Hotel Arcata

A very dated hotel. It opened in 1915 and honestly looks it. I wish I looked at other reviews. ||Staff was friendly. I will say my bed was very comfortable. Room was clean. Bathroom was old. Door opened right into toilet. Thank goodness there was a ceiling fan just to move the air around. There are several restaurants around the plaza. Which I think is why I may have chosen this place. Street people. Not much parking.

I had read the reviews prior to booking so I was not terribly surprised. The hotel is in a great location and does have that old aged feel to it. The claw foot tub was a surprise and although I am very able bodied, it could have been a disaster if they hadn't installed grab bars. The first front desk staff member we encountered seemed less than thrilled to be there. Maybe I gave off a bad vibe, but I think we were given the worst room in the hotel. It was literally over the garbage/recycling cans which at random times throughout the night became a loud gathering/rummaging place. That along with the domestic dispute going on somewhere outside, I didn't sleep a wink. Oh, and as others have mentioned the bed is a full size. My family travels to Arcata frequently. I will give the hotel one more shot, assuming I just had the one bad room. I really want to like it.

This hotel has a lot of old charm, but old does not mean comfort. There is no AC and no fridge in the hotel room. The noise outside the hotel is RIDICULOUS due to thin windows and again, no AC so you need to crack a window for some breeze. If you’re a light to medium sleeper, be prepared to be up all night listening to cars, horns, people yelling in the street, slamming doors, revving engines, blaring music, etc.. and this was a weeknight, so I can’t imagine a weekend. Open windows will also bring in all the cigarette and weed smells from the street. ALL NIGHT. Also, I know this place is a classic, “vintage” place, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dirty. It looks like the bathroom tub and sink haven’t been cleaned well in decades. If you need rest, this is not the place for it. Had we been staying here more than one night, we would have left to stay somewhere else. It is a good location for downtown, but in my opinion, I’d rather stay somewhere else for some decent sleep and comfort.

I spent 4 nights at the hotel and everyday was a delight. The front desk staff was exceptional. The room was lovely with the old hotel charm. Felt like stepping back in time while providing all the modern amenities anyone could ask for. Everything went smoothly from making the initial reservation to checking out. Will be staying again on my next trip to Arcata.

The hotel and rooms are lovely and reflect the rich history of the building and town square. The location could not have been better. We arrived Friday night and found a great rock and roll band playing at Thw Basement on the square under Havana's Cuban Restaurant. Saturday morning we awoke to find an amazing Farmer's Market throughout the Square. We had a fantastic breakfast at The Big Blue Cafe in the square.

Our Native American friend came in late the night we were staying there and didn't have his phone on him. He asked for our room number and was immediately treated with suspicion and disrespect, (the hotel worker actually kept shining a flashlight in his face while he was trying to talk). Things escalated and the hotel called the cops on him. While I was checking out the next day I wanted to express my concern for how my friend was treated. Sherri, the manager I was speaking with, confirmed she knew of the incident and reacted defensively and immediately kicked me out of the hotel. This was because I said the word "racism". My composure was calm and I was being mindful with how I addressed my concern of racism. While I understand why the hotel would not give our room number to a complete stranger, this was NOT the case because he knew our names and was with us when we checked in earlier. I truly feel my friend would not have been treated the was he did if he had lighter toned skin. After Sherri yelled at me saying she wasn't racist, she then followed me to the front of the hotel and made gestures from behind the glass door while we were putting our luggage in the car. (She actually flipped us off). So if you care about people of color being treated fairly...please don't go here. These people are horrible. In response to Hotel Arcata's reply: I remember very clearly what happened, so go a head and gaslight me if that will help you sleep at night. I approached the situation in a non-confrontational manner and was met with defensiveness and denial. At some point in your life I hope you can set aside your privileged ego and attempt to put yourself in my friend's shoes. Intoxicated or not, he would have been treated differently if he looked like a white, middle or upper class man. I believe you know this to be true, otherwise you wouldn't have reacted in the way that you did.

What a great hotel in the heart of Arcata!! Staff was amazing, the first day we were there it started to rain and they loaned us umbrellas for our stay! Cute breakfast area and good coffee, which is always a must! Looking forward to staying there again.

Wow! I’ve never been kicked out of a hotel before, just for associating with a friend who’s Native American and with my spouse calmly and respectfully bringing up our concern about a staff member’s racist treatment of our friend who had been trying to visit us there the night before. I’m really glad we had already checked out and packed up. I walked up to the counter to understand what happened and got a finger to my face and a “GET OUT, NOW.” Some people hear the word “racism” and fly into a rage and try to get rid of you, even if you’re a nice family visiting from out of the area. Avoid Hotel Arcata if you have brown skin or have brown people you love and care about. **Update** Hotel Arcata’s 8/11 response to my review shows that they’ve refused to honestly address what occurred and have completely taken the side of their employees who displayed disgraceful behavior to my family and our friend. My spouse has posted a separate review detailing their experience in being yelled at and kicked out by your employee Sherri, as well as the account our friend shared with us from the night before when a suspicious employee shined a light in his face and refused to help him find our room. My family is respectful in our interactions and never has incidents like this occur, so Hotel Arcata’s account is a complete distortion of what happened, and this was a shocking experience for us. All my spouse did to be verbally attacked and banned from Hotel Arcata was to calmly bring up the incident and our concern of racial bias. Sherri refused to have a calm, rational discussion and instead went into a rage, sent my spouse and our child out of the hotel, and (in a very professional manner) flipped us off through the window. I was similarly yelled at and kicked out for simply walking in and approaching the counter. We were pretty shaken and upset and informed some folks coming up to the hotel that we’d experienced an issue with racism there (we were not yelling at other guests). Sherri’s reaction was simply horrid and unacceptable. The hotel could have heard our concern and investigated the incident, but some people flip out when someone brings up the potential for racism. A different employee who had actually been understanding and compassionate told me that the employee in the original incident was “on edge” from being attacked in the past, which tells this employee has the potential for reactivity and bias when identifying who he perceives as a threat. It’s a conversation Hotel Arcata needs to have with themselves. Racism, even if subconscious, is too prevalent in this country and, sadly, in Arcata.

Location is convenient walking distance to numerous restaurants, bars, shopping in Arcata. It's an old hotel, so it's gonna have some quirks, and features, uncommon to newer/chain establishments. The parking is actually very convenient, despite somewhat confusing guidelines, basically don't park around the town square and you are exempt from posted parking signs. Lobby is cute and historic, and the bed in the King Suite was comfortable. The room was clean, Some oddities - the smell of Japanese fired food throughout the building during hours of the restaurant operation, limited electrical outlets, and the bathroom mirror positioning made them difficult to use. We stay two nights, it was pleasant, we'd stay here again

My family and I have stayed at Hotel Arcata in downtown Arcata, California, six times, and we are always very pleased with our experience. Sherrie and Zach consistently make us feel welcome and go above and beyond to ensure everything meets our expectations. This historic hotel, located in a charming college town, is a fantastic place to stay. Highly recommend staying here whenever you get the chance!

Absolutely AWFUL service here. The "manager" (big guy) is an absolutely entitled and rude person. Not welcoming AT ALL. I've stayed here twice and both times this guy has argued with me for no reason. I book through Expedia and he argued with me over putting my father's name on the second room. I just don't get it. Don't stay here. No heating and no air conditioning and WAY over priced.

I did not get the room I reserved months in advance and ended up sleeping on a sofa bed that had springs poking in my back. the front desk gave me blankets to pad the bed. the hotel was booked so I could not get the two bedroom suite that I reserved. Very expensive for what we got. The breakfast was not much and could've been presented a lot better. Loud, noisy at night and I was constantly worried my car was going to get vandalized. I don't think I would stay there again

I've been traveling in Humboldt for 4 days and this is by far the low point of the trip. The hotel perpetually smells like fried food because of the sushi/tempura restaurant downstairs. Now, mind you, I love sushi and tempura, and Tomo Restaurant was quite tasty. That doesn't mean I want my hotel room to smell like a deep fryer, however. When I asked if I could switch rooms, I was told my room was already in the most 'ideal' location to not deal with the smell. The noise from the street and square is so loud they will give you industrial strength earplugs to sleep. Oh, and it takes 10 minutes for the shower water to get hot. By far the worst, and most ridiculous experience? They don't provide hairdryers in the rooms and you have to ask for one at the front desk. SERIOUSLY?! I spent my first few nights at the Carter House Inn in Eureka and WISH I had just stayed there. That place is small like this, but they understand the concept of service, and it provides comparable rates. The one star for the staff, who are kind and attempt to help you, but clearly have no control over improving this crappy hotel.

I've been a little reluctant to stay at Hotel Arcata because the Arcata Plaza can be a little loud at night. But when my flight got cancelled and I needed a place to stay, I elected not to stay at one of the north side hotel chains - for food reasons: There aren't many restaurants on the north side and I had already had lunch at Toni's (it's good and open 24 hours/day) earlier that day. I figured my chances for real food were better if I stayed close to the Plaza. (That was a good call, by the way. Campground was great.) It was a stupid night. The airline cancelled my flight and then un-cancelled it just a few hours later, and then re-cancelled it a few minutes later. Really? Really. As a result I booked my room, canceled my room, and then un-cancel my room. Hotel staff just rolled with it. Not a problem. Flexibility from a hotel on an otherwise stupid night is a good thing. I asked for a quiet room, given what I know about the Plaza, and got one that faced inward. Not much of a view - in fact, I did not open the window shades lest I be arrested for indecent exposure - but it was quiet. And the price was good, too.

Location and nostalgia is the forte here! Location: in Arcata square surrounded by shops, restaurants, supermarket, coffee shops and a bunch of late night pizza joints. Marsh and mountain hikes about a 10 minute drive away, as well as nearby Eureka! Nostalgia: I so appreciate the effort and fantasy in maintaining the original historical zone of the origins of this hotel. Notably the bathtub is so retro and works so well! Best water pressure in the shower and the tub fills up fast, too. Keep in mind there is no air-conditioning. Bring ear plugs and eye shades, just in case. There is a hotel elevator. Old time charms and smells are maintained here.

We come often to visit our college student but have stayed in other hotels. We had always wanted to stay, due to it's location and history. We are glad we stayed ONCE. It was fine, clean enough rooms and decent beds and decent front desk staff, but not somewhere I would stay again.

Kind of feel a little conflicted here as admittedly did not stay here as intended, but my sister and her family did. We made reservations for my family and sisters, however my sister was arriving a day earlier. I get a call at 10PM the night before we were leaving from my sister, saying cancel your reservation the homeless problem is for real. She was accosted by a homeless man as she entered the hotel and was aggressively pan handled by another and this was about 7PM. They checked in and the street noise was constant, fights, people screaming at each other and breaking glass. Needless to say we canceled our reservation and got a hotel in Eureka which isn't free of the homeless problem either, but my sister told us once we got there that the noise went on all night long. The Manager at the Hotel Arcata did not push back on the cancelation even though it was less than 24 hours. He was empathetic and is fully aware of the situation.

The location is the best thing about this place! Hotel Arcata is within walking distance to a bunch of places to eat, drink, snack, and get groceries from. Hell, if you don't wanna walk or drive out for dinner, there's a decent Japanese restaurant downstairs open from 4-8pm. I stayed here twice: first in room 208 then in room 308. Both rooms are "standard triple rooms," which accommodate three people in one twin bed and one queen bed. Both rooms accommodated us well but are pretty small. Both stays were during the week, but I paid different prices: room 208 was $105/night for 3 nights because I booked this room a little last minute, whereas room 308 was $145/night for 4 nights and I booked this stay pretty far ahead in advance. While location is great and service was nice too, this place is more "worth it" at the $105/night price point than the $145/night price. The complaints about the noise hold true, especially if your rooms are facing the street. That is the case for rooms 208 and rooms 308. We were able to hear all of the cars and noise along the streets, and the noise was amplified more when we left the windows open for air. I can't imagine how much louder it would be during a non-Covid time. This hotel is fairly old--the vintage charm outside and inside should be a reminder of its age. If it isn't, then the thin walls and the bathroom set-up will remind you. We're able to hear our neighbors through the walls if they're blasting music or talking or laughing really loud. Bring earplugs if you're sensitive to sound. The bathrooms have a pretty old-looking tub, but the water pressure is awesome! A few things to note about the bathrooms for rooms 208 and rooms 308: - sinks are located outside of the bathroom - room 208 has a tissue dispenser next to the sink, whereas room 308's tissue dispenser is in the bathroom itself - I think room 308 had a mirror in front of the sink and room 208 didn't - the bathroom door to room 308 does not have a lock! The hotel also doesn't have dedicated parking space, but the hotel gives you a permit that will allow you to park overnight along the streets outside of the plaza area until 11am. I was a bit on edge after reading that people have had their cars broken into, but just make sure you have nothing to show in your car. One of the perks of having a room that faced a side street was that my partner and I were able to park our cars overnight in an area where we can see our cars right outside the window. Don't expect stellar wifi here. Their website says "high-speed wifi" but that's a blatant lie. When I stayed in room 208, I had difficulties with the wifi when I was doing work from home tasks. Wifi was barely enough to get my work done, but it did disconnect on and off a lot. I think room 308 had better wifi but that doesn't make the wifi any better. Other things to note about this place: - no mini fridge (we brought our own cooler to compensate and used the hotel ice) - no microwave - no daily room cleaning at the moment due to Covid - there's a TV in this room if you want to set up a game console for your stay - I've read complaints about the beds but my group agreed that they were all comfortable and kept us pretty warm - I appreciate the historical aspect of this hotel in that the pictures displayed in the hallways highlight a lot of localized redwood and tribal history. If you're killing time inside, give some of your attention to this "gallery." - for some reason, their official website doesn't pop up on the search engine; I have to go to Wikipedia to access it - didn't have the chance to ask if their complementary gym pass to The Club in McKinleyville was still available

NOT SAFE FOR WOMEN. My girlfriend went to use the restroom here, and was told she could by the woman at the front desk. She went to the bathroom, and some man who was cleaning the bathroom followed her into the WOMENS room and started yelling at her that he was cleaning it. He was standing directly outside her stall blocking her from exiting. When we complained at the front desk the lady denied it and was rude. Would not recommend this place whoever their janitor is a sketchy creep

Unprofessional staff, if their staff quit and tell you bad information, they make it your problem. No parking lot, you have to check in, get to your room, check your info book, see you can get a parking pass, then go back to the front desk, get a pass then go back to the car to put the pass in it. I had issues at the checkout because their employee made mistakes when checking me and said he needed a card "Only for damages caused to the hotel room and it will not be charged the price of the stay" this was a business trip and my company had already paid for the room online. On the way out the manager told me that because the card that was used to pay online (which it was an option to pay online) was different than mine he couldnt use it and had to charge my card instead. The manager was hard-headed and rude, refused to own up to the mistakes of the hotel, and said, "Im telling you what is going to happen" when I asked for the manager he got a nice little smug smirk and pulled the "actually I am the manager. So, if this is how they will act, let's dig into the quality of the hotel visit. The door locking mechanisms are easily bypassed, leaving you little to no security while sleeping here. There are no locks on the windows and can be opened from the exterior. After dark, the entrance to the hotel turns into crack head central, and I do not suggest leaving the hotel past that point. The room is excessively small with a firm to the point of uncomfortable bed. No information is provided at check-in and can only be found if you read their entire welcome booklet, this includes the wifi password, the previously mentioned parking pass, also only soap is provided no shampoo/conditioner. Parking is street only here and I don't suggest parking in front of the hotel as it is extremely sketchy

Hotel Arcata was outstanding, superb indeed! Before and during our stay, I had special requests Sherrie and the very helpful, warm staff happily and enthusiastically made it happen. The room was wonderful& had everything we need, we sure can't ask for anything more. Btw, there's no ghost here! It was rather peaceful and just great. Because of my experience here, I'll bring other fam members to enjoy it too!! Thank you Hotel Arcata!

Want a double bed substitued for a queen, that they tell you is a queen? Want a desk clerk that tells you that you don't know what a queen size bed is after you borrow a tape measure? Want a noisy alley with restauarant staff rolling carts down the concrete late at night? How about having to move your car down the street on a Friday night because the entire town square in front of the hotel is shut down for a farmer's market? Or maybe a restaurant that closes at 8:30 on Friday, with mediocre service, a mystery teriyaki sauce and spaghetti noodles sub'd for yakisoba? But wait, you get the town square out front, the nearby sidewalks and empty doorways filling with the houseless at dark. All this for only $200/night? Then this is your place.

I love staying at historic hotels and Hotel Arcata's location is hard to beat but this place is a dump. The carpet is filthy, the bed feels like cardboard, and the pink grime covering the shower curtain really creeped me out. The hotel could be beautiful but it's hard to look past all the dust and dingy furniture. The staff was also rude & seemed completely bothered about any interaction.

Room 309 had the most unappealing smell. They were booked so no changing. The bathroom was difficult to navigate with a very deep tun and a commode that faced the sink making an uncomfortable seating arrangement. Small fan/heater/ cooling unit didn't work. Bedding was very scratchy. You can also get a contact high from the town square but the shops around the square were very nice.

Well this may be a little different. We were a Sonoma County visitors in our 80's. One of us liven it the University dorm over 50 years ago. We used to go to the plaza there and have a beer or two way back when when it was a safer environment. Now we are both retired lawyers dropping in for old times sake. It was a very enjoyable experience for both of us and our little dog. The hotel is old, something from the old Untouchables TV series of the 60's That was the fun of it. Guest and staff were nice to us. If you want to step back in time, this is the place to visit. We went from being hippies and seeing the world change. This was a time warp for us.

The staff was great, room was comfortable, great shower. It's an old hotel, so soundproofing isn't great, but a very good experience

Completely unreasonable policy regarding corporate bookings and credit card authorizations. I am a corporate travel agent. My employees work with PG&E on emergency storm work. I usually get a phone call at the last minute from one my guys needing a room. I've been doing this for a long time. I book a lot using Expedia since I use a corporate credit card that the guys do not have in their possession when they check in, and Expedia usually collects the fees. Done. But there are times I book with a hotel directly, and I contact the front desk to ask how they prefer I submit a credit card authorization for payment. Easy peasy. Welp. Not so much with Hotel Arcata. They require a credit card authorization to be done TEN DAYS IN ADVANCE. Da puck? I have NEVER heard of this practice and it's totally unheard of. I had to find another hotel at 10pm because they would not accept a credit card authorization from me, and my employee did not have a credit card on him to use himself. So now we are out the money for that night's stay because of a totally unreasonable policy. I book a LOT of hotel rooms in that area, and develop relationships with some to continue to use in the future. This hotel is permanently on my "DO NOT BOOK" list, and I will do everything in my power to spread the word in the travel agent community, and every online reviewing portal I can find.

Okay, so this place has been registered in the Historical Society and landmarks. Does that mean that's what the rooms have to look like? I get the quintessential look of keeping it old and classic, but this place is desperately in need of a makeover. I just about cringed with the smell of the place, especially the elevator, and our room. The ceiling fan did not work so the window was open with no screen. The room had such old bedspreads I couldn't wait to kick it off and throw it on the ground. Sure a classic foot claw tub and shower spout looks great, but there is safety issues and absolutely no room to put any of your toiletries. The TV in the cupboard can only be seen from one bed. Unfortunately this place is located right on the Square next to four bars. I had to walk through for police cars handling 2 drunken arrests at 10 pm n order to walk through the front door of the hotel to get to my room. Then I was only to be woken up by last call at the 3 bars by loud noises wafting into my room because my only air was from an open window. The only redeeming value of this place was a somewhat decent breakfast that got me on the road at 6:45 in the morning because I could not get out of this hotel soon enough.

Could have been worse, I guess. But for the price, this place could invest in updating its accommodations, which remain stuck in the 19th century. It is right in the town square and has a charming old timey facade. However, the interior is very run down, with weird smells everywhere (the elevator was nearly insufferable). The rooms are pretty bare bones, and they don't provide an iron or hair dryer, as is generally expected of hotels. Note that the king rooms open up into a weird interior area with a prison like view of the hotels walls and right into the windows of the other rooms, so keep those curtain closed (they also only had blackout curtains instead of having an additional light filtering layer that would have allowed light into the room without letting everyone else around you see right into all your shit since, as mentioned above, the rooms look right into each other. The claw foot bathtub was difficult to use because there is not place to put your toiletries.

I wished I had looked at Yelp before booking here. I'll also never trust the reviews on Booking.com again. I'll reiterate many other reviews here... the place is run down.

Checked out early because the room was so dirty. There was no cold water in the bathroom sink and the tub didn't drain properly so you were standing in water. There were stains on the couch, bed, and chairs. The shower curtain was moldy. Location is great but other than that its a hard no.

Literally the only hotel in downtown Arcata. That's an absolutely wonderful necessity for someone like myself, who wants to be close to the action, but it comes with the obvious cons of being right downtown in a college town. Keep that pros and cons list in mind when your looking for a place to stay in the area. For an older hotel, it's in pretty nice shape. The rooms are very clean and come with all the amenities, with the exception of free water or even water bottles you can buy. All the staff members, both day and night, were friendly and very responsive. I had an issue with my TV on night one and she was up in minutes tom show me how to use it. The old tub/shower had great water pressure and the bed was very comfortable. All said, it's still a budget hotel. I ended up with a top floor hotel room facing the back alley. The crowd from the downtown bars, or just random weirdos who wander the street, were all within painful earshot. It took some getting used to on night one. The best of the downtown scene is also right there as well. Step out the front door and you are on the main square near all the cool shops and restaurants. Juxtapose that with the other hotels in Arcata, which are located two exits up the highway and seem mainly to cater to the "visiting my kid graduate college" crowd. Overall it's a place with a cool vibe and a lot of history. I wouldn't hesitate coming back on a return trip!

The hotel is historic and is overall very cool. Staff was friendly. Centrally located in Arcata. They have nice clawfoot tubs and the vibe is definitely charming. Dog friendly which is awesome. The only issues are that it can be VERY loud and have a distinct crowd around. The walls are thin and there are multiple bars nearby. No parking lot. I found parking nearby, but I would make sure you remove ANY valuables from your car unless you want your windows smashed out. Wouldn't recommend for anyone traveling with children. Its definitely an experience and some people might love it, but I would personally opt out next time and go to a more conventional hotel.

5 stars for the hotel, 1 star for their insane pet standards. We got put on their Do Not Rent list due to my dog getting their sheets dirty!!! He's a Great Dane, and we went to the beach. That's it!!! No other "damage" to the room other than dirty, sandy sheets Why allow pets at all, if the hotel is OCD about pets "getting the sheets dirty"?

Don't confuse "quaint" or "charming" with Junky and rundown. Our stay 0n 9/24 in the Plaza Suite room 306 was the latter. Mind you, I'm not nit picking. We once stayed in a room where we had to pretend the brown stuff on the wall was chili beans. If this was a $100 room-then no comment. But it wasn't. To begin: we pull up and the plaza is full of vagrants ( not "characters" -bums) yelling and screaming and playing bad guitar. I asked the desk if the plaza was dangerous. He asked me to define "dangerous". Save for the hotel, this entire side of the street is skid-row. Reservation under wrong name. Get to our $300 "suite and find that it is not two adjoining rooms but a sofa bed, full bath, bed, and half bath that door hits toilet so door only half opens. Toilet seat broken. Toilet paper stub still on roll- what!-yuck! Beds were okay until something in my pillow poked me and I found some sort of sticky trap attached to the pillow under the case. Bed bug deterrent? Deodorizer? Yuck. Threw pillow on floor and went to get a towel to sleep on and......no bath towels in the bathroom. Full bathroom with scanty amenities and no place but the window sill to put soap, shampoo etc. Bathtub/shower was treacherous for anyone not an Olympic athlete. I was careful with the shower curtain but still soaked the floor. Cigarette/pot ashes on the wainscoting behind the shower that I put my hands in. Oh, and the shower curtain was indeed moldy.....or quaint and charming. You decide! The parking: there is none. None for almost three blocks. Not even for trying to check out. This is an outrage, really. The night: vagrants screaming until almost 2:00 a.m. and .......... then the bars let out. More noise. Close the window? Ha Ha! No A/C. Awful. Other reviews: read them. Their concerns are real concerns. Five stars? Maybe if the last place you stayed was jail. Management: please don't respond with any platitudes about "updates" and "close to a lively plaza". Putting down a newer carpet doesn't cover up the neglect. You shouldn't be booking and front or East facing rooms with out warning the non-hearing impaired that sleep would be very difficult for even sound sleepers. You run an overpriced hotel with very few services.

Our favorite hotel in Arcata, Eureka or McKinleyville. Very quaint vibe takes you back in history. Wonderful view of historic town square, super friendly hotel staff and reasonable prices.

To start, my mom and I came into this hotel with an open mind as we knew it was a historic hotel and gave it the benefit of the doubt. There were a few notably good things about this hotel that shouldn't be forgotten: 1. The extremely kind and accommodating staff, 2. The ease of parking around the square with the parking pass, 3. There is conveniently a restaurant, hair salon, and store downstairs in the lobby. However, there were so many things that we just couldn't overlook. It wasn't the old fashioned shower that made us weary to use the bathroom, but the mold growing on the upper portion of the wall due to improper ventilation despite the vent. Also, although it was nice to have a restaurant downstairs, the entire hotel smelled like the sushi being made which made it clear the carpet isn't cleaned often as the smell was just embedded in it. And as previous reviewers mentioned, the comforters were so used that we could tell they were old, especially since they matched the curtains so who knows how old they are. The beds were also extremely uncomfortable, and the walls were so thin you could hear everything happening in the rooms next to you, and our entire floor was woken up at 5:30 in the morning to the drunk people from the bars outside. Overall, we tried to keep an open mind and respected the quaint historic hotel, but it doesn't mean the sheets and mattresses don't need to be replaced once in a while and definitely doesn't exempt the moldy walls.

One of my favorite thing about road trips is researching and finding cool local places to stay, eat, and explore. I was really excited about this hotel despite some of the caveats that other reviewers posted. There's some "check-in" short term parking spots right in front of the hotel -- the door is pretty unassuming during the day as its a mixed use area with businesses all on the first floor -- it's easier to see at night when the entryway and signage are lighted. Check-in was pretty easy -- although I agree that the parking is a bit weird ("they've finished checking for the night, so you'll be fine" ... don't I need some sort of paper saying this is ok?). There is plenty of street parking around though, so there's no need to worry about finding a spot. We were in a third floor corner (non-plaza) room, so we had not only two streets of noise but also the upstairs noise. If you're used to city living, this won't really bother you as it's relatively quiet (I mean in terms of road traffic, cop cars, etc.) though the foot traffic noise varies based on closing time and such. There was a bit of yelling around midnight and again around 2am -- but being situated right in the middle of a lively district, that's to be expected. Maybe try asking for a top floor facing inside if you're concerned about noise. The room itself was pretty cold (not sure if the radiators were shut off for the season), but there was a space heater if you wanted it. I was amused at the sign in the bathroom urging you to conserve water -- meanwhile the showerhead was a super vintage thing that probably churned out several gallons per minute. We did have a clawfoot tub/shower which is not my favorite, but goes with the historic vibe (not good for tall people though - my 6'3" partner struggled with it). The continental breakfast was quite good - several choices of breads, cereals, yogurts, hard-boiled eggs, single-serve yogurts. There was plenty of hot water for tea (something I always look for) as well as a variety of Bigelow and a few Stash teas. We walked around a bit after breakfast and the location is certainly very nice for that. However, for $114 a night, it definitely felt overpriced, especially for a Monday during winter, hence 2 stars instead of 3.

A lovely historic hotel that has been refurbished -- my room was fairly basic, but very clean and the bathroom had a shower over a claw-footed bath. As others have noted -- the shower has great water pressure which I really appreciated. No hair dryers in the room, but the front desk has them. In the morning - the lobby offered coffee/tea, sweet rolls and fruit -- which I didn't expect! Free street parking and a good price -- I'd come back again if in driving down the coast once more.

We loved our stay at the Hotel Arcata. I appreciate that they have maintained the historic charm of the building. The location is fantastic. We enjoyed walking to restaurants and shops. The staff were friendly and helpful. There was some noise but that is to be expected in such a central location. Our 3 year old daughter was with us and she slept through the noise with no problems. We were a little concerned about the parking since we were traveling and had a lot of stuff but it was no problem at all. We found a parking spot on the plaza and had no concerns. Of course we removed valuables from our car. We will definitely stay here again.

As a hotel, a place to sleep it gets one star. My friend and I stayed here. It's an Arcata hotel. If you are a hippie, a college student, or not bothered by staying at a no tell motel, you won't mind this place. The only bonus is that it looks like the hotel in the movie The Shining with Jack Nicholson. Seriously, it's a beautiful and historic building that badly needs an investor to do a deep clean. NOT a remodel or upgrade, a DEEP CLEAN and maybe new wall paint and fabrics. (Use Kilz primer-sealer to seal all that old funk smell in! It works on smoke damage and mold) We stayed on 8- 27-18. First in room 222. Smelled like a smoker had been living there for 25 years. Even after we left the windows open for 15 minutes and the fan on high. The bed covers were sticky feeling. The guy at the desk was super great and super cool so he gave us another room on the inside, 225. Smelled musty but no cigarette smoke. We opened the windows - which opened up to the inside roof with a snazzy rock mural. Didn't leave them open because anyone from the other rooms could walk right across and into our room. I check for bed bugs everywhere. I checked here too. Covers off and thrown into the corner. bed one...hmmm no bed bugs - WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!? Coffee, tea, or cum? We told ourselves it had to be tea. Why didn't the maids see this? Is this the bedding from the LAST guest??? Bed two cover off and thrown into the corner...no bed bugs. Just giant dust Rhinos. The place is filthy and the excuse that the place is old is complete bull crap. CLEAN THE ROOMS. Our room was completely quiet because it was on the inside. Bathroom door did not close completely so if you had to drop the kids off at the pool we had to wait until one of us was asleep. Neat historic architecture. Needlessly run down and dirty. I hope someone comes in and saves it. My traveling companion refused to let me complain about the room because I already made us switch out of the first gross sticky one. I personally would never stay here again as it is. Old is not an excuse for dirty.

Stay Away for your own health and safety and that of your loved ones. Night employee repeatedly not wore mask when in contact with us first bad sign. Second our room was dirty had used dirty towels. Used blood stained sheets on bed. Employee repeatedly told us that the hotel would make things right tomorrow. His expectation was that we'd stay in a dirty biohazard room during a pandemic that even if a pandemic wasn't going on there's blood on the sheets. Then when I unsurprising go to check our and return the keys the employee then took the time to insult and curse at us. It's in clean and unsafe to stay here. It's cute but deadly along with horribly unprofessional staff on top of their horribly unprofessional cleaning and health and safety practices during a pandemic let alone any point of time.

Very quiet and quaint! The old history of this place lingers on every wall from historic photos to the rounded architecture of the early century. This place was a great sleep, checked the beds and NO tiny crawling visitors! Great deal for a one nights stay. All plugs and most appliances worked. Only complaint was there was no fridge in the room and the furnace wasn't an easy turn on situation but the blankets kept warm all night! Breakfast was served downstairs, nothing fancy but they had a variety of milks, breads, teas and coffee. I advise getting there early because coffee runs out quick here. There's also a coffee spot directly across the street on the corner so worst case scenario you have to walk 12 extra steps for coffee. Friendly greeters and clean room, I would stay here again given the chance.

I'm genuinely sorry to feel obligated to leave this horrible review because I want to support small, independent businesses AND I am a history buff. I love old hotels, but this was a very uncomfortable, unpleasant (and overpriced) experience. Very little sound insulation A lot of mildew on the ceiling of the bathroom. The room seemed very stuffy, and the bedding was uncomfortable.

Just got home from 3 nights in Arcata looking for an apartment for our sons who will be going to school there. We stayed at the Hotel Arcata as we have in the past (not many choices). We enjoyed our stay and were welcomed by a very friendly & helpful desk clerk. The guy who worked in the morning was not as friendly. Yes, the noise was a bit much but we knew what we were getting ourselves into staying on the square side of the hotel. My biggest suggestion is adding some mini fridges & microwaves to the rooms - would really help!

We stayed here for 1 night and so glad we did. If you are looking for great kind and friendly staff in a cool historic hotel, you will be happy here. Yes it's over 100 years old and we found it charming, spacious and clean! The location can't be beat if you like to walk to coffee shops, restaurants, and shops. The king bed was so comfortable, we slept well. The antique odor may be an issue to those of you used to the new car chemical smell of big chain hotels. Was not an issue for us at all. The windows open nicely so it's easy to enjoy the fresh forest air. I look forward to our next stay. If COVID cleanliness and distancing is a thing for you, you'll be happy here. Great care is being taken.

We stay at this spot often. I was my favorite hotel in town. We stayed recently for two nights in rooms 309 and 310. My husband was bitten by bed bugs. When we reported it ... it took them 4 days to verify with me that they had someone come look, meanwhile guests were still staying there. They blamed it on fleas, of course no hotel wants to admit they have bed bugs. The bites are in the classic line and zig zag patterns that are associated with bed bugs and occurred at night time (see photos). The hotel refuses to refund us and says they don't believe us. Of course they claim the pest company said they don't have them.If ANYONE leaves a hotel stay with bites like these, the manager should be very alarmed and sympathetic. Sherry the manager actually accused us of lying, and refused to compensate us in anyway. Hung up the phone on me and is not professional.

KEEP DRIVING. Don't stay here if you want to sleep. I'd give the hotel itself a better rating, as I don't mind 'quaint', although the peeling paint, cigarette burned bedspread, and nasty carpet did get my notice. While the hotel has a great location on the square downtown, it's also the hub of dumb*ss activity (and a vital drug scene) in the evening. I probably did actually sleep, but not between 2-5 am! I did get to hear every single shouted conversation, and super-awesome dipsh*t revving their engine as the burned rubber leaving the square...do yourself a favor and keep driving. If you MUST stay in Arcata, opt for the crummy chain hotels north of town. You can try earplugs, but there's still the cigarette burns...

Stayed here because it is on the plaza and wanted to be close to the farmers market. I stayed with my wife and teenage son. It was not pleasant. The rooms are small and the walls are thin. We heard our neighbors until after 1am and they started again at 5am, and that doesn't include the bar next door. The bar was quiet by comparison. The bathroom doesn't have room for anything. The sink is in the room. Breakfast was disappointing. The hotel has the potential to be a cool old fashioned stay, but it comes off just old and dirty.

This hotel was a great bargain when we stayed here for 3 nights in Aug. It is located right on the main plaza so it is close to the markets, eateries, bookstores, movie theater and coffee spots. We got a room with a full and twin to accommodate us and our 2 year old. The bathtub is an experience. I don't ever recall ever showering in a clawfoot bathtub with a shower curtain going all the way around. Coupled with the fact that the shower head spits out water full force and then the shower curtain sticking to my body felt like I was being swallowed by the bathtub. The next two nights weren't too bad while showering. I learned my lesson in adjusting the water temp and pressure before getting in. The room was a little muggy so we kept the window open all night. Unfortunately one night I woke up to guys talking very loudly outside the bar next door. There is no refrigerator or microwave in the rooms. There is free wi-fi and pets are welcome to stay. I would definitely stay here again. It is a great bargain and has a great feel to it despite it's small inconveniences.

Rooms were dirty, layout was terrible, and noisy as hell after 11pm. We were facing AWAY from the bars, and still couldn't sleep each night until about 2am when they closed and the patrons cleared out. Amazed at the amount of homeless in front of the hotel each night. Not even a slight chance we'd stay here again.

Looks clean enough. Smells kinda funny, but that's probably the sushi restaurant directly beneith my feet. Wish the chairs were more comfortable, as I am currently working out of this hotel room. Location is great, hotel is no frills. And my room smells funny. Like...ponzu sauce, but with a hint of cheap hotel... ALSO: Marcus at the front desk is really nice, has a smile, and is very helpful with information. Give him a raise.

Depressing, tiny, stinky rooms. Uncomfortable mattresses. No A/C so you must open the window at night. Homeless men outside scream profanities all night long. Miserable stay!!!

If you would like to sleep, don't stay here. WAY TOO LOUD. You can hear people all around you. In the rooms and in the hallway. Outside. If you are looking for a place to stay awake all night, then this is your spot.

First, I have to say I'm biased because I love Aracta-cool, funky, friendly; everything some certain Northern California towns used to be before ithey became gentrified and full of themselves. Second, I've read all of the reviews and every one of them- good and bad- are true (Except the ones regarding cleanliness- I never experienced that) The two best things about this hotel are the location and the age/history. And, the two worst things about this hotel are the location and the age/history. My daughter lives a few blocks from here, and I typically stay here when visiting her. I am not picky-- all I want is a comfortable bed, a hot shower and no blaring TVs from other rooms. The noise from the square doesn't bother me at all. Not having AC is fine- the windows here actually open. The internet is not very strong, but it's workable. I've stayed in bad rooms here and I've stayed in good rooms. The last room I stayed in, the bathtub was leaking and they moved us to a really nice suite. So, this place isn't for everyone, and it is pricey when compared to a bland, perfectly clean, spotless chain motel on the boring side of town. My recommendations are only two: please provide hair dryers in the rooms, AND, a mini fridge to put milk in for in room coffee in the morning and wine at night. Last stayed 11/25-11/27/2021

Beware when staying here. I stayed for one night and had a very upsetting experience with the staff. When I asked where to park they directed me to the side streets as this hotel does not have its own parking. After I parked I asked if the spot/area was safe as I noticed some glass on the ground and was worried about theft. The employee assured us the location was safe and not to worry. When I woke up, my car window was smashed and all of my belongings were gone. I addressed the situation with the new morning staff and they had no advice for me other than to get a hold of the police and then admitted that break-ins were actually becoming more frequent in the area which they did NOT tell me when I asked the night before. When I called the police and told them where I was parked (right next to the hotel) the police commented that they were not surprised that's where the theft took place. I am very frustrated that I was misled and lied to about the safety of my car, and now am forever missing my belongings. If you are staying here please find a safe area to park your car away from the hotel. Management should make a new policy to be more truthful to their guests. Other than that, the room was fine.

We stayed here back in June 2019 for the weekend. Although we liked the ambiance/old hotel feel, there were things that definitely took away from the overall enjoyment. The beds are extremely uncomfortable, and need major updating along with the bedding. You will wake up sore and not feeling rested. The alley at the back of the hotel is where the garbage bins for the bars are located. Needless to say it's extremely loud through out the night/morning and you will hear everyone out there screaming/talking and smoking. The smell of the food/sushi overwhelms you as you walk down each hallway from the restaurant on the first floor. I wouldn't recommend staying there again unless the hotel does some updating or your ok with being next to bars and are just looking for a hotel to crash after bar hoping.