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W San Diego
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Little Italy, Downtown
421 W B St
(between State St & Columbia St)
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 231-8220
421 W B St
(between State St & Columbia St)
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 231-8220
- Price Range:
-
$$$
175 reviews for W San Diego
Beach on a roof top??? YES PLEASE!!! It didn't take me and my friends a long time to decide on partying it up at this glam location. The music was just right, the people were not over the top and everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves the night I went. Great vibes. Although on the lower level (not the beach roof top), seemed to be pretty adolescent, we quickly realized that they may have not been there to party, just to lounge around.
Great place to spend for a night, the hotel is beautiful, although I heard that if you're a guest there and are looking for some TLC and peace, then you won't find it. It's def a PARTY SCENE and vibe, so be prepared, or look somewhere else.
Really, the stay would have been 4 stars had it not been for the horrible customer service I received over the phone prior to our arrival.
I had ordered a promo off http://RueLaLa.com for $179 for a one night stay and free upgrade to a Spectacular room along with 2 cocktails and $40 credit for breakfast. Sounds like a deal right? It was, but what a freakin hassle.
It was a pain in the ass to get a room for the dates that I wanted, and I finally had to pick a Thursday in September. I really wanted to go in August for my daughter's birthday weekend in SD, but the hotel was sold out. I picked another date, also sold out. WTF? Is everyone going to the W? Geez.
After settling on a date, I was all ready to go, but something came up and I had to reschedule my trip down. Called the W reservations and they told me to call the hotel directly. I did, and spoke to the front desk who transferred me to the reservation manager. I explained my situation to her and she said she could not change my date, and the time to cancel had passed. WTF. Straight up rude and a lie, by the way. I was looking at my confirmation email and it said "Cancel by 4:00 PM Hotel time 1 day(s) prior to avoid 1 Night penalty".
I was calling one day prior and it wasn't even noon yet. She gave me total attitude and said that it their policy was 2 days prior for my reservation. Now, I was getting pissed. I told her that the reservations guy had explained it all to me at the time of booking, etc.. She wouldn't listen. Told me to take it up with billing. And she wouldn't even transfer me! OMFG. Can you say horrible service?!
I called back and told the front desk I wanted to speak to the manager. Left them my number and 2 hours later, Jason called me. We spoke and he was nice, but said that there were no rooms available for the date that I wanted. At least he was willing to change it. But, whatever!
So, I was stuck. I had to go down to San Diego cuz I already paid for it and would be out $179 since the promo was non-refundable.
Anyway, the visit itself was nice. We had good service and everyone was pleasant.
Got our free upgrade, 2 free cocktails and breakfast in bed.
The bartender at the lobby made our drinks so damn strong, it tasted like pure rubbing alcohol. Bleh.
Pool was tiny! There were like 5-6 lounge chairs by the pool. Not really a place to hang out all day. More like a chill for an hour or so pool.
Sandbar upstairs was cool. Great view of SD and it was different to be at a hotel bar and be sitting in a sandy area. Music was 80s and random songs.
My favorite part of the stay was breakfast in bed! Steak and eggs! Steak was huge and came with 3 eggs. I liked it alot, but couldn't finish it.
Bf had the tofu scramble which I didn't try. I'm not much into healthy stuff. Hahah.. kidding.
So, overall, a nice hotel to stay at. Close in proximity to the Gaslamp district.
Apparently, the room we stayed in would normally cost $500. Hmm.. really?
Pix- http://pandaliciousfor...
This was a tough review for me to write because of so many variables.
1. While driving to hotel, we noticed an insane amount of bail bond stores, but at least they all had creative names and signage.
2. CIty jail is across the street.
3. There are bums EVERYWHERE!
Yes, the hotel is in a MUCH LESS than desirable location. It is about a mile from Gaslamp and almost a mile from Little Italy, and it is walkable like they say, but it's a sketchy walk as W is in a big black hole downtown. We arrived at 11pm on a monday night (i know it's not a big night) and the place was dead quiet. Nobody at the bar, nobody in the lobby, and nobody in the restaurant. The girl who checked us in was very nice and the concierge had set us up with a nice room.
The next day when waking up we were able to finally check the hotel out. Architecturally, it's a dud. The inside of the hotel is neat, the rooms are neat, but the rooftop bar, pool area, and exterior of the hotel were way out of whack for a W property. Service was spotty and while in some instances fantastic, others were downright sad. The person who answered the whatever/whenever line was outstanding and very freindly, and we always got what we asked for within 5 minutes. One concierge was ridiculously helpful, one was downright dismissive, and one didn't seem to have a desire to help.
On checkout day I watched the most interesting interaction between a guest and one of the front desk managers:
Front Office Manager: And ma'am, while you are staying with us, will you have a car parked here?
Lady Checking In: No.
FOM: Are you sure? It looks like you have a valet ticket.
LCI: no...... it's a reciept from my breakfast..... *looks puzzled that he would interrogate her about it*
and then when I filled out the comment card and handed it to him, he followed us out the door and started explaining all of the reasons why they were right regarding my complaints.
The bar was dead, and the drink menu was beyond boring. They charge $32/night for valet parking and I was going broke tipping the guys $5-$10 everytime I came back to the hotel and left somewhere.
The room was awesome. They give you more room than I had anticipated, and it is decorated nicely. They also have large flat panel tvs in the room, a nice daybed up against the window, and a neat chalkboard above the trendy work area. Unfortunately, the bathrooms were an abortion. The shower leaked water all over the bathroom, the cultured marble vanity said "I'm really a Motel6" and the toilet took forever to flush and sometimes had to be flushed twice.
I would not return to or recommend this property unless there was a great discount involved like when I was there ($89.)
This the third time i have stayed at a Starwood property and have not been impressed too much. Their prices are not too expensive but for what you pay you can find better. This was my first and probably last time staying at the W or any W hotel! There is too much out there you can spend your money on. First parking is a mess, it is $32 to valet for the night. I could see $20 but $32! That's a little ridiculous. When i did walk in, there was a nice atmosphere though. People were hanging out in the "living room" on their computers or having a drink at the bar. but for all i could of known, they could of been cast members! I splurged and got a room in the upper floors and was rewarded with a view of another building. Nice! The room itself is chic but everything looks of poor quality. It looks like they buy all their furniture from Ikea. The mattress was good and i did have a good night sleep. You have to pay for internet in the room but you can get 8 free hours in the living room/lobby. They do offer Bliss toiletries which is a plus. Overall not a bad experience but i have had better in Marriott's or even the Holiday Inn down the street.
And there are a lot of bums, but it is downtown San Diego. Go to any downtown and you will see the bums at night.
This review is for the beach themed outdoor bar.
The W is a decent place to visit. However parking on the outside may be plentiful, but look towards walking a block or two to get right in. Up the second floor nest in between this giddy up hotel is a beach bar.
Fine, I get the concept: white sand beach, cabana-like huts, outdoors, cool seats and an expensive bar to recoup on the theme! Ha, I crack myself up which actually walking on this (concrete powered sand) fake white sand wishes you can avoid being in it at all.
I was here for sometime and wished I was at the beach myself, in my own terms. Would I be back? Not really, give me a better reason to show up then laugh at this set-up. Yes, I understand the concept but their should be one standard to beach sand.
Use the real deal, Mr. Designer You!
The fat: There's no bikinis up here like the flyer said.
The skinny: And you will not get wet here either.
Always have a fun time when I stay here. I do think my bar tab of $1,300.00 for one night with 3 friends should have covered the parking ( I hate paying for parking) but I will be back.
You should give it a try as it's a fun place.
I really fucking dig the rooftop beach vibe, but I fail to understand why people are expected to get drunk then walk down 2 flights of stairs to use the restroom. If you want fly bitches in heels without visible wounds lounging in your beach bar, please acknowledge this piece of common sense.
When I first moved downtown, a friend told me, 'You should go for drinks at the W, just sit there and see what kind of men there are!' Um, thank god I did not take this person's advice, because if last-night's cross section was my first impression of SD men I'd be horrified! They all had kids in strollers.
The drinks are expensive, sorry. A 10 dollar shot of Jameson? Lord have mercy.
We did sample some foods, which were quite nice, particularly the tempura green beans. Very nice. Also great dipping sauces with the fries.
I've been to the W for a couple big parties where the place is transformed into a tri-level dance floor/social areas. These were fun.
It is important to remember that the W is more of a venue for cool shit, rather than where people go in hopes of having good shit happen to them (exchanging phone #s etc). Also remember that it's a hotel.
I never stayed here when I lived in La Jolla, but the Beach, the roof top bar is fantastic, with the fire pits and the sand floor. The music is great, and is fantastic to be outside on a rooftop bar. It feels like you are somewhere other than boring San Diego.
Let me give you the A, B, C's of the W.
A) AMAZING Steak Frites at the bar...oh la la with the sweet potato fries and the steak itself is delectable, tender, well-seasoned and juuuuust the right portion size.
B) BITCHIN' rooftop bar! I mean...who doesn't love to kick off the shoes walk in sand? A beach...as a bar...oh yeah! And the view? Woah. So nice on a warm eve with the stars and the city lights...
C) COSTLY valet parking. DOH! The night was fab until...until the $23 parking charge for oh, 2.5 hours. And that was WITH a validation. Do yourself a favor: cab it or park off site. Spend the money saved on an extra Mojito!
I'm usually a fan of the W but this was not a good experience. I reserved a King sized bed 3 weeks in advance and was told they only had rooms with 2 doubles when I got there. For a 6'5" guy who's sharing a bed with his gf, that's not a comfortable sleep. We also found that our towels weren't clean and the soap/shampoo set hadn't been refilled.
This is probably the exception given my positive record with other W's but be warned. The manager was nice enough but I don't plan on returning. I only gave it a 2nd star because the beach bar was a nice way to unwind at the end of the day.
W Hotels never let me down! The staff was very nice and accomodating, the rooms were spacious with comfy beds and great decor, and the rooftop pool is awesome! It's walking distance to Little Italy, but was a tad far from Gaslamp (about a 15-20 minute walk).
The only negative about the hotel is the area. It's in the middle of nowhere with nothing around it.
I still loved our experience and would definitely come back!
The night scene here is a no go, especially if you like dancing. I came here with a group of my girl friends. We were all really impressed by the interior. It is definitely sleek, modern, and very trendy. The bottom level has many white couches and low tables with a lot of modern wall decor. There's a huge white bar. The stairs, which is to the right of the entrance (i didn't know where it was until the security guard directed us), is narrow. The upstairs is very unique. There are huge bond fires and couches around it. There is also sand that covers half of the top open roof deck. I really like the atmosphere; however, I just wished I knew about the sand and the open roof. I was cold all night and each time I walked on the sand, the sand kept getting into my heels. It became quiet annoying after a while. So, girls.. prepare for that one. Also, heels and sand don't mix, so wear closed toe wedges or something that has thick heels.. (i know.. kind of ruins the outfit, but here you have to think about that if you want to be in the sandy area). Most of the people are on the top level. There is a small bar area, but when I went, the bartender sucked. All my friends' and my drinks were not blended well nor was the alcohol and the mixer proportioned well. I got a madori sour, my friend got a sex on the beach, the other got a long island tea, and etc. Overall, it was bad!! I got sick right off the bat from drinking the madori sour. Seriously, who gets sick off that? There was such a weird taste about each one of the drinks. When we went downstairs, we finally went up to the bartender and asked if he could add something in the drinks to make it better. He asked us if we bought it from the upstair's bar. When we replied "yes", he got all our drinks and made us new ones. He indicated that the bar upstairs doesn't make good drinks. We all thought it was pretty nice that he remade all our drinks; however, it still didn't make up for us getting sick. We weren't even buzz nor drunk. Those drinks were more of a buzz killer.
The bathroom area is really nice (i know.. I was there a lot). The dance floor area.... wait.. what dance floor?? There is NO dance floor... I guess there is if you call dancing around the couches and tables downstairs. The music was also not as good as going to other clubs. We went on a friday and the place was pretty dead.
Despite the price of drinks, you have me sold on the beach on top of the roof. It's very kick back.. it's very much so San Diego.
It blows the W in Los Angeles out of the water for this alone.... more real people and a real environment than most all of the posh clubs/rooftop places in the area.
It's either a nightmare or a lifesaver for women in heels... frankly those get to be a pain late in the night, and here you can just throw em back and walk around.
For the beach on top of the roof, its an awesome change with the local bars around... but that's most of its appeal. And well, if you're in San Diego, it's not like there aren't a dozen plus other bars right near the beach if you want booze and beaching anyway.
It's a start off bar, or an end up at bar.. not "I'm going to be here all night" kind of bar though.
Comment from Gabrielle F. of
W San Diego
7/20/2009
Well hello there... Thank you for your recent posting. I am…
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Modern does not equal luxury.
The pool is tiny, feels like an afterthought. The rooms are on the small side too.
We needed two beds, they offered to make-up the window sill. Yeah, seriously. Sleeping on this thing should not be considered sleeping on a bed. Not close, but it appears to be an accepted falsehood here.
They seem to capture that Vegas / glitter feel, but if you've stayed at real top tier hotels, this is a pretender.
Good for a sinful homebase perhaps, but this isn't anything more than fake class.
The W was a pleasant enough place to say for a night out, and then in while in San Diego.
The rooftop was fun enough... good vibe, good music. The rooms are a little small, but comfortable. The lobby is fun and quirky. Love the bliss spa products.
If you're traveling to and from the W San Diego via SAN you'll be impressed with the quickness of the journey from the airport to the hotel. I sure was!
Priceline procured me the W San Diego for $150 a night and the double room was spacious enough for two of us to crash. Service came with a smile from every staff member I encountered.
Should you find the actual beach a bit too real for your liking, you can dip your toes into the sand at the rooftop Beach Bar. Just don't be surprised if fellows in shiny and/or stripy shirts are eager to make your acquaintance when sipping solo here.
The Gaslamp Quarter, where this W is situated, reminded me eerily of San Francisco's Marina neighb. Not what I was after but from my limited experience, easy enough to get from there to more compelling climes.
Ok, so my bf and I arrived at the W hotel last weekend to relax for a nice get away. When we first arrived we we greeted by the valet at the front with a warm hospitable smile.
The decor is aways fun and hip at the W Hotel's with surfer inspired decor along with chic modern furniture. After checking in we went to our very spacious room with a great size bathroom. After unpacking we proceeded to the pool where we were so excited to relax and order some food and cocktails, but to our surprise the pool that we were looking forward to looked more like a kiddie pool. The pool could only fit about six or so lounge chairs with a few standard chairs. Wow were we disappointed! This was a sad excuse for a pool. It felt as if they added it at the last minute to spruce it up. Other then that we liked the hotel and the amenities it had to offer. Check out the roof top sand bar area, very cool!!!
This W definitely didn't live up to my expectations (which weren't even that high after looking at the pics posted online). The Wonderful Room is very small, which I could live with, but I really wasn't a big fan of the bathrooms. I thought W Hotels were supposed to be chic, glamorous, trendy, etc. but all we got was a broken toilet and half of a shower door. The door of the bathroom also sucked because it was the sliding kind, only it would get stuck every time I closed it all the way. Nothing about the room seemed exceptionally nice, but the staff was very friendly.
There was a time that I thought the W was all that. However, that was before I had the privilege of staying at the Ritz and 4 seasons and experiencing what true luxury is all about. But alas, I've been to the promised land and it was good. That's what she said!
The W is sure modern and has some really cool touches that I enjoy. Our room had a beachy feel to it. The heavenly bed is as good as they get. Spacious, modern room with all of the high end amenities you would expect.
I have to agree with Brenton about the crowd and that's what I don't get with the W. I have the sense that they would rather I drop by for a drink in their trendy lounge or Beach bar than stay for a visit. The same scene plays out at every W I've been to. My wife and I just chuckle at the glitterati and make our way to the room.
Poor W, you're falling apart. Your sinks do not drain, and you furniture is becoming pale and faded. Might I recommend one of your $400 rejuvenating chocolate wraps at the spa to take a couple years away. Or perhaps the $12 milk and cookies, which can be delivered to your room for a 10% service charge, 20% gratuity charge, and 7.75% tax; and please, feel obligated to tip the staff again. If that doesn't help, we can throw a party outside on "The Beach." Is the noise keeping you up? Well, we'll charge all the guest who are parked in the lot $32 a night and get you some noise proof headphones, ok ?
No.
The W is a great hotel, a bit pricey, but their service and rooms are damn awesome.
For as much you could stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, etc... but they do have a certain style all their own.
The Beach is a great rooftop spot with tons of sand, so ladies dressed up in high heels either embrace it and take their shoes off, or hate it and complain.
This used to be a premier spot with a DJ in the lobby and they cleared out all the chairs, but they remodeled all that away, and now the DJ is up high, and the dancing never seemed to return.
So we go to Altitude now. :-)
@DowntownRob
I stayed at W San Diego for 3 nights and 4 days and I enjoyed staying the hotel during my time in San Diego. Right when I walked through the door I felt at ease and comfortable. The BF and I arrive at W San Diego at 830am and after a long 8 hour drive from SF i was hoping to check in early. Trisha at the front desk was able to check us in early (THANK GOD!). She was really sweet and even gave Oreo (my dog) a doggy treat. I can tell the hotel really love dogs especially since they have a doggy mat in the front of the entrance!
On to the review of the room:
We got the Wonderful Room on the 9th floor and the room was really nice! The pictures on Yelp is basically the same as my room. The blue and white accent gave the room a modern but homely feel. I thought the chalkboard on the wall was pretty cool. I loved the window seating and white desk plus there were plenty of room to walk around and Oreo can play with his toys. He loved the bed and the pillows! Believe me, he was really tired from all the walking that he literally knocked out on the bed. The only thing i didn't like was the shower. First of all, why isn't there a shower door? The hole in the glass for you to help you turn the shower head without getting wet was smart BUT the shower head had too much pressure that all the water kept splashing everywhere causing the floor to flood. Again, I need to ask WHY WASN'T THERE A SHOWER DOOR?!
Review of W San Diego:
Cool and hip atmosphere. The gym and pool are free 247. If you need a massage you can enjoy their Spa. I think W San Diego caters to late 20 to mid 30's because of the decor and services. The Whenever/Whatever service is fabulous --- Whatever you need just give them a ring and they will cater to your needs. If you need a lift to anywhere you can request a ride in their Acrua MDX (How cool is that?). During the weekends you can go downstairs to the Living Room and play with the Wii or just hang out in their comfy sofas. Plus they LOVE pets but with a fee of $25 per night stay and $100 cleaning fee.
Review of Living Room lounge/club:
W San Diego is smart to turn their Living Room into a lounge on Friday and Saturday nights. There are plenty of seating and plus there is a bar! Its very much casual but people still dress to impress. I had a lot of fun just walking down from my room and checking out the night life without leaving the building. The DJ was fabulous (he even played Journey!) and the crowd wasn't snobby at all. It seems like everyone wanted to have a good time rain or shine. I was slightly disappointed the Beach wasn't open because of the weather but maybe next time!
To sum up everything --- my stay at W San Diego was fabulous and everyone was very accommodating and friendly especially to Oreo! Although i loved staying at the hotel i have to rate them 4 stars of the shower and the HEFTY $32 a night parking fee. Dang, $32 is pretty expensive if you ask me but then again the hotel is located in downtown and there isn't any free parking anywhere.
After a tiring week, the bf and I decided to spend a few days in San Diego. I booked Friday through Sunday at the W and was very pleased. On the surface the W doesn't seem over the top but the details really make the difference. The valet was somewhat busy when we pulled up but we were quickly acknowledged. Even though valet is a little expensive at $32 a night, it's in and out as you please and the service is always great. The guys are quick and even when they're hussling for others they do stop to acknowledge you. Check in (and out) was fairly quick. I've been emphasizing how great the staff is because I really do find it important. I mean, when it's 8pm and you've already had a bit to drink at the bar but should really eat and the hotel restaurant doesn't have what you want but the hostess eagerly points you to a place right next door, well that's good service.
The room itself wasn't too big but wasn't too small either. Upgraded to a room on the 16th floor, the view was great. The bed, oh so comfortable I could have, but didn't, spend all day in bed. I like to judge a place by the brand of amenities they use and I really enjoyed the Bliss products. Actually the bf may have enjoyed them more but either was, a plus for the W. The room was a relaxing blue and the chalkboard was enjoyable. Only complaint is the eraser didn't work too well. Yes there are bigger problems in the world so I'll overlook it.
The rooftop bar was really neat. Pretty crowded on a Saturday night but the drinks were great and the sand was fun, except when it got in the heels and so I was a little disappointed I could wear my cute shoes but oh well. A decent amount of seating but then again the rooftop bar isn't too big either. I swear the tonic in the gin and tonic was amazing. Maybe I'm making it up but the bf felt like his vodka tonic was really good too.
Anyway, definitely hit up the bar.
Had breakfast at Rice and oh my was it delicious. I tried to go a little healthier with the acai bowl and was not disappointed. Just the right amount of acai yogurt and granola. the granola was soo yummy and the berries added an extra texture to the yogurt. Loved it butbi won't lie, I loved the bf's dish more. I was sad I was going healthier so I convinced the bf to forgo his normal scrambled eggs and sausage breakfast and get the Benny with smoked salmon instead. Sooool yummyyyyy! With potatoes and ughhh so goood.
The W is also dog friendly, which was good to know, even though we left the pup at home. There was even a bowl of water on a doggy mat by the valet.
I can't stop raving about their Cool Corner room. My husband and I spent 3 nights here this past weekend & had a blast. Unlike other rooms at this property, the Cool Corner rooms are spacious, have large windows, great views of downtown San Diego, and large bathrooms with both a stand up shower and tub. The decor is very tasteful and furniture is comfy. I have stayed in other rooms (small, little natural light) at this property and they don't come close to comparing. I highly recommend that if you are going to stay here, you splurge and pay for an upgrade.
Booked this place for a last minute trip to San Diego. It was between the W or the US Grant. Obviously the latter is the more upscale and nicer one, but my friend had such a great stay here I decided on this hotel.
Now if you're not a Starwood employee, you're kinda assed out on my next tip. But if you're lucky and happen to be one, the Starhot discount INCLUDES alcohol here. That's right..Happy Hour lasts all day long here. You can only use it in the Lobby Bar or the Restaurant, but the rooftop bar and pool are only a floor away.
Another thing I esp. liked about this hotel were the DVDs they rent out (free of charge, granted you return them when you c/out) and also IPODS for loan to use in the exercise room.
I have to dock one star, however, for a most unwelcome wake-up call in the morning, asking us to return a DVD. (Which we never even got around to watching.) They offered to send someone up and then NO ONE came. Usually I have to make a fuss when it comes to these things, but we decided to be good guests and just return it for them. Besides, this meant that we could make breakfast in their restaurant, RICE. I called the front desk to confirm they were still serving brunch and when she said yes, we hauled ass downstairs.
And what happens when we get there? Well, they lose a second star due to denying us breakfast. We arrived TWO minutes after the breakfast hours. I jokingly asked if the breakfast foods weren't still in the kitchen, and couldn't they still technically "make" breakfast? I mean, come on here, I used to work in F&B - I know YOU know how to get around the meal system changing from breakfast to lunch. It's a matter of whether the kitchen wants to cook it for you or not. But nope. My dreams of a salmon benny (cute name, btw) were dashed when we received two lunch menus, while seated at a table that still had glasses and silverware on it. You can't blame us for handing the menus back and leaving to eat elsewhere.
So to sum it up - the front desk team was awesome. The concierge was extremely informative and helpful, providing me with maps and directions for all the areas I asked about.The rooms were, as you would expect of a W, up to par and stocked full of amenities. The pool is small, but adequate. But the restaurant experience combined with the early morning call makes me wish I had chosen the US Grant instead.
Date Attended: 04/18/09, Saturday & 04/19/09, Sunday
A nice trendy looking hotel situated in downtown San Diego and not too far from the airport. The decor was definitely visually appealing and the staff were really nice and greeted you courteously. They've got a pool and gym to use.
We booked a room with 2 beds. When we got there, they said that they were overbooked, but had a bed that they could make out of the seat that is by the window. Whatever, I just wanted a room. Of course it would've been nicer to have what we had ordered, but it is what it is.
The second mark against this place was the shower. It was clogged so the water kept rising when using it. Lame! Perhaps they should spend some of that money on basic up-keep? Can you say Drano?... Liquid Plummer?
At night, they start playing music here. We didn't stick around much because there are better places to party in SD.
They have valet parking here, although I didn't use it. There were plenty of meter parking places that were free during the time that I stayed so we just used them. Although, come Monday morning when the meters started charging again, I had to fill them up with coins so that we could get ready to check out for the day.
The place would have gotten a higher rating if not for the bed and shower situation. Other than that, it's a very nice place to stay. I would try it again to see if my experience is any better.
My first and last experience at the "W"!
It so wasn't what everybody raved about and I wont be back for another expensive "Dirty Martini" ever again! You would think because I was already tipsy and feeling really good before we got there that the night would of continued to be rockin' but it was the total opposite. I would of rather been at home with a bunch of friends mixing my own concoctions drinking out of my smart n' final plastic cups and playing rock band all night then sit in that stuffy place.
I'm a fun, happy go lucky girl not a snobby snob like it felt like in there!!
Give me a good ole pub, tavern or a bar screw the "W's" whole snobbish club scene!!!
I hope their service is better in the actual hotel!
Rooftop Bar:
My stilettos always sink into the sand, like golf spikes...I hate that. I hate going to this bar precisely for that reason. I take off my shoes and go barefoot, but I bought the shoes to go with my dress. And why hang out in an upscale lounge with people who have their smelly feet hanging out?!
This bar is never crowded....at least not when I have been there...most likely because they do not want to take their shoes off.
Besides this criticism, the location is great, just outside of Little Italy and though the view is not the most impressive, there is a lot to be said about an outdoor rooftop bar in this location. There is a large fire pit, which we sit around instead of hanging out close to the heat lamps.
The service has always been spot on. The bartenders and cocktails servers have been helpful and friendly. Drinks are a bit pricey, but no more so than any other cocktail lounge downtown.
They have a menu of creative and "girly" cocktails, and I can always get my Hpnotiq fix here. I have had several of their appetizers, and the calamari is my favorite so far.
Though I really dislike the "beach bar" it is pretty impressive for guests who are from parts of there country that are not so beachy, and it is a great place to grab a few drinks after dining in Little Italy.
Attended New Year's celebrations at this hotel. Friends and relatives had two adjoining rooms. The rooms are overpriced, small and gimmicky, unless you consider a chalkboard and light box with a toggle switch to indicate your current mode as "work" or "play" as essential amenities.
It was a pleasure after paying $60 to wait in a line for 40 minutes just to get to the outside top floor party area. The overzealous Nazi-like security staff were however very careful to inform everyone that after purchasing and imbibing $18 drinks (which took on average 25 minutes to get from the two person bar staff) that if we needed to use the restrooms, that there were none located in that area and that you'd have to go back downstairs and then wait in the line once again to rejoin your friends upstairs. Archaic low tech re-entry hand stamps must be beneath such a cutting edge hotel.
But, I should have known better after receiving this message from the person in charge of ticketing for this event: "...The night is shaping up to be an amazing event with unmatched DJ talent, and some of San Diego's most elite socialites."
Music? No one was dancing and in fact those elite socialites (how pretentious is that?) couldn't have done so anyway as they sunk into the sand in their best pumps. That was the most entertaining part of the evening actually.
Everyone was complaining about the hotel, its rent-a-cop-like staff, etc. A complete waste of time and money, even if it was only $60. Never again.
Modern sheek contemporary hotel. Great service. The concierge was very informative and helpful with all our questions.
Comfortable bed and pillows! Very important to have. One downfall- no bathtub only shower. Good thing is W hotel provides hotel guest with Bliss products!
Rooftop has a beach theme. Definately an awesome place to hang out and grab a few drinks.
Amazing clean up after a long night of parties. No one would have ever known there were hundreds of people partying the night before and getting drunk.
10 min walk to Gaslamp district which wasn't bad but probably better if it was located in the Gaslamp district.
Overall, I had a great experience at the W hotel in San Diego and would highly recommend it to anyone especially because of the service.
The hotel is amazing, I love the rooms and talk about hospitality these guys have got it down. Now for the bar scene, or lack there of. The once infamous beach bar is now just a geriatric sand pit. The downstairs bar isn't much better, empty on a Thursday night and desperate for recognition as a hot spot. Where have you gone W?
My schedule at the W San Diego consist of the following: wake up at 11AM, eat, read by the pool, get a drink at the bar, walk around the Gaslamp district, take a nap, mini work out at the gym, get ready for a night out, go out, and sleep. REPEAT.
Great place for a lil' San Franciscan to run away to, and be surrounded by good looking folks and cute little dogs. The staff was very courteous. During check in I asked for a 4pm check out and they said "YES!". How great it that!
No matter witch hotel you go to the W is the one who invented this scene. I try to stay with the W everytime I go somewhere, depending on the price of course..
This San Diego W is Beautiful. There are a bunch of specialty hotels now, that doesn't however mean the can reach to level of comfort and style the W can consistently delivers.
For my birthday one year, I booked a room here for a group of us. I loved it...it was recommended by a friend. It's a boutique style hotel, contemporary decor throughout the hotel, the place just makes you smile when stepping into the hotel.
My room was the cutest room ever...had a flat screen tv, dvd player, and best of all...a chalk board in the room. My friends had a field day writing all kinds of stuff on it. The bathroom was the cutest, the door to the bathroom was a sliding opaque door. The beds were comfy comfy...felt like sleeping on clouds. The elevators were the cutest...well they called it a shaft...they have mats on the ground that says good morning, good afternoon, and good evening...depending on the time of day...I thought that was a cute touch.
The best part of this hotel is the roof beach bar at this place...such a cute cute place...a huge fire pit, plenty of seating area, and sand all around ya...adds the great touch of the beach feel to the place. The place is a completely chilled lounge type of place...if you haven't tried it out, then you are missing out...if I were you...I'd make a night out of it.
I really enjoy the W! The modern upscale atmosphere suits me perfectly! I am surprised by the bad reviews!
They have huge beautiful rooms, uber comfy beds, plush towels and robes, large plasma tv's, and excellent accommodations! I could sleep all day in those beds! I have only stayed at one other hotel in San Diego (the Omni), and I would pick this one over it again in a heartbeat!
The view isn't the best, but that's why you have to go out and see the town and experience the beautiful weather and people of this great town with your own eyes! Sometimes the view isn't the only things a hotel has to offer!
I also loved the complimentary toiletries, which are spa quality!
The beach bar and lounge area is very hip and chic too!
This place is nice. I like the beach bar they have and the hotel is really nice...however I think it's a little far from the center of the gas lamp district. That's just my opinion. I've been staying at the ivy which is more centrally located.
The hotel is really nice, comfortable beds, clean rooms, etc. The restaurant is very very expensive though. decent food but not decent enough for the prices they charge.
very nice hotel. The rooms are not very big but we just wanted a nice place to stay. The staff is very friendly and the man at the door, A.J. , was very helpfull with our bags and even called over to the Greystone Steakhouse for us after we realized we would not make our reservation time. A.J. made a call for us and are reservations were still good. A.J. also hooked us up with a free ride to the steakhouse ( we tipped the driver $10 ). The bed seemed more like a full or queen size than the king we booked but it was super comfortable and plenty of room for 2.
The highlight of our stay was going to the outdoor rooftop beach bar on the 2nd floor. no cover on a Friday night. There is a very cool little fire-pit and a bunch of sofas and chairs all over the place. Beers are about $5 and mixed drinks are around $10, not bad after paying the prices down in the gaslamp district.
Very nice and we would stay here again !!
The W does have an air of pretentiousness but I'm confused as to why this surprises people. The W brand is a well-established line of boutique hotels from Starwood (Sheraton, St. Regis, etc.) and the W San Diego does not attempt to disguise its ambitious take on the lodging experience in any way, shape, or form. Maybe they are trying to cater to a classy and sophisticated clientele. Wow, what a novel idea! Here's a quick refresher course for people interested in this exotic, ephemeral concept known as "class":
Classy: knowing how much your room is going to cost and knowing that this premium rate affords you exemplary service.
Trashy: Complaining about the price of a bottled water in the Mini Bar (hint: it's expensive, much like any hotel). Complaining about the price of drinks. Complaining about the decor (PS it's not from Ikea). Complaining about the size of the room (average, but the bed size more than makes up for this!)
Classy: having a drink at any one of the unique and varied downstairs lounges/bars. Inviting some friends up to the room for a nightcap.
Trashy: getting completely shitfaced at the downstairs bar and throwing up in the pool. Arguing about the tab. Trying to sneak your 16 of your friends past security up to your room (and if you want to have a hotel party, you need to get a SUITE, just fyi).
Classy: utilizing the insightful concierge service to procure any additional items/information you may need to enhance your visit. I requested 6 highball glasses, extra towels, tonic mix, and directions to the closest good breakfast place. Nothing too outrageous, but the request was carried out promptly and without any additional charge to my room.
Trashy: Accusing every hotel staff member of conspiring against you. Accusing the hotel staff of being "snooty" when they are trying to project professionalism. Accusing the showers of being too hot.
Anyways, I hate it when places like this get a bad rap just because people can't wrap their heads around the fact that it is going to cost a little more. Of course I'm sure some of these people would go to McDonald's and complain because they didn't get a steak. You pay for what you get at the W: an awesome stay in a room at the cutting edge of the hospitality industry.
Side note: It's hilarious when people don't realize that this hotel caters strictly to the 20-something/30-something crowd. It basically turns into a nightclub on the weekends. I saw a family of 4 trying to check in on a Friday night and there were two scantily-clad women shaking their asses in front a 12 year old boy and his gawking father. I don't think they ended up staying. Also hilarious: old people that somehow wind up staying here.
What a posh little yuppie hangout! We got a really good price at $89.99 a night for a room with a King bed. The decor is really modern and I really liked the bar in the lobby, especially since it was 50% off drinks for people staying at the hotel.
The hotel lobby (living room) was going through a renovation when we last stayed here, but I'm sure it's finished now. The staff was really friendly. We were celebrating our anniversary so they sent up strawberries and sparkling wine to our room, with a nicely written notecard from the manager. Real nice touch to our stay. The hotel's location is not great, not walking distance to Gaslamp. However, we did enjoy the rooftop bar (Beach). Nice place to chill, but ladies, the floor is covered in sand so be prepared to take off your heels. The rooms are comfy with modern ammenities you expect from The W brand. The valets were really friendly and so thoughtful...they always offered complimentary bottled water and green apples while you wait for your car or just to take along with you. I would def stay here again.
