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Empress Hotel
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: La Jolla
7766 Fay Ave
(between Kline St & Silverado St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-3001
7766 Fay Ave
(between Kline St & Silverado St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-3001
- Price Range:
-
$$
12 reviews for Empress Hotel
I booked this hotel for the La Jolla Half Marathon through the hotel website after reading the reviews on Tripadvisor and seeing that it was ranked the #2 hotel in La Jolla there. It also wasn't outrageously priced. I loved that it was within walking distance to everything La Jolla offers - the water, the Cove, all the boutiques and restaurants, etc., but it was a few blocks back that you were never caught in stopped traffic and never experienced road noise.
The front desk promptly and cheerfully checked me in. We inquired about late check-out and offered us a time as late as 2pm! Luckily we didn't end up needing it, but I was extremely pleased and happy about that! They provided each of us in the room with an Otis Spunkmeyer cookie (who doesn't love a warm, surprise cookie!?) and off we went.
The room was comfortable and well decorated. The bathroom and shower were really nice.
The valet had only one guy which made it difficult for those dropping off their cars and wanting to pick theirs up...so improvements can be made there. However, we needed to get our car from valet very early the next morning, so I called the front desk to make sure they knew (and to make sure someone would be around to get it). The next morning when I called to see if they could get a head start on it, they already had pulled it up and had it waiting exactly when we said. I was impressed and very pleased with that!
Later, we called down and asked for help getting a taxi. They were extremely helpful coordinating that, and making sure we got the best price comparing the taxi to a towncar which may have been cheaper. They went out of their way to help us get our bags put into our vehicle and I felt like they helped make everything easy for us.
I would definitely recommend this hotel to friends and would stay here again in the future.
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I was here for a weekend for a wedding. For the hotel itself, this place was really nice. Very 5 star-esque, hotel decor, service, and awesome bathroom. Of course, other than to shower or sleep, I didn't spend too much time in the room because there's too much stuff to do in San Diego. The bed wasn't uncomfortable like Motel 6 or anything. For such a nice, classy hotel, the continental breakfast was very mediocre. I probably shouldn't be griping about the continental breakfast, but I got to give at least one constructive criticism. The pastries and donuts were all stale and tasted old, and I was hungover from a brutal forced-alcohol-consumption wedding reception. Considering that I paid a 5 star-esque price for this hotel room (booked late), I want 5 star-esque everything.
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This review is only for the Jazz music and the bar. The Jazz group playing was very good, they had a pretty good crowd. The location is very good and you can walk anywhere basically. The restaurant here is good after dinner if you want you can sit at the bar and get a drink while listening to the jazz group playing.
This was our honeymoon week and it was a very personal hotel. We recieved an upgrade due to our special engagement, which was a surprise and very thoughtful. The linens were top of the line along with the service throughout our four day stay. Not your typical chain hotel where no one greets you by name but in fact each staff member remembered us by name. If you are looking for something close to the cove and great service this is the place for you. Great shopping and dining within walking distance.
We're giving this a 5 b/c we paid $60 a night (!) for it on Priceline- if we'd paid full price, we probably would have given it a 4. When we asked about parking before we arrived (it was $17 or so a night to valet) they helpfully suggested parking on the street overnight which worked just fine. We were out by 9 am every day sightseeing anyway and that saved us a bunch of $.
The breakfast was pretty good- cereal, bread, yogurt, juice, etc. but a fair selection of each. Beds were quite comfortable and room was very nice. We had a view of the street rather than ocean but not a big deal. Free internet in their business center, which you have to pay for at many hotels at this comfort level. The business center was open 24 hours, too.
We loved the location in La Jolla- it was great to able to walk around and shop right in the area. We didn't eat in the hotel restaurant (Italian food), but it seemed quite popular and smelled good. We'd definitely stay here again.
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A nice hotel all around; the only disappointment was their included breakfast. But then again, breakfast at a hotel in this price range is almost always a disappointment. Nice room, comfortable bathroom, everything appears clean and well-maintained. Walk to La Jolla Cove.
I booked this hotel last minute for work, after reading good reviews on Tripadvisor.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed when I arrived.
No one was outside at the valet area to assist me with my car and luggage, although I semi-parked. I guess you are supposed to "park" in the loading zone and go check in before they valet your car. I also was not impressed with the staff checking me in, as they were not friendly at all... not even a fake smile! I believe front-desk staff, especially those checking people in, need to excel in the area of customer service.
However, my room was excellent. A big comfy bed, free bottled water and wifi, and free deluxe continental breakfast. The breakfast was actually really good for it being "free". They have a selection of pastries/baked goods, instant oatmeal for you health-conscious travelers, the coffee was delicious and strong, a variety of teas, Dannon yogurt (i thought it was interesting they also offered Dannon Activia), and hardboiled eggs. The outdoor patio is sooo relaxing, it makes you want to skip work.
I would give the Empress 3 stars because my experience was okay, and the name and font used throughout the hotel sort of gave me chinese restaurant flashbacks. However, the view is AHMAYYYZING. If you have the chance and the moolah, definitely book a room with an ocean view because the sunset is oh so gorgeous.
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I wanted to give it three stars due to the location, but just about everything else is mediocre. It feels like the hotel is unsuccessfully trying to pose as a more upscale hotel. The front and lobby of the hotel looks nice, but that's about it. The rest of the building seems pretty old. The room felt very humid even though the AC was on and it wasn't nearly as humid outside. At times, I just opted to open the window and let in some fresh air.
I was in a hurry to a meeting, but the bit of breakfast I had was good. There is no parking nearby (other than 2hr parking), but the valet service was pretty quick.
Even though the location is good, there aren't good, quick late night restaurant options. We opted to drive into San Diego for In N Out and Domino's rather than one of the full-service restaurants.
We had a fantastic experience at the Empress. We booked a room block for our wedding weekend, and from the beginning of the whole process to the end of the wedding, we received nothing but wonderful service.
My parents and my husband's parents both booked suites to host our families, and I booked a suite for the night before and the night of our wedding. On Sunday, I didn't want to leave. I wanted to live there. I wanted to take a daily soak in the jacuzzi tub, and sleep each night on the amazingly comfotable, soft bed.
The "regular" rooms were just a nice, according to my brother. Apparently, the Empress had done some renovations prior to our stay.
Probably the most impressive point of service was the valet. Being a wedding group, we were in and out of the hotel constantly, running errands, meeting up with family and friends, etc. The valets were always prompt and friendly, even though I'm sure it was annoying to have to jog to the garage so often. One valet went to get my mom's camera out of her car. Another helped a friend of mine out when her car wouldn't start, offering to call a tow for her. Another even brought my husband's car down to La Jolla Cove on the night of our wedding, so we could put the empty kegs in it, then drove it for us right back up to the hotel.
The front desk staff were always friendly; our guests even commented to us on how helpful they always were. The warm cookies in the lobby each day never hurt, either!
If I could live at the Empress, I would. :-)
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While I have no HUGE complains about this hotel, it was really nothing special. The location was convenient, and they had free apples in the lobby. Free continental breakfast is also included, but it ends at 9:30, and what sane person gets up that early while on vacation? Not me. Luckily there is a great breakfast restaurant right down the street called The Cottage, which serves breakfast until 11:30. They'll even deliver breakfast to your room!
The bathroom in the room was disgusting. I'm pretty sure the guest before me was a gorilla or something, because there was hair all over the bathtub, floor, and even on the ceiling. Gross. The shower head was extremely frustrating too -- I'm 5'10" and I had to literally kneel over to wash my hair. If you're 5'7" or shorter, then you wont have a problem with the shower. The walls in the bathroom looked gross and dirty, and I made sure to examine every towel before I used it...
The pillows were extremely uncomfortable. They felt like big marshmellows, and that's not a good thing. The walls were paper thin too -- I hear lots of, um, bouncing in the adjacent room.
Other than that, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the location is very nice.
Cautionary note: if you ask the front desk to call a cab for you, make sure you tell them a YELLOW CAB, and not a limo. For some reason they like to call limos, and limos are more expensive!
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stayed here for a few hours the other night. drank some wine, watched some tv. the room was really spacious. king sized bed, huge sofa, flat screen tv - not mounted but was able to crank it to the right to face me laying on the couch. hard to get air flowing into the room. we were on the second floor so with the windows open, the people outside of the hotel were easily heard n got kinda annoying. one of the rooms we visited had a fullsized hot tub in the master bedroom, about 5 feet from the bed. how awesome is that? pretty darned awesome!
This hotel is close to all the shopping and dining in La Jolla. They have a friendly staff, cookies upon check-in, free wifi, a spacious bathroom, bathrobes, fridge, big closet, and a comfortable bed. This was the first time I slept soundly for two nights in a hotel. I usually wake up every other hour to toss and turn, but didn't experience that here and wanted to sleep in until check-out.
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