Hotel Republic San Diego, Autograph Collection

Our Valentine's Day plans fell apart after Hotel Republic told us they couldn’t honor my boyfriend’s Priceline booking. He had reserved the room the day before the holiday, when everything else seemed booked up. We’d planned dinner downtown and chose a restaurant nearby because parking was already expected to be difficult. When we arrived, we waited 3-5 minutes for valet. The man was on his phone and never came over to greet us, so we parked ourselves across the street instead. It cost about $10 less, and I paid $50 for 24-hour parking. At the desk, the receptionist took my boyfriend’s name, said she needed a minute, and went to the back. She returned with a manager carrying a paper. They said a system “glitch” had led to overbooking and they couldn’t accommodate us. The manager offered a partner hotel, saying he didn’t want us stranded on Valentine's Day. We were upset that no one had called before we drove all the way down to San Diego from LA, especially since the receptionist seemed to know from his name that she needed the manager. Still, we were glad to have another place to try. The alternative was Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista, about 20 minutes from our downtown dinner and in what felt like the middle of nowhere. When we arrived, JoAna at reception couldn’t find a reservation under our name. She said Hotel Republic had called earlier asking whether they could send over some of its overbooked guests, and Gaylord Pacific had said no. Despite that, JoAna advocated for us and got us a room in their beautiful hotel. We were very grateful. She also said several people had been sent there by Hotel Republic without the hotel contacting them. When we complained through Priceline, we were told Hotel Republic claimed we never checked in, which was a lie. Going back in person got us the response that bookings aren’t 100% guaranteed. I’d never book there again, especially for a holiday when your plans depend on staying downtown. The customer service was awful, and they took little responsibility. Book at your own risk.

We had a relaxing meal at Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar, with tasty food, good service, and a wonderful view. The only small disappointment was the Club Lounge: it had a decent selection of drinks, but no snacks when we stopped by. Our Prestige Corner Suite was spacious and well appointed, and the location made it easy to get around and reach everything we wanted to do. Room service happened daily, which feels uncommon lately and was much appreciated. Everyone we met on staff was friendly and welcoming. We had a great stay and are already looking forward to returning to San Diego.

The bathroom really let this stay down. There was visible mold coming through the walls and around the shower, and the tub didn’t look clean, though we didn’t use it. At this price, the bathroom needs a serious refresh. The suite itself was cozy and looked perfect at first, with a little window nook I loved for reading. The bar and lounge area were also really nice, which is what convinced me to book. My son and I were there for his birthday and checked in after 12:00am. The welcome felt underwhelming. The location is convenient for downtown, and valet was efficient: the car was ready on time and they made sure it was charged. It did cost $65 per day, though. I wouldn’t stay again. It could suit someone looking for a decent price in a handy spot, but my experience didn’t match the cost or expectations.

The staff took great care of us and were consistently courteous. I also joined the morning yoga class and liked the window-side sitting spot in my 14th-floor room. During the holiday season, the ground floor was decorated really nicely. I was there for seven nights in December for the NeurIPS conference. The hotel has two restaurants, trade and topside, on the bottom two floors. You get $25 off each day if you charge the bill to your room. The hotel gym is small, with weights and treadmills, but guests can use the much nicer Balanced Health and Fitness across the street for free.