Built in 1986, the three-story Pacific Inn is shaped like a triangle and centers around a pool with an open-air roof. The lobby is small and contemporary, with a small seating area, a computer kiosk, an ATM, an elevator, and free Starbucks coffee. The family-run hotel gets a steady stream of guests year round; spring and summer are popular with beach-goers and wedding parties, whereas fall and winter are most popular with cruise travelers on a stopover, and business travelers looking for a location convenient to Long Beach and Orange County.

The property is located in the Seal Beach neighborhood, a 10-minute walk from the beach. It's on Marina Drive, across from a strip mall that houses a few restaurants and fast food joints, a couple of nail salons, and a variety of local shops. There's a grassy, oblong park, perfect for running or playing in. Long Beach is a 20-minute drive and there's a free shuttle that takes guests anywhere they need to go within a five-mile radius. Getting to LAX takes 35 minutes to well over an hour depending on traffic; Orange County's John Wayne Airport is slightly more convenient, and takes 25 minutes without traffic.

Rooms have dark wood furniture, plush chairs, and balconies, but don't get a lot of natural light. The decor is simple, and solid prints feature heavily. Some furnishings look a bit scuffed and worn. All rooms come with microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers, and have sliding glass closet and bathroom doors. Bathrooms are spacious and have tiled shower stalls. Rooms with whirlpool tubs as well as two-room suites are also available.

There's a semi-enclosed courtyard with a pool, a whirlpool, and plenty of seating, and it gets a good amount of shade from beams overhead. The fitness center is small but the hotel makes good use of the space, with a couple of treadmills and weight machines. The lobby has a Starbucks coffee machine with an inbuilt coffee grinder, free cookies in the evenings, and lots of magazines. A free hot breakfast is served every morning on the top floor, and there's a small amount of seating overlooking the pool. Both parking and Wi-Fi are free for all, and guests without a car can take advantage of the free shuttle that goes anywhere within a five-mile radius of the hotel.