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    Surfer Beach Hotel

    3.2 (294 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Night time of beach from balcony

    The view was what mattered most to me and waking up walking out on the balcony watching the ocean waves first thing in the morning was top Tier. I'll be back in May hopefully with that same view. The amenities aren't the greatest but the view and hospitality make up for that. Everyone was so kind and attentive. Can't wait to come back

    Beautiful view
    Carina S.

    Magnificent stay in a beautifully remodeled beach view hotel room! The surfer hotel is in the perfect location with a vibrant boardwalk scene, ideal sand beaches out the front door, and access to many great restaurants and bars. The room we stayed in had a beautiful view of the ocean, the bed was so comfortable, and the renovations were well thought out giving the room a modern feel. We will definitely be back!

    Beautiful sunset

    We had a great stay. Killer ocean view. Staff was awesome and incredibly helpful. Adin, Alex & Elijah went above and beyond. We will be staying there again. Breakfast at Woodys on the beach and the World Famous Restaurant. Lots of surfers and the boardwalk right there.

    Mandie L.

    One of the worst hotel experiences I've ever had. As a native San Diegan who lived in Pacific Beach for 15 years, I urge you to stay anywhere else on the beach. We paid over $400 a night and it felt more like a really bad motel than a relaxing visit back to our home town. Right from the start, our beds were full of sand. When we asked for clean bedding, we were told housekeeping had gone home--for the day--at 2 PM. They eventually dropped off sheets for us to change ourselves. The entire room was filthy: sand all over the floors, the bathroom, and the showers. It clearly hadn't been cleaned at all. We were on the bottom floor and could hear everything from the room above--people walking, running, dragging furniture around all night long. Zero soundproofing. As if that wasn't enough, our "balcony" area had no divider, so strangers (including unsupervised children) constantly sat in our chairs just outside our sliding door. It made the stay uncomfortable and robbed us of any privacy. We couldn't even enjoy the sun or the tiny, overcrowded pool area. And then came the worst part: on Friday morning, the sinks spontaneously burst and spewed foul-smelling, sulfur water all over the floor and our belongings. I ran to the front desk because no one answered the phone. Thankfully, the maintenance man was kind and helped clean up. But when I told the manager how awful the smell was, he literally shrugged and walked away. To top it all off, the rooms look nothing like the photos online. It's a complete bait-and-switch. When we asked for a room change or even a partial refund for the water damage to our belongings, we were told no. The front desk guy just shrugged again and asked if we wanted our bill then or at checkout. No apology. No accountability. Do yourself a favor--don't waste your time or money here. There are much better places to stay in San Diego.

    My family has been staying at the Surfer for over 30 years. It's tradition. Best for putting your feet in the sand. Best restaurant on the beach right on site. Rooms being remodeled. Be back next year.

    Lonely and cold Surfers on late October!
    Steven E.

    - The employees of this hotel are professional, friendly, helpful, relatable, hard working, and all very handsome. Without the employees this establishment would certainly get one star or no stars. - The rates charged support a huge improvement in the physical structure. Stating the obvious, it is old and poorly maintained, unclean, a place where you want to always have shoes on or something something protecting your feet. - Before you touch anything in the room a guest will want to have plenty of clean cleaning towels, scrubbing brush, head lamp, and a can of Comet with bleach. If you spent an hour scrubbing and cleaning, covered the carpet with plastic sheeting, you will begin to enjoy the view that is obstructed by a 25 yard restaurant roof and grill exhaust fan (grilled or broiled meat is on the menu along with deep fried foods). Perhaps this is why the booking agent was careful not to say 'beachfront' and instead 'full beach view' as most units are not on the beach front. - The location affords one the opportunity to park in the three day free public parking and walk to local restaurants and attractions. At this part of the San Diego breach diaspora there is a dearth of branded hotels. In lieu of this are hotels that look similar to the Surfer Beach Hotel. It would behoove the owners to form a partnership, bulldoze their hotels, gather their capital and rebuild with the idea of building three or more modern branded hotels at the three, four, and perhaps a five star hotel. Until one of these tired hotels had some type of catastrophic failure bringing into doubt the safety of all we will have wait while the owners of these outdated properties take advantage of their unnatural position. This is the position of too much demand for hotels on the beach and limited supply that is guaranteed by the California political system. Please be prepared for the wait and stop at Costco for cleaning supplies before you check in.

    Cheap and nasty. I'm 5'2 and the shower was barely tall enough. Shower had mold. Carpet was gross and dirty. No microwave. Gross stains on the wall. Bed was old and uncomfortable. Weird art on the walls. Staff was very helpful and kind.

    Dirt and sloppy paint

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    Thank you for the great review. We look forward to hosting you again.

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    Ask the Community - Surfer Beach Hotel

    Review Highlights - Surfer Beach Hotel

    Laura was extremely friendly and very helpful, gave us a VIP pass for the World Famous Restaurant next door..

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    Staypineapple, Hotel Z, Gaslamp Quarter - Lobby area is small but there's a few seats

    Staypineapple, Hotel Z, Gaslamp Quarter

    (724 reviews)

    $$

    Gaslamp, East Village

    When I plan short 2-3 day weekend "getaway" trips (especially during a holiday weekend), I search…read morefor budget friendly hotels since we typically don't stay in the hotel other than to sleep and shower. I am so happy I found this place via AARP! Located in the heart of the Gaslamp District, I had never heard of this hotel prior to searching. Upon checking in, the desk clerk was very friendly, efficient, and answered any questions that I had. As for the room, he put us up on the top (4th) floor. Room is the perfect size for two people. Very clean, warm, inviting, and has some really cute and convenient amenities such as a pineapple themed USB quad port at the desk, along with a Keurig machine (had I known that I'd have brought my own Starbucks K-cups)! The bed was nice and comfy with lots of soft but supportive pillows and two separate comforter blankets so you're not fighting for covers if you are sharing the bed with someone or your significant other. Bathroom is very modern and clean. A hairdryer is hanging in the bathroom as well. The only item missing was an iron and an ironing board; however, you can request that at the front desk. If you are looking for a hotel with a gym, laundry facilities on site, and a full breakfast buffet or continental breakfast, then this place is not for you; however, if those things don't matter to you {I typically look for those types of hotels during a longer stay) then this hotel is all you need. You also get other unexpected creature comforts such as Starbucks coffee in the lounge along with 4 different blends of water as well as these cute pineapple cookies in the afternoon. Based in Seattle, WA, I am so happy I found this chain as I will be on the lookout and consider staying in other cities. Parking is available in a garage connected to the hotel next door for a fee. Also, bikes are available in the lobby for getting around (not sure if gratis or for a fee). I definitely recommend staying here! One small recommendation for the hotel: provide rooms with a small microwave and mini fridge to reheat leftovers. It all worked out as I gave a homeless guy mine.

    Honestly, I did not have the highest expectations for Hotel Z (A Staypineapple Hotel). I mean, even…read morethe name felt a little unserious to me and made me question how legit these accommodations would be. I've stayed in Gaslamp before, so my hope was that at a minimum this would be a safe and comfortable spot to rest my head. Honestly, they totally met my expectations and then some (not a lot, mind you, but some). The staff were super friendly, even offering my companion and I flowers for Women's History Month and the lobby amenities included a water station and complementary cookies (pineapple shaped, of course). The rooms weren't super spacious but it was enough for a night and they were clean and safe, which is the most important part. Note: there is no parking attached to the hotel! Your best bet is a public lot called Park it on Market about a block away. It's $21 to park overnight and you can book in advance (which I highly recommend because it can sell out).

    Pendry San Diego

    Pendry San Diego

    (570 reviews)

    $$$

    Gaslamp

    We had an outstanding stay at Pendry San Diego, and the experience was truly elevated by booking…read morethrough the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program. From check-in to departure, everything was seamless and handled with a high level of professionalism. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and valued--service like this is hard to find nowadays. The property itself is beautiful, modern, and perfectly located. Every detail, from the rooms to the amenities, reflects quality and attention to detail. You can tell this is a hotel that takes pride in delivering a premium experience. The American Express benefits made a real difference--early check-in, late checkout, and added perks that made our stay even more comfortable and enjoyable. It's absolutely worth it. Overall, this was a top-tier experience. If you're considering staying here, don't think twice--this place delivers. We will definitely be coming back.

    I checked in early in the morning (around 8AM) and they told me the room isn't ready. I come back…read moreat 4PM (the official check in time) and they told me there's no record of me checking in and the room isn't ready. I asked when it will be ready and they can't even give me a time frame, just that it'll be rushed. For a luxury hotel, this is irresponsible and I am tired. They offered nothing - not even some place to relax. Disappointing. Edit: Thank you Esme for helping me and giving a fuller explanation. The previous person, which I shall not specifically name, he didn't even contact me at all about the time frame despite him saying he would contact housekeeping. I see everyone else being able to get into the rooms. Translation - if you book through Chase Reserve you're second class citizen. The initial staff probably knows this and that's why he dismissed me so quickly. So annoying.

    Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark - Omni San Diego Hotel

    Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark

    (1k reviews)

    $$$

    East Village

    Stayed here for a game, so let's get this started, BATTER UP!…read more Arrival, greeted by the amazing Cynthia at the front desk. She was knowledgeable and efficient, loved her. We then were directed to our room on the 14th floor. Skyline was great and you could see the Padres "Petco" stadium from the room which was awesome. Room- larger double bed (there were three of us) with a standard bathroom. Hated the bathroom sliding door, it left openings on both sides even when you tried to close it! Waters in the room which was nice. Coffee and fridge available. Seating area as well, nothing I can complain about (other than the restroom sliding door). Loved the art work in the room that is baseball themed, our room was two ladies playing with one sliding into home plate! There is a pool bar on the 6th floor that had a great view and it was large and nicely laid out for guests. The bar was a good size and service was exceptional. PROS: Connected to Petco Stadium, making it super easy to get into the stadium as it has its own entrance for Omni hotel guests. Elevators- quick and efficient (see one CON) Large Rooms Coffee on the first floor was great Super close to the Gaslamp Quarter, very walkable CONS: Bathroom Door- does not fully close as it is a slider, not great when you are using it and you know your brother is outside the room. Connection to Stadium- Yes, you have a separate entrance to the stadium, but it will back-up onto the escalator which makes for a very interesting experience when everyone is jumping off of it to not fall. Pool Bar: closes early during at times (Thursday it closed at 6pm) Parking- $70 a night, whoowee Elevators- after the game, expect a little wait, but truthfully it was not long at all. Bars/Restaurants- they do close at earlier times, so make sure that you are aware before planning for after the game

    Was doing a race the next morning and had to attend an expo the day before. I figured it'd be best…read moreto do a one night staycation close to the event. Omni was the best spot to choose. It was in the middle of both locations for the expo and day of race. Also, it was less than 8 minutes of a walk! I loved the inside of the hotel, so clean and beautiful decor. Everyone was just so friendly and I was able to do an early check in. My room smelt great and was super clean. I opted to get dinner inside of the hotel, since I got a free drink ticket and a $30 credit if I dined in the hotel. I loved the food that I got. If you're planning on doing a vacation/staycation in San Diego, this is a great spot. It's right across the street from Petco Park and has a special bridge for entrance and to come back, and it's also across the street from the convention center. Now, I'm not gonna lie -- valet was a bit steep ($70 a night). Since I was just doing one night and not driving anywhere, I opted to park my car at the garage right in front of the hotel and ended up paying $24 the next day.

    Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter - Corner room!

    Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$

    East Village

    Good value for the money. We wanted to stay close to the Gaslamp Quarter area and decided to book…read morethis hotel based on location and the price. The pros: walking distance to a lot of restaurants, cafes and Petco park. Pretty clean and the staff were friendly. Room was pretty comfortable and the bathroom had a large counter space area. The cons: needed some maintenance, sliding lobby door was very noisy. The handle of the refrigerator was broken in our room. We were initially booked on the 9th floor, the floor connecting to the rooftop bar. We had to ask to switch rooms/floors due to heavy foot traffic on the 9th floor and also due to the noise coming from the next door occupant. There are homeless folks walking around the area so just be aware. There were a few hiccups but overall a comfortable stay.

    This was easily one of the worst hotel experiences I have had, and I do not say that lightly…read more I checked into Hotel Indigo and was immediately given a dirty room. It was not a minor issue. The room was clearly not cleaned. I went back to the front desk expecting a quick solution, only to be moved into a second room that was somehow worse than the first. At that point I had zero confidence in this hotel's cleanliness or standards. When I spoke with management, specifically Helena and Ashley, the experience went from bad to unbelievable. Helena responded with sarcasm and dismissiveness and actually laughed while I explained that both rooms were dirty. Being laughed at while raising legitimate concerns is completely unacceptable. She brushed the situation off and said she would pass it along to her director, which appeared to be nothing more than a deflection. There was no follow up, no effort to fix the issue, and no concern shown at all. I paid to stay in a hotel and was instead shuffled between dirty rooms while being treated disrespectfully by management. This was not just poor service. It was insulting. I am keeping records of everything and will be reaching out to legal counsel to address this situation properly. If you care about cleanliness, professionalism, or basic respect as a guest, I strongly advise avoiding this hotel. This experience was a complete failure from start to finish.

    Surfer Beach Hotel - hotels - Updated May 2026

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