Another trip means another excuse to stay in a hotel. This time we’re providing you with a Motel 6 San Pedro review, our choice for an overnight stay before sailing on Island Princess. The Motel 6 San Pedro is one of a handful of pre-cruise hotel choices for passengers departing from the nearby Los Angeles Word Cruise Center.
Here’s what we thought.
Key data
Cost: £54.00 (Booking.com)
Fair cost: £54.00
Breakfast: Not available
Rating: 4 out of 5
How accurate are the website photos? Variable
Motel 6 operates its own loyalty program, offering exclusive discounts and savings. Might be worth checking out before booking a room through an aggregator.
Location
The Motel 6 San Pedro is located at:
354 W Ninth St,
San Pedro,
CA 90731
This means it is just 1.2 miles from the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Terminal – and ~20 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Lowdown
We chose Motel 6 San Pedro purely because of its proximity to the LA World Cruise Terminal. There are not many hotels in the area and this one fit squarely within our budget-to-distance preference.
There are hotels slightly closer to the cruise port. There’s the Crowne Plaza on South Palos Verdes Street (too expensive) and the Portside Inn & Suites (too many negative reviews) for instance.
Article continues after the jump…
Note that the pictures of Motel 6 San Pedro exterior shown on Booking.com are massively inaccurate. We’re fairly sure they are of a completely different property.
Check-in
Check-in was relatively smooth – once we had managed to lug all of our suitcases upon the stairs into the lobby. We were handed a single keycard along with strict instructions to keep it away from our cellphones.
Realising that we had been allocated a room on the upper floor, I asked if there was anything available at ground level. Unfortunately, the hotel was fully booked, so all of our luggage had to be carried up another flight of stairs.
Top tip: Motel 6 San Pedro operates a 24-hour desk, so even if your flight arrives in the middle of the night, you can still check-in.
Bedroom
The bedroom itself is quite small. There’s a double bed, a desk and chair, and an alcove for storing luggage.
Our bed was excellent. Not too hard, not too soft, and fitted with clean, crisp linen. Just what we needed after an 11 hour flight from London.
There is a small chest of drawers on both sides of the bed. The bedside tables also feature USB charging ports which is convenient. A small, wall-mounted air conditioning unit can be used to cool the room, but it is very, loud. We didn’t bother.
Overall, the room was clean and comfortable. Perfect for a one night stay.
Bathroom
The bathroom is quite narrow, with a toilet at one end and a shower section opposite, with a sink in between. There’s not a lot of room to move, but then it’s not like you’re going to be having a party in there.
We’ve been left two towels, two flannels and two bars of cheap soap.
The shower itself is a stunning surprise. Hot, powerful and seemingly unaffected by water pressure issues, it’s a fantastic way to start the next day.
Parking
Unusually for a motel, there are no dedicated parking spaces at the Motel 6 San Pedro. You may be able to find a gap out front on the street if you are lucky.
Accessibility
Sadly, the Motel 6 San Pedro scores a flat zero for accessibility. To access the property you must climb a flight of stairs. There is also no lift inside the motel, nor any accessible bathrooms.
If you cannot climb a flight of stairs, this is not the hotel for you.
Food
There is no on-site restaurant at the Motel 6. There is a bodega across the road that is open late if you fancy a snack.
Otherwise, we recommend the Happy Diner. They have a huge menu and everything is cooked fresh to order. They also open early – perfect for breakfast!
The diner is just a short, two block walk away.
Other accommodation options in San Pedro
There are a couple of accommodation options in San Pedro near the World Cruise Terminal, with something for every budget.
Can you walk from Motel 6 to the Los Angeles Wold Cruise Terminal?
Our number one priority was choosing a hotel near the Los Angeles World Cruise Center. At 1.2 miles, the Motel 6 San Pedro was exactly what we wanted.
The walk from Motel 6 San Pedro to the cruise port takes us about 30 minutes. You simply turn left out of the motel and follow the street to then end. Turn left when you can see the palm trees overlooking the port and follow the street down a gentle slope to South Harbor Boulevard and keep heading north.
We crossed the boulevard and walked along the waterfront which is probably the nicest part of San Pedro. This gives you a chance to admire the Battleship USS Iowa and any other cruise ships that may be in port.
Then it was a short detour across the port carpark and into the terminal building proper. I did manage to shred two suitcase wheels on the way, but this more an indictment of IT Luggage than the journey itself.
Top tip: The sidewalks (pavements) between the Motel and the port are fairly well maintained so the journey isn’t too bad for scooter users (or anyone pulling heavy luggage).
Motel 6 San Pedro Review – Final Rating
Motel 6 San Pedro is basic, functional and frankly, nothing special. But then it never pretended to be.
Seasoned cruisers may be put off by the lack of amenities, but if you’re just looking for a place to stay the night before your cruise, the San Pedro Motel 6 may just fit the bill.
The way to the terminal is easy, but there are plenty of rideshare options available if you prepare. San Pedro is not the most exciting or photogenic city, but it was good to see a little bit of LA given how short our stay was.
Things to do in San Pedro
If, unlike us, you arrive in San Pedro with time to kill, there are a few nearby activities to enjoy. Alternatively, jump on a J Line bus and head north, back into the city…
Battleship Iowa Museum Ticket
Step aboard the legendary Battleship IOWA, famously known as the “Battleship of Presidents,” and discover what life was like for the sailors who once served aboard this mighty vessel. Your visit begins with a warm welcome on the quarterdeck and a safety briefing before exploring the ship’s sweeping decks. From the graceful, narrow bow to the towering 16-inch Mark 7 gun barrels, the ship’s sheer presence offers a glimpse into the power and history of America’s naval might.
As you make your way through the decks, you’ll step inside the captain’s cabin and see fascinating details such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unique bathtub—the first of its kind aboard a US Navy vessel—specially fitted during his wartime stay. On the higher levels, explore the flag bridge and conning tower, the only armoured one among her class, before moving aft to view imposing replicas of modern 20mm Phalanx guns. Finally, stroll the vast fantail on the main deck, taking in the scale of this floating fortress that once hosted presidents and countless sailors.
To enhance your self-guided experience, the museum provides free use of its award-winning mobile app, complete with rich historical content, as well as a fun scavenger hunt led by the ship’s canine mascot, Vicky the Dog. With immersive storytelling at every turn, your visit to the Battleship IOWA combines history, heritage, and hands-on exploration—an unmissable experience for cruise ship visitors docking in Los Angeles.
Book now
LA City Highlights Tour with Cruise Terminal Pickup
Make the most of your time ashore with a full-day guided tour of Los Angeles, taking in the city’s most iconic sights from Hollywood to the Pacific Coast. Collected from your cruise terminal in Long Beach or San Pedro at 9:00 am—with your luggage in tow—you’ll travel in comfort aboard a minibus or van while your guide offers fascinating commentary along the way. The day begins at Exposition Park, home to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the only stadium to have hosted the Summer Olympics twice. From there, journey through Downtown LA to admire its mix of historic architecture and modern culture, before heading up towards Griffith Park for fantastic views of the Hollywood Sign.
A stop along Hollywood Boulevard places you in the heart of Tinseltown, where you’ll walk the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and see legendary landmarks like Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Dolby (Kodak) Theatre—home of the Oscars—and the glamorous Roosevelt Hotel. For lunch, soak up retro Americana at Mel’s Diner, a 1950s-style classic that also appeared in George Lucas’ American Graffiti. Afterwards, ride in style through Beverly Hills, passing world-famous Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, where luxury boutiques and celebrity sightings are never far away.
The tour then trades city glamour for California’s coastal charm, stopping at Santa Monica Beach at the end of Route 66 before continuing to Venice Beach. Here, you can stroll the legendary boardwalk, bustling with performers, artists, and one-of-a-kind stalls. At the conclusion of your day, you’ll be dropped off at your choice of locations: back to your cruise terminal, hotels in Long Beach, San Pedro, LAX or Santa Monica, or directly at LAX Airport itself. It’s the perfect way to see the very best of Los Angeles in comfort and style while making the most of your stopover.
Book now
Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cruise
This one is perfect for when you don’t have a lot of time before embarkation. Set sail on a fascinating 45-minute boat tour of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest harbour in the Western Hemisphere and a vital hub of global trade. As you cruise through the bustling waterways, you’ll take in spectacular views of the mighty Battleship USS Iowa, towering cargo ships from around the world, and playful California sea lions basking in the sun. Your guide will share stories of the port’s rich history and its key role in connecting Los Angeles to the world.
Departing from the Town Square Public Slip—right next to the iconic San Pedro Fish Market—this short excursion is the perfect pre- or post-meal adventure. Glide past the brand-new West Harbor development, admire the striking Los Angeles Harbor Lighthouse, and see Pier 400, the world’s largest container terminal, up close.
Along the way, you’ll also learn about the port’s forward-thinking sustainability initiatives, from reducing emissions with clean electrical power to preserving marine habitats. With its mix of maritime history, wildlife encounters, and modern innovation, this compact tour offers cruise visitors an engaging and scenic introduction to the beating heart of Los Angeles’ waterfront.
Book now
Article continues after the jump…
Please note that we use sponsored links on this blog. Although we may earn a referral fee or bonus points on some of these products and services mentioned, we never recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves.
Check out our full Affiliate Disclosure Policy for more info.
The post Motel 6 San Pedro Review appeared first on Journey into Darkness.
