Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Mission Valley

Getting around to attractions like the San Diego Zoo and the pier was easy, and the stay felt worth the money. The hotel was very clean and comfortable, with friendly, courteous staff and a clean pool. Parking spaces were tight, but I could always find one close to my entry door. Breakfast was great, with everything from bacon to cereal included.

We were very happy with our visit and would definitely stay again. The property was well cared for, and we loved having a full breakfast each morning. Our room was a good size for the family, and the location made it easy to take a quick trip to the beach or the zoo.

The billing was another problem. I had to call twice about a dog charge that wasn't disclosed when we booked. Lola said she'd refund it, but the final receipt showed roughly $138 added back. I called again and explained that booking.com had told us the amount due plus parking, with no mention of anything else. They refunded that second amount after I complained that the charge hadn't been disclosed. Housekeeping didn't clean the room or collect the towels. I understand if service changed because of Covid, but there should have been a way to pick up dirty towels, even from outside the room. We called both nights for fresh ones and waited over an hour. When the small kitchen trash can filled up, we had to leave the trash outside the door, and they hadn't provided another bag. I was lucky to have brought small bags. The website didn't say the pool and lounge would be closed, though it mentioned updates due to county rules. We learned at the hotel that the pool was closed. There were also security concerns. On the first night, several people were smoking behind the hotel in the parking lot. A few hours later, a woman with her belongings was outside the back door. I wasn't sure if she had been removed from the hotel or was trying to bring her things inside, but I called the desk because she seemed possibly homeless and was wearing only part of a shirt. Staff seemed concerned, and by the end of the night she and her belongings were gone. The next day I noticed a room door had been left open all night and called the desk again. On night two, another person who seemed homeless was wandering and sleeping behind the hotel; that time I didn't report it. I've stayed at Residence Inn and other locations before and had good experiences. Some of this may have been due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it was still hard to believe how many issues we faced. This will be my last pandemic vacation and my last stay at the Residence Inn in Mission Bay.

The kitchens in our units had plenty of dishes, pots, and pans, and the pool renovations looked very nice. Staff kept guests informed about the ongoing work. The hotel itself was clean and quiet, and everyone we dealt with was genuinely polite and kind. On Thanksgiving morning they served carved ham and mimosas with breakfast. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and would gladly return for the friendly service.