Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside

The pool views were nice, though the enclosed space felt cold even if technically outdoors. The restaurant bartenders were friendly, and I got help quickly when I needed it. The place was mostly clean, but the rest of the staff seemed so-so and not very keen to be there. I couldn't get an upgrade despite booking weeks ahead. Breakfast was bland and the same every day. Valet was mandatory at $60, so after night one I parked free on the street a block north. For this price, I'd spend a few hundred more on a nicer place or rent a property.

I waited four days after checkout for someone from the hotel to contact me. Nobody did. I had already shown the front desk both problems on Thursday, after returning from my conference, and they wrote everything down and said someone would follow up. The first issue was a serious security failure. I checked in online at 4:00 pm, got a digital key and room assignment, then arrived at 9:00 after a delayed flight. I bypassed the desk and opened the assigned room with my key, only to find someone else staying there. The desk gave me another room and walked me over to confirm it was empty. Once a room is assigned and a key issued, whether digital or physical, nobody else should be given access. It was embarrassing for both of us and entirely avoidable. The second time, I was at a conference when I got a message saying I was due to check out Thursday and asking when I'd remove my things. My reservation clearly showed Friday morning, so I had to stop working and send the confirmation. The hotel has serious system and management problems. Consider staying elsewhere if you don't want two people assigned keys to one room or staff trying to make you leave early.

We had a great time on both visits this year, and Amy made our latest arrival especially smooth. She was incredibly kind and went above and beyond. The complimentary water bottles were a lifesaver, too. I hope a manager considers this positive feedback at the next promotion cycle. The location is wonderful for couples who like exploring: restaurants, cafes, the pier, and Balboa Park are all walkable. The bathroom was clean and modern, with good shower pressure. There was no free continental breakfast, though, and the bathroom faucet pressure was weak. I didn't have a car, but the $60-a-night valet-only parking sounds like it could be a major headache.

Front desk staff were nice, and the room and property were about average for the area, though overpriced. I left my $50 light zip-up jacket behind, and the hotel quoted US $215 to ship it to me in Canada. Parking was valet only at $60, but we found street parking and used it for the whole stay.