in SoCal.

The location was perfect as it was central to many popular attractions. It was easy to find and in a good area. ART (local transit) stopped right in front of the hotel and Disneyland was only a quick 15-minute ride. Plus, since parking at the hotel was free, it was less expensive for us to take this than to park at Disneyland itself. We also noticed that it was very quiet despite being near a freeway.

While this hotel has reasonable rates (about $130/night), it is far from what would be considered a ‘budget’ hotel. The property appeared well-maintained, there was free wi-fi, airconditioning worked great, and a full breakfast was included for each of us. There’s also a pool and fitness room but we were too busy to use either.

Everyone we met at the front desk was friendly and helpful. Only the cook at breakfast each morning was curt and seemed to be irritated by people in general, especially children.

The hotel was designed to reflect a European style. It seemed out of place for the area but it was a nice contrast to the theme parks we had been visiting. Though the lobby area was a bit overwhelming, the rest of the decor kind of grew on me 🙂 We especially enjoyed the artwork found throughout, even in the hallways. My husband and daughter decided the ‘ship’ one pictured below was their favorite.

What first struck us was how clean the hotel and room were. Everything was placed just so and it seemed the cleaning crew paid special attention to the little details of making the room comfortable. We couldn’t nit-pick if we tried as everything was in good order. Even the sheets were soft and smelled clean. We always had enough towels and pillows too.

It was great having the sink outside the toilet and shower area, especially with three of us getting ready in the morning. The shower/tub was extra wide and roomy and there was good water pressure. We did have to adjust the temperature quite often but the water never got scalding hot or freezing cold.

The Executive Double Queen room we stayed in had a partition in the middle. It gave us the privacy and flexibility of having our own space without physically having a separate bedroom. Usually, when we are all in the same hotel room, our daughter acts like it’s a sleepover and tries to talk and giggle all night long. This time, I was able to work on one side while she fell fast asleep on the other. She also woke up happier since she slept so well – win-win!

Our side of the room had a higher ceiling with bright inset lights that simulated a skylight. It seemed oddly placed, as if it was an afterthought, but it made our space seem more open.

The custom ‘Ayres Dream Sleeper double pillow-top beds’ were so comfy. We slept great and had no back pain – I only wish I had one at home! Each evening, we couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel to wind down and relax.

What we really enjoyed was the view from our room. Not only did we see a beautiful sunset (we never wake up early enough to see the sunrise), but we were also able to watch the Disneyland fireworks.

I would definitely stay at the Ayres Hotel in Anaheim again. My family and I spent FOUR nights there yet we were comfortable and cozy the whole time. It’s not often that you can get such a nice rest at a hotel but once you stay here, you won’t want to leave!

The Ayres Hotel generously hosted our stay so I may conduct an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own..