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Reviews of MainStay Suites Carlsbad South

3621 San Jose Blvd, Carlsbad, 88220, United States

#12 of 26 hotels in Carlsbad

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 74 hotel reviews

7.8

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.2

  • Comfort

    8.4

  • Location

    8.1

  • Facilities

    8.0

  • Staff

    8.3

  • Value for money

    7.9

  • Free Wifi

    9.2

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: March 16, 2025

    9.0
    Good option for a Carlsbad stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Queen Suite with Two Queen Beds - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The bathroom sliding door would not stay closed.

    The receptionist was friendly and able to give us good restaurant recommendations. The rooms were spacious with good kitchenette facilities. It was convenient to restaurants and the caverns.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: February 19, 2025

    7.0
    Nice place & good location but not clean
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    It stunk & the shower still had hair and oil in it

    How big the rooms were and how friendly staff was

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: December 31, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Need to improve breakfast options

    Hotel seems very new.

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: September 13, 2024

    8.0
    Overall was pleased with the stay as we were only in for one night.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Suite with Two Queen Beds - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The room was $200 but had no pool. I wish I would have read more closely because my kids expect a pool at every hotel. The gym was laughable. One treadmill, one bike, and one cable machine.

    Loved that there was a kitchen area with a cooktop, plus an outdoor seating area. The rooms were large and very comfortable. The breakfast had several cereals, waffles, muffins, hard boiled eggs, bread and English muffins, yogurt, juices and 24 hr coffee. If I had one suggestion it would be to add some more protien options.

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: June 19, 2024

    9.0
    Will stay again
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Great location from Carlsbad Caverns. Good variety for breakfast.

    Stayed in June 2024

  • Reviewed: April 23, 2024

    8.0
    My staying at Mainstay Hotel.8
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Light on kitchen was very pale, could be better if provide an Led light. Ac too freezing, I turn it off and then room comes to Hot, there is no way to be a comfy climate inside the room, Bathroom is nice but Will be better if it would have a place to put the soap,shampoo,and wash towel inside the shower. Shower floor looks old and dirty,I washed it before taking a Shower but didn't work! It wasn't dirty, just looks dirty.!!

    Very crean, bed is comforter enough to rest. Staff very friendly and helpful. Just becouse of the staff I Will come back.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: April 16, 2024

    9.0
    Perfect for extended stays and large groups.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Suite with Two Queen Beds - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Smell of cooking in the in the hallways during meal times (which is to be expected for an extended-stay hotel).

    Rooms were large and functional for extended stays (working cooktop!).

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: April 9, 2024

    7.0
    Nice visit to an area of the country we will probably never be back to. Very out of the way.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    NO pool/spa

    Easy to get to national parks

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: January 1, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The cleaning was OK. Carpets could have been cleaner, the elevator was grimey, there was garbage left near the elevator that was left more than one day. One utensil in the room was still covered in food and not washed.

    The location was very good. The room size was nice. The lobby and breakfast area were fantastic, clean, nicely decorated. Front desk staff is very pleasant.

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: October 14, 2023

    8.0
    Carlsbad Caverns getaway
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Efficiency King Suite - Accessible/Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Breakfast wasn’t much—cereal and toast.

    Proximity to the National parks was great. The room was large and had the things we needed for our weekend getaway to see the caverns. We were even able to grill steaks downstairs which was nice.

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: August 21, 2023

    7.0
    Great suite, perfect for a long stay
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Maybe not the perfect choice for a one night stop.

    Great suite, big room with small kitchen inside.

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: August 2, 2023

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Efficiency Suite with Two Queen Beds - Accessible/Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The carpet was spotted and stained in hallways

    The size of room....the kitchenette

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: May 26, 2023

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Efficiency King Suite - Accessible/Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Breakfast at 07.00 am.

    Great staff, comfortable beds, spacious quiet room with little kitchen big tv and nice shower! Short trip to National Parks!

    Stayed in May 2023

  • Reviewed: May 12, 2023

    8.0
    Nice modern place and good location
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Suite with Two Queen Beds - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 1 night

    Intended for longer stays so slightly $$ for a one-night stopover.

    Great staff, newer building and full-featured kitchenette rooms, good location.

    Stayed in May 2023

  • Reviewed: March 17, 2023

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The breakfast offered didn’t match the price of the stay.

    Friendly staff

    Stayed in March 2023

  • Reviewed: January 30, 2023

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Needs more lighting especially kitchen. A tube fluorescent light can be moved around which helped but still needs a couple more standing lamps. Not enough crockery and cutlery. 1 bowl, 1 cereal spoon, no teaspoons! Was told that's all they have. Staff did find me another bowl and teaspoon! Mainstay, Buy some more! Breakfast only cold cereal, yogurt, cold hard boiled egg, toast, apples. Perhaps a couple of hot items would make a big improvement. .

    Having 24 hr coffee etc! Lovely big room. Long counter for all our bags Bed wonderful Nice outdoor area and inside lounge area.

    Stayed in January 2023

  • Reviewed: October 5, 2022

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Suite with Two Queen Beds - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Breakfast was bland and didn’t provide tea bags.

    Great to have a full kitchen with full size refrigerator and microwave. Excellent for day trips to the National Parks.

    Stayed in October 2022

  • Reviewed: July 18, 2025

    1.0
    OVERCHARGED
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    We've stayed here several times. This time we were Charged for 3 days. We left after the first night. The manager would not credit back the 2 nights because we went through booking. Com. I called booking. Com and they talked to the manager. At first she said we stayed 3 days. Then she said since we booked with a 3rd party there was nothing she could do. 🙄 Booking said without her approval they could not credit $308. We had to pay $430 for 1 night! I am filing a dispute.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 17, 2025

    1.0
    Very Poor
    • Family with young children
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Overcharged.

    Overcharged.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: April 25, 2025

    10
    Great place to stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Efficiency King Suite - Accessible/Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Nothing to dislike.

    Great facilities in the room. Good breakfast.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 17, 2025

    10
    Nice proximity to the parks.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Nice proximity to the parks and in a great location of town. The continental breakfast had good variety. The first floor tile was always spotless and well-mopped. Room was clean and bed was comfortable. Spacious room and kitchenette. Glad to have recycling bins. Parking was plentiful and spacious also, even with all the bookings.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: March 31, 2025

    2.0
    Very Poor
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No daily room service 😣

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: March 21, 2025

    10
    I will definitely stay here again. Great price and location for all of the amenities!
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Efficiency King Suite - Accessible/Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 3 nights

    There were not very many channels on the tv. It would have been nice to have Netflix. The lights over the stove also did not work, which was ok because the overhead light was enough. Also, maybe add another treadmill in the fitness center.

    The room was very spacious and clean. The full size refrigerator and dishwasher were definitely a bonus too.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: March 16, 2025

    4.0
    Expensive for a mediocre hotel.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Suite - Non-Smoking
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    It was not near anything in the actual town of Carlsbad. No restaurants or anything. And being trapped in the room during a windstorm, let’s just say I’m glad I had gotten some groceries. The air conditioning unit on our floor was malfunctioning (?) and made a horrible noise like a reciprocating saw all day and all night. Which was only drowned out when the wind noise was even louder. When I asked to be moved I was told no by both the front desk and the manager and told that the “hotel was full” (it was not) and that they would not do anything for us. They clearly knew about the problem, discussing it in not so hushed tones over the phone. The towels were incredibly small. Someone previously had stolen the hair dryer and it had not been replaced. The dishes, while nice that they were provided were grimy and had to be washed. The microwave rattled as much as the air conditioning. The bed linens were kind of brown and dingy. I wish I had stayed elsewhere.

    It was close to the edge of town where the National Parks are.

    Stayed in March 2025

Showing 1 - 25

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