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Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Beauty and Spas Skin Care Beauty and Spas Day Spas Hotels & Travel Car Rental Active Life Fitness & Instruction Gyms Hotels, Skin Care, Day Spas, Car Rental, Gyms [Edit]
1775 E Mission Bay Dr(at Quivira Access)
San Diego, CA 92109
(619) 276-4010
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Michele D. said: "This place is amazing. I felt like I really was at a spa. Everything was wonderful. Sandy is fantastic. The Chinese facial is great-you will look and feel gorgeous. And you don' t have to purchase a membership. Will return. I…" read more »
105 reviews for Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa
Review Highlights
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"Lots of activities and a nice pool." In 7 reviews -
"Fire pits, cocktails, sunset and a great person to share it..." In 6 reviews -
"they also have a fitness center and tennis courts." In 4 reviews
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105 reviews in English
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Review from John M.
San Diego, CA
3/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I have stayed here with friends from out of town. Together we all enjoyed the walking trail that makes its way through the property grounds as well as the bar area that is situated right along the water overlooking the jet ski, bike, and paddle boat rental dock.
After the sun went down, we enjoyed a bonfire on the beach. Good Times! -
Review from Ryan F.
Bedford, TX
5/23/2012
I got the room on Priceline then upgraded to the bayview on the 7th floor in the tall building. This was not my first choice but it was where I stayed none the less. The outside is not the most appealing nor modern. Decent view to the bay and Fiesta Island. The rooms were more modernly updated than was the outside. Everything was as expected for a hotel room. One thing I noticed... why do hotels always have horrible shower heads? This one was no exception. I did enjoy the balcony and the pleasant California sun in the evening.
The Pool was very nice. Quite big and had a separate children's pool. Two hot tubs that are always kept hot. On the weekends, you can be see skating and roller blade dancing to music on the sidewalk in front of the beach. Quite entertaining especially seeing the various people who participated.
The surrounding areas around the hotel is probably the best part of my experience. So many runners, bikers, and other very active people roaming the area park. We spent hours just walking on either side of the hotel.
I didnt try the in room food due to price nor did I try any of the restaurants because I wanted to get out. I did try looking for a bar a couple times but I found nothing. The latest thing that was open at the hotel was Acqua which closed at 11:00pm! Am I the only one used to hotel bars open to 2am?
Overall I enjoyed myself. I don't know if I would stay here again with so many other places I was suggested to try first, but I wouldn't mind staying here again if it was the cheapest available. -
Review from Heather J.
Champaign, IL
5/8/2012
We recently stayed here for 3 nights. I'd rate it 2.5 if I could. It's deserves better than a 2 star review but not quite a 3.
The room seemed pretty clean but had a couple problems. The night stand with a glass top obviously had not been cleaned because there was some green lotion or something smeared on the top. The room had a bit of "musky" odor and it had been DOUSED in Febreeze. It was ridiculous. The smell was strong but started to dissipate after the first night but only after keeping the balcony door open to air things out. I have to agree with other reviewers that the room seems damp. It's hard to explain.
Even though the bathroom was clean, I HATED taking a shower in there. There is no fan and it turned into a sauna when you showered. I had to open the door and let it air out for a while before I could go back in and do my hair and makeup. The light on the vanity had a fluorescent bulb and flickered for almost a minute every time you turned it on. That's not a big problem though. Just needs a new bulb.
There is NO wifi. I read through the reviews and saw that am employee had responded to negative reviews, specifically to another complaint about no wifi and she said that they would have it by Jan 2012. It's May 2012 and it's still not there. I have to check email for work. We were there for three days and I only had the data on my cell. I had to nearly go over on data plan. I just think that in this day and age where wifi is free in almost every coffee shop and tons of other places, the Hilton should include it when I'm paying $159 a night. If you want to use the internet, you have to pay $11 and hook up to the in-room router. Why not just let people connect to that router for free if you were promising free wifi by Jan 2012 and it hasn't been done yet?
The room was spacious and was nicely decorated. The TV was nice and big but the remote wouldn't work from the bed. You had to get up and walk directly in front of the tv. That was really annoying, especially for turning the tv off for the night.
The pool was really pretty. The weather didn't really cooperate with us enough to enjoy it, but we sat in the hot tub plenty. There's lots of nice lounge chairs and tables. This is probably the best part of the hotel.
Overall, I probably would choose another place to stay if we were staying near Mission Bay again. -
Review from J O.
Costa Mesa, CA
4/15/2012
Overpriced. And $30 for parking? This isn't downtown, you have to be kidding me. We paid $250 for one night accommodations for the Romance package, we got champage and strawberries and breakfast in the a.m. Then we heard other people talking at the spa how they got rooms for $80 on http://priceline.com. I was pretty pissed after that.
This is def a kid-dominated place, not great for couples. -
Review from Beth W.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've wanted to stay at this Hilton ever since I was a little girl and once I finally stayed it was everything I thought it would be.
As far as I can remember my family has held its reunions at Mission Bay Park (and still does) and every year I passed the Hilton, watched the vacationers with envy and wished that I could stay there too. When I was in my teens I asked my parents if we could check in and they would always tell me, "No, we live in San Diego so you can check yourself in at home." Years passed and I finally was old enough and had the means to check myself into the hotel but for some reason I just didn't. I wish I had earlier.
Hubs and I were worn out from our activity-packed holiday season and were looking to start off the New Year fresh and stress free, so we decided to check into the Hilton for some desperately needed rest and relaxation. We chose this hotel because 1) I've always wanted to stay here; 2) It reminded hubs of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu; 3) It was somewhat secluded and far away from the hectic energy of the city; 4) We didn't want to break the bank; and 5) We wanted to invite a few friends over for a bonfire outside of our room.
We arrived at the resort on a Friday afternoon. It was a picturesque setting with the sun going down and palm trees swaying in the breeze. We parked our car in one of the many spots and made our way to the front desk where we were warmly greeted by William, who checked us into a waterfront studio suite with a private fire pit. Once we entered our room we were blown away. It was tastefully remodeled in a modern island theme and it was quite spacious. The bed was comfy and the room was clean. The trendy bathroom also came fully supplied with Peter Thomas Roth toiletries. A few steps down led to our sitting area, (complete with a coffee maker, microwave and mini fridge), and outside of that was a curtained private patio with a comfy little bed overlooking our personal fire pit by the bay. Sounds amazing right?! Well it was!
Afterwards we had a wonderful dinner at Acqua and then chatted the night away with friends, wine and smores by our private fire pit until 1am, which was nice because the public fire pits only a few feet away closed at 10pm. I only wished that it was the summer so that we could see the fireworks from Sea World. You could buy firewood from the hotel's gift shop for $15, but make sure and bring the 20% off coupon hidden in the body creme sample from Spa Brezza - which I loved.
The next morning we woke up, watched the news on the large flat screen tv, had a standard breakfast buffet at Acqua, rented a paddle boat for an hour for $20, walked along the bay, enjoyed the gorgeous pool area, laid outside on our private patio for a quick nap and had plenty of time to check out.
What's interesting is that this resort isn't set up like the traditional hotels in San Diego. Instead, there are several buildings/areas throughout the lush, sprawling hotel grounds including the main tower, conference rooms, villas, Spa Brezza, several tennis courts, the tropical pool and pier for water sports or bike rentals. There is something for everyone! It looks like some of the buildings are undergoing a renovation, which is good because this is an older property. Also, unlike the rooms, the grounds are not meticulously kept and some areas are in need of a good power wash or paint touch up. All are easy fixes but hubs thinks that they added to the overall charm of the surroundings.
We usually check into hotels on our way to doing something else. But here, we were all about staying in and enjoying our room, the genuine service and the resort's several amenities.
Stay here if you truly want to get away from it all. -
Review from Alison L.
1/6/2012
With Hilton points, there aren't many choices in San Diego (non business travel)....
I'd give the restaurant a 4 stars, so this review isn't about that.
This is an older resort/hotel that's been redone in the inside. New carpet, bed, ammenities etc... however, the thickness of the walls couldn't have changed much. And each room has a different shower head.. so if you're luck you'll get a newer one, if not, you'll have the one with less water pressure.
I heard EVERYTHING! Kids running down the halls, people talkking in normal voices in the next room, someone blowing their nose while I showered (I was in the shower, and heard someone in the other room through the wall blow their nose). Toilet flushing above me, while laying in bed. You can really hear everything.
Nice pool, nice view of the sunset from the shore/dock area, nice gym-- though they could really add some lighting in there... it's connected to the spa, and has spa lighting. If you like running and lifting in the dark, you'll enjoy that.
Pool area also has jacuzzi, ping pong, and a big checker board.
Aroma is the coffee shop downstairs for a quick breakfast... the pastries sell out quick though. -
Review from Victor S.
Blythe, CA
3/28/2012
Our reservation was for check in at 4 pm our room wasn't ready until after 5. Rooms are average price but they get you on the parking. You pay $32 to park on the property. Or they make you walk from the street which is far away with little to no parking. What a joke! The restaurant food was average but the service was horrible. We had a party of 9 and had to get up and ask twice for someone to refill our drinks. Obviously the didn't care about taking care of us since the automatically added there tip into our bill. The only nice thing we enjoyed was the pool area and the walk on the boardwalk. If you don't plan on spending any time in your room or at the resturant and don't mind parking a mile away, and dont care about customer service in anyway, then this would be a place for you.
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Review from Nikie N.
Carlsbad, CA
12/12/2011
What an amazing time! My fiance and I were here for a company holiday party and decided to book a hotel room for the night of the event, Couldn't have asked for a better experience here at the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa. When my fiance and I first checked in we were greeted by the nicest front desk employee William. He was so nice in fact that he upgraded us to the best suite in the entire complex for only a small fee. He told us the owner himself stays in this suite when he comes to visit! We were ecstatic and so greatful that William was so kind into upgrading us. Not only did we get to indulge into a night of luxury, but my coworkers ended up stopping by and visiting to check out the spacious hotel room.
We would DEFINITELY stay here again, especially due to the kind staff that works the front desk. Thanks again William! -
Review from kim p.
12/15/2011
WONDERFUL bar and restaurant! I think it's called Aqua and there are firepits galore and little pod seating! So cool! Even on a Wednesday night it wasn't completely dead. But it wasn't loud enough to be obnoxious. It was just perfect. Intimate but surrounded.
Great for dinner or drinks!!
Free parking!! yeeeesss!!! -
Review from Michael T.
Bellevue, WA
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not a four star hotel as indicated by Priceline and other travel sites (IMHO). The exterior is outdated and gives the impression of an old motel.
The interior of our room was nicely renovated. We had a 32" inch LCD TV in our room. The balcony was large and great for enjoying a morning coffee and newspaper.
A few things that bugged me:
- The coffee mugs were not cleaned.
- Shower was leaking.
- Shower curtain had several holes in it and was not long enough to prevent water from escaping the tub.
- The toilet was awkwardly positioned to the toilet roll.Comment from Vera G. of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa 9/12/2011
Hi Michael T., Thank you so much for providing us with… More » -
Review from Manos S.
Kensington, MD
2/19/2012
The facility is wonderful, my experience with the staff is the reason for the hotel losing at least one star. Very nice pools, great location, fairly spacious rooms (with a mini-fridge). The check-in was OK, but trying to retrieve an item I left behind, was an exasperating loop with automated systems, and the same clerk, at least twice who kept promising to put me through to Lost and Found, but I would end up back in the main phone menu. I know it's not part of a typical hotel experience, but traveling as much as i do (about 150 nights/year), I find that they way non-guests are treated is a reflection of the type of service that can be expected.
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Review from Thomas O.
Beaverton, OR
1/18/2012
Update 1/23/2012: The double charge for breakfast has been removed from my bill after calling the director of rooms and leaving a message. I'm still shocked that it took so much to get this situation corrected. I think Nick, the manager on duty, who smirked insincerely the entire time he talked to me, simply didn't want to admit he was clearly in the wrong. His stonewalling, promising to fix the situation, but never following through was clear evidence that he never intended to do anything for me. The situation is finally fixed, but the rating stays the same. Gotta get those coffee makers in the rooms as advertised...
Shocked. I'm still in shock. First, the hotel doesn't have a courtesy shuttle from the airport. I was in town for a conference and didn't want a car, so this was quite a surprise. Breakfast was included in the conference registration fees. I went down to pick up my registration materials but they weren't there yet. So I went to get the buffet breakfast. I signed for the breakfast and went back to register. Well, they were there, and the same breakfast buffet was being served inside the conference room. Except it turns out I had now paid twice. Once when I registered and again when I signed in the restaurant. No problem, I thought. I'll just explain at the front desk and they'll remove the double charge. It's been two days of arguing with them. They want my conference to agree to pay for my breakfast yet a THIRD time! On top of that, service is amazingly rude. At my age, with as much as I have traveled around the world, you would think it would be difficult to shock me with rude, poor service. I asked Nick, the manager on duty, what he would expect if he were in my situation. He said he would be too smart to be in my situation. So, he insults his customers and gives poor service!
OK, update as of 1/19/2012. Concierge tells me the shuttle to the airport is free. When I get to the airport, the driver charges 20 dollars and hands me a sheet explaining the fees! It just keeps getting worse.
Plus, after reading the responses of the public relations manager explaining that each room has a coffee machine with complimentary Starbucks, I have to point out that my room DID NOT have a coffee maker. -
Review from Sarah B.
Santee, CA
8/29/2011
So my 20 year HS reunion was held pool side on a HOT summer night. The setting was nice, the event was good, but the drink prices EXTREMELY disappointing. We all knew that it would be a cash bar event, and planned for it, but $9 for a small glass of wine I thought was seriously just robbing the bank. On top of it the appetizers were lacking and sat out almost all evening.
I know that rental places are expensive and take that into consideration when attending events, but come on in this economy, really who can justify paying that much for a small glass of wine?
If that wasn't bad enough, for some reason they decided that it just wasn't hot enough out there that they needed the fire place to and heaters going. Literally causing everyone to be SWEATING their booties off and not in a good way.
Our party area was suppose to be private but hotel guests seemed to just wander in with no hotel staff asking them to leave. Ropes where taken down at 9pm when the party was suppose to go till 11pm, when at 10 the hotel kicked the party out. A bad taste.
Bottom line if you are looking for a place to hold an event, I'd say look elsewhere. EXPENSIVE drinks, bad security, awful food, and just over all a bad experience for a location. -
Review from Malea M.
Hawthorne, CA
2/19/2012
My fiancé is the o e that reserved the room and checked us in so I can't comment on the staff. However, the room itself was nice, but our room was right at the top off the stairs! We heard everyone conversations as they walked up to get to their rooms. In the morning, around 6am was when I was woken up about every ten minutes by people walking down stairs with their luggage banging each step down 2 flights. The hotel is really close to Sea World which was cool but I could also hear the kids screaming as they are running up and down the stairs, yelling about how excited they are to see the whales and dolphins. That was one of my worst nights sleeps ever at a hotel. I'm going to start being one of those customers that complain and request another room. I hate being that person but that was ridiculous.
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Review from E P.
Chicago, IL
7/15/2011
I came here for business and stayed in a nice suite off the pool area. The first night I came I flew in around 11PM and their wasn't much going on in the hotel. The bars were closed, so was the pool, and if I wanted to go anywhere for last call I would have to cab to a biker bar... I ended up walking along the beach and dock near here and people were making fires on the beach and it was cozy. Everything was wonderful here and the pool area had two jacuzzis that I definitely was able to enjoy!
The only concern I had was the smell of mildew, musk, and possibly mold from outside my room. I have a horrible mold allergy and I was very sick during my stay here. I know it was the hotel, because when I went out for the day I would feel better until I returned. We ended up changing our plans and booking at the BayFront Hilton. I would have enjoyed my stay here if it wasn't for that inconvieniance!
It's a great spot for families as well!
I know because my monokini definitely got the attention of quite a few dads ;)
OH AND NO WIFI?!?! My cousin is in Iraq and he manages to get wifi out there. I had to tether it from my iPhone, which beat the typical $20 a day Hilton internet charge, but still what the fuck?Comment from Vera G. of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa 8/8/2011
Hi Elizabeth, I apologize for the late response to your… More » -
Review from Rob H.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
PARTS of this hotel are very nice. My wife and i stayed here for three days while we were vacationing in San Diego and Los Angeles. The location is great being so close to the zoo and the fantastic Fashion Valley mall. The hotel is showing it's age, but parts of it have been redone and or redecorated. This is no higher than a three star hotel. We dined at their restaurant Acqua, which was decent but didnt quite live up to the high class joint it's trying to be. The staff was all very friendly which was nice to see. I would stay here again but not for the price we paid for a three day weekend.
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Review from B D.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2012
This is one of the worst experiences I have had with a company in a long time.
#1 Parking. We stayed in a water front room and there are not enough parking spaces
For the entire guests. I had to circle and wait and still nothing. Finally had to park blocks away. And to add insult this cost me $32 bucks per day.Unbelivable.I was not even told that I was going to be charged to park. My room had so many issues. They keep the coffee maker, fridge, and microwave in a closet next to the bed. The problem is the doors will not fully open because the bed is blocking them. There is a light hanging 2" right over the TV not needed but no light over the desk and chair. Also the tub/shower has no light and its very dark unless you leave the curtain open. Seriously what moron gave the ok on this room when they tried to refurbish it? The place is surrounded by shady a shady industrial area so nothing to do unless you travel to sights. The activities are you might have guest over priced and nothing is included with the over priced room.
The men's locker room at 3:00pm was out of towels to wash your hands and it was dirty and not maintained well for a Spa. I just don't get it I always thought Hilton was a good place but no one is managing this one properly for sure. And I think the parking fee is a desperate rip off to gain funds. ****************** I WOULD SAY DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY STAY SOME WHERE ELSE************* -
Review from Aaron G.
San Diego, CA
9/6/2011
This place is fantastic. . I will start with the room. The room was spacious and had a lot of towels body wash, shampoo, conditioner, mouth wash, and lotion. There was a flat screen television around 36 inches and great down comforters.
The poolside was filled with children. There was a Jacuzzi, ping pong table, over sized checkers board, and a full service bar with food and waitresses. The pool overlooked the bay and just outside the resort they had a bag set and a ladder golf set. Unfortunately they were missing a single set of balls for the letter golf set. The food poolside is pretty expensive and terrible.Comment from Vera G. of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa 9/12/2011
Hi Aaron G., Thank you for taking the time to write a review… More » -
Review from Harsha R.
5/26/2011
Thanks to a good deal on Southwest Vacations, we stayed at the Hilton Resort on a recent trip to San Diego. Our stay was very comfortable. Clean and modern room, bathroom, and all the good stuff.
My only interaction with the staff lasted for 5 minutes during check-in and they came across as friendly and efficient. No complaints with the housekeeping either.
Though I read in many of the reviews that the hotel charges for parking, I didn't have to pay for it. Maybe it was already included in the initial payment, I'm not sure.
The location is really nice. Very close to the airport, SeaWorld, and downtown San Diego. I'll definitely consider this hotel on future visits.Listed in: Hotels of North America
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Review from Mike L.
Dana Point, CA
8/18/2011
I stayed here for couple of nights when I was in San Diego for a training. Rooms were nice and clean. Furniture looked very nice as well.
Fitness center was a disappointment. I also wish they had lap pool as well. I called the Spa to see if I can use the Jacuzzi. It was broke.
All in all, the hotel had a nice, tropical settings and made me relax after a long day of training. I had a deal, so I paid less than usual rate.
FYI.
Wifi isn't free at room. It's free at the lobby.
No complementary coffee in your room either.
There are plenty of tennis court and a basket ball court.
Beach is adjacent to the hotel. Lots of activities you can do with family.Comment from Vera G. of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa 8/22/2011
Hi Mike L., Thank you so much for posting a review on Yelp… More » -
Review from Julia G.
Mesa, AZ
8/13/2011
This was a great hotel. I stayed in Villa Waterfront for five (5) days. It was a gorgeous room. Clean, fresh and had a great view of the bay; no problems with room service. The balcony was nice to sit out on and watch the sunset or take in a drink with the beautiful view. They have bikes you can rent on the walkway that are very inexpensive and their little gift shop offered a variety of items; I should have stayed away : )
Although the hotel seems to be huge, it was easy to get around. I didn't have to pay for parking, I was able to put my car rental right in front of my door each day. They have a great breakfast spread, it's not a lot of variety but sufficient to get you off to a good day. The bar that is adjacent to the pool and the waterway, served very good Margaritas; I enjoyed a few.
Overall, I have to give this hotel a 5, it was just that nice. The staff was nice, friendly and very prepared. Next time I'm in for the bonfire!Comment from Vera G. of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa 8/22/2011
Hi Julia G., Wow! Thanks so much for the outstanding… More » -
Review from Marissa S.
San Diego, CA
11/17/2011
Stayed here on Halloween. The room was nice and hotel seemed clean. But whatever you do don't order the four cheese pizza from room service. It smells like stinky feet and has a very strange after taste.
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Review from Julianne M.
Anaheim, CA
5/23/2011 4 Check-ins Here
A great resort. We were there when it was a bit chilly and cool, so we got a lot more use out of the hot tubs than the pool or bay. They have access to lots of beach/bay toys, so if we ever go back on a hot day, we'd definitely take one of the toys out.
We wanted a private get-away to get away from life for the weekend, and we got a great suite (upgraded for Hilton HHonors :) with what seemed like no next-door or below neighbors (awesome) and it was so nice and quiet where we were. Our room overlooked such a pretty grassy area that it reminded of us of our honeymoon in Hawaii.
Thanks, Hilton! -
Review from Lianne T.
San Diego, CA
12/5/2011
So this review is specifically for the spa. The spa itself is beautiful and very relaxing. I was able to use the steam room before my massage and the front staff were lovely.
The massage experience itself was creepy. My massage therapist did/said a few things during the massage which made me feel very uncomfortable. I wrote a complaint to the Hilton and hopefully they will resolve the issue, but until then I would request a female massage therapist. -
Review from Joan L.
San Jose, CA
9/7/2010 6 photos
The hotel is a bit out dated on the outside. As we were driving up I was a bit worried. I was still trying to keep positive thought though. As we opened the door I noticed an awful smell from the room. It smelled like an old motel. I was ready to turn around and leave, but thank goodness for the way the room was renovated. I also have to say we had a gorgeous view of Mission Bay (rm. 215). So we stuck with the hotel. Blasting up the AC helped control the smell a bit. The place is right next to the beach.
They also have a nice pool, bike rentals, as well as water toys. The bikes aren't brand new, but still did the job. Make sure that the tires are good before you take off. We noticed that one of the tires had this funny bump on it and we ended up taking another bike. Good thing we did because all of a sudden we heard this big blast and low and behold it was that same tire.
The Fresco and Acqua restaurants were good and I loved how the patio had open fire pits with pod style chairs all around. Grab a drink from the lounge, make your self comfy in a pod chair, keep warm from the fire pit, and sit back and enjoy the breeze. That was the best way to wrap up the night. -
Review from ericka L.
Pasadena, CA
1/15/2008
I agree with much of what Minty wrote. The room itself was lovely and spacious and had a beautiful view of the bay from our 5th floor location. However, it was loud - I normally ask for a room away from the elevators, but obviously I was too excited about the prospect of free booze to worry about that this time. Housekeeping not only tried to bust in on us, but also talked LOUDLY in the hallway all morning. Don't they realize some people are still drunk before noon?
I also wasn't overly impressed with the staff at the registration desk - they were young and had a bit of the attitude you'd expect to get from high school kids working at the mall rather than at a nice hotel. I also felt ripped off paying $20 for self-parking.
Overall, I would give this place three and a half stars, but for only two reasons:
1) The parking lot is dark enough to enjoy a lingering goodnight without interruption.
2) If you wake up extremely groggy due to the previous evening's activities and forget your purse (with a camera, driver's license, and favorite lip gloss inside of it), but don't realize it until the next day and call in a panic, the security staff is super-nice and very responsive. I just received my belongings via DHL today. Whew!
Helpful hint: if you need assistance, the operator is a bitch. Ask for the night manager. -
Review from Angela T.
San Diego, CA
11/11/2008
We had our wedding ceremony and reception here in October and the majority of our guests stayed here as well. The service was EXCELLENT; the rooms are very modern and spacious; the pool area is FRICKIN TIGHT!! If they had a live DJ, the pool area would remind me of a Las Vegas hotel pool. If you aren't a traditional "I need to have my wedding in a church" type of person...I HIGHLY recommend having your wedding at the Hilton. Our pictures look like we were in Hawaii....seriously! Everyone told us that our ceremony was like what they've seen in the movies.
It's a little pricey as far as room rates go, but what do you expect, it's a Hilton Resort near the water. The majority of our guest's rooms had a little bonfire pit and had awesome views. Everyone was really happy with the accomodations.
The breakfast buffet in the restaurant there was also worth it. I think it was $20 or something. I know I ate my $20 worth! -
Review from Min T.
Los Angeles, CA
1/14/2008
The hotel is undergoing renovations and although our room was beautiful with a modern decor, its actual location was horrible. We were situated on the fifth floor right by the elevators. All night long, I could hear the ding of the elevators and the rude ass people getting on and off the elevators. Stop talking so loudly! My head hurts. Please, please, please, I'm trying to sleep off a hangover!
And the housekeeping tried to break in on us. It's my general understanding when you have the room for the night, they don't feel the need to bust in on you while sleeping and therefore I don't need to put out the the do not disturb sign. Oy.
And then the front desk called to ask if we had called about a broken light. Uh, no.
PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOTT IN HIMMEL, I NEED SOME EFFING SLEEP.
Okay, then.
Otherwise, great service, if albeit awkward and goofy. Note, parking at the hotel is $20 which includes complimentary valet. When we didn't use him as such, he acted as a broker for the town car we later took that evening. Hmm, $15 for a 5-6 mile ride down the street? Gee, thanks. What a rip. Oh well, when in San Diego...
I did enjoy the Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries, the towels could have been softer but otherwise, it was a well-appointed room. I'd maybe stay here again if we could get a room far, far away from the elevators.
Apparently, we could have made use of the tennis courts and gym with our hotel accommodations but who had the time?Listed in: I left my liver in SD!
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Review from Diana D.
San Fernando, CA
9/19/2008
Where in Sams Hell did YOU come from!!!!!!?
While on my way to "Firehouse by the Bay" to get my swing dancing on, we had to pass through the Hotel. I did not have any idea how stunning the Hilton had gotten.
All of a sudden I was surrounded by swanky music in their Ocean View dinning area.
I also took note of their jacuzzi & pool, which were accompanied by lavish bon fire pits. Hellz yes.
... my new mission in life is to sneak into their pool when no ones around. -
Review from Kate M.
New York, NY
9/25/2011
This hotel is very outdated and the staff at the front desk is not very service oriented. We had to have someone re print our bill over 3 times, although they finally fixed our bill, they were not very friendly. Not only do they not have wifi (they have cable modems) it is also 11.00 dollars per day. Ordering a movie is 17.00 dollars, which seems ridiculous because the price on pay per view, or any other hotel i've ever been to (including 5 star hotels) i've never seen anything over 8 dollars. The food is very mediocre. I will say the hotel in general was very clean, the restaurant staff was friendly, and the rooms were also very clean. I would not go back to this hotel, or recommend it to a friend.
Comment from Vera G. of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa 10/12/2011
Hi Laura M., Thank you for taking the time to post a review… More » -
Review from K P.
Chino Hills, CA
4/27/2009
BF had a work conference here and I tagged along for the weekend.
This place is pretty sweet, and more importantly a couple of things really just made the weekend enjoyable. I spent the entire weekend at the hotel, I didn't step foot out of the parking lot once, but it wasn't bad at all!
We were on the late side arriving Friday night and William at the front desk was still gracious enough to give us a free upgrade. We ended up in the villa section instead of the tower building with a beautiful view of the water and a sweet fire pit.
Did we use it once? No. But it was still cool.
The gym at the Hilton is by far one of the best hotel gyms ever. The Precor machines are no joke, and the towels are plentiful.
So even though I didn't leave the hotel once, my 2 days of eat, lay out, work out, repeat were everything I could ask for! -
Review from A. B.
Riverside, CA
5/31/2011
BLACK MOLD ON THE CEILING!!!
If I could give a zero star review, I would.
My fiancee and I were there earlier in May. He arrived a day early. When getting ready for a conference in the morning, an 8"x36" piece of wood from the bathroom vanity fell off and hit his bare foot.
I got there while he was at the conference, and knew nothing of the earlier incident. When I got to the room, the first thing I noticed was how dark and damp feeling the room was, even in the late afternoon. The second thing I noticed was all the oil from the pneumatic door closer streaking all over the entrance door. Definitely not something you want to brush up against - your clothes would be ruined.
Because of the vanity incident, management offered to put us in an ocean-view room. Seems nice, right?
The next room was much brighter, but still damp feeling. When I tried to sleep that night, I woke up every 20 minutes or so coughing severely, as in pneumonia-like fits. (I don't have health/lung issues.) My eyes were burning and watery. Not good. I had trouble sleeping for the rest of the trip.
Next day - I notice the bathroom fan does not work. Odd, considering the one in the cave room did. There is also no complimentary wi-fi in the room. (Who does this? Even the $59 Howard Johnson down the road has free wi-fi!) When I tried to call guest services about these issues using the speed dial on the room's phone, my call actually went to another guest room. The exasperated and obviously pissed guest answered the phone, and told me that ALL guest services calls were coming to her room. Nice.
I dialed guest services without the speed dial. I told them about the dialing issue, and they seemed like they had no clue it had even been happening, which, judging by how angry the other guest was, could not have been true.
Eventually, we were put in contact with maintenance about the bath fan. We were told the whole building had a "passive fan" system. Really?? In a closed room adjacent to the beach? Taking a shower literally creates a steam room without the ventilation.
That night, I noticed that one of the switches in the bathroom had a short in it. It would not turn off in the "off" position without an extra push. The next morning, my fiancee found the black mold on the bathroom ceiling. It wasn't just a small spot, either. It trailed along the edge of the ceiling from the shower to the toilet, and along the ceiling above the toilet, too.
We immediately called guest services (not using speed dial, of course) and were told someone from housekeeping would be right up. NO ONE EVER SHOWED UP. We told them at the front desk, and the man barely acknowledged the complaint. Not even an apology or assurance that they would look at it.
When we got home, I contacted their corporate office. Four to five days later, I received an e-mail stating that they received my complaint, and to allow them three days to look into it. That was 14 days ago. I have heard nothing more from them.
I have notified the San Diego County Health Department. I also took pictures and video of the problem before we left.
DO NOT STAY HERE - BLACK MOLD IS TOXIC.
If you choose to risk it, inspect the room before accepting it. Look up. Test the fan and all other switches. Open the patio door and let it air out the entire day. You have been warned.Comment from Vera G. of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa 8/12/2011
Angel B., I apologize for the late response to your review.… More » -
Review from Arlete S.
Laguna Niguel, CA
9/3/2010
We stay at allot of Hilton properties, because of my husband's business travels. With the Hilton resorts, some are newer than others, and some are much more luxurious than others. We recently stayed at the Berkeley Hilton in the Marina. While it isn't a resort property, the location at the Berkeley marina, and the walking paths, made it enjoyable. The San Diego resort is about the same vintage property, and also located in a perfect spot for families or adult only stays.
Best place to stay would be the rooms facing the walk paths in front of the waterways. We were in the Paloma building on the South side, with a room that had a small step-down area, with wetbar, that led to a semi private patio with firepit. And all this bordered by a lawn, trees and then the walkpath along the water. But if you get the "original towers", you'll be on the East side of the property, in a very traditional hotel room, rectangular box, possibly facing the 5-freeway. I'd rather stay at the Embassy Suites off Harbor than in the tower.
Service is typical Hilton Resort good. Sure, anything can go wrong, but overall, you can expect that at any Hilton resort property, the service level is dialed in on "Make the clients happy." If we can get the same Diamond Honors upgrade to that room we had, I'd rather stay here than in town. If you have kids... there's a large pool, and even a city park with lots of recreational equipment. -
Review from Allison B.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2008
A resort, in a city, in a park, relatively inaccessible to most things. If you like to feel isolated from the world and confined to your resort bubble, sit down by the pool and order a drink sweetheart. And make sure it has an umbrella.
I was at the Hilton for a conference, and while the rooms were beautiful, and the grounds immaculate, and the pool fantastic, I could have been anywhere there are beaches and tropical palm trees. I got no flavor of San Diego as a city from the hotel proper. The recent makeover was clear and very pretty...onsite Starbucks is awesome.
The on site restaurant, Acqua, was overpriced and sufficient, but did not blow my socks off culinarily speaking. Is culinarily a word? I think not, but I digress.
Now, the real heart of the problem. They want me to pay for all my Internet access via my television. There is no complementary business suite? No complementary code or pass card? No printer so I can print my boarding passes and not mess around at the airport the next morning?
I am not responsible for the wrath factor, you did this to yourself Hilton. I'm at a conference that is bringing you plenty of business (because we are all dining in due to no options anywhere within a $10 cab ride), and you can't spring for some time in the business suite? Poo on you.
And, while I had a nice new flat screen TV in my room, the picture was oddly fuzzy, as if you didn't have digital signal or something. What a waste-I get a sharper clearer picture at home on my TV. Something is wrong there.
I would not go back, it was rather boring for someone who likes to walk around and see the city she is in. However, like I said, the pool is awesome and if I'm just looking for a good place to hang out, this will absolutely work.
Bring me another parasol drink! -
Review from Angela N.
11/21/2005
I visited the Resort for a business trip and I must say it served its purpose well. The food is fantastic (try the crab cakes and Austrian dessert!), the drinks unwatered-down, and there are fire pits lit in the evenings.
Pool is heated and open until midnight; the San Diego view is beautiful. Plus, the resort is near the Gaslamp district and there's a man standing at attention in front of the hotel for any conceivable moment you need a cab.
And you can't beat falling into a soft, lovingly-made bed - either for sleeping, or for watching "Arthur" and "Clifford."
Loved it here. -
Review from Kirsten G.
Long Beach, CA
11/14/2008 10 photos
I had my August 2008 Wedding here. There were some good things, but I wouldn't pick the Hilton again. To summarize --
The good:
- The venue is beautiful, stunning bay views, lovely grounds
- The food is very good -- both for events and in the restaurants
- The rooms are lovely, modern, resort-quality rooms
The bad:
- The Banquet Coordinator/Wedding Planner is pretty awful. He's unresponsive, uncreative, and handled unexpected situations horribly.
The Ugly:
- The Hilton was in the midst of Labor Dispute and ended up with Union protesters on site the day of our wedding. The GM handled it very well (which I way more then I can say for the Banquet Coordinator. And the wedding turned out OK (despite the massive amount of stress this caused). Appartenly this Hilton had been having labor problems for months and did not bother to disclose it until 5 days before our wedding.
You can read more about our experience here: http://kirstenweds.blo... -
Review from Cynthia L.
Pasadena, CA
4/18/2010 5 photos
On my first stay back in 2009, it was strictly business. I had a Traditional Tower King Bed room on a high floor. Sure, it was nice to be on a high floor, but to see the freeway outside my window was depressing. The best thing about this hotel, the beds. They were super comfy with a thick pillow-top. For breakfast, I would eat at the hotel restaurant, Acqua, using $12 vouchers via Gold status membership. Oatmeal or the muffin, fruit, and coffee breakfast combo fit within that voucher budget. Meh. Plus, their coffee tasted stale and burnt.
Fast forward to Spring 2010. My parents and I decided to take a road trip to San Diego. I had a free night stay at any Hilton hotel so I booked this resort, considered a Reward Category 7 HIlton Hotel. My parents could go for their morning walks along the lagoon trails and I could sleep soundly in bed. I was given a free upgrade for a second story villa room with 2 queen beds, a lanai, and lagoon and garden view. It was amazing and a better room than the one in the Traditional Tower. My parents were happy. I was happy. I'm bumping this hotel to 4 stars! -
Review from Noah N.
San Diego, CA
6/28/2010
This place is WAYYYYY too much money for what I experienced. The room was in dire need of a facelift, and to charge that much for parking is UNBELIEVABLE when there is all that free parking out front ( but they tow in the middle of the night).
I will never stay here again. There was really nothing special about this place. -
Review from Devon B.
Aliso Viejo, CA
4/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
We had a nice experience at this Hilton. I don't really think there's much to do in the area (except maybe Sea World), but if you're looking to just hang out by the pool and in your room it's perfect. We found a great rate on priceline, and the rooms are updated and modern with tasteful furniture. I know it's standard nowadays, but one thing that still bugs me is when hotels charge for parking. I get it when you have outside visitors but for guests to pay $25? That seems as wrong as getting charged to check your bags at the airline.
We had the breakfast buffet at Acqua, which was good but not worthy of it's own review. Typical fare and also overpriced. You are definitely paying for atmosphere and views at this hotel. In short, a great place to hang out but not really a travel destination. -
Review from Albert H.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/30/2009
Good scenery and rather isolated on the bay, with a facilty that still shows its age despite the renovations. Good pool area, nice restaurant (Acqua) as far as appearance goes. However, there are a lot of negatives.
We showed up late in the day at 4pm (which is standard check-in time). Our room wasn't available, and we were told that we would have to wait 15 minutes. About 45 minutes later still no room available, and some of the other guests had been waiting for more than 2 hours without their rooms. They've been overbooking, and apparently they're short on maidservice.
The bell hop advised me to not bother unloading my car at the front because (allegedly) you get to park your car near your room. He was wrong.
Parking is insulting with the $22 fee for a free-for-all that is simply stupid later at night. You may have to park at the opposite end of the facility.
Prices in the hotel restaurant are steep. $25 for a breakfast buffet is a joke, at least for traditional breakfast fare. There's no seafood or mimosas or anything premium in terms of cost. You're paying that fee for continental style food and eggs, pancakes, toast, etc.
Our room was rather large and close to the bay, but our friends' rooms were quite small and offered a mediocre view even though they paid a small premium for a view.
We won't stay here again.
