Element by Marriott San Diego Chula Vista

The location made it easy to walk to shops, restaurants, and the movie theater in about 10 minutes. Inside, the lounge and dining room had lots of space and chairs, and the rooms were bright, roomy, clean, and had comfortable beds. The shower looked a little dated, but the dishes were clean and ready, and having a full-size fridge was a plus. Breakfast was the usual spread: coffee, waffles, bagels, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, cereal, and fresh fruit. The pool was heated, the hot tub was a nice size, and the basketball courts were always busy, with balls available to borrow. It was clean and smelled fresh as soon as we arrived. Would highly recommend!

The rooms can smell strongly of dogs and cats, so be aware that this is a pet hotel. That’s great if you love animals, but not if you don’t. We also heard barking at random hours. The staff were nice, breakfast was great, and the location was lovely, but the animal smell was really strong.

The front desk team made my two-month stay wonderful. They were friendly, helpful, and very accommodating. The room felt almost like an apartment, with lots of storage, extra clothing drawers beyond the closet, a roomy bathroom, comfortable beds, and nearly a full kitchen. It had a full-size fridge, induction cooktop, dishwasher, and full sink, I believe with a disposal, but no oven. I liked being able to cook and feel at home. The half-glass shower let water out, which I also disliked when I encountered this style in Europe. The room overlooked the highway, so it was noisy, and the Walmart forklift guy woke me up. Others didn’t have that issue, it was just my room and comes with being at a highway hotel. I usually skipped breakfast, but my friends kept raving about it. I spent two holidays here and had a really pleasant stay. I could keep my bike here and ride easily around nearby neighborhoods or all the way downtown. The outlet mall was walkable, with Barnes& Noble, a cheesecake factory, bath& Body works, and a grocery store nearby. The elevators were the one other issue, with one almost always having a problem, though this was about eight months ago and may have been fixed. Parking is free, and it’s a warm, comfortable place that feels homey. None of that would put me off staying. If I’m back in Chula Vista, I’ll stay here again!

At check-in, I asked Nathaniel at the front desk if I could possibly get a room on the top floor. He didn’t check or tell me it wasn’t available. As a titanium member, I wasn’t expecting special treatment, but he also didn’t offer extra waters or ask whether I needed another key. The room itself wasn’t good either. Nathaniel needs a different position.