Holiday Inn Express San Diego Holiday Inn Express San Diego - Sea World Area, an IHG Hotel

Hotel

We stayed here 3 nights mid-week. The room was clean and sufficient. The continental breakfast is mostly prepackaged junk food due to the changes for Covid. My issue with this hotel is that when sewage backed up into our bathroom, and they had us move rooms, in the rush, I left my sweater in the first room. When we got to the new room, less than 2 hours later, I inquired with the front desk if I could get back into the room to retrieve my sweater. They were not helpful and never followed up on this issue, despite several calls and stops by the front desk, and then telling me that someone would call me. They would not allow me into the room to look for myself and told me housekeeping was gone and they would contact me upon return. No one contacted me and before I left I stopped by the front desk once again, just to be told that no one found it. They didn't seem to care or help me resolve the issue.

Very great breakfast and great service and awesome jacuzzi close to SeaWorld.

I will definitely be staying here every time I come down to San Diego! We are traveling on business and have 2 very large coolers plus 35 fishing rods, we were so very well taken care of and give a room with a long hallway to accommodate the gear. The staff is wonderful, the room is super clean and smells good, I feel safe at this property and the amenities are plentiful.

When I made the reservation, the person on the phone didn’t tell me about the extra charges for additional people until after she charged my credit card. She then sent me the receipt by email showing extra charges but I couldn’t cancel. The front desk and room smelled like smoke, the elevator inspection expired in August 2018 and over all the hotel looked worn down. I would not stay here again.

We’ve had a great experience here at the Holiday Inn Express San Diego-Sea World. The staff here are amazing. Very friendly. Very helpful, especially cause we are from out of state and they were generous to give us great recommendations to places and things to do and see. The hotel was very good about making sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed throughout our stay.

Great hotel. Thank God they had a room for me since Candlewood Suites on hotel circle only had dirty rooms left and wouldn't honor my booked reservation. I live two hours away and am thankful for this hotel and it's staff. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone staying in the area. Everyone was friendly and professional.

Nice rooms, great staff and breakfast. It was a little overpriced and the pool is very small but still a nice stay.

Prices are too high rooms too small parking is bad.

This is a ghetto part of town and I was nervous staying here with my family. There was a sign on the inside of our door that said not to answer the door for anyone you are not expecting which left my wife feeling nervous. The parking here is also a joke. Stalls are too small even for small cars. The hotel was mostly clean but could be better. The rate I paid here was absurd for this hotel — $315 total for one night Saturday to Sunday. It might be worth $100.

Decent sized room. House cleaning was very thorough. Breakfast was standard fare for hotel free breakfast, good but nothing to write home about. Location wasn't great, lots of homeless around. But it was convienent for all the attraction nearby.

Great covered parking and usual great start breakfast. Quiet rooms but be sure to get to breakfast early as they breakdown right on time. Didn't use the fitness room bit it did look clean and well maintained. A little hard to find as it was a little out of the way bit well worth the second time around the block.

Stayed here for a week. Very accommodating staff, clean room, the outdoor pool/spa were nice. They provided a full microwave when I asked. Breakfast was very nice each day. Only complaint would be that the free parking could have used larger spaces, as many cars were jammed in together to fit, especially if returning to the hotel late in the evening.

Great hotel! The breakfast is amazing and the free cookies all the time! Staff are great too and accommodate anything you need!

For $260 a night I thought we would at least have good customer service. Front desk staff was on her cell phone and had to wait for her to realize I was standing there. Parking is horrible and rooms tiny.

Good hotel. Very close to SeaWorld. Nice room. Family had a great time. Very friendly staff. Breakfast was good and saved me some $$$.

Fire alarm went off before we could check out. No one told us what was going on, no employees came out to tell us where we needed to go. It was a complete mess! Fire department came. No one would tell us anything. We finally got tired of waiting across the street, and went back into the building to get out luggage, and leave. None of the staff would talk to the guests about what had happened. I talked to another guest staying on the 2nd floor and he told me that black water started backing up into his sink. And then the fire alarm went off. You can see from the 2 images, the reception area is completely flooded, computers are ruined, and the staff put a sign out saying the place was closed.

The room itself was very decent for the cost, but the true value of staying here was for the location. It's only a couple miles away from Sea World and there are countless great restaurants in the area to try out (Phil's BBQ is walking distance. If you haven't tried that place, I HIGHLY recommend you eat there). The complimentary breakfast is great for small snacks or for a full-on meal if you're not planning on eating elsewhere in the morning. My family really had a great experience staying here for a couple days.

The Hotels Food is amazing! The rooms were nice and was well cleaned. The only thing I would change is the variety of channels.

The front desk is very helpful and go out of their way to make sure guests are happy with their stay. It's the first time I have seen the hotel staff genuinely asking people if it's their first time and provide them with a restaurant listing nearby. They also gave good recommendations on places to visit. Very happy with my stay here. The only negative part was the difficulty to park in the garage with so many pillars.

Hotel is clean. Room was a little bit small but clean. Pool was nice and the small pool had jets and was warm, it was relaxing since that day was cold outside. It has a good breakfast selection. Hard boil eggs, scramble eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cold cereal, fruit, yogurt and different types of muffins and beagles. Staff is very courteous.

Excellent and spotless hotel and good location.

My night the hotel was fully booked but there was still parking. Room was clean and spacious. Breakfast had small selection but was tasty. No elevator wait. The night left me refreshed.

Convenient location for a show at the old sports arena, and walking distance to Phil's BBQ and Hammond's ice cream. A little unsafe to walk around at night with lots of homeless nearby. Rooms were clean. Large bathroom with nice fixtures, big towels and good water pressure.

I picked this hotel because it was within walkable distance of my conference at the Hyatt and $100 less per night. A good hot breakfast with omelettes, turkey sausage, biscuits and gravy and fresh fruit. The people working here do so with a positive attitude even the cleaners. The only thing I didn't like was the pool doesn't open till 9 a. M. And there's no shuttle to the airport.

5 minutes from the airport, next to the I8 without noise, the breakfast is very good, the double rooms are of excellent size, good beds.

Honestly I don't know how this hotel has so many stars. We have stayed at multiple Holiday Inn Express hotels and this is the worst one yet. The beds are not the same quality that we always get from this hotel chain. The walls are thin so you can hear everything. The doors are run down and slam in every room. Our fan did not work, so we couldn't use that to block out the other guests noise. The pillows were lower quality as well. I'm extremely disappointed in this hotel and would not recommend it to frequent Holiday Inn Express guests. The area is sketchy, if I hadn't already prepaid, we would not have stayed the night.

Clean rooms, friendly staff, what else could you ask for in a hotel. There is a pool and parking is included. Breakfast isn't terrible. Mostly go for oatmeal and fruit. Shower pressure was amazing. If I had to think of a negative it would be a lack of fan in bathroom. But doesn't change. Giving 5 stars.

Such an amazing stay, came up to go to my brothers marine graduation and had such a great stay. Got two rooms and they were kind enough to have them connecting! Wolill definitely stay here the next time I'm in town. Also their free breakfast is divine.

Very convenient area! It was clean and the water actually had pressure in the shower. Employees were kind and professional. Bed was comfortable, room was clean. Very happy with my stay here.

We had a 2 night stay here 10/15-10/17 and it was excellent. Our room was on the 3rd floor, & was very quiet, clean & comfortable. The staff we encountered were all very friendly & helpful, and the free breakfast was convenient & tasty, as has been our experience with all of the Holiday inn Express hotels we've stayed at. Thank you for the great stay!

We booked a room for this hotel last weekend (October 7, 2017) and when we showed up, a room with the requested bed number (2) was not available and the hotel was sold out. We were offered room with one king bed and the room was so small there was no way we could go out and buy an air mattress to accommodate our kids. We ended up having to go to another hotel and were not given a refund. The night ended up costing us over $500! To top it all off, the front desk clerk that night could careless about our situation or being of any help. She had a total attitude and acted like we were inconveniencing her by being there. When I checked in, she simply handed me the keys and turned around. I had to call her back to find out how to get to our room. I travel frequently throughout the year and always stay at IGH hotels for the points. This was by far the work experience I have ever had with an IGH hotel.

This hotel is located very near Sea World less than a mile. The rooms are clean and comfortable. The included continental breakfast is very good as well. The staff were very helpful and friendly.

Service was great and the room was affordable and amazing.

The staff was great! Housekeeping and kitchen staff did an excellent job as well. However, the rooms could use newer furniture and upgrades, as compared to other Holiday Inn Express locations we have stayed at. Thanks for the free breakfast, there was a variety of foods.

I think the biggest problem with this property is it's location. It's located on a small dead ended road that is difficult to access. That being said, there is currently road construction going on that makes it nearly impossible to access. We had to cut through the parking lot of a neighborhood business just to get there. Other than that, it's a nice place. It's pretty clean, they have ample eating area, the breakfast selection was good and the staff was friendly. There is a parking structure under the hotel wh e re you get free parking but it's hard to fit a full size minivan into their tiny parking spaces.

Not bad for the price but in a questionable part of town. Good access to events around the city and quick freeway entry. Breakfast is good but very crowded depending on what time you go.

Location is convenient, but in a very night active area (summer), and not what I would consider a great part of town. But, the staff were kind and helpful. Clean.

Front desk staff were very nice. The room was very clean with plenty of electrical outlets for charging all your gadgets. Close to most attractions and lots of fast food restaurants right around the corner. The hotel is in a questionable neighborhood but on the good side there seemed to be a San Diego PD patrol car around constantly and then sirens at least 3 times a night. The earplugs provided are an absolute necessity. Traffic on the street and from the airport was non stop. Probably won't stay here again unless it's an absolute last resort.

Quiet place at an affordable price.

Room was clean and accessible. Handicap parking is somewhat difficult to use. Good restaurants within walking distance. Good location to access the many attractions in San Diego.

Nice little hotel. Free breakfast is a nice bonus. Very close to Sea World and many restaurants. The view isn't great, and the pool gets crowded quickly. Overall, though, it is a good hotel to spend a few nights in.

This place is good in a pinch. Breakfast was good but buffet style food. Surround ing area does not have much too offer as far as sites or restaurants. However we enjoyed staying at this Inn while visiting sea world and the beach near belmonte park. Rooms were clean. Covered parking but parking was not secure.

Ok. We stayed 3 nights. And the location was close to everything shopping, food, SeaWorld. So that was very convinient. Parking is so small (very tight) The room itself was nice pretty clean. Our TV was so fuzzy and kept saying it needed a card. It was never fixed. Toilet kept acting like it was going to over flow. Plus while we were there they shut off the water without notifying us while my kid was in thr shower. The pool is out door we went for a swim one night and no towels went back the next morning and still no towels. Asked housekeeping for some and she said no. When they finally brought us all towels (after I had to call and complain) the house keeper brought small hand towels. I had to complain to the front desk. (theybfinally brougjt some) There's no restroom by the pool and hardly anywhere to lounge there. Oh and the jets in the hot tub. Had no pressure. Now the food was good. However the kitchen and sitting area are so small so tight for the amount of rooms they rent out. Their staff not all but most are so RUDE! none say excuse me they just push they're way through. I'd give it a 2 just because ilthe room was clean and the closeness to where I needed to get. Oh and yes the neighborhood isn't the greatest a lot of homeless people.

A little guy but comfortable.

Check in was very friendly. Room is good but just a tiny window in mine with no view and kind of noisy from the nearby roads. Area is pretty nice with good restaurants, average convenience for public transit (3 bus lines passing through between beach and old town). Very convenient if Sea World is what you're going for. Standard Holiday Inn Express experience — fine but not a standout.

Very nice place. Very clean. Bathrooms are very spacious and clean, room is nice. Has a nice big TV, mini fridge, and 2 very comfortable queen beds. They offer a free hot breakfast that has a pancake maker. Very nice way to start the day. SeaWorld is right down the street, the San Diego zoo is only 10 minutes away and Mission beach is 3 miles away. Can't beat it. Very nice place to stay. The only 2 things you might need to km now are thay there is no microwave in the rooms, and the parking is actually in a parking garage on the north side of the building by the main office. The parking garage is pretty tight for an SUV. If you have a truck,

One the the best hotels I've stayed at! The breakfast is delicious and the staff is amazing. The beds are so comfortable. Love it.

Room great, the only drawback is the dod training facility, especially early morning till late afternoon. Upon telling the desk clerk about the problem she offered to move us to another room which worked out great.

The rooms were nice and clean. The service we received was excellent and free Wi-Fi and breakfast is always a plus! If you are looking into this for Sea World it is super close.

Friendly staff. Area is a little loud from traffic and a dog day care.

Nice rooms, good staff, and a well kept pool. But in some rooms Wi-Fi is unavailable, even though it should be.

Super place. Awesome breakfast. Good parking.

Very friendly staff and Accommodating. Clean Hotel and great Breakfast. We will be back.

No complimentary shuttle even though they are less than 3 miles from the airport. The front desk staff was very helpful and very kind.

Won't stay here again. Cleaning staff stole my daughter's sunglasses and denied it. They were the last ones in my room and they were there when I left in the morning.

First trip to San diego. Staff was so friendly and helpful. While you're staying here check out the continental breakfast with the pancake maker.

Employees were excellent. My only beef was that it wasn't be best area to be in for San Diego visitors. Just a typical holiday in express. Lots and lots of kids.

Chocolate chip cookies are the best and the breakfast! And the rooms are awesome!

I like the location of the Hotel, it was close to the Sports Arena and all the good eating spots that my family loves! We enjoyed our stay and will probably be back in the future.

Great breakfast variety each morning, convenient location, friendly staff and clean, clean, clean! My one recommendation if you are thinking of staying here is to rent an economy-size car because the parking spaces in the garage are super tight.

Great location, clean and very comfy, free breakfast was good. When we are in town this is our spot. Bathroom vents could use fans for circulation. Definitely recomending this place.

I was a year ago that while visiting sea world, excellent choice and service.

Dalia, Karen and Lennard all offered superior customer service. Hot breakfast was amazing and there was plenty of it. Dalia checked us in and was very friendly. We had a special request and Karen was very accommodating. The hotel was clean. Large rooms, comfortable pillows. The location is not as desirable as most holiday inns but it was easy access to get to local attractions.

Good rooms OK breakfast the only problem is the parking. The spaces are just to small for a SUV or truck to fit but if you have Prius you'd be ok.

Don't let the location fool you. This is a GREAT HOTEL for the money. Very central to almost all there is in San Diego. We were going to Sea World — and this place is right across the river (one "exit") from Sea World. We were out for a family trip, and opted for the "suite" room — with a 2 burner electric stove, fridge, all utensils, and dining area. There is also a small TV (living room type) area. Perfect for the family that doesn't want to go out every night. While you can not cook a full 4 course meal, after a long day being a tourist — sometimes a quick mac and cheese hits the spot. And, if you don't want to make morning breakfast — it is included! Excellent for the family looking to fill up before a long tourist day. TIP: Try and get a room facing AWAY from the busy street, while not overly noisy — the occasional horn honk will get on your nerves. TIP: Parking is free, but fills up fast. There is a nighttime security guard that patrols if you do need to park on the street.

Everything bout our stay was excellent. Front desk and maids were GREAT, kind and quick w/any request. Breakfast was decent but eating area lil crowded. My only complaint was the PARKING. I'm disabled n use handicap parking I'm not able 2walk really far. There was ONLY 2HANDICAP spots. If left @night 2go eat o store, u lost handicap and we had 2park in reg spot, far from elevator and parking spots VERY VERY SMALL. I was afraid to park n them cuz didn't want my new car damaged. But thankfully it didn't. So besides needing 2make more handicap spots n bigger regular spots, I would recommend this hotel! And will stay at it again.

I've stayed here 5 times and have had nothing but outstanding service. This isn't the fanciest hotel I have stayed at but it is one that I am always happy to return too. The staff have always been fantastic to me. I don't have a single complaint about the service here.