Best Western Inn & Suites San Diego – Zoo/SeaWorld Area

It took several drives around hotel circle to work out how to get into the parking area. The entrance is confusing, and it would help if staff gave visitors directions before arrival. Parking was another surprise: Expedia listed $19 a night, but at check-in I was told it was $26. Maybe it was because of the holiday weekend, so check the rate ahead. There's plenty of safe off-street parking nearby, though, and we had no issues during our three nights. The building is older but mostly well kept, and it was clean, quiet, and cozy. The elevators made odd noises repeatedly and might need a tune-up. We could still hear traffic even though our room faced away from the highway, so I'd ask for a room angled away from it if possible. It could be worse facing the road. Breakfast was especially good, with blueberry muffins better than most of the pre-packaged ones at hotels these days. The location gets you within 15 minutes of most major San Diego attractions, and it was well worth the price. Definitely worth a look, especially with kids.

The location is fine, but there's nothing in walking distance except The Remy. If your kids want McDonald's or other fast food, be ready to call a Lyft or Doordash. Rooms are decent enough, though the pillows are way too thin and my least favorite part. Walking barefoot, you can see dirt on the floor, but I suppose that's to be expected. Service is generally pleasant, though sometimes an employee at the front desk seems disinterested and is on their phone. A few times early in the morning, the shower barely got above room temperature. I don't know if that was just my room or what.

The front desk staff were the biggest bright spot. They were phenomenal, went way above and beyond, and helped so much while I was having a rotten time. They also let me lock my luggage somewhere safe while I went out with my son, so I didn't have to lug it around. The breakfast was yummy with lots of options, and my 2-year-old was satisfied. I just wish there had been lids for the coffee cups. The room was large, and the curtains blocked enough light to fool my toddler about the time and let me sleep in a bit. I was told I only had to pay a $150 deposit, but was charged significantly more and still need to fix it. The room wasn't very clean: there was mold in the bathroom, hair in the shower, and dust on the walls. It was in disrepair, with shoddy patches, a very loose toilet roll holder, and missing grout between the floor tiles. There were no amenities besides soap; lotion would've been nice. It's more car-friendly than convenient for public transport. The parking and entrance were confusing, too. It's a weird building.

The location made getting around easy, with SeaWorld, shopping centers, and other attractions nearby. The area felt safe and family-friendly, and the staff were efficient and friendly. We appreciated how kid-friendly the whole place felt. Our family of six stayed for two days and had a wonderful time. The room was clean and spacious, with two beds and two bunk beds, perfect for the kids. Breakfast was free and really good, with eggs, sausages, waffles, bread and butter, coffee, and juice. We'd definitely come back!