Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites San Diego-Sorrento Valley by IHG

The location is convenient: Qualcomm buildings are within walking distance, and strip malls with Target, varied dining, chain restaurants, and clean gas stations are about a mile away. I saw no homeless people. The hotel feels secure, with entry through the front entrance, though after 7 PM there’s just one staff member or sometimes none at the desk. Parking is only $10, but I could find just one security camera, and with possibly one employee working at night, well… This place is clean and recently renovated, with no unpleasant smells, clean sheets, and standard mattresses without lumps. But everything is noticeably smaller than usual, from the narrow driveway and tight parking to the cramped lobby and hallways. The elevator is small and looks worn, with dents and scratches near the floor, though its walls and buttons are new. Rooms are tiny, barely giving two people room to pass, and the thin walls and ceilings let through footsteps, toilets, showers, doors, conversations, and even snoring. Soundproofing is needed, please. The AC and heat are like a Motel 6 wall unit, too hot or too cold. The new no-name thermostat looks nice but doesn’t work. The Samsung TV doesn’t get local stations, only 1980s reruns on TVPlus. Breakfast is sausage, turkey sausage, and eggs. In the bathroom, the toilet looks like a $40 Home Depot bargain, the generic faucet is stiff and takes strength to turn, and the showerhead sprays unevenly. Between the queen beds, the nightstand has just one outlet and two USB ports. Renovated about a year ago, the hotel feels fresh but undeniably compact, like a “Microtel” or “Lilliputin Motel.” If you know Japan’s space-efficient accommodations, you may feel right at home. This is a micro budget motel. In five years, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s sold to the Motel 6 chain. There are other hotels within half a mile. Next time I’d pay more to stay elsewhere rather than feel like I’m in a cheapo place. It was a letdown compared with other Holiday Inn Expresses. I stayed weeks ago and am only now writing a real review. Don’t be fooled by some of the fake reviews here. I predict the manager will respond, then eventually tell me to call 1-800 Holiday Inn, which would be a fake attempt to fix the sound problem.

It’s easy to find, parking is super easy, and Sorrento canyon is really close for a long morning hike. The location isn’t great for visiting UCSD or La Jolla, though. The rooms are big, the staff are pretty nice, and there were lots of families when I stayed, so it felt very family-friendly. Nothing fancy, but spotless. Finally, a hotel that actually cares enough to keep things really clean.

The location worked well for me, with easy access to downtown San Diego and enough distance to reach places like Fallbrook and La Jolla. It’s also very close to the golden triangle, where I go most of the time. The service people were very kind and breakfast was really good. Rooms were clean and spacious enough for up to four people, with very comfortable beds. Everything was very good!

Breakfast was limited and already running low by 8:30 a.m. There was also a sign saying the desk was out for lunch for 30 minutes when we arrived. We waited more than 30 minutes and no one came back. On two separate visits to the front desk, nobody was there to help. I don’t know if the camera pointed at the desk works, but I stood there for a while and no one came out. The front desk staff need better training.