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The Westgate Hotel
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Hotels, Restaurants [Edit]
1055 Second AveSan Diego, CA 92101
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(619) 238-1818
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated, Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
118 reviews for The Westgate Hotel
Review Highlights
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"the shower has excellent water pressure." In 12 reviews -
"Staff was very friendly,turn down service was a nice perk." In 14 reviews -
"Shopping within walking distance." In 4 reviews
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118 reviews in English
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Review from Lorenzo D.
Raleigh, NC
4/9/2012
Stayed here only once so far. But I really liked it. There are some odd things happening here, but that adds to the interest of the place.
I have seen it written that this place reminds them of 'The Shining'. I can totally see that. It seemed strangely vacant when I was in public spaces.
I wanted to get a bite to eat first night I arrived (~11:00 pm.) and i inquired as to the hours of the restaurant. Still open,but I was told to order room service if I wanted to stay in the hotel, or there might be a couple of sandwich shops no too far that may be open still.. I wanted a a drink as well, and didn't want to eat in my room, so I went against the front desk advice and wandered down to the restaurant/bar in the lobby. Um, I should have listened to her. (BTW, she was quite attractive, poised, polite and well spoken. I imagine she attended private school as a child. In fact all of the front desk staff I encountered we're very good, helpful, polite and attractive). Very weird, I thought, that an employee of the hotel didn't want to "sell" their own restaurant/bar. Maybe here's why:
There was some loud mexican lounge singer/ guitarist doing his thing (which I'm guessing is a regular weekly thing) very loudly, like ear splittingly loud, with a small crowd of middle aged, um, amply fed Mexican( ? ) ladies clamoring around him like he was some sort of rock star. Maybe he is, but it was the last thing I expected to find at this place and time. Unexpected (which is normally great) but just seemed totally misplaced. Odd. Surreal. This would have been the last place I would choose to eat. Back upstairs for room service, which turned out to be pretty good.
I loved my room. Cool setup where there is a vestibule for every set of rooms, that is you enter a door from the hallway on your floor, and then you see two doors, one of which is your room, the other someone else's room. My room was quiet all nights I was here, even though there were people in the other room.
Large, comfortable bed, large room, almost suite like in feeing. Huge shower/bathtub combo. Too bad I was alone those nights ;-). Place is a tad shabby, but with its original dedication to the gilded age school of design, it works well enough.
Wireless and water at no charge, technically, but there is an additional fee of $15 for facilities or something. Parking expensive but no more than most upper end hotels. Workout room wasn't great, but did have some fresh citrus water for guests, which is appreciated.
A good break from chain locations. Give it a shot!
Great location. -
Review from Erika L.
San Diego, CA
5/12/2012
Unfortunately I chose the Westgate Hotel as a place to take my mother and daughter to a very special "Mother & Daughter Tea" for Mother's Day. Based on the price and menu offerings it was marketed as an upscale high tea. The Westgate has the reputation as being high caliber, and service oriented, however that was not my impression at all. With the exception of the valet who first met us as we entered (he immediately offered to help with my mother's wheelchair) the staff appear to lack training and experience in the hospitality industry. We entered the nearly empty lobby and inquired with a staff person where the tea was being served. He was exiting the elevator and said it's upstairs on the 2nd floor without a backward glance or offer to hold the door as I was trying to wheel my mother inside. My daughter jumped in to stop the door from closing on her wheelchair. No class.
Now the tea... I called ahead to confirm wheelchair accessible seating and was told to come early and we would have our choice of seating. We arrived at 2:15 for a 2:30 seating and were told to wait until everyone was seated at 2:30. Okay, minor faux pas. We were seated at 2:30 to a lovely table setting with fresh roses. The "one glass" of complimentary champagne was poured and then waiters appeared later with choice of tea. Not in individual pots (as most tea services do) but large stainless steel carafes were brought around all the tables with no real knowledge of the tea being served other than the name. Tacky, tacky, tacky. Eventually the "finger sandwiches" were brought on a large tray, and the adults were given 1 small sample of each. Typically a tea service has tiered trays of treats placed on the table so one can pick their choice at leisure. Again, no class. The waiter left our table before telling us what anything was. We called him back and my mother told him she could not eat shellfish. The waiter picked up the shrimp & cucumber sandwich off her plate and put it back on the serving tray of sandwiches which he continued to serve other patrons with. Gross! What if my mother had already tasted or licked her sandwich? (Not to fear, she didn't taste it, but what if ?!)
Now here is the truly incredible part, for an entire hour my daughter sat with an empty plate in front of her while my mother and I were offered tea and sandwiches. I inquired 3 times what was going on and why was she not being served. They said the "kitchen is behind", "the kids menu is different" (we are talking PB&J and ham & cheese sandwiches here--nothing complex!). At 3:15 I looked for the dining room manager, finally tracked him down and he gave me the same pitiful excuse as the waiters ("sorry, not our fault, kitchen is backed up!"). No one offered her an alternative, not even a cracker. Finally at 3:30 her meager PB&J, ham& cheese, egg salad and mini cheddar muffin were placed in front of her. We were not impressed. The hostess offered her a soda to make up for the hour wait. She declined as she does not drink soda. I was offered a 2nd complimentary glass of champagne which I declined as I was there for the tea experience. During the entire hour, not one waiter or manager offered the obvious solution of bringing her a scone or other sandwich. When I asked for it I was told those scones were for "adults only" and they would then charge her for the adult menu if they brought her a scone from "our menu". This is not even the height of ridiculousness yet. They put an automatic 18% gratuity on my credit card even when I told them it was the worst service I had ever had and did not want to leave a tip.
I then went higher up the chain to the banquet manager who was nice and took down my name, but not even the manager could reverse the charge! I asked for the Operations Manager or GM and was told no one was there. Sorry, there was no recourse for us despite multiple parties having voiced similar complaints. We left the Westgate Hotel with not only a bad taste in our mouths but the feeling that we had just been fleeced. -
Review from Peter B.
Duvall, WA
5/2/2012
This is a beautiful hotel. It's definitely old school and grand. The service is very good overall, friendly and efficient. But, the basics in hotel are a room and a bath, and these folks failed on both counts. The bed I had was ridiculously firm, rather like sleeping on the floor. I got very little sleep during my stay. The shower couldn't hold a temprature. It would vacilate between freezing and hot as i tried to shower. So, while it's got some great pluses, the Westgate just fails as a hotel. I'd not go back
One negative on the service. When I told the front desk I was unhappy with the room on checkout I got a blank look. When I said I was also upset with her lack of response, I got a very terse 'policy' reply. Makes me think they hear this often.Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 5/9/2012
Dear Guest- I was very happy to read that you enjoyed the… More » -
Review from Seana B.
La Jolla, CA
5/22/2012
I hosted my wedding celebration here two years ago. This hotel is gorgeous and it has an old world feel. It sort of reminds you of Paris which I personally loved. The food was good but not great on my wedding day which is the reason why I'm giving it 3 stars. Other than that the venue did not disappoint. The table service was excellent and the staff was very helpful all the way through the planning stages. The bridal suite was spacious and gorgeous. I would definitely recommend...
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Review from Joa N.
Imperial Beach, CA
5/16/2012
My daughter and I went for a staycation for mothers day weekend . We had a great time , the room was spacious , the view not so much. We attended the Mother Daughter Tea.I would recommend this to all .The food was fabulous!. all the finery and a very soothing Harpist . The quail eggs and caviar were wonderful, Great great time .We also treated ourselves to room service . also very good breakfast , very reasonable .
Thank you. We will be back ! -
Review from Eric L.
Folsom, CA
3/12/2012
What a dumpy place that needs either major renovations or to be torn down and rebuilt.
Even after showering, I felt dirty and dusty.
And the 60s/70s style was atrocious. -
Review from Brian P.
San Leandro, CA
Updated - 2/11/2012
Update:
What are you defending GM Man? Thats the most i've ever paid for a hotel room and This place is old, out date, After all this I was ushered away from the morning breakfast by your employee because I didn't have a coupon. $400 + dollars a night, uncomfortable and "put that sausage back! "
Cmon folks- what is this?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/12/2011
OMG- 400 + dollars for a room in this place. Nicely wrapped but horrible noisy, the beds were… Read more »
Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 12/15/2011
Dear Brian, I am disappointed to read of your… More » -
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Review from Lizzie S.
2/19/2012
Spent a girls' weekend in the Westgate hotel and it was lovely. This is an old world hotel, don't expect trendy or youthful, expect hushed, long carpeted halls, stunning antiques, large rooms, good linens and great water pressure. The woman running the front desk went out of her way for us, spending about 10 minutes to find us adjoining rooms. We had two rooms that shared an entry hall so we could keep our room doors open and still enjoy privacy while engaging in maximum girly time (panty clad topless, pillow fights, hair braiding and singing Katy perry naked in the shower). Guest services hit it out of the park making sure we had everything we could possibly need at all times, including water bottles, toiletries, turn down service, pillow chocolates, etc. The TVS could use an update is my only complaint, and that's really not even a complaint, just an aside.
Thank you Westgate!!!! -
Review from Erica P.
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
After parking on the cheap at Horton Plaza (love that 3-hour free validation) I rushed across the street and up a couple blocks to The Westgate, to present at a USDA Conference that was being held at one of the upstairs ballrooms. The minute I walked in the grand lobby the rushed pace of my heart rate descended, and I felt my lips form into a shy smile.
The vintage 1960s glamour of the Westgate always melts a little place in my heart. It wouldn't seem out of the ordinary for Jackie Kennedy herself to sashay down the gorgeous staircase into the lobby, extend a beautifully gloved hand and say, "bonjour" in that breathy voice of hers.
Truth be told, I've never been an overnight guest at the Westgate. Apart from the USDA Conference, I've only been to the Westgate a few times: a delicious champagne-infused Rotary Club Christmas Dinner a few years ago, an early morning breakfast meeting with a certain high-powered politico, and that time I was working for the Dark Side and found myself at (gasp!) an Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor fundraiser.
Each encounter I've had with the Westgate has been lovely, even if the company was lackluster. The ambiance, quality of the food, and courteousness of the staff are exceptional. Next time I'm downtown I'm going to make a point to stop in, rather than wait for some odd event. If I time it right, perhaps I'll slip through that window of time and be able to catch Jackie for high tea after all. -
Review from Ani P.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Highly recommend this place for a work conference. Great service and ample room. Parking is only valet, so negotiate a group rate!
Note: The outside looks ugly, but the inside is pretty swanky (so don't be fooled by the blah exterior). -
Review from Kristine G.
Corona, CA
2/20/2012
Comfortable beds, spacious rooms, LOVE the foyer that connects two rooms together. The Westgate is a fun throwback to a less trendy, more elegant time: parquet floors, statues, gilt mirrors, carved furniture and stunning crystal chandeliers, and quiet dignity compared to the hustle and bustle of today's more trendy hotels.
Should my stay been longer than one night I would've loved to check out the fitness center and the Westgate spa ... but maybe next time! :)
The service is awesome. From the cordial and charming valets, to the hospitable front desk concierge, and the helpful security (who was kind enough to run up the bag of brie and crackers I had left in the lobby, lol), the Westgate staff hits it out of the ballpark. -
Review from Peter B.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
I stayed here last week for a conference and had a good first impression of the hotel. However, upon checking in, they told me that I would be charged 15 dollars per day for the resort services, and that I would have additional charges incurred for using a debit card. I wish they had been more upfront about it with their advertising.
I found the rooms very spacious and clean, and if you're into the whole classic/vintage look, this place would be a good fit. Moreover, from what I've seen during my four-day stay, the majority of people who stay at this place are old people. While I was annoyed that we didn't have a small refrigerator in the room considering the price, I found the staff to be friendly and responsive. I didn't think we had an amazing view, but the hotel has an unbeatable location and is directly in front of the mall. 24 hour fitness is also within walking distance, which was very nice.
One thing that I didn't particularly like was the hotel soap and shampoo. It wouldn't rinse off completely and left me a slimy feeling. I had to go buy my own during my stay.
I'm giving the place 2 stars because while the place was decent and I enjoyed my stay, it certainly felt like what they are charging isn't justified. It's somewhat overpriced. -
Review from Latoya T.
Riverside, CA
4/7/2012
I'm going to have to give it a rating of 4 stars...for the place, location to the Gas Lamp district, atmosphere and ROOMS. The parking fees plus the hidden fees are the downers, if not for them it would have been 5 stars for me. Yes the place is antique-ish/vintage, it brings to mind the movie The Shining, with Jack Nicholson. Initially I was upset that I had to stay there (Priceline) though I have to admit...I truly enjoyed the stay.
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Review from Jillian U.
San Jose, CA
2/1/2012
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They made us feel welcome. The hotel lobby and rooms feel elegant and luxurious. Room service was prompt and delicious. Everything was still warm and the bacon perfectly crisp. I enjoyed the cherry jam and honey on my Belgian waffles.
The valet parking fee is pretty steep at $32/day. There is also a facility/resort fee that was not included in our priceline fee. So be sure to drink those bottles of water and utilize as much of the services available to make it worth your while.
If you're looking for a cheap hotel, don't stay here. But if you want to indulge in a little luxury, just know it will come at a price. If you're ok with that...then enjoy! -
Review from Nick B.
Ladera Ranch, CA
1/30/2012
I found this deal on Priceline and then the price inflated because of extra fees. I did not use parking. I found a Groupon for Aladdin parking near the airport, which is a short 1.5 mile walk or cab ride. If you can find a good deal on parking I would do that.
Overall, the hotel feels old, but has nice amenities. The in-room service was very good and things seemed clean overall. The bathroom is somewhat dated and you can tell it's an old place. The doors were somewhat strange and not altogether separate. Within a single entry way there were two side doors to separate rooms. Beside the initial confusion of having someone walk into what seemed like our room we could hear their kids easily and when they had pizza we had the pleasure of smelling every topping that they had. The beds were very firm, so if you like that, you'll be set. It got a little bit loud from the street/event noise on Saturday. It's also not in the best part of town (the county holding station/police department) is about a block away.
Overall - Good base value, but fees add up. Service is above average. -
Review from Sidney I.
Chula Vista, CA
1/2/2012
My first impression of the hotel was good. I enjoyed the vintage look and theme, especially in our room. The restroom/sink area is gorgeous and although the main room area is a bit plain, it is very spacious. The bed was a little rough and blankets very heavy. Our television area was very dusty and the remote was difficult to work with. Overall, the room itself was decent.
The employees were efficient and professional. My only complaint towards customer service is the lack of ice. The hotel does not have public ice machines, so it has to be ordered through guest services. Our stay was on New Years Eve, so their ice orders were obviously stacked up. It took an hour and a half to receive our ice. I understand that it was a busy night, but a hotel like this should be more prepared knowing that a night like NYE would require high demand for ice.
Also, the valet was not as friendly as they probably should have been.
Overall, my stay was pleasant. I would hope however, that their service is more up to par on less busy evenings. -
Review from Carol S.
Middletown, San Diego, CA
2/12/2012
We booked through hotwire and as we checked out, we got slammed with hidden facility fees. I don't mind paying however i feel cheated coz i never had to pay extra when i booked hotels through hotwire when i went to canada or any other states. I won't come back here. Just a friendly advice.
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Review from Erik S.
9/13/2011
Here is the bottomline:
Beautiful hotel, very nice but dated rooms (the whole hotel is dated).
$32 parking which is 20 bucks cheaper than what I'm used to in Chicago
Nice location to restaurants, bars, clubs, etc. About a 45min-1 walk to Balboa park.
Thought I had a good deal on Hotwire until I got to the hotel. They automatically charge you $15 for an "amenities" fee.
The amenities:
Ice Machine
Fitness Center
"High Speed" Internet
Coffee Maker
Iron
etc
They don't even have a pool and they charge you 15 for those "amenities". I've stayed at plenty of hotels that don't charge for things like that except maybe Internet. I brought this to the attention of their manager and he gave me some BS response about how many guests find value in the bundled package and how they aren't the only 4 star hotel to do that. Maybe if it were optional? Maybe if they had a pool?
I went to Balboa Park and the zoo the whole day and didn't even use any of the "amenities". One word: Bogus.Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 9/13/2011
Dear Erik S, I had read your comments and understand your… More » -
Review from Kevin H.
Irvine, CA
1/23/2012
Out of all my stays at luxury hotels westgate is potentially one of the worst experiences I have ever had. I am rating this 1 star because I believe that ratings should be based relatively on the type of hotel or accommodations. Westgate is considered a luxury hotel evident by its price and location. However, not only is the service low quality but its furnishings are subpar as well. There are no ice machines and so when I called to ask for ice, it took over 2 hours to obtain some. In addition, we only obtained around 10 ice cubes. Perhaps I should have been more precise and asked for a decent amount. There are much better hotels around the area and I would highly recommend that you look around other than this location.
Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 1/24/2012
Dear Kevin H, Thank you for taking the time to share your… More » -
Review from Tiffany J.
San Diego, CA
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
On Sunday, July 31, 2011: We, a party of 7, celebrated my sister's birthday for an AFTERNOON TEA & I was reassured both by the manager & the head server that everything will be done according to what was requested & promised but was utterly disappointed.
First, the Queen Victoria Tea Set Settings that was requested & promised never came to being. The excuse was they weren't able to get it from their storage. No courtesy call was made regarding the matter.
I was also promised a flat rate of $4.00 parking fee for attending the Afternoon Tea that was not honored by the parking attendant & was not communicated to the manager on duty at that time. We weren't trying to bail on paying, we just wanted what was promised.
The service was the worst. We constantly had to summon our server for cream, hot water, tea replacement, utensils. On top of that, our server keeps dropping our food so he had to go back & fourth at least 4X to the kitchen for replacement. Aside from us, there's only one more table with a party of two. There's no excuse for such horrible service!
For 5 out of the 7 attendees, it was their very first Tea Experience & wanted to make it an extra special event for them. Everyone went out of their way to dress for the occasion, Sadly, The Westgate Hotel gave no effort in making it an experience to remember.Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 8/30/2011
Dear Guest, I would like to thank you for choosing the… More » -
Review from Danny S.
12/22/2011
An excellent deal on Priceline had me and my girlfriend in a swanky room at the Westgate for little more than we would have paid at a Motel 6 in Phoenix -- an absolute coup for our weekend trip to San Diego. To review the hotel properly, however, I feel like I should write it from the perspective of someone who has just spent $150 per night to stay at a 4-star hotel, not someone who lucked out with a room far nicer than anything he could have normally afforded.
The first thing to say is that this was an absolutely wonderful place to spend the weekend. The hotel screamed "old sophistication" from its marble tabletops to its heavy faucet handles to its gorgeous wooden cabinets -- it felt like each part of the hotel was so historic and precious that replacing any of it would have been a crime. Perhaps, however, the hotel had taken this attitude to heart a little too loyally: we noticed that some of the fabrics on the bed were fraying with age, part of the locking mechanism on our door was no longer attached to the wood, and the latch on our balcony door would no longer shut. In this case, age may have brought a bit of senescence along with its charm.
Even so, we were pleased at the hotel's turn-down service (leave it to the graduate students to marvel: "They put on the covering just to take it back off again! Now THAT is class!"), we were thrilled at the constantly-replenishing stock of free water bottles in our cooler (not a refrigerator, insisted the label!), and we took full advantage of the spacious bath tub to revive the time-honored tradition of the Mr. Bubbles bubble bath on our second night. Free internet service and a small balcony were also highlights, and my girlfriend liked the texture of the bathrobes very much (I thought they were a little scratchy). The beds were comfortable, the room had everything we needed, and overall we were thoroughly happy with our experience.
The staff of the hotel were not just friendly -- they were exemplary. All were eager to chat, give advice, and help with anything that needed doing. The valets in particular were a good group, as was the girl who checked us in. Whether authentic or not, they gave off not only an air of professionalism and capability, but also a visible enthusiasm to please and to ensure that we had a great time on our trip. Upon returning to the hotel, staff members asked how we had enjoyed activities we had told them about earlier in the day, and there was never a point where I felt frustrated with anyone at the hotel.
The main frustration with the Westgate was not with the staff, but with the hotel policies themselves. Parking at the hotel cost $32 per night, and we were charged an additional "facilities fee" of $15 per night. In total, then, it cost about $50 per night to stay at the hotel on top of what we had already paid for the room, turning what seemed like a fantastic deal for us into a merely-great deal. I can only imagine how I would feel if my $150 per night base-level hotel room had just turned into a $200 per night room! I understand that hotels charge money for parking, and I also understand that fancy hotels with valet parking charge comparatively high rates. But something about a $15 per night "facilities fee" strikes me as sinister, even though $15 is not a huge amount: the idea seems to be that your standard rate covers your room, but if you want to STAY there then "you'll need to pay for the rest of the hotel!" That's like a mechanic saying, "Oh yeah; the repairs only cost what I quoted you earlier, but you have to remember to take into account our garage fee." Bullsh**, right?
In sum, then, I'd say that we lucked out at a just-okay 4-star hotel. One way to put the point would be that for $200 per night, I would have expected a bit better, particularly with respect to the fit and finish of the rooms. But I think it would be more accurate to say that I just don't think this was a $200 per night hotel. Given that I wasn't paying nearly $200 per night, though, I was very pleased with how my stay went. The location of the hotel was unbeatable -- right in the heart of the Gaslamp, and a short walk from countless restaurants and bars -- the room was lovely, the staff was excellent, and nothing particularly egregious happened to mar my experience. So if you can find a deal on this place, then I would suggest snapping it up: you won't regret having spent your nights here. If not, though, you might want to shop around to make sure you get the best experience you can for your money.Listed in: A Weekend in San Diego
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Review from Andrea T.
San Jose, CA
7/18/2011
More like 3 1/2 stars.
My first impression of the place was that it was in an awesome and prime location, but it gave me the creepiest feel. (I'm not a fan of super old hotels)
The room set up was weird, it was a room, but connected to two rooms, so I actually thought they had placed us in an already occupied room (I felt dumbfounded at that moment, haha!)
pros:
- great location
- turn down service (we came back to a clean room.. AWESOME! and they place everything so nicely for you)
- very spacious and roomy
- gives you a vintage hotel feel (if you're into that)
- fridge in the room!
- customer service was pretty spot on
con:
- it's a really old hotel, so it just gave me the heebie jeebies (all personal)
- valet service $32 a NIGHT.. kill me now.
- facility fee of $15 a night (even though I knew this, I had already booked the hotel through hotwire, and I was pretty upset, because shouldn't hotels include this fee in their rates?!)
Next time, if I'm not staying here, i'd like to try the high tea! -
Review from Sarah B.
5/31/2011
The good: Beautiful French theme, shower/tub big enough for two, staff was very polite and helpful (they let us borrow a corkscrew), room service was affordable-ish, and Priceline got us $100 off the advertised rate. Great location just a couple of blocks from Gaslamp.
The bad: Old TV, no pool, refrigerator is actually just a cold piece of metal that did nothing. We ended up putting ice in plastic bags and putting it on top of our stuff in there. Allegedly there is a turndown service but we never saw it. I wanted chocolate :(
The ugly: FEES. Our $260 Priceline deal ended up being $360 all said and done. We knew about the parking and facility fees thanks to Yelp but you can't cancel a Priceline bid, so we had to go for it. We looked for cheaper nearby overnight parking with no success (public lots only let you pay til 6AM, and we didn't want to chance getting towed from the Civic Theater garage) but thanks to another Yelp tip, we stowed our car at the Old Town trolley station for free on another night and rode 15 minutes to the Civic Center stop right outside the hotel. Not the most convenient but we paid $10 in trolley fees instead of $32 valet.
Overall we had a nice enough stay, but I can't recommend this place based on the ridiculous facility fee and lack of amenities to make up for it. Bidding with Priceline truly is a gamble... I wish we could have put our extra $100 toward a better hotel.Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 6/8/2011
Sarah B. Thank you for your comments regarding your recent… More » -
Review from Tom T.
West Hollywood, CA
6/9/2011
The hotel was nice, and the location was ideal. It is close to shopping, and the glaslmap district. The room was huge, and the bathroom was very well appointed, plus there was a nice view from the balcony. The front desk was ok, but there was a slight error with my room assignment. A special note: I booked with travelocity, and I requested two beds, and when I got there, I was told that I had a single. This was a major problem because I was in town for a wedding with a buddy of mine---We were not sharing a bed! After ten minutes of babble, the manager gave us a double room, but initially, he offered us a rollaway bed, huh? We ignored that option.....I ended up paying an additional $48 (valet, plus a special fee).
The next time I am in San Diego, I would stay there again. It is not a "party" hotel, but you"re close enough to the glaslamp district to enjoy yourself. -
Review from Rob R.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Clean, quiet and comfortable room. Great service that always was followed by a smile. Restaurant had a large variety of food and room service was prompt.
Beware of the $15 a night charge for "facilities" and the $32 a night parking charge. Because of this, I most likely will stay somewhere closer to Del Mar or Carlsbad and just pay the extra money for the room minus the parking charge. But if you want to be close to nightlife, I highly recommend this place. I was with child this trip and was unable to enjoy the convenience of the location to many bars and clubs in the area. -
Review from Perry C.
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
6/21/2011
The Pros: Really classy hotel. Love the closeness to Gaslamp district, the zoo, and Balboa Park. Good service. Rooms were big and very clean. Shower nozzle felt like I was getting hit by a Niagra Falls.
The Cons: Expensive. On top of the room expense, theres a valet expense ($32 a night), then theres a extra $15 a night charge (at least this includes wireless internet.)
Overall: Good if money isn't an issue and your with your significant other. Not the best if your with your friends on a budget. -
Review from Carla C.
12/4/2011
Pleasant stay at heritage hotel. Nice old time (California-wise that is) luxury hotel with all the touches, including turn down service. Gracious & helpful staff. Wonderful room, strong water pressure in large tub/shower. Can't ask for much more! Prices vary widely depending on season/date. I got a great rate under $150. We lucked out and were able to experience the lighting of the Nutcracker holiday tree, which included ballerinas dancing Nutcracker selections. A nice spread of carved meats, hors d'hoeuvres, desserts and drinks too - lovely!
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Review from Armand C.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2011
The Westgate Hotel is Dissapointing at Best.
We are local San Diegans with 3 children, so we like to take "staycations" quite often. We booked the hotel through Priceline, as we normally do. Immediately after booking the room, I contacted the hotel directly to request 2 beds vs. 1 since it's easier with our children.
At check-in, I was told that it would be an additional $20 per night for a roll away bed, since we were given a "king" room. I explained to them that I had called in and that there should be a note in the system. The note said nothing regarding 2 beds.
I was told that since I booked through Priceline that there were no guarantees.
Our second day at the hotel, our children werenot able to enjoy the 10th floor view, since there was a fashion show taking place on the terrace below. 8-10 models would walk around the "catwalk", then enter an area that was blocked off by white sheets or tarp. In this area, they changed into their next outfit. Yes, our children were able to see FULLY NUDE WOMEN, front, back, top, bottom. We were then forced to spend the rest of the day with the curtains closed.
When I brought this up to the front desk, they said that they could do very little for us, since we booked the hotel on Priceline.
We decided to leave the hotel and walk around downtown, something we could do any other day since we live in San Diego. The point of the staycation was to enjoy the amenities of the hotel. But the Westgate has no pool, no jacuzzi.
Upon returning to the hotel, the manager we spoke with said that she had taken care of the nude women situation. Back in our room, I drew the curtains, only to see that they had set up a gazebo for the women to change in, however none of the models were hidden from it. Our children could still see full front, back, top and bottom nudity.
Two final thoughts:
#1 - We were definitely fooled by the other ratings of this hotel. We much prefer the Hyatt or Mariott, which we normally get through Priceline.
#2 - If you are going to treat Priceline guests like less important people, why accept Priceline to begin with?Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 3/29/2011
Dear Guest, I would like to thank you very much for sharing… More » -
Review from Peggy T.
Saratoga, CA
7/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My friends and I ended up booking this hotel through priceline's name your own price at $100/night for July 4th weekend. It's in the heart of downtown SD, so at that price a week before a holiday, we couldn't complain. BUT lemme give you a few tips you should be VERY aware of before staying here...
- Parking at the hotel is $32/night! In and out privileges.
- The hotel charges another $15/night for "amenities" fee even though they don't really have any amenities! They don't have an ice machine, they don't have a pool, I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure they don't have a gym either... so I dunno what the $15 was for.
- In order to get ice, you have to call the front desk and request it. And then they bring you a little bucket of ice.
- The keys are legit keys. In fact, to make sure I didn't lose it over the weekend, I just put it on my necklace. Yes, I did get many "What's the key for?" pick up lines at the bars that weekend.
- The theme of the hotel is old victorian/english so yes, you will see chandeliers and old victorian chairs and a nice little vainty mirror in your room.
- It's right across the street from Sushi Deli 2 and Horton Plaza!!
- It's less than a $5 pedi-cab ride away from the heart of gaslamp!
So be warned... other than that, they didn't complain about us stuffing 6 girls in one room and our continuous requests of ice buckets and extra towels! -
Review from Sam Q.
Glendale, CA
3/2/2012
Hidden charges! $32 per day for valet! Service and overall stay was bad.
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Review from Heather D.
Tempe, AZ
I absolutely love this place. I have stayed here on more than one visit to San Diego and sometimes, even when not staying at the hotel, I have to stop in to their warm little lounge for a Manhattan. The lounge serves a food menu of items from the hotel's French restaurant and I have been impressed with the 5-6 items we've sampled. This is a surprisingly great place to catch live music on the weekends. Unfortunately it ends rather early in the evening. So go before your late dinner or after your early one for a cocktail and some entertainment.
From the exterior the hotel looks like many sky high buildings downtown with a concrete façade, reminiscent of 70s urban architecture. But, upon entering the lobby, you're transported into full European luxe. Every corner of the hotel is appointed with lush furnishings, antique statues, crystal chandeliers and lighting fixtures and huge floral fresh floral arrangements, which are made in the hotel's own flower shop. The place oozes old world French glamour and I'd love to host a huge party here sometime. It looks exactly how I want a hotel to look and nothing like how I want my house to look.
The hotel service is remarkable. Not that I am so lazy I can't push an elevator button, but it is a nice touch that whenever you enter the lobby to return to your room one of the front desk staff often hold the door for you. The rooms are spacious and well appointed. I request a high room with a view of the bay and appreciate the fact that the doors open onto a small balcony - and by small I mean big enough for you and one other person. But, luckily you don't need much space to stand and enjoy a glass of wine and the view. -
Review from Lynee L.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/28/2011
Hotel right near all the good places to eat in the gaslamp district. Servie was impeccable and we spent hours in their business center "working from home." I would definitley stay here again.
Highlights:
European Decor (better during the day, kinda spooky at nite)
Enormous rooms
Good gym wcomplimentary headphones, water, towels
Excellent Location
Service
Lowlights
$32 parking
$15 facilities fee -
Review from Karen C.
Boston, MA
2/9/2011
Really outdated hotel. My grandma probably would have liked it here...in 1968. This place is a time warp and nothing special.
My biggest gripe: the gym. I know, I know who bitches about a hotel gym? I do. I am severely allergic to mold and the second I got into the gym, my allergies kicked into high gear. I tried to fight it, but you can SMELL the mold in the room (that has no windows or proper ventilation, might I add. PS-who lets a gym have carpeting?). I am now sitting in my room with three different inhalers because I was in that room for 20 minutes.
The walls in the hotel are super thin and last night my drunken next door neighbors were chatting it up until 3am. I may turn into Jack Nicholson and get all REDRUM on their ass if it happens again tonight.
The neighborhood leaves much to be desired. I'm here for a conference and I do not expect to be tripping over homeless people on my way to and from the hotel.
Not impressed. Not recommended.Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 3/15/2011
Dear Karen, I would like to thank you very much for your… More » -
Review from Jen B.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is amazing view of downtown SD...the only thing is that there's not access to the view from each floor and direction. So quiet you would never know that all the bustle was going on right down on the street. Every person as spoke to had the proper attitude....which is expected. Being from SD and just wanting a weekend get away it was perfect. Very very close to Horton Plaza(the mall, with theater.) and almost everything else downtown is within walking distance. GREAT GREAT CHOICE IF YOURE COMING TO TOWN FOR ANYTHING AT PETCO..OR THE OPERA HOUSE...WOULD DEFINATELY STAY HERE AGAIN.
Has wireless internet, coffe, safe, small refridgerator, balcony, dvd player, iron, hair dryer, marble tiled shower and sinks and seperate foyer for each two rooms. Valet is the closest parking, most of the street parking is timed, even though its expensive its worth it because of hassle and the overall greatness of this beautiful building.
15.00 service charge for the room per stay, but I will say they will bring you everything from Aspirin to pressing and shining your shoes. There is a barber shop, spa, babysitting, tea time, and resturant.
145.00 a night for a king deluxe was worth it to me... -
Review from Shannon G.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/21/2011
There are only 2 things keeping me from giving this wonderful hotel 5 stars...
1. $32/day for parking - that's outrageous. Yes, it's on-site, valet, with in and out privileges, but $32/day is too much. Make it $20-25 and maybe I'll bite. We only paid one night, then found parking on the street the next day.
2. $15/day "resort fee", which includes use of internet, printing services, gym, and in-room water. Here are my issues with this: I was not on a business trip on this occasion, so I had no use for internet and printing services. The gym should be free anyway. So I paid $15/day for water, and you'd better believe I drank all 4 bottles they gave me each day at that price. Why not bump the price of the room up a few bucks a night and include these things anyway? Or charge me for the water I drink like other hotels? Average rate for this place is $279/night - they can afford to give you water for free.
Enough with the bad, now onto the good...
The ambiance and décor here bring you back to a time when people actually got dressed up to go out and travel. It is very elegant and grand, with overstuffed furniture, crystal chandeliers, high ceilings, marble floors, and gold accents. The staff is on-hand at all times when you need them, but not overbearing when you don't. The rooms are large and full of high-end furnishings that make you feel at home, and the comfy beds are definitely a plus. Housekeeping had their work cut out for them with three indecisive women staying in one room - complete with several outfit changes, hair styling products and accessories, cosmetics and toiletries. They were wonderful.
One thing I have to note in contrast to many reviews on Yelp from those who booked through Priceline, as I did. I called in advance and put in a request for a room with two beds, noting that I had booked through Priceline and was aware that there may be an additional charge. Not only did I not get charged extra for my second bed, but we were graciously upgraded to a premium room because I had requested it so politely. Take note. Ask courteously and respectfully and you might even get more than you hoped for.
There were a few things we didn't make use of during our stay - the 24-hour room service, and very highly rated restaurant. They also serve afternoon tea (for a price), which looked like it would be fun. Oh, and the gym, which looked complete with all the necessities. After all, I was there to be indulgent with my girlfriends. Besides, calories don't count during girls' weekends.
I have to say, my favorite thing we did was head down to the swanky hotel bar. It had a very cozy, old-school lounge feel. On Saturday nights from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, Gregory Page and his band play a few sets. If you're in downtown San Diego - go to the Westgate just for this. Gregory Page is phenomenal, as are his pianist (Sky Ladd) and drummer (Josh Hermsmeier). This trio has a swagger all their own and transport you back in time to a different era as Gregory croons into his giant retro microphone. I could have stayed all night if they would have let me... but alas, all good things must come to an end.
Thank you, Westgate, for an incredible stay. -
Review from Lan T.
San Diego, CA
11/26/2011
I booked this room 2 months ago through priceline name your own price. I got a decent rate for gaslamp area. When we got there the extra "fees" added up. $32 for parking, $15 required amenities fee even though there the staff was not very accommodating, $15 for rollaway bed. The hotel itself looks nice at a glance but is actually outdated. This is a three star hotel overall. Not worth it for the price!
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Review from Eric U.
Moreno Valley, CA
1/9/2012
As many others have done, we got a great rate on Priceline and then came here to check the reviews. I was a bit concerned given what has been written, but I have found that I must not be as picky as others because usually I find the hotel to be better than what the reviews say.
However, it seems most of these reviews are spot on. I would probably not call this hotel a 4 start based on appearance alone...it was a little old and tired looking and the hallways made me feel like I was on the tower of terror ride at California adventure.
Pros
Great location! 10 minute walk to anything!
Friendly and accommodating staff
Turn down service has a classy feel to it
Good sized rooms, nice views from higher floors
Cons
Uncomfortable furniture and bed
No ice machine...having to call the front desk for ice seems ridiculous
Parking fee...$32 a night? Really?
So using the tips provided here we parked at the old town transit station and took the trolley to the hotel. Make sure to get off at civic center...it is literally outside the hotel. A $10 round trip ride on the trolley takes 15 each way, but saves over $50 in parking fees. Now go use that $50 and buy some drinks! -
Review from Melanie P.
Los Angeles, CA
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
The two absolutely best things about this hotel are:
a) It's nearness to everywhere you'd want to go in Gaslamp. A few blocks one way and you'll find yourself sitting in front of a massive slice of something smothered in chocolate, fruit, and rose petals at Extraordinary Desserts. A few blocks the other way and you're within a 2 block radius of a ton of bars.
b) The shower's water pressure. I'm a bit of a sadist when it comes to showers... the hotter, steamier and more painful it is, the better. And this shower definitely doesn't fail in that aspect.
Random quirk of mine... why the hell are the faucet knobs so freakin' hard to turn?? I know they're trying to keep with the old world charming decor, but there have got to be more practical knobs available out there. -
Review from Jenny W.
San Diego, CA
9/21/2011
Booked through Expedia. Friends and I planned on staying downtown for my birthday weekend, but unfortunately delayed on booking a hotel. When we did, everywhere was full except Westgate, and expedia gave us a decent rate.
I called prior to our arrival to ensure the type of room and accommodations were as expected. They assured me that my reservation was for the double beds I requested. We were running late to our nighttime plans, and had to check-in quickly to change. Once we checked in, we rushed up to our room, and the weird little key wasn't working for the weird double door that enclosed two rooms. So that took more time to run back downstairs to inform them, and had to wait for a manager to help us, which she took her sweet time.
Once inside, we saw that in fact the room only had one king sized bed. Um wtf? So I had to call the front desk (since the manager took off right away) and let them know this isn't what I requested and what was confirmed. They didn't apologize, just said "we can bring up a roll-away bed". Seriously? Apparently, all the rooms with double beds were full. So screw it, had them bring up the cruddy, tiny roll-away bed.
After rushing to get ready for the night, we called the front desk to ask them to call 2 cabs for us. When we got down there and asked if the cabs were ready, the gal at the front desk looked surprised and got on the phone to call them. Great. I refused to let the experience ruin my birthday celebration so off we went!
The next morning, we packed up and went to check-out. We spoke with a manager about the inconvenience and distaste for customer service with our room-issue. And she offered to take off the $15 fee charge, we said that wasn't good enough and got her to remove the $32 parking fee. Small victory. So off we went to get our car. No one at the front desk directed us, so we followed other guests out to the front where we initially dropped off our cars. A whole line of us waited there for at least 15mins until a valet informed us that pick-up is downstairs. Wow.
So apparently, there's a lack of communication present throughout much of the hotel .. whether it's booking through third parties, or just to be helpful and let the customers know where they can pick up their vehicles.
Ugh. Never again.Comment from Larisa A. of The Westgate Hotel 9/27/2011
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your experience with us.… More » -
Review from Julie B.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Something different in a sea of ultra-modern hotels in the Gaslamp area; the décor feels vintage, slightly presidential.
The service staff were attentive, professional, and friendly - from the valet to the front desk. The maid service came by in the evening to double check that we had everything we needed, and the front desk gave us a courtesy call to ensure our stay was going well.
The rooms were very clean, large, and filled with intricate details. If I could devise a way to steal the entire bathroom and use it in my own house, I would. Glass shower, separate dressing room with large vanity mirrors.
My favorites:
-Water pressure (akin to a fire hose, but not strong enough to leave bruises)
-Crown molding (beautiful trim, and many other details that stand out in the room)
-Elegance (its décor is not modern, but the vintage style is still beautiful)
-Vintage keys (takes a couple tries to figure out, but it adds a lot of charm)
-The view (I could see the ocean and the bay from my high level room, as well as most of downtown)
