Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego North San Marcos

I had a few hiccups, but I'd stay here again. The hotel was spotless inside and out, the king bed was very comfortable, breakfast was very good, and I liked the morning coffee in the lobby. Parking costs $5 a day, which I hadn't expected, but it was okay. The pull-out sofa mattress was thin and uncomfortable, and I could feel the metal bar underneath. Sleeping directly on the sofa was better. The blanket for it felt thin and crispy and smelled like dog. I also couldn't find ice: the front desk rep said there was no ice machine and suggested turning on the freezer's ice maker, but there was no ice-making mechanism in the freezer. The next morning, though, the breakfast attendant was very nice and gave me a big bag of ice.

The staff were super nice, smiling and greeting guests, and even spoke kindly to each other in front of customers. It's close to the freeway but quiet. I didn't have breakfast or use the amenities. Some areas could use updating, including the soft, bubbled floor where the cleaning crew goes in and out.

The kitchenette was nice and had a dishwasher, and frozen meals, wine, and snacks were for sale in the lobby. There could be shelves in the room for food purchases. Breakfast was just okay, with no fruit, and the bathroom products didn't include body lotion. Sleep was tough because of thin walls and a lot of street noise. Then my coffee pot broke, and the desk person didn't seem to care or replace it, even after I'd been out all day. The place was a bit run down too, with loose hallway carpet that got in the way of moving my suitcase.

The only three things I liked were the coffee that was available most of the day, being near the bike trail, and the mini-mart beside reception. Otherwise, the rooms were dirty and old, with moldy carpet and walls. There was noise all night, banging and loud crashes, and the hospitality was lackluster.