Howard Johnson by Wyndham San Diego Sea World

The front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance staff are very nice, which makes what happened with management all the more disappointing. After staying here several times over the past year, I booked one more night. At check-in, they asked for my card for the deposit. I was still waiting on a refund, so I politely hesitated and asked to speak with the manager. She dismissed my concerns and said we could no longer stay there. The deposit issue had happened more than once. They put a $10 hold on the card, then other charges of different amounts showed up without authorization. We were eventually refunded, but no one could explain the charges, only offering vague comments about third-party bookings. On our last stay, the card was charged $49.99 and $66.79 in addition to the $10 hold. The desk called it an error and said the money would be returned. Instead, the full $126.78 was charged. The manager said she would refund it, but it took days, and she never apologized or accepted fault. I would not stay here.

The price was very good, and getting to the Marina, restaurants, and SeaWorld is a quick Uber ride. The front office woman was efficient, though she came across almost like a robot. Our room was clean, but the bathroom had problems despite its nice-looking remodeled shower stall: the faucet was about chest height, and the sink handle fell right off. The salt air seems to warp the doors, so getting one open felt like breaking in, and they all made enough noise that the rooms weren't quiet. The first rooms we were offered were occupied or not cleaned yet; the next ones were available but felt pretty sketchy.

Location is the reason I like this place. If you can walk about half a mile, there are stores around, so you could manage without a car. I live in hotels because it's cheaper than renting for me, and I like moving every few days. There are at least three worse hotels within a mile, and this one is decent if you value where it is. It has been wearing down quickly, which is reflected in the lower price compared with what it used to cost. Tourism in San Diego has also been down over the past year or so, between the economy and geopolitical issues.

We found an open room that night, and the lobby was closed, so we used the night window. The guy there was friendly and handled our reservation right away. Our room was neat and clean, and breakfast was great, with everything kept replenished. I only wish they offered a sugar-free syrup option. Thank you.