Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Downtown

The service made up for some real maintenance problems, and proactive points compensation moved this from a three-star to a four-star review. The staff were excellent and friendly, the rooms clean and spacious, and the free breakfast was solid. It’s also convenient and very kid- and baby-friendly. The owners need to invest in upkeep. We had no hot water on either day. It was fixed after a few hours on Saturday, but broken again Sunday. The elevators were also frequently out of service. Mixed experience, but good value.

I got upgraded to a room facing the bay, and the sunset view was worth it. The rooms are really nice, and the location is excellent, close to Little Italy, Santa Fe station, and the USS Midway Museum. The kitchenette had everything needed to cook, which was especially helpful with kids.

This is an older hotel with only minimal renovations, and the photos don’t give an accurate impression. The one-bedroom suite rooms are very small, and the bathrooms need remodeling; the bathroom floors were nasty. Breakfast was dull, nothing special. My husband left his wedding ring in the room, and within an hour the maid had taken it.

The room was clean, and I liked having a kitchenette and a refrigerator for medicine. Breakfast was standard. Coming from the Midwest, I found it funny that the eggs were cage-free and the sausage was chicken, but that’s California, I guess. The location was great for being near the water, though the street out front was noisy. If you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the front.