The Solo Scale:

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It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting San Juan Capistrano for work or for pleasure. Either way, you’re going to need a place to rest your head. The Inn at the Mission is a Marriott property, though it lives in one of their pricier brackets. However, you really get what you pay for. This goes for both location (proximity to the mission which it takes its name from) and quality.

When you arrive to check-in, you’ll receive a few things in addition to your room (depending on the type of booking). For my booking, I received a restaurant credit and tickets to the Mission next door to use. The restaurant credit was incredibly useful for ordering breakfast as room service. Seeing as I wanted to visit the Mission, that was a fantastic perk. If you drove, there is valet parking as well as self-park, but both will be available for a fee.

Outside the lobby is a small courtyard area where you can sit, eat, and drink. If you’re there on a business trip (as I was), it was a great place to take calls.

The lobby itself is rustic and very much takes from Californian-style decoration. Like many higher-end hotels, they use scent in their lobbies to convey an attachment to the hotel. Just like other hotels, it instantly puts you in a mood of peace and calm, and really does elevate the quality of your stay. Once you check in, you’ll have access to your room.

The rooms aren’t overly large, but serve the purpose. The hotel is surrounded by roads, so there isn’t much of a view. Each room is furnished beautifully and spacious. The beds are very comfortable and the air-conditioning and other amenities are top-notch. Wi-fi is in the hotel price and had great speeds.

The bathroom is where you’ll find all the extra space, not to mention some of the more ornate decorations. You can request an accessible room, otherwise there’s a walk-in shower with provided amenities. The water pressure was great and the provided soaps, shampoos, and conditioners smelled heavenly and were a higher quality than anything you’ll get at a Holiday Inn.

In terms of location, you’re close enough to walk to stores like Target and restaurants. It’s a bit of a hike towards the downtown bar & restaurant district, but you could still do it with a pair of comfortable shoes.

As far as what to see? Right next door is the San Juan Capistrano Mission. You may even get free tickets to visit when you check in, which is a great incentive to go check it out. It’s only a few hundred metres away and it’s a great way to spend the afternoon. You can also keep walking a little to find great restaurants and lunch spots for a quick bite.

I absolutely give this hotel five stars for its comfort, placement, and amenities. It’s a bit on the higher side (no Holiday Inn prices here), but you get the value out of it. If you’re headed to Southern California and need a place to stay, I highly recommend Inn at the Mission.

Check their website for availability and prices if you’re interested.

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