Somerset

There’s a liquor store about a block and a half away, where I picked up fruit, baked goods, and water. CVS, Home Goods, and a couple of good places to eat are around 8-10 minutes away. The hotel is also just 8 minutes from SDCC. My unit had the basics I like: a small kitchen, a little desk for working, and two flat-screen TVs with Roku. It’s a quiet, clean place with a chic, quaint feel, though there aren’t many frills. The bathroom was fine, but hot water took a couple of minutes to come through the shower. I’m not sure whether there’s a gym. The neighborhood hills offer a good workout either way.

The location and rates were great, and the rooms were sort of clean. There was V05 left in the shower, which made me question what else had been missed. The showers are tiny, and you can hear everything from the bathroom and neighboring rooms, so it might suit cozy couples who don’t mind that. Parking is street-only. It feels more like a hostel, with several rooms in an old converted house or apartment building, and the furniture left a lot to be desired.

It’s quiet, feels safe, and is close to downtown and other places we wanted to go. We stayed in room #7, which had a fridge, microwave, TV, dining table, heater, AC, and WiFi. The rooms differ, though most seem to have similar amenities. Each room is its own suite, with a private restroom rather than shared facilities. The Somerset staff or owners were very responsive. Our check-in was scheduled for 4pm, but when I asked to come a little earlier because we were tired, they let us in as soon as the cleaning crew confirmed the room was ready. The door codes came to my phone, so we didn’t have to deal with lobby staff or worry about losing access cards. Street parking was available and wasn’t a problem. My partner and I had a smooth, comfortable stay on our way to the San Diego Zoo. We were both pleased and would stay here again.

The room was gorgeous and very clean, and there was hardly any traffic noise since the hotel isn’t near busy roads. The walls are thin, though, so noisy neighbors came through. I’d bring earplugs for sleeping. It was my first boutique hotel stay. If I’m back in San Diego, I’d definitely stay at the Somerset Hotel again.