Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

If you are on a business trip, don’t book this hotel. Please. I’ve never had such a hard time getting a credit card authorization form so I did not have to use my personal credit card for my business trip and guess what? My personal card was still charged for the stay!!! I called this hotel once a day for 7 days until I finally received my credit card authorization form for my business to fill out and then when I got to the hotel after a terrible travel day, they said they did not have a credit card authorization form. What the heck?! I’ve never seen such disorganization in my life. And when I finally thought it was figured out, they still charged my personal credit card when I left and I had to call yet again. The person I talked to helped finally. I’m not sure if it’s the people at the front desk or the managers but please train your employees correctly! In regards to the rooms, I was given a room on the fourth floor. The room was comfortable and clean, but if you actually want to relax in your room, don’t get a room on the 4th floor looking out literally at the pool. You can hear every word to the music they are playing and honestly I could just start having conversations with the people outside my room if I wanted to. Thankfully, the lady at the front desk was great and moved my room the next day!! She was great, wish I remembered her name. Overall, I will never, ever stay here again especially when I place can’t even get their money organization problems in order.

I checked out at 3 PM and called at 4:30 PM to let the hotel know I left my charger in the room behind the desk. 100% certainty and checked my bags twice to make sure without a shadow of a doubt. I changed so hotels, so wasn’t far. As expected, the room had not been cleaned and housekeeping supposedly went to check. They put me on hold twice and forgot I was on hold (total of 17-20 min) so I returned to the hotel. [My opinion] The receptionist appeared to lie about how they couldn’t find it and said it was already rented. Truly pathetic service and this isn’t the only hotel that struggles with lost and found. For $300 per night, they must do better. Also, food at the restaurant was very average but that’s pretty common for the gaslamp district. Room was nice, clean but housekeeping did skip service while I was there and I did not put out the do not disturb sign. Overall, ok hotel, vibe is decent but service was well below the cost/night and relative quality standards. Do better 👍🏼

Charming location, but underwhelming experience for the price. The hotel is situated in a quaint and convenient area, with plenty of nearby restaurants and bars within walking distance—a definite highlight. However, the room itself did not justify the high price point. While it seems the design is aiming for a nostalgic “beach house guest bathroom” aesthetic, the execution falls short—particularly with amenities like the outdated blow dryer, which lacked basic modern features such as a cool setting. The bathroom design felt impractical, likely envisioned without considering the guest experience—something that was evident in its layout and functionality. More concerning, though, was the fire alarm issue. It began beeping due to a low battery around 11 PM and continued for two hours. When we called the front desk, we were initially offered earplugs instead of a timely solution. Not only was this response unprofessional, but it also raises serious concerns regarding safety and building code compliance. The pool area was underwhelming—small and reminiscent of a motel rather than a luxury hotel—but the rooftop bar adjacent to it was a nice touch. Valet parking is steep at $65 per night, although more affordable garage and street parking options are nearby. Unfortunately, the service did not meet expectations. The front desk staff came off as dismissive unless you fit a certain profile, and the individual who identified as a manager, Marissa, was especially unprofessional and curt. Overall, despite the lovely location and walkability, the experience lacked the polish, hospitality, and thoughtful design typically expected at this price point. I’ve stayed at many high-end properties, and sadly, this one did not deliver.