Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos

The Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos is a Marriott extended-stay hotel on El Camino Real, a few steps over the Palo Alto line in Los Altos. Every room is a suite with a full kitchen. Breakfast is free. That combination makes it a common pick for interns, visiting researchers, families relocating to the area and anyone staying a week or longer near Stanford. Marriott describes it as newly renovated. It shares this short stretch of El Camino Real with several other hotels, so it is easy to find and easy to reach by car.

This profile is based on Marriott's official pages for the hotel. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check the Residence Inn Los Altos on Booking.com or book through Marriott, where Bonvoy members earn points.

Location and neighborhood

The address is 4460 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022. This is the south end of the Palo Alto hotel strip, where El Camino Real crosses from Palo Alto into Los Altos and Mountain View within a few blocks. The Courtyard Palo Alto Los Altos is next door. The Homewood Suites by Hilton Palo Alto, the Crowne Plaza Palo Alto and Dinah's Garden Hotel are just across or up the road.

The surroundings are a mix of offices, shops and housing. Downtown Los Altos, with its small-town main streets and restaurants, is under 2 miles southwest. Downtown Palo Alto is about 4 miles northwest in a straight line. Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center are a 10 to 20 minute drive depending on traffic. Our Los Altos guide and downtown Los Altos page cover the town.

Marriott's page points to nearby nature spots, including the Baylands, Foothills Nature Preserve and Pearson-Arastradero Preserve, all a short drive away. It also names Shoreline Amphitheatre and the tech campuses of Mountain View.

Getting there from Caltrain and the airports

Marriott names the San Antonio Caltrain station and San Antonio Transit Center as the nearest transit. San Antonio station is about 0.6 miles away in a straight line, a walk of 15 minutes or so along busy roads. Local and limited trains stop there; weekday express trains do not. VTA Route 22 and Rapid 522 run along El Camino Real outside the hotel toward the Palo Alto Transit Center and San Jose.

Marriott lists these airport distances:

The hotel does not run an airport shuttle. Our SJC guide and SFO guide compare trains, rideshare and rental cars.

Suites

Every room is a suite. Marriott's pages describe:

• Fully equipped kitchens, which Residence Inn uses as its core feature for longer stays.
• Family-friendly suite layouts.
• Accessible suites, including a queen room shown in Marriott's photos.
• Free Wi-Fi for Marriott Bonvoy members, plus mobile key and in-room entertainment.

Marriott does not publish a suite count on its main pages. The suite list changes by date. Check the booking page for the bed setups on offer when you book.

For accessibility, Marriott lists mobility-accessible suites with roll-in showers, hearing-accessible rooms and kits, TTY compatibility, closed-caption TV, grab rails and lowered deadbolts and viewports. Elevators serve the building. Accessible routes reach the pool, fitness center, business center and meeting space.

Amenities

• Breakfast. A free hot breakfast buffet, 6:30 to 9 a.m. on weekdays and 7 to 9:30 a.m. on weekends.
• Pool. An outdoor pool and a whirlpool, with a lift or sloped entry for accessibility.
• Fitness. A free fitness center for guests.
• Laundry. An on-site guest laundry, plus valet and same-day dry cleaning.
• Work. A business center and on-site meeting space.
• Housekeeping. Every other day.
• Front desk. Open 24 hours.

Free coffee and tea are set out in the lobby. Marriott's page lists one on-site food outlet but no full-service restaurant, so for lunch and dinner you will cook in the suite or head out.

Eating and groceries

The full kitchen is the point here. Stock up at the grocery stores along El Camino Real and San Antonio Road, then cook in. For nights out, downtown Los Altos is a short drive with a cluster of restaurants; our Los Altos food guide has picks. California Avenue in Palo Alto and Castro Street in Mountain View are both within about 15 minutes by car.

Parking and policies

• Parking. On-site garage parking for a daily fee, with a monthly rate for stays of 30 nights or more. The garage clearance is 8 feet, so tall vans and roof boxes may not fit. Accessible and van-accessible spaces are available.
• EV charging. Marriott lists none on site.
• Check-in and checkout. 3 p.m. and noon.
• Minimum check-in age. 21.
• Pets. Up to two pets per room, each up to 75 pounds, for a nonrefundable fee per stay. Service animals are welcome without a fee or documentation.
• Smoking. The property is smoke-free.

Fees and policies change, so check Marriott's page for the hotel before you book.

Who the Residence Inn suits

• Long-stay guests such as interns, visiting scholars and consultants who want a kitchen and laundry.
• Families who want separate space and free breakfast.
• Dog owners with up to two large dogs, thanks to the 75-pound limit.
• Marriott Bonvoy members who want points on a long trip.
• Drivers who want quick access to El Camino Real, Highway 101 and Interstate 280.

It is less suited to anyone who wants to walk to restaurants, to guests under 21 and to EV drivers who need overnight charging. For more long-stay options, see our long stays guide.

What is nearby

Long stays go better with a few routines nearby. Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is about a 10 minute drive west, with oak savanna trails that suit an early walk or run. Foothills Nature Preserve sits higher in the hills beyond it. Closer in, Mitchell Park in south Palo Alto has a library, playgrounds and a dog run. The San Antonio Shopping Center and the Village at San Antonio Center, a short drive east, cover groceries, pharmacies and a cinema. On weekends, the Sunday farmers market at the Mountain View Caltrain station is a good place to stock the kitchen.

Booking tips

1. Ask about monthly parking. The 30-night rate can cut costs on a long stay.
2. Compare with the Courtyard next door. The Courtyard Palo Alto Los Altos has a restaurant and bar but does not allow pets or include breakfast.
3. Check the garage height. At 8 feet, it will not fit some vans.
4. Book early for summer. Intern season and Stanford events fill extended-stay hotels from June to August. If it is full, look at furnished rentals on Vrbo.

Frequently asked questions