More about Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
Fabulous Get-Away From the Everyday
by TripAdvisor Member Coretlyou
We spent a weekend at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego for an active/romantic get away.
It is located in an area that was great for people watching and diversions like eating, drinking and shopping. Next to the Ball Park and the Convention Center, at the entrance of the Gaslamp Quarter.
The Hotel had it's own energy. Very sophisticated and modern.
We stayed in a suite that was spacious yet welcoming.
On check -in they asked our music style preference and when we got to our room both of the flat-screen tvs were on, playing music vidios of our liking. This was the first of several nice surprises.
Guests can get their name on the prefered list for the various bars. This seemed silly until we saw the waiting line was half a block long!
The price of drinks and food was high, but probably not out of line with downtown San Diego.
All told, it was worth the money for a get-away from the real world!
The Good, the BAD, and the Irritating!
by TripAdvisor Member karlasita
**This was our first trip to San Diego and we wanted a location that was an easy distance to clubs and restaurants. We booked through expedia and got a free upgrade to a Woodstock Suite.
**The GOOD :)
--The location of the hotel is excellent. It is at the entrance to the Gaslamp District, and Adjacent to Petco Park, the Convention Center, and the Trolley Stop.
--We noticed while driving around that the (inland) areas of the gaslamp district were host to many beggars and homeless, so we were glad that we were in such a cleaner area on the edge of gaslamp.
--The restaurants and clubs surrounding the area were great. Basically you can keep walking down 5th avenue and find a delightful array of places. We managed to find some excellent moderately priced dinner places, the top 2 were "Red Pearl Kitchen" and "Buci di Beppos"
Our favorite casual bar hangouts were Jimmy Loves, Moose McGillicuddy's, and The Field (irish pub), all located on 5th AVE.
--The Rooms: showers were nice, had spacious corner balcony w/view of skyline and pool. Balcony would be great to view the rooftop concerts at the hotels. Lots of windows, and a plush comfy bed and carpet. Large HD flatscreens and good music channels on TV's.
--Fitness center--really liked it, treadmills had IPOD docks. Gym had complimentary apples, power bars, and bottled water (we always grabbed some for breakfast!)
The BAD****
Couches in sitting room of suite were of modern (uncomfortable) design. Mini bar and room service stuff was expensive!
Valet---Well, they told us that Valet was 30$ a night, what they don't tell you is that Valet increases to $60/night on fridays and saturdays--which I found to be very shady!
**One day, when we were going to cruise around......Valet gave us someone ELSE'S car!!--Which we didn't realize because they were both the same color and style. And when the owner asked for his car the Valet had to tell him they gave it to someone else who was taking it to the airport!!! (which we weren't) Not sure how they compensated the man, but can you imagine going to pick up your car from valet and hearing that it was given to someone else!?!
**Decor of the hotel was modern and dark, but the lobby was so could and uninviting I really didn't like it . THey had a gift shop there that looked nice, but I never entered it because every time I got into that lobby I had to get the heck out of there because it was soo uncomfortable.
**CHECK YOUR BILL! Upon checkout, we realized the bill seemed high, and discovered a $100 misc. fee. We went down and asked "Was it maybe someone forgot to document that we returned our umbrellas?'' To which they didn't really reply, they just removed the charge---REALLY makes you wonder if they do this kind of thing alot, hoping people won't catch the mistake.
******The Irritating*********
We stayed at the hotel for 5 nights, and they provide a decent sized room fridge, but you can't put ANYTHING in it because it crammed full of expensive crap. It is just irritating not to have a place to cool a bottle of soda or water in your room--you are trapped into using the mini-bar.
The hotel bars were very pretentious and we encountered ALOT of attitude from one female bartender in particular--Who basically started arguing w/us after I politely asked if we could get another drink to replace one that had funny tasting orange juice (3 of us agreed it was foul--and it was a tiny $10 drink!)---She was telling us that there was NO WAY there could be anything wrong with it and getting VERY aggressive. She did end up replacing it, but the whole scene;( the crappy $10 drinks, snarky attitudes, no one having fun because they were trying to be cool)--made us seek out one of the dozens or more reasonably priced, fun bars w/friendly service in the gaslamp.
Great new hotel
by TripAdvisor Member TheX
We stayed in a queen suite for 3 nights in February while on a family vacation. The suite was spacious and had 2 queen beds, 2 large flat screen tv's, a mini bar, a balcony, and a nice funky vibe to it. The hotel is brand new and suffered from some production problems (phones were out one morning, but they noticed we were trying to call room service, and they sent someone up to get our room service order -- good save!). Room service was very good (I recommend the strawberry-banana smoothie for breakfast and the fish tacos for dinner). They have a nice heated pool and hot tub, but they both close at 6 p.m. Nits: For its size, the suite could have used more closet and storage space; valet parking is $30/night (ouch). We would definately return.
NOT that Cool...
by TripAdvisor Member jazziejen5
This was for a girls night out.....they were nice when we entered, but the bar is SO pretentious, like another writer, the girl was SO RUDE, my girlfriends waited 15 minutes to get a drink, apparently she is related to some one who works there.... way too many people wanting to be "cool" it was pathetic. We went in to the club and it was ridiculous, too many people, rude bartenders, and not fun. We walked the streets down 5th ave and went in to Bondi (Bon-dee) an australian restuarant. It was cool for a girls night, but typically I am used to US Grant downtown - a much nicer, classy hotel, people who actually have money and are successful.
This is great if you don't go out to nicer establishments, girls night, guys party, and want to do the bar/dancing drinking scene.Way too many old people trying to be young, very loud, and had to show your room key to get anywhere at night time.
Rooms were trying to look like a rock star room, but cheap, very industrial. If you are going to spend $300- go us grant or omni.
Spectacular!!!
by TripAdvisor Member Beony
This Hotel is a must stay when in San Diego, right downtown across the convention center and about 30 seconds from the marina. The lobby is amazing and cool, staff very efficient and the rooms are super cool and very modern. They have 2 Randy Gerber bars which are great for a drink at night. Now for the food...you must got to NOBU....what an experience! Sushi at its best...a bit expensive but so worth it...(still dreaming about it). There is nothing lacking here...can't wait to come back....
Might just be the best hotel
by TripAdvisor Member Amigo7
This might just be the best hotel I've ever stayed at. (***disclaimer - we both love music, so the decor and happening vibe was definitely a selling point)
Pros:
- The location to the Gastown district is perfect.
- Modern, new decor.
- beds are amazing (so comfortable).
- helpful courteous staff.
- if you're in to music, there's lots of cool stuff you can check out on all levels of the hotel. Even if you're not in to music, the hotel is very modern, clean and a happening place.
We booked through hotels.com. The prices directly through the hotel are quite pricey. We had the "cheapest" room, studio King - it wasn't huge, but the decor was super cool!
Just like any other hotel the mini-bar and snacks in your room are overpriced. Just bring your own, but if you forget them it's all there, including alcohol, wine glasses, corkscrew. You also get two bottles of water per night at turn-down service (bring your own if you need more - water in the stocked bar is over priced, too)
FOOD
We ate at Mary Jane's cafe. Once for a late dinner, and once for breakfast. No complaints. But why eat at the hotel when there are soo many great restaurants just steps away on 5th ave??
Valet parking was $30. I guess that's to be expected - I'm not sure what the other hotels charge.
I don't really have anything bad to say about this place. We'd definitely stay there again, in fact, before visiting any other city I will look to see if they have a Hard Rock first.
We all thought it was really cool
by TripAdvisor Member entrad
We stayed here for one night after a fascinating but grueling trip to Baja Mexico. Maybe part of the reason we loved it so much was that it was so great to get back to civilization. But, honestly, the place is just really cool. Rooms modern, spacious, lay-out of our king suite a little odd with the bathroom subdividing the sleeping and sitting areas, but liked the modern furniture and the beds were very comfortable. Big flat screen TV's in each area, as well.
Our teen-age kids could have stayed there for days without leaving. They immediately retired to the health club, followed by a dip in the very cool rooftop pool ("they have beds instead of lounge chairs at poolside!") and large hot tub. Pool bar has seating areas surrounding fire pits.
Ate at casual diner-style restaurant. Food was good. It is true that the lobby is cold and a little chaotic-feeling, but decor still cool, if a little them-park-like.
It is very conveniently located at edge of gaslamp, across from convention center and very close to stadium.
I would definitely stay again.
Unfortunate... Tried hard.
by TripAdvisor Member coconutmonkey9
Stayed 5 nights at the Hard Rock Suite
Facts
- No bathtub in room
- Valet Parking - $30 per night
- random daily $3 charge added to room for mini-bar replenishment service. (I didn't eat anything from the bar, mind you)
Pros
- Friendly Staff - tried their best. Valet guys particularly nice.
- One of the TVs in the suite broke - but was fixed immediately upon reporting to front desk.
- Central location
- Nice fitness room
Cons
- Inconsistent housekeeping (left toiletries on some days, not on others. Sometimes left towels, sometimes didn't)
- Inconsistent turn down service (got it some nights, didn't others, sometimes got one bottle of water, sometimes two, other times just candy)
- Unorganized, badly managed (seemed staff wasn't communicating with each other. took four phone calls back and forth and two people knocking on the door to get robes (that should've been in the room in the first place) to the room)
- SLOW room service
- Staff smoking in the side alley
- uncomfortable furniture
- new hotel but carpets, walls and furniture already showing signs of wear, tear and neglect.
- overall gave the feeling of somehow being less-than-clean.
- no in room coffee maker
- you WILL bang your shin on the bed. promise.
All in all, wouldn't stay again. Hard Rock Hotel - Chicago was much nicer.
Best New Hotel in DownTown for 21-30 Crowd
by TripAdvisor Member LosAngelosBeachBum
Best New hotel in San Diego...This is from a local San Diegan. Hotel is very Upscale and has great service. Flat Screens in room, Modern Furniture, Quick friendly service, Great Bar/Lounges. The only this that I would say is lacking is the large pool. While they do have one its really small. I'll be there again this summer so I will report back on how the scene is. Drinks are expensive and the hotel caters to the 21-30 Year old Crowd just like in Vegas. Music is playing round the clock in the hallway and lobby. Great if your looking for a non-stop party atmosphere and lots of fun.
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