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Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
2051 Shelter Island DrSan Diego, CA 92106
Neighbourhoods: Shelter Island, Point Loma
(619) 222-0561
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 6 am
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
75 reviews for Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina
Review Highlights
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"...was well appointed with a large flat-screen TV and the king..." In 6 reviews -
"Blue Wave is their restaurant on property and was delish." In 4 reviews -
"The location was close to everything, Shelter Island is a..." In 4 reviews
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75 reviews in English
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Review from Gi G.
Los Angeles, CA
5/6/2012
This place was awesome! We had so much fun!
We decided to go to San Diego last minute and found this place on a hotel deal site. I decided to call the hotel directly but instead got a number for Best Western corporate. I talked to the very friendly lady on the phone and asked her if she could match the price. She beat it! And put us in a better room. Then we call again (this time the hotel directly) and come to find out that oops! the lady on the phone booked the wrong room for us, so upgrade again! No questions asked.
So, we hurry on down there (as fast as the 405 will allow) and arrive around a little late, perhaps around 10pm, to a beautiful property and the night crew. Lets just say the night crew was much less helpful than the day day crew. We spent perhaps 20 minutes going up and down stairs with our luggage and asked 3 people for directions. We are hikers! There's an internal map for the outdoors, I guess but less so for the great indoors?
When we finally found our room (king suite with marina view) we were so impressed. Huge couch, dining table, fridge, microwave, 2 TVs, a porch, and a beautiful view of the marina. The bathroom was nice too with an adjoining vanity and a yummy Oxygenetics shower head. But most important was the bedroom... and the bed! King size bed with infinite count thread sheets, incredible pillows and blackout blinds! Oh my gosh we were in heaven.
My only complaint...We just slept in too frkn long everyday because that setup was so nice. ;)
The pools were great but open from early to early and the restaurant there was decent, the drinks were good and the service was great.
Service was Excellent, Prices were Excellent, Amenities were Excellent, Location was Fantastic but farther from downtown doings, which we didn't mind.
Definitely a Best Western member now, and Definitely an Island Palms fan. :) -
Review from Mrs. S.
Orange County, CA
4/9/2012
Beautiful rooms and gorgeous location. Great customer service from the front desk, to the restaurant, to room service. I recommend staying here if you're a couple or small family. If you're planning to party all night, please go elsewhere, because the walls are a little thinner than I'd like, and no one wants to listen to you anyway.
I do have an advertising/marketing/website complaint about the hotel. At this time there are three buildings on the property, all of which are themed differently; however, even after quite a bit of research I still had to grill the manager to figure out which building would be best for the type of stay we desired.
I figured out they have three buildings: Island Palms, Casa del Mar, and Casa Marina. The Island Palms is the "oldest" but tends to be the most popular because of it's tropical theme and tropical foliage. They are renovating the Casa del Mar building now, and the Casa Marina is the "newest" and is done being renovated. From what I could tell the families go with the Island Palms and the couples and older folks go with the Casa buildings. The Island Palms also have "outside" walk-up access, and the other buildings have interior hallway access. I think Casa Marina is the only building with an elevator.
The water and Marina view rooms in all buildings are very nice. The property is clean and quiet. The two pools are gorgeous. The restaurant was only OK. If you're going to eat there, choose seafood. The rest of the items on the menu tasted like food from Coco's or Mimi's Cafe, only twice the price.
I am sharing all of this with fellow Yelpers because it really does take a lot of work to figure out all of the differences between the buildings and what you'd prefer. If you're staying somewhere for more than a night or two, it's important to know what choices you have, right? :) -
Review from Dawn B.
2/26/2012 5 photos
When their hotel shuttle was unavailable, the hotel advised me to hail a taxi and that, with receipt, they would reimburse me upon arrival. They honored their promise and I made it to the hotel quicker than their hotel shuttle would have arrived.
Their cleaning staff was great and the rooms were well maintained throughout our stay. Also, the gym was 24 hours and for a gym rat like me it's a miracle.
Incredible views, access to free bike rental and reasonable prices such as $127 a night made this hotel grade A.
The only drawback is the thickness of the walls, which a times could make you here your fellow hotel guests.
Overall, I love this hotel and totally expect to go back there in the future. -
Review from Angela S.
West Hollywood, CA
Updated - 5/1/2012
We visited this past weekend for my birthday. Staff was super friendly and our room was clean and quiet. I love this hotel and find it a great value in San Diego - almost feels like coming home to a friend's house. Big thumbs up from me, we'll definitely be back again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/29/2010
Room was clean and well organized - hot hot shower and great comfortable bed. Staff was super… Read more »
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Review from Gretchen S.
Tucker, GA
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Perfect score and best value in any hotel I've ever stayed! Great location and excellent service. We had two rooms with the intent of relaxing and catching up on the little patio area in front of our room overlooking the harbor but there were no chairs. I simply called the front desk and within 5 minutes chairs and a table were brought to us. The room was well appointed with a large flat-screen TV and the king bed was super comfortable. I wish I could just move in.
Rather than drive to dinner, we stayed at the hotel's Blue Wave bar and grill- very nice. Great selection of drinks and fresh seafood- just what we wanted. Breakfast- again at the Blue Wave, was perfect. The eggs Benedict were spot on. Only improvement would be to drop that coffee pot off with us- man we could not get enough!
The grounds were lovely and well cared for. They even had a computer handy where I could print out our boarding passes for the next flight and I really wish we could have enjoyed the pool during our stay- it was so pretty! I would LOVE to stay at the Island Palms again. -
Review from Scott P.
Palm Desert, CA
1/3/2012
While the rooms are well appointed, the walls are thinner than toilet paper and paper mâché. The hotel staff is incompetent at best.
I enjoyed staying up all night to the sounds of the guests in the room above mine who were on the Bowling, Moving and Dance team. I also enjoyed the snoring of the guest in the room next door and the thrilling sounds of the ice machine constantly pumping ice through the night.
Printed hotel policy stated that the hotel was a no party hotel for New Year's Eve and that security would be handling any noisy guests and parties in rooms. (A copy of the printed policy is available-email or message me.)
At 11:45pm I called the front desk due the huge party in the room above mine. Their policy stated "On New Year's Eve, our security team will actively patrol the hotel and address any noise issues they encounter, enlisting the assistance of the Harbor Police if necessary." It also goes on to state, "Please contact the front desk at extension "0" if you are disturbed by any noise and we will address the situation as quickly as possible."
Really?
Security went to the room and somehow missed the large number of guests partying. Their security guard was unable to read written hotel policy and enforce hotel rules. Maybe they should enlist some basic training for security such as listening and observation.
By 130am, they finally went to sleep. Unfortunately I did not get any sleep and had to be up at 530am. My weekend was totally ruined - the headache took two days to go...and I had to leave San Diego that Sunday rather than stay and shop on Monday.
The next morning, Sunday, I asked the manager, Shaun Edwards, why they did not enforce their own written policy. Shaun stated that I should have called a third time. Really? It takes three calls to handle problems at this hotel? What about their written policy that is quoted above?
God Forbid their is a major leak or a fire. By the time someone has time to make three calls, there might be a few casualties and some property loss!
By the way, I only called once. The second call had to be other guests who were also disturbed. I'm sure they are just as unhappy with hotel policy.
Shaun also informed me that the guest in the room above was using a walker. Really? The staff at this two story, elevator-less Best Western put a guest using a walker on the second floor in an un-carpeted room? Some more evidence as to their incompetence and lack of respect for their guests.
Try to get a room in another hotel that was built using materials stronger than toilet paper and might be more soundproof. Avoid the Bartell Hotel group as they own this Worst Western a few other properties in the San Diego area and who knows if they are worse than this. I would not want to gamble my hard earned money.
Would I stay here again? Definitely not. Not even for free. -
Review from Mio S.
Madison, WI
12/28/2011
Stayed here for business. It's close to airport, but you don't feel like that at all on Shelter Island. My room was in Casa Marina (far end of the complex), with a nice Marina view. The room was huge and beautiful. Nice size bathroom, but I didn't like the heavy door that closes if not propped right.
The only complaint I have is that the noise can permeate very easily. There was a crazy family staying nearby my room, and I could hear every single conversation, kids scream etc - I was so happy when they left after my day 1.
In front of the hotel is the bay, and little park where you can take your morning jog or walk. I loved waking up to the sunshine over the bay. You'll need a car to venture out and try local restaurants. There are plenty of options if you're willing to drive for 3 min - I didn't find this stressful or inconvenient. Overall, very happy stay. When I come back to SD, this would be my #1 hotel choice. -
Review from Jen C.
9/5/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I have stayed here more than a half dozen times in the past few years and have loved it every time. Rooms are clean, spacious and well priced. Grounds are spotless. Love the Point Loma location but beware that it's across the bay from downtown (a definite plus in my book but not for everyone).
We prefer the marina view to the bay view although the bay view is much improved now that motor homes are no longer allowed to overnight on the street in front of the hotel.
Excellent and incredibly friendly staff. Bill Orman, the General Manager, has gone out of his way on more than once occasion for me and my husband - first class customer service. We won't stay anywhere else in San Diego. -
Review from Daniel T.
Riverside, CA
11/7/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The staff was kind and helpful. Check-in was a breeze. The view, if you're on the marina side, is quite pleasant: you can see many boats docked and a hill of what I am sure are very expensive residences.
The pools are in good shape, the spa next to the larger pool is a little tore up but warm and the jets work.
Rooms and beds are nice...older but refurbished, but I liked that, it made it feel both rustic and somewhat upscale. I thought the bed was comfy, the pillows nice and the place was clean. The bathroom was also nice.
The heating/cooling unit is just a little wall one and my room got cold so I cranked it up and then it got hot. Central system would be nice but it worked.
Negatives:
Weird smell in room reminded me of my grandpa's old trailer park home. Not the most pleasant odor. I also smelled marijuana near the fridge but didn't locate any...that would have made the evening more fun. jk
I don't drink, but I sat at the bar and had a water while my friend had a couple of beers. The bartender was not that cool.
Overall, this place is good. Definitely worth at least 4 stars. Low key, not terribly expensive and within driving distance of anything you'd want to see in San Diego. -
Review from Denise C.
Long Beach, CA
9/6/2011
My family stayed here for two days prior to a function we had Labor Day weekend. The hotel's location is pretty close to all that SD has to offer. We spent the day at Sea World and so our drive there was nothing. The hotel is older, but clean and well maintained. We didn't check in until 11-ish pm on a Wednesday night. We were placed in room 135. Avoid this room; it's opposite the delivery area. We were awaken at o'dark thirty to the sounds of delivery trucks and pure noise! Needless to say, we asked to move. The front desk accommodated our request. The restaurant within the hotel is pretty decent too. Free Wi-Fi is another bonus!
We accidentally left our camera charger plugged into an outlet. We called the hotel and they are going to send it to us at no charge! How is that for customer service?! I'll definitely stay here again. -
Review from Megan J.
2/26/2012
Had to give this place 5 stars. This was the hotel my hubby (then boyfriend) asked me to be his wife on our patio overlooking the marina in pouring rain...so romantic. Loved the room. It had a kitchen, living room, separate room that closed off from the living room and nice shower. Our whole stay couldn't have been any better. It was pouring rain the whole weekend we were there (March of 2010). But, it added to the romanticness of it. We could hear the rain coming down while in the room. Some people probably wouldn't have liked it, but hey there wasn't any leaks!! Love the location and they had a shuttle to Humprey's restaurant right down the street. Will definitely be coming back and reliving some wonderful memories!! :)
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Review from N D.
Sacramento, CA
12/9/2011
Great overall stay. I stayed here during December 2011 and it was great. The rooms are clean and well furnished. Not that you book a room for the TV size, but the LG flat screens are the biggest I've seen in a hotel. The rooms are not that well insulated and during the freezing week that I was there, I had to constantly crank the old school wall heater/AC that was in the room. When the light hits your door, you can see there is no weather stripping at all! Not bad during San Diego's usual 70 degree weather. Not so good when it dips to the low 40's at night.
I enjoyed the patio and chairs. I had a marina view room and it was nice to sit back and drink a beer with my colleagues while watching the boats lit up with Christmas lights.
The bedspreads are white, the sheets are white, the pillows are white. Need I say more?
The front desk staff is anywhere from helpful to very helpful depending upon whom you get. Their reservation system must be outdated because it couldn't break apart the three rooms I reserved for myself and my two business partners. That meant an extra amount of time at check out. The clerk had to re-enter each person's name and address on the bill so we could each get reimbursed. Not a deal breaker, but a hassle.
The bar is overpriced.
The wi-fi is weak near the back of the hotel and at the extreme ends.
The location is great. It's very quiet. You do hear some of the airport traffic and there's always the Coronado naval aircraft traffic. Again, once you're in your room, it's very quiet. Yeah, it's a bit dated, but you can't really beat the location and price compared to what you'd pay downtown. Free parking tops it off. -
Review from Vern W.
New York, NY
7/31/2011
I stayed here for the San Diego Comic Con and I really enjoyed my stay. I was picked up from the airport by the hotel shuttle, and as a participating hotel there was a shuttle to the Convention Center. this was great since as a native New Yorker I don't drive and one of my concerns was getting around. The room was a marina-facing single, it was clean and had everything one would expect. The only odd thing was that there was no light in the walk in shower but it was fine in the end.
The hotel was one of the few places that I have been which actually follows the conservation rules I see advertised (not replacing towels if you re-hang them) hey, I notice these things.
The restaurant was good, and the staff was great. I actually never had dinner there, but breakfast was nice.
The pool and hot tub were nice. I have body-image problems, but I knew I had to try the hot tub - it was yummy! They also have a nice laundry room hidden in the back so I could travel lighter than I might otherwise.
I'd like to go back there some day, it would make a nice romantic getaway. -
Review from Monica M.
Laguna Hills, CA
2/8/2012
Great place, great price and location!! Perfect for a nice little getaway! Has an island feel to it.
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Review from YC c.
Reno, NV
6/17/2011
Nice looking Hotel - the room was pretty and a good size room. I liked the bathroom style - and the big walk in shower.
we stayed in watched the big TV and ordered room service - chicken salad and the salmon - was excelent and suprizing - I dont do room service usually.
I will come back. -
Review from ellen l.
San Diego, CA
6/7/2011
Fifteen years ago,we had celebrated mom' 80th. in this same Sunset room.
We were so satisfied then,decided to return for a surprise celebration for my 80year young SoulMate.Details have been made so smooth by Rachel at Island Palms catering department.
For fifty guests,I chose the Wedding Pkg.which includes so much for its cost.
Open bar hour,birthday cake decorated anyway I wish,flowers to complement our color scheme etc.
All so graciously handled for me.I will also have excess time and accesibility to decorate before the afternoon of the party.
I eagerly await the event with calmness and joy! -
Review from Lisa O.
Baton Rouge, LA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great location, rooms and service! San Diego's best kept secret. The idyllic location is so much better then any other hotel. Easy access from airport, don't have to wait in lobby, or for your car. Great staff from front desk to restsurant. Restaurant was a huge surprise. Like 5 star dining. Great view and the food was superb and yet reasonably priced. My friends all had steaks and could not believe how great they were. Fabulous waitstaff. Pools were great. Our junior suite was beautifully appointed. All in all a great experience. Will definately go back!
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Review from David R.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
5/8/2011
We went to San Diego for some rest and relaxation, do some fishing and celebrate Cinco de Mayo. After an extensive search, we picked the Palms for it's location and price. I wanted to do some kayak fishing and needed a parking lot I could keep the kayak attached to the roof of our car and the Palms had a nice secured lot.
Once we arrived, we were amazed at how beautiful the place was. The grounds were well kept and it looked like an island retreat. There was a nice bar and restaurant overlooking the marina and sparkling pool. They put us in the newer Marina 3 story hotel. It was amazingly clean, the bed was perfect with the softest pillows. The room had a nice size bathroom and a balcony that overlooked the marina with a small sitting area to watch the boats go by. It had a large flat screen TV, sofa and chairs along with a refrigerator, microwave ad coffee maker. You do not need to bring anything, it is all there. For the price this place was better than some 4 star hotels we have been in.
On the opposite side of our Hotel was a beach that had dingy locks, so I was able to lock up my kayak directly on the beach allowing us more freedom to roam the city. We had no complaints and have now made this our place of stay during our next visit, which will be more often now that we have found a reasonably priced nice hotel on the beach. They even have beach cruisers you can use.
Next time we will stay a week instead of 3 nights. Thank you Best Western for giving us a great experience. -
Review from Lee-Sah J.
Las Vegas, NV
Updated - 3/25/2012
Me and my family stayed the first week of march. We read a lot of reviews and this place did not disappoint. We stayed in the new building on the top floor and had a great view of the Marina. Room service was good and the road the hotel is located on is real quiet and there is a park and a pier right across the street. Danny at the front desk was very helpful and I would definitely bring my family back for a relaxing vacation.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/10/2012
Me and my family stayed here on 03/05/2012 to 03/08/2012 and from the time Danny let us check in a… Read more »
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Review from Rick M.
Irvine, CA
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stayed two days here over the 4th. Great value, clean rooms superior service. Want to give a shout out to Brittany and Sean. Both went out of their way to make our stay special.
This location, one might think is off the beaten path but au contraire. It is very central and minutes from everything important in San Diego. Thinking about booking rooms again for this weekend! -
Review from Shelby E.
San Diego, CA
4/13/2011 3 photos
I had my wedding ceremony and reception here, as well as stayed here overnight the evening before my wedding.
Overall, the room that I stayed in was very nice! It was a suite and everything was really comfortable and modern looking. Even though our primary view was of the parking lot/bay I still think this was a very nice room, quiet (but not too quiet), and very nice for a Best Western hotel. The bathroom was amazing, as it had so much space and a very interesting shower :)
As far as the wedding ceremony & reception, we got a great deal for the food & beverage minimums and the staff, especially Rachael, were amazing with making the day perfect!
If we move away from San Diego and need somewhere to stay when we come back and visit, the Island Palms would definitely be one of my first choices! -
Review from Slash M.
Redlands, CA
11/23/2010 20 Check-ins Here
This my favorite place to stay in San Diego. I spend a night here about every two weeks. Consistently friendly helpful staff, great views, great location, good food,nice bar, nice pools and jacuzzis (including a poolside bar in summer). What's not to like? Let's face it, there are a ton of hotels in San Diego. I drive about 15 minutes out of my way to stay here. There's a Holiday Inn one block from my office in Mission Valley but it's consistently $30-$50 more than the Island Palms and has views of, uhm, Interstate 15.
This hotel has grown over the years by purchasing neighboring properties. The main (oldest) part is a series of interconnected bungalows. Most rooms are smallish but charming. This part of the hotel also included some of the largest rooms. Many have kitchens and a few (Villas) are two story with spiral staircases to the bedroom.
The two newest buildings (in order) are Casa Del Mar and Casa de Marina. Both are full of large rooms with big flat screens and porches or balconies.
Just a hint for reservations-Marina view means just that. Waterview means either a partially obstructed marina view or a view of the bay across the street.
Shelter Island is also a great spot for a walk or a jog and feels safe day and night.
Restaurant is also good and has fair prices for both breakfast and dinner. Bar is pretty well stocked and fun when it's busy. Almost always someone on a sailing adventure from the marina to chat with.
"Its another beautiful day at the Best Western Island Palms.". Give them a call-you'll get it. -
Review from Christopher D.
San Diego, CA
4/18/2011
So, I booked a king room at the Casa Del Mar building here for our 4th wedding anniversary. When I went to check-in, I asked for any upgrades and they moved us to a king junior suite with a nice view of downtown. Wow. That was awesome! The room itself was spacious, clean, cozy.... we loved it. I'm just sayin'.
They have two pools. The pool at the main building is bigger, but both look just as inviting on a nice, warm San Diego day. They also offer free bicycles so you can ride around Shelter Island. We didn't get any, but probably should have. Blue Wave is their restaurant on property and was delish. We only ate their breakfast though, so I can't speak for other meals.
We'll go back again next time we head down to SD for a weekend or so. -
Review from Susan P.
Sacramento, CA
7/2/2011
Where do I begin??
Let's start with a very long drive south from the Sacramento area to find paradise on a little island in San Diego. WOW! From booking our stay to leaving the hotel we encountered nothing but courteous & friendly employees. Special kudos to Shaun, the reservation lead at the hotel for hooking us up with a stupendous room! We arrived VERY early..check in is at 4 and we arrived at noon to find us checked in less than 10 mins later. Wow! I could understand maybe an hour earlier, but four hours? We were very happy campers already. Shaun booked us into a Queen suite in the Casa Del Mar building on the second floor. The room was oh so spacious, super clean, a stocked kitchen and views to die for. Without a doubt we lucked out. It didn't matter if it was the cup of joe in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening that was being enjoyed, we were doing so on the balcony of our hotel room while watching the Navy fly over head, the fishermen/women across the street or folks passing by walking their dogs. There are two sides, marina and bay views. Although alot of reviewers favor the marina side, I preferred the bay side we were on because there was more to watch. I hardly noticed the parking lot (maybe because it was empty 3 of the four days we were there because it was being paved). Didn't mind that a bit!
The beds are the most comfortable that I've ever slept in, including the one at home (which will get replaced very soon). Down pillows and comforter, crisp high quality sheets and an oversupply of towels left one less call to housekeeping. Our only request was additional coffee for the in room maker which we received pronto. Although we didn't experience room service or the hotel restaurant we heard enough buzz to ensure we do just that on our next trip. And there will be one..and we WILL stay at the Island Palms. Hopefully we'll be lucky enough to get the same room.
Honestly folks, my review doesn't do it justice. When booking, ask for the Casa Del Mar building and you won't be disappointed. Again, special thanks to Shaun for making our stay a very memorable one. See you next time!
Oh..and the FREE, yes I said FREE parking is just another bonus!! -
Review from jason T.
Newburyport, MA
Updated - 8/18/2010
I would like to add that since I wrote my review I was immediately contacted by Bill Orman, the Director of Guest services, and he made things right.
He researched the problem, got to the bottom of it. I am very satisfied with what Bill did to correct the situation. It is nice to see that people care in business these days. I will absolutely stay here again based on the response by the Director of Guest Services.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/15/2010
My room smelled like a swamp, so I complained. The manager said he sent over some industrial hotel… Read more »
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Review from Blair V.
Kingston, WA
8/11/2011 14 Check-ins Here
I've been here for a little more than two weeks, in the Casa side. My room is awesome! The bed is ultra clean and comfortable, the chair at the desk is also comfortable, and the bathroom is huge, I have a great view of the pool area, and the entrance is about 10 feet away from my rooms back door. The only qualm I have with this room is that there is no microwave, and with staying here for sooo long sometimes you just want to nuke some leftovers or even a hot pocket instead of eating out.
As for locations...awesome! I myself enjoy Ocean Beach and this spot is centrally located to where I have to work and where I like to play. The ladies that clean my room are great. I don't have it cleaned everyday, but if I happen to run into them they always offer more towels or coffee, and ask if I need anything. They are great. They are also the only ones I've had dealings with that make me feel welcome here.
Soo, room is nice, location is nice. Why only 4 stars...the room key...that damn room key. I came back from work, hot, tired, and covered in grease only to find my key card would not let me in...fine, ok. So I made the long treck down to the front office and asked the lady at the front desk to fix my key. I've never felt so un-welcomed before and maybe it was the shock of seeing a grubby lady in her snooty hotel. Whatever the case maybe she attempted to fix my original key card and instructed me to keep it away from my cell phone as it could be the cause as to why the card didn't work. Well, I knew my key card hadn't been near my phone, but whatever. I got my key and walked back to the Casa side...only to find I STILL COULD NOT GET IN! Now I was super angry, I walked back and told the lady at the front desk it still didn't work and that I wanted a new key card, again she "fixed" the original...she also asked how long I was to be staying here...till August 26th I told her but with the way things were going with the damn key card I didn't know if I would continue my stay. I eventually was able to get into my room, my key works when it wants to, usually after getting put in the slot a good dozen times and a few choice swear words. A couple days ago I again couldn't get in my room but this time I called the front desk and they sent someone down with new keys.
So minus 1/2 star for snooty front desk lady and 1/2 star for crappy room key. -
Review from pam c.
San Jose, CA
2/23/2012
Not as central a location as other hotels would be but nice relaxing setting. Marina on one side and bay on the other. We had room on the 3rd floor overlooking the bay and downtown San Diego. Next time I would get a room overlooking the marina. Garbage truck set off someone's car alarm in the morning all 3 days we were there.
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Review from Jen B.
Phoenix, AZ
9/23/2010
Before I say anything else, I want to say that the staff at this place is phenomenal. This is an incredibly friendly staff and they offer some really great customer service. Kudos and high fives to you.
Now, with that said, this was my and my husband's first trip to San Diego and we decided to come out for my birthday. We shopped around online and thought this hotel offered the best stuff for the price. Well, not so much.
First, we paid for a marina view, when it turns out our room was kind of tucked away and we ended up with an obstructed marina view. Definitely not worth the upgrade price there.
Then, there were no lights in the shower. So it sort of felt like we were showering in a cave.
Next, our room was definitely in the older part of the complex and, while there were a few upgrades, the overall look was old and dingy. And not old in a "quaint"-like way. Plus, there WAS a smell to the place but it mostly just smelled like ocean/sea water/fish, which I mean, we're on the marina so I don't know how I could complain about that.
But, from looking at the place online and then experiencing it in person, we were definitely disappointed.
As mentioned, the staff is great, though, and I hate to be so negative considering how great these guys are. Plus, it is pretty close to a ton of things so location is great. Bottom line, though, it's definitely lacking. -
Review from Tim S.
2/14/2010
We came here for a little "weekend away" for Valentines Day. This is also the place where we had our reception for our wedding. This hotel is pretty awesome!
We got a decent deal which was about $100 a night. We had a room on the bottom floor right on the edge of the hotel facing the marina.
Our room had a nice king sized bed and an awesome shower! When we had our reception here, they gave us a free suite too which was awesome.
Close to the water, nice rooms and a good price make this 4 stars in my book. -
Review from Brandy A.
Livermore, CA
11/13/2011
Had a very pleasant experience staying at this hotel last weekend. I have been to San Diego multiple times but had never stayed in this area. The hotel was wonderful, from the kind staff to the room and grounds; loved walking along the harbor. And everything was within a short driving distance away. I stayed in Building B, standard King room - the room has a large flat screen TV, mini fridge and microwave, free wi-fi and parking - there's even a little patio area out front with chairs and a table. If the weather had cooperated, I would have enjoyed sitting outside overlooking the marina. There is also a restaurant and bar on site - good food and excellent service. Would definitely stay here again.
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Review from Tracy V.
Pomona, CA
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
kind of confusing that the hotel has 2 totally different looks/styles. stayed in the tropical bambooish side last october.
Had a Standard King sized room. Nice that we were staying on the corner of the one leveled area. There was a mini fridge & microwave in our room. The bathroom was pretty nice. Although the shower didn't have a light in there & it was kind of dark. The tiled floors felt heated. I don't know if I enjoyed it or not. Once checking into our room, our TV didn't work. Had to call maintenance to check it out & they came within 10 minutes to fix the problem. Overall it was a good stay!
Originally stayed here for a wedding & was quoted a group rate. But once we got our bill, I was charged regular price. I immediately went to the front desk before checking out. & showed proof of the e-mail that I was supposed to be charged a certain price. They were very apologetic and fixed the problem. -
Review from Reno C.
9/8/2009
Searched for Hotels in the San Diego area. Read reviews on different websites. I decided on the BW Island Palms as it is flanked by the Marina on the back side and the San Diego Harbor on the front, and since my passion is fishing, this place was heaven.
As I was checking in, I was hoping to get the new section, as the many reviews on-line talked down about the old section. When I was given a two queen bed room in the new section, I was stoked. The room faced the marina and was on the first floor. The patio opened to the walkway along the marina, and if you are a people watcher, this was the location. The room was spacious with the two queen beds, the desk, large flat screen TV on a cabinet with a small refrigerator. The building was next to the covered parking which also held the two tennis courts. There is a restaurant and bar, called the 'Blue Wave'. The restaurant and bar are not big, but plenty of room when I was there.
There are two outdoor pool areas with Jacuzzis with plenty of chairs and towels available. The walkway along the marina was great to stroll in the evening with a drink passing along the two other hotels. Across the street was another walkway along the bay, as you can watch people having picnics, bonfires, onlookers, fisherman's on the pier and the awesome San Diego skyline.
I will stay here again because they have 'Free' WiFi, and that's a plus for me. -
Review from Kate T.
1/31/2010
We only stayed here one night but would definitely stay again if we were back in the area. The Half Moon Suites resort was a little more expensive but still comparable and we chose the Island Palms because even though the Half Moon had nicer grounds, the service ratings were poor. We were not disappointed.
We didn't get to see a lot of the grounds but what we did see was very lushly planted and had a tropical getaway feel to it. The torches at night are a nice touch.
We had requested a king-size bed on the 2nd floor (anticipating noise on the 1st) with a bay view and they honored our request- usually it seems that we have to reiterate requests upon checking in at other hotels. Not at the Island Palms. We got exactly what we asked for.
The room was very clean and nicely decorated. Nothing out of a design magazine but not outdated or faded either. We had a nice sized balcony with cushioned chairs where you could sit and look across the street out at the water. I would definitely stay here again! -
Review from Katalina C.
Orange County, CA
7/25/2009
Alot more than what we expected for the price.
Great location.
The view is amazing with a little bit of imagination, you feel like you're in europe. There is a beautiful view of the harbor and the hills.
Late night, you can see the beautiful lights of downtown san diego.
They carry alot of toiletries for your trip just in case you forget any shampoo, conditioner, soap. If you need more towels or pillows, room service is very quick. They have a hair dryer and iron. Major plus for free wifi.
Parking is not that great. Pool closes pretty early...10 pm. The worst thing was that our room was not ready until 4 pm... Yet we still had to check out before 12. For that reason, I would take away half a star. -
Review from CRYSTEL C.
Contra Costa, CA
Updated - 4/28/2010
Rated 3 stars prior to receiving an email of acknowledgement from the hotels Guest Services. Bumped up to 5 stars because of GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE and reply.
Again, lovely location and very relaxing hotel. I will test the customer service again to ensure that it was thoroughly acknowledged.
If you want to stay at a beautiful, economical, relaxing hotel; GIVE BEST WESTERN ISLAND PALMS, San Diego a chance.
Overall, I'm sure you will not be disappointed.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/26/2010
I WAS EXPECTING A CHEAP ASS BEST WESTERN, but because I wanted a view oh so badly- and all the… Read more »
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Review from Dove J.
San Jose, CA
10/17/2010
I just came back from a boot camp and so glad that it was held at Island Palms.
Great place for business conferences, near the airport, surrounded with great venues and good amenities. No need to get a rental, great place to exercise, good restaurant, and excellent for boot camp activities.
I am very impressed and happy with their efficient staff and service. Shuttle was on time and driver was helpful and courteous. Front desk quickly checked us in with whatever information entered in the internet.
At the seminar, time is of the essence, restaurant personnel fully understood our time constraints and would take our orders and deliver to our conference room. What a service!
Venue is right on the marina so during breaks or individual group meetings, we met outside the conference room. It was quiet, fresh, and meditative. Great place to reflect and review lessons-learned.
Restaurant food was always hot and fresh. Enjoyed dinners with great wine, superb clam chowder, shrimp bisque, fresh calamari and salmon grilled to perfection! Ceasar salad was great too. Can improve on dessert selection ... but since I really can go without, it was good ... :)
This place would have gotten 5 stars if it is somewhat remodeled. Wear and tear of the facility is beginning to show but overall, price is really of excellent value! -
Review from Khoury S.
Oakland, CA
8/27/2011
This place is very chill. It's like a little bungalo tucked away next to the coast. The suites have a great kitchenette for cooking your own food. i think we housed two families of about 7 or 8 people total in one room! Can't go wrong with this place.
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Review from Mandy L.
Half Moon Bay, CA
7/26/2010 2 photos
Fantastic stay! The staff is very personable, and we're genuine in there offers for help. We had two rooms for our party and the smaller one was still a large room with newer amenities, it also had a small lawn in front and a staircase that led down to the a beautiful walkway along the marina.
The larger room was a suite and was AMAZING! A private vanity, separated bathroom, a huge hd flat-screen and a private portch with a view of the marina on one side and downtown san deigo on the other. It also had a kitchen and a dining-room table for four. We ended up staying in for dinner and used the dishes that were provided in the kitchen.
Also, in both rooms, the windows have no screens and they open to full capacity, it was so nice to get authentic ocean air instead of air conditioned hotel air.
There is also a lot of parking scattered throughout the grounds and no parking structure. We found our favorite hotel on this trip, and plan to return within the year. -
Review from Peter M.
Alexandria, VA
10/20/2008
Kudos to the staff. They made this place jump onto my "return" list. Very friendly and helpful.
Great views, and not far away from downtown, this is right off the harbor and smack in the middle of the boat yards. Boat dock is in walking distance, and very nice private area that is not on any main roads. Parking is free, and I got a good deal off http://hotels.com for a couple of days. Suite was a free upgrade, so it was extremely comfortable with the inclusion of a couch, two large screen TV's, refrigerator and stovetop. Would have liked a bathtub over the shower, but the twin sinks were nice had my wife joined me on this business trip. In the evenings, it's nice just to walk along the bay and see the city across it. One night, the fireworks were really nice to see. Interior was a bit of "Island Hut" style... but comfortable and clean.
Bottom Line: I'll be back as long as the rates stay the same. -
Review from Lisa L.
5/12/2008
I ventured off to San Diego for a recruiting fair at USD. This was one of the hotels on the list that was a little less expensive than the other options.
I arrived at about midnight on a Thursday night. I checked in -- cute lobby and it looked safe... there was some construction on the road at the time. My room was clean, the shower was fine. Meets the Best Western standard... almost made me feel like I was in Hawaii again.
Decent hotel. For the price in San Diego, seems like a deal.
