Name of Hotel: Residence Inn Downtown San Diego
Type of Room: Studio, 1 queen bed + sofa bed.
Number of Nights You Stayed: 5
Year(s) You Stayed There: 2015
Hotel Review:
Congratulations! If you are reading this you have happened onto one of the best but lesser known SDCC hotels, with a combination of benefits that might well be unique.
* Were there any dining options inside or near the hotel?
There is a free breakfast of the usual greasy bacon, powdered egg type. No room service, but you get a full kitchen. You can also fill out a grocery list and they will go and shop for you for a small fee. They also have a pantry where you can purchase snacks. There is a Jack in the box across the street and Little Italy restaurants are within walking distance.
* How was the hotel staff? Were they polite and courteous?
Very helpful and polite.
* Tell us about the hotel amenities, like the gym or pool. Did you use any of them?
Basic, small gym, didn't use. Small pool and hot tub which I did use, mainly while also using the outdoor grill. ATM, laundry.
* Were you and your roommates able to sleep and move around in the room comfortably? Do you think the room is smaller or larger than the same type of room in other, comparable hotels?
Oh yeah. Rooms are huge.
* If you drove and parked your car at the hotel, how much was the parking rate per day for overnight stays?
$14 a day.
* How long did it take you to travel to and from your hotel by shuttle, trolley, or on foot?
Maybe 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the day and time. There is both a shuttle stop and trolley stop a short walk away, the shuttle stop is at a good spot since it is early enough in the route that we never had trouble finding a seat. The trolley is only a few stops away from the con so early in the day it will often be full already.
* Are the walls of the room thin? What are the noise levels in your room from outside sources (hallway or next door)?
Hotel was quieter than most. Many of the guests are there long term for work and are "Day Sleepers" so it was quite quiet.
* Does the hotel have free WiFi for guests?
Yes.
* Are you a member of the hotel's rewards program? What level do you have, and what kind of perks did you get?
Yes, basic level, no perks.
* Is there anything else you like to mention about the hotel (i.e., celebrity sightings) or your room that isn't mentioned above?
There is a big benefit here, they have a free shuttle that will take you to the airport, to a grocery store, pretty much anywhere nearby. They just have 30 minutes slots that you have to reserve in advance. The Waterfront Park is across the street, great if you have children. The Maritime musuem is also close by. On Saturdays there is a great farmers market right up the street. Also, in addition to the Little Italy restaurants and shops there is a Blick art supply shop in walking distance.
Celebrity wise, saw Mindy Sterling there in 2015. She was cool.
What did you like about staying at this hotel?
- Full kitchen, and they will grocery shop for you.
- Hotel shuttle, SDCC shuttle AND trolley options. Killer combination.
- Lots of things in walking distance, but far enough away from the Gaslamp to be relatively uncrowded.
- Close enough to SDCC to make going back and forth during the day feasible.
- Big, quiet rooms. Lots of desk space and drawers.
- Extremely helpful staff.
- Did I mention full kitchen? Basically, much of their business is from people that stay at the hotel for months at a time and the rooms are designed accordingly.
Finally, what didn't you like about staying at this hotel?
- Small bathrooms. Small closets.