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October 2023 by Crystal Shaffer
It was a nice stay! Perfect view! We didn’t get room service while we stayed, but they were on it with the towels and such! I wish the sink would’ve been in the bathroom, or maybe the bathroom a little bigger but it was very nice! I loved the fact you didn’t have to go through to get to your room.
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October 2023 by Sean Kendig
Rooms are musty, mattresses are unbearable to sleep on, pillows and sheets must be as old as the hotel and super gross. I can overlook pretty much anything in a cheap hotel, but the linens are non negotiable and must be fresh/bleached/starched/tight fitting. I wouldn't use those sheets on my dog's bed. We slept fully clothed and declined to stay the second night which was already paid for and non-refundable. We stayed at the Americana motor lodge a few blocks up earlier this year for the same price and didn't have these issues like the Sahara.
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October 2023 by June By
Under new management is the reason for the current rating. Previous management and customer service was great! New management has not managed customer service very well. Time to replace linen, and small refrigerators. Two rooms had to have the microwaves replaced. Also, ALL Rooms should have an ice bucket. I don't think new management took inventory regarding upgrading. Spent all weekend trying to access the wi fi. In all fairness though, maintenance responded accordingly when called. Front desk is lacking and absolutely no security presence. The most excellent feature is the Sahara Cafe...best breakfast place in OC! We have been coming for years and our group is growing, but this year is causing us to consider another location.
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October 2023 by Tabitha Walden
My husband and I had not been to OC for over 15 years. This week we brought our 10 and 8 year olds for the first time, came with my parents. It was an amazing few days! We saw beautiful sun rises, rainbows, dozens of dolphins, and a motorcycle "parade" to remember 9/11, all from our balcony. The staff were friendly, professional, and kind. We had amazing food at the cafe. Room was clean and comfy.
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October 2023 by Ashley G.
Great location, friendly staff! Our AC stopped working the first day & they replaced the entire unit within like 20 minutes. This hotel has TWO pools & a nice lil shared balcony outside your rooms. We stayed in the furthest building from the beach but it was still like a minute walk away. The only issue really during our stay was how musty the room smelled but it wasn't enough to make the 3 of us hate the place. We would 1000% book here again
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September 2023 by Sha B
Room smelled like mold and A/C filter was not changed for a long time. Asked for them to spray the room to help with the smell and did not get any assistance. Had them clean the a/Ccfilter by taking it to them to clean. If you don't want to get sick on your vac I'd avoid this place. Sad part is the old owners took pride. The new recent owners seem to be money hungry. Most of the old staff left ?
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September 2023 by Brittany Keith
Yes, the rooms are outdated. But you are at the beach, for the beach not the room! It does the job for what you pay! I’ve been staying here for 3 years now and love it! I have never had a dirty room or terrible experience. Recently stayed here in July 2023 and will be coming back here this week in august 2023. Pearl, the housekeeper we had in July was AMAZING. You can tell she takes pride in her job! Always made sure our room was clean and fully stocked.
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September 2023 by C W
The space was overpriced for what we got. The double beds are small. The bathroom is very small and you could not even get changed in the bathroom. The room was labeled as an ocean view but that is a lie. I could not see the ocean out the window. I had to go out onto the balcony and in the very corner if you look on an angle you can see the ocean. I do not recommend this place at all. The TV channels were awful and very limited. I know you don't go to the beach to watch TV but in the evening before bed it is nice to just sit and watch a TV show. The only positive for this place was the location next to the boardwalk and beach.
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September 2023 by Wayne Shirk
Had this review been written a year ago I would’ve given 5 stars across the board. In late 2022 Sahara was bought by a new owner. This year, 2023, we could tell the new owner/management/staff really only care about the money. I’ve been coming here for a decade and this is the first time I was disappointed. Rude staff (yelling at guests, parking their cars in guest’s parking spots and handicap spots), dirty rooms and walkways (looks like dried up puke stains all over walkways), trash all over the property (broken bottles in parking lot where you have to walk, trash in the bushes) and the price jacked up sky high. The new owner is trashing the Sahara’s reputation. This is the last time my family will stay here. What a shame
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September 2023 by Jose Master
rooms smelled like straight cigarettes. Bed sheets are so old they feel like sand paper from being washed so much. Ac was loud and barely worked. this motel is way too dated, should be knocked down and redone. location though is great, literally on the boardwalk.Walkability: on the boardwalkFood & drinks: their cafe was actually good
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September 2023 by raylynj2023
Super clean, super affordable! We love it every year. The prices increased a bit but that expected. Still can't beat the price. Rooms were clean, property and pool clean. Housekeeping great. Office staff great.They changed the name and have kept the same great place to stay. We will be back again and again. Also, they sold Jolly Roger discount cards this year! Close to the beach and so much to do within walking distance.
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September 2023 by TommyB556
I think it's time to move on. I understand the Sahara has recently changed ownership. We've been staying at the Sahara for around 30 years. The prices have gone up 80% this year with the new ownership. I didn't mind too much because they were still in line with other motels in the area. However, with the price increase I was hoping this year I would see some very much needed updating. There was nothing new other than now offering some very weak coffee in the office, LOL. In fact what stood out to my wife and me this year was the uncleanliness and out right dirtiness of the place. What bothered me most was the state of the entire motel. The previous owner, while not doing any updating, at least kept the place clean, not the new ownership. The trash cans in the pool area were overflowing for three days and there was a black moldy eaten corn cob in the pool area for days. Ice buckets in the room are no longer offered. Mattresses are so old, lumpy and noisy. Toilet seats are peeling finish. AC units have so much dust on the filters I don't know how any air comes through. Carpets have been in these rooms for many years smell of mold and should be replaced. We've been staying in the same room for most of our thirty years and this is the first year we were not able to get any hot water in our room in the morning hours. It doesn't matter how long we left it run, it just didn't get hot. The ice machine on 1 west does not work properly. Even on a cooler day it produces only wet chipped ice. The previous owner had all night security patrolling, this ownership does not. I hate to move on to another motel but the Sahara is just not habitable for us any longer.
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August 2023 by M9677DOashleyw
Great location, friendly staff! Our AC stopped working the first day & they replaced the entire unit within like 20 minutes. This hotel has TWO pools & a nice lil shared balcony outside your rooms. We stayed in the furthest building from the beach but it was still like a minute walk away. The only issue really during our stay was how musty the room smelled but it wasn’t enough to make the 3 of us hate the place. We would 1000% book here again
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August 2023 by Hillary P.
Best part about this motel is the location! Everything was in walking distance to the boardwalk and shops on the main drag. Room: First day it smelled moldy and musty. We brought spray with us anyways so we barely smelled it the days we were there. Bedding is outdated and basically a fitted sheet, sheet and comforter. Pillows were comfy AF. Bring your own pillow and blanket. BALCONY facing ocean, not what we paid for would have liked the full oceanfront room as requested. Cleaning service was nice and friendly accommodating to our needs. Pool: our little one loved it! Minus the teenagers acting fowl without adult supervision on our last day it was wonderful to cool down after the beach.
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August 2023 by 682shab
The room smelled like mold so bad. Asked for them to clean room again and spray disinfectant and clean the A/C filter that looked like it never was changed. Only thing that got clean wad the A/C filter and that was because We took it to a guy and he used a broom on ot. SO, CHECK YOUR A/C FILTER if you don't want to get sick on your vac!
