IC San Diego

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Premium Harbour room, got a BS upgrade to Premium Corner room, a $9 room differential and totally the other end of the hotel from the Harbour. You could see it if you stood up and looked left, but otherwise you were starting at Santa Fe train station and the other hotel opposite. Technically a better ‘view’ is allowed but I’m unimpressed. Since watching Series 1 of The White Lotus I am reluctant to be a complainer.

How are the rooms?
Decent apace I would say, light airy and decent amenities including plug sockets including USB-C. Bathroom nice, no tub, just shower. They are not tight on amenities and still provide comb, mouthwash etc. Agree with others about soft pillows - too soft, and prizing the duvet out of the bed to get in remains a Herculean task. Very good housekeeping I would say, but perhaps understaffed as I left at 10am, put the ‘please service my room light on’ and it still hadn’t been done by 4pm when I got back.

How is the exec. lounge?
No idea. Didn’t book it, and didn’t get given it.

What was good and what was bad?
The good:
3 night stay and I used my comp voucher for one of the nights, no worries. I wonder if that was why my upgrade was so mediocre.-
Staff in bar and restaurant seemed happy to be at work, were kind to guests, and having a jolly good time with each other, which is nice to see.
I guess the check-in guy was certainly pleasant, but I felt he treated me like an idiot when he said my upgrade was a higher floor. Cheers, I thought Marriott Ambassador was tight.
Like others 2 x large bottles of mineral water and note from GM.
Starbucks right next door which was good and friendly.
Bill was accurate. $20 Ambassador credited without asking. $40 daily fee applied, but $20 a day automatically credited back.

The bad:
My supposed upgrade
The price of laundry including a $6 environmental fee - US hotels are stiffing you for everything these days. Folio’s look like the work of Tolkien by the time the various taxes and fees are added.
I thought the wifi in my room was bad, certainly not good enough to stream. Avoid 1638 if you want a harbour view or want to stream.’
Room service very pricey, but guy very pleasant.


The ugly:
No ugly (except me).

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
So so I would say. Not sure I’ll stay again, when you’re within spitting distance of many hotels. The Marriott right on the water looked nice, same with the Grand Hyatt.