"We've stayed here several times. We like the common space, staff, resturant, cafe, fitness room (tho could use some maintenance, the water cooler was leaking). Best to be had in a hotel in Merced. So why not 5 stars?
First is the industrial grade matress covers. They squeak and don't breath so sleep comfort isn't all that great. The hotel could do something about this as we don't find this in other hotels.
Second, Merced suffers from a culture that displays it's vitality through straight pipes and harleys ripping through down town well after midnight, at it's worst on Saturday. There's also a train that runs often through town and doesn't hesitate to use it's whistle. If loud noise is an issue for you, your only hope is to insist on a room facing the alley (Anne Lane?) behind the hotel."