The Westgate Hotel

A step back in time. Every time I step into the lobby I swear that Belle is going descend down the Grand staircase singing the opening song “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast! In a good way! The rooms are “dated” but, to me, also in a good way. If you are looking for sleek and modern this isn’t the hotel for you. If you appreciate cozy and timeless this is your hotel. The location is hard to beat. There is live music once a week. The last time I had breakfast there (a couple of years ago) I dined al fresco and it was delicious!

It’s a nice hotel, good location. Walking distance to the Gaslamp Quarter, Civic Center and restaurants. The view on our side wasn’t that great. The bed is comfortable and the bathroom have good water pressure. The room is big compared to other ones we stayed in. The bathroom is huge. But sounds do echo in the building. They only have valet parking; $50 a night (September of 2022). If you’re waiting for your room and not going to have tea, don’t sit where there’s dishes on the table.

The staff here is top notch! I had Uber eats cancel my order on me and less than 30 minutes until I had to leave for the airport. The employee Freddy made sure I got a last minute order rushed up in time for me to have something to eat before a long flight and I was beyond thankful. The hotel itself is beautiful and the beds are very comfortable. I do suggest bringing earplugs if you are a light sleeper as there is a lot of noise from the city at all hours of the day and night.

I was very disappointed with my recent stay here. I booked because the reviews are raving, but upon arrival, it was very evident to me that staff are very focused on guest rotation more so than the customer experience. I was upgraded to a Premium Double Room since my booking allowed for it, but staff was very reluctant to do so and showed attitude before my arrival. Upon checking in, I noticed the sheets had not been changed and the bathrooms had hairs in the sinks and bathtub, indicating they had not been thoroughly cleaned. Furthermore, what irritated me was their check-in/check-out times. It’s industry standard to check in at 3pm and check out at 12pm. But they cut these by an hour, which eat up time from the whole reservation. Details matter, especially at this price point. I was also overcharged by 30% plus an additional $100 charge upon checking in. I wouldn’t have minded if they had just explained this is their standard policy. Finally, the hotel decor felt very cheap and antiquated to me. I would hardly recommend this place to any of my friends and will likely never stay here again. The Pendry looks so much better at a similar price point, so on my next visit to San Diego, I will gladly choose them instead. Edit to respond to the manager’s reply to my review: No, I will not stay with you again, not even if you offered a free night - the guest experience was that bad for me. This is the typical scripted response we would read from a manager who’s trying to save face from a clear gap in service. Your hotel makes millions in revenue a year, likely because this guest rotation technique works in the short term to keep investors happy. But it’s a matter of time before the house of cards crumbles, because in hospitality, nothing beats honest, exceptional service. I will gladly take my money elsewhere that will provide honest value.

Came all the way from New Jersey for my birthday and had an excellent stay at the Westgate!! Beautiful property, impeccable service all around. The restaurant and tea time were prime examples of on site services that made our stay even more magical. Frankie from room service was AMAZING and made us feel very accommodated and comfortable with our stay!! Will recommend to anyone staying in the downtown area and I will be back!!! Thank you Westgate staff for a wonderful stay!