El Rancho is an okay stopover hotel if you just need a place to sleep for a night, but I wouldn’t recommend it for families or longer stays. The reception staff were courteous and helpful, which was the highlight of our stay.
The breakfast was disappointing — no basic options like cereal or milk, and the selection was limited to apples, bananas, yogurt, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and muffins.
The rooms were reasonably clean and decent in size, but they had a peculiar smell and no proper exhaust/ventilation. The property itself feels very dated, with old infrastructure that badly needs renovation. On top of that, the hotel charges $15 for parking, which feels steep given the overall quality.
If you’re just passing through for one night, it works — but I wouldn’t stay here again with kids or for a planned trip to San Francisco.