!Never Stay There Again!

Staff was extremely snobby, and seems to not expect African American's to be able to afford to stay there. Hotel room looked like a glorifed kid's room. Bail Bondsmen on every corner and that discovery channel music they are constantly playing in that dark abiss of a lobby racked my nerves.

Stay maybe...eat...no way...

Considering the reputation the W Hotels have I was very dissapointed in this hotel. The rooms were small but quaint...not all that exciting and the restaurant Rice and Beach Bar were a HUGE dissapointment! The restaurant was pricey for the lack of higher caliber food, the service seemed like it belonged at a dive bar at the beach (where's the wait staff and are there refills on water???) and the wine menu was mediocre. The Beach Bar bartender couldn't make a decent mojito to save his life...and it wasn't even crowded! The lobby gets a few style points as does the concept for the Beach Bar but it's all a lot of bells and whistles without much substance...not some place I'm going to put my time into again.

Not worth it

Went there for my birthday, decided not to eat at RICE because we heard bad reviews. The rooms were very small and had a damp unfresh smell there were stains on some of the pillows. Every cool feature they advertise such as internet, dvd library, parking, costs a FORTUNE.

Also, the shower has NO water pressure. It takes forever to wash and you don't feel clean because it barely drizzles on you-- even though the shower head is big and hi-tech looking. The view was OK with the bay in the distance. The windows only open 2 inches, even though they are advertises as "Windows that open!" IT is a big over-hyped. They called themselves the "FUN HOTEL" but they wouldn't allow us to bring our own alcohol in the rooms, and they only allow 3 guests to join you.

All of our friends had to wait hours in line to meet us at the bar. The beds were very comfortable. The pool is deceptively tiny, but the beach upstairs is nice during the day. It costs $250 to rent a cabana and $100 to rent a chair for the beach though. Overall, it was a different experience, but not the best because we were charged out the ears for everything that we thought should come with a $265 room!

Fun, hip scene!

I was really surprised when I read the bad reviews for this hotel. I thought it was great! My husband and I visited San Diego April 15-20. We were scheduled to stay at the Westin Horton Plaza because it is so convienent. When we arrived we really didn't like it-it wasn't in good shape. We decided to change to the W Hotel and I'm so glad that we did. The staff was so friendly. The room wasn't that small and it was nicely arranged. I only ate breakfast at rice, but it was very good-especially the vanilla malt waffles!!! The only hassle was at night you have to show your room key to get past the velvet ropes. The bar scene there is crazy! The hotel is only about a mile for the gaslamp quarter and 7 blocks from Horton Plaza so there is plenty to do. The service is great and I'm used to staying at the Ritz Carlton Hotels.

AWFUL!

The staff was EXTERMELY snobbly. THe rooms TINY. 4 chairs at the pool. At 4:45 pm my room was STILL not clean. We had dinner reservations that they "lost" and they did nothing to accodomate us. The staff acted as if they were way too good to help you out. This place absolutely sucks.

Fabulous!

The best hotel in San Diego! Yes the rooms can be small if you don't get a Kool Korner King..but the service is amazing, the rooms are comfortable, the bar scene is wild. Food is excellent. I've never had a hotel staff practically kill themselves to see I had a good time before. There is no better staff on Earth! The baths are very nice, beds are out of this world.I highly recommend the salmon or snapper at Rice. Room service is marginal with the consistency of the food, but the service is great and the food, when it comes out right, is outstanding. Vanilla Malt Waffles, yum!

_W_ow!

W San Diego is by far one of the most amazing hotels in the W chain. They've thought of everything, from the small details throughout the property to the basics. The staff is friendly and attentive, and for a hotel just approaching four months old, they're really got their act together.W San Diego has three amazing bars - Magnet, the Living Room Bar and the Beach...with, what I am told is three tons of heated sand, a firepit with lavarocks and cabanas. Something to check out, especially on weekend evenings!W's gym they call SWEAT is open around the clock and features the latest technology in equipment. It's open air, poolside and even offers freeweights!The rooms are cozy, but beautifully appointed. The Whatever/Whenever service is amazing - anything goes. The associates are friendly and professional and very ready, willing and able to take care of each and every guest. W San Diego is now the hot spot to hang out in this otherwise conservative town. Check it out!

Not the best time I've ever had

After staying at the W in Westwood and having an awesome time, I was excited to take my boyfriend on a "Secret Date" to the brand new W Hotel in San Diego. When we got there, there was over 50+ waiting in the lobby with sour looks on their faces and we were told we couldn't get into our room for another 2 hours. So we came back 2 hours later and our room was still not ready and the same 50 people were even more pissed off. The hotel tried to offer everyone free drinks but the atmosphere was thick. I canceled my room and left. Later, I wrote a not-so-nice letter to them and got a free stay. We went again, and it was ok. The sand bar was closed, the restaurant was overpriced and there was no nightlife around the hotel. The rooms were nice and comfy but that was about it. I can't say anything stuck out. It was overall a drag. I'd skip on staying there for sure.

Stay Away!

The worst W experience I have ever had. The rooms are shockingly small, the lobby/bar scene is frightening (is there really so little to do in San Diego???), and the area around the hotel is dismal. The friendly and courteous staff are the only positive thing about this place, and even they can't make up for poor design and a poor setting.

Rice, the San Diego W restaurant

I have long anticipated the opening of the new W in downtown San Diego.

Because I live in San Diego I was looking forward to offering the W as a choice for those out-of-towners who visit me here. Sorry, no can do.

I am a vegetarian, as are a number of my friends. Despite enjoying a number of great vegetarian/natural food meals back home in the W in midtown New York, I cannot take my New York friends to Rice, the San Diego W restaurant--all surf 'n' turf among the entrees. Alas, we'll just go somewhere else (Mixx!) or dine in and muse over the meals last shared at the Sanderson in London last month.

The business card for Rice says "modern paciic cuisine."

More like modern great lakes cuisine.

Jon Weatherman

San Diego