Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG

Room 151 was very clean, with a comfortable mattress and pillows. I liked the calming lights behind the headboard, and the bathroom was clean and had what I needed. Hope was especially helpful. Breakfast was standard for this type of hotel, and there’s a well-stocked coffee station in the lobby around the clock. It’s an easy walk or ride to the local scene and waterfront, and the hotel seems well managed. A few practical notes: the neighborhood felt generally safe, and I had no trouble walking around and checking out the small places on the side streets. Taxis can be hard to find, so look for a local app. I don’t like Uber, especially when visiting from outside the US, and the extra 1.5% handling charge on a ride bothered me.

The room had an older style, but it was clean, tidy, and free of odors. The bed was comfortable, Wi-Fi worked well, and the hot water was great. Breakfast was simple but tasty, with turkey sausage, bacon, potatoes, coffee, and apple juice. I liked being able to eat in the dining area or take it with me, and there’s a water filling station on the ground floor. I stayed September 28 to October 1, 2025, and had a comfortable visit. Before I arrived, staff replied quickly to my emails when I let them know I’d be getting in late, and they held a package that arrived before check-in. Thanks to Mike, Hope, and Pablo for being friendly and professional. I’d return when I’m in San Diego again.

Mike and Owen at the front desk were kind and helpful when they moved us to another room because of a noise problem in our original one. As a visitor, I felt they showed the warm hospitality San Diego is known for. The hotel is also in a great spot, about a seven-minute walk from the museum.

After a tiring flight, I arrived without my physical credit card for incidentals and was told Apple Pay wasn’t accepted. I can see that I should have anticipated that, but the employee was inflexible and brusque. At first it sounded as though I’d have to sleep outside. The man at the desk eventually suggested using a friend’s card. I worked out a plan to call my friend in the middle of the night, walk to her hotel some distance away, get the card, and return. I explained it, and he said that sounded fine. Forty minutes later I came back with the card. A different staff member was now on duty and told me my friend had to be physically present to use it. She didn’t apologize for giving me a different answer than I’d been given earlier. I was crying by then, trying to make another plan with my friend, and wasn’t even asking them to make an exception. She seemed disdainful and annoyed that I was there in a difficult situation. I’ve never written a negative review about customer service before. I know the work is exhausting and staff often have to enforce rules they may not agree with. But the staff showed no interest in helping beyond the bare minimum, gave me incorrect advice, and then didn’t acknowledge it. That’s what made this a first for me.