Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Del Mar

The room looked modern and lovely, with a gorgeous view, but sleeping in it was rough. Light came in under the door, and several night lights stayed on, so the room never got properly dark. The thermostat was stuck on full blast, blowing cold air right at the bed. I got back late from a presentation, too exhausted to repack and ask for another room. I slept in layers of my day clothes under the sheets, still froze, and there wasn't an extra blanket. I also came back late to a crowd of cars and people partying outside. They were friendly and well dressed, and the marijuana smell while I waited for valet didn't bother me much. In the morning, though, my hallway reeked of it, very strongly. I know marijuana is legal and many people are considerate, but I prefer a nonsmoking property, including for cigarettes. I'm a business traveler, a Hilton Honors member, and usually enjoy Hilton. The facilities are luxurious, clean, quiet, and safe. This hotel has a fun fashion runway theme, an excellent restaurant, good coffee and breakfast, and exemplary staff. Still, I think this particular place may attract a hip crowd, and next time I'm here I'll probably look for another luxury hotel with a pool.

For Torrey Pines Golf, this was a good option. The course was about a 10-15 minute drive away, so I could stay nearby without paying the steep price of staying right on the course. The hotel was clean, and the room had the expected higher-end amenities. Hot water, crisp sheets, no worries about bugs, and the outdoor hot tub beside the pool was a nice extra. Fewer hotels seem to have hot tubs these days. Nicer than a Best Western, Wi-Fi worked fine, and I'd stay again.

The pool and spa area were nice, and the lobby looked good. Beds were comfortable, and the rooms came with a microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion. The staff were nice and moved us when our first room felt too dark. The patio upgrade, though, faced a wall. They also could've told us breakfast was served at the hotel behind this one, or left a note in the room. We missed the complimentary breakfast. The small Torrey Pines hotel feels dated, with a lot of brown in the rooms. Lighter carpet, walls, and drapes would make them feel less dreary. The modern TV remote was tricky to use, though it can be operated from a phone.

The internet problem made this business trip unnecessarily frustrating. I couldn't use my phone, iPad, or computer, and by bedtime it still hadn't been fixed, so I couldn't even get into Netflix on the TV. After settling in, I contacted Linda about not being able to connect. She said they were already having internet issues. I wish they'd told me at check-in, especially since there was no estimate for when it would be back. Reliable internet was essential for my work.