Hilton HHonors - Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island Trip Reports and Reviews

Gold, letter written to GM in advance stating that were we traveling on to celebrate our anniversary (no reply to letter). Stay was on points.

Property is somewhat "tangled" up with the AP, although easy to find. Ocean on one side and "back bay" on the other. Parking is $10/nt.
Talking with desk agent, check-in went smooth as well as some small talk. Offered an array of "freebies"...drink, 20% off lunch or dinner at Sierra Pacific (anyone who wants this can have it, e-mail me for my address and send a SASE), 2 free breakfasts! This was a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the drink ticket turned out to be for only one (sort of embarrassing). The bar was a large room with very modest furnishings. They did have a fire (gas) going and fish tanks.
We were given a very modest size room on the top floor (9) with a back bay/marina view. A small balcony was nice as was a large bathroom with shower and separate spa tub. We had been at the zoo all day and were in line to relax and have a pizza delivered to the room. No such items on the menu. Only "real" entres, no sandwitches either.

The room has (903) a king bed, 4 pillows, and robes. Full sundries in the bathroom. It was clean and ready at check-in.

Breakfast, Sunday morning was lonely, but full. The certs. were good for the buffet. While the food temperature could have been improved, the rest was well done. Coffee service was good. Scrambled eggs were cooked, as was the bacon. Sausage was bearly heated. No toast, but sweet rolls and muffins. French toast and waffles (precooked sitting in the warmer rounded out the offerings.

All in all, not a bad stay. Would choose again. Do prefer the Hyatt Islandia, but it is considerable North.

Here is my experience/report on the San Diego Airport/Habor Island Hilton ...

I landed on a Tuesday night at the stroke of midnight and after picking my car rental, I was in the lobby of the hotel by 12:30am. The hotel is very close to the major car rentals which is quite nice.

I go to check in (reserved a king size room) and I'm told that the only room they have for me is a double that they are sold out. No upgrades available but I could ask in the morning to be switched for my second night.

I go down to my room (104) drop off my bags and walked back over to the checkin area to have a wake-up call. I go back to my room and my key won't work. After double checking to make sure I was at the right room, I tried again. Long story short, the battery in the lock died and the "engineer" had to come in to charge the lock. I finally got into my room around 1:45am. I was offered a room that was "freshly painted" but the aroma was too strong to be able to sleep in.

The gentlemen at the desk was very polite and very apologetix for the experience. He suggested that he would remove the parking fee and take 50% off my bill. I told him that I appreciate the offer but since I get reimbursed for my bills by my firm, that didn't do a whole lot for me. I asked him to see if his manager in the morning would consider doing a "free night" cert since I would be coming back to the hotel again in 2008 for multiple stays - I told him my trips to SAN this year were complete after this one). He agreed it was a good idea and told me that in the morning I should pack my bags and they would get my upgraded to a different room.

So I get back to the hotel in the afternoon and the guy at the desk (totally different) handed over my new room keys. I asked about an upgrade and he told me he couldn't do that (keep in mind I am Diamond). Interestingly enough, an hour later I was in the lobby and I overhead a guy ask for an upgrade when he checked in and they were happy to do so! So I get my new room key for 520 and there is an envelope with the key. I go up to my room, which now has a strong aroma of smoke, and see that I was given a cert for one free night good for one year - expires early 2008. So I definitely appreciate that, unfortunately I won't be back until June 08 and I was hoping to extend a business stay and fly my wife out to sight see. Oh well.

So back to the smokey room - I call the front desk and ask if my room was a smoking room because of the smell. I was told that it wasn't and they hung up. So much for that. Tired as I was, I wasn't about to keep buggin them about it.

The thing now that really gets to me is that I wasn't given an upgrade, even after the trouble I went though, and there was no mention or offer to me of the "executive lounge" which supposedly exists per their website.

I'm kinda bummed out about this property and not really sure I would come back.

Those are my thoughts for now - maybe I'll add more later.

Oh yea - VIP In-Hotel Benefit Preferences! Well, I got a candy bar and some kind of chips. No beverage. No nice white fluffy white robe (not that I ever use it, but its the point that its tradition and seemed to fall through the cracks this time).

I think my venting/blowing off steam is done for tonight. Off to bed.

Is there parking near so you can skip the $22 a day at the hotel ?

Nothing much has changed at this property. I just got back from a less than satisfactory stay. They do list that the property is "under construction" right now.

Got to the hotel after 9PM. I was supposedly given an upgrade to a King room. If the bed that was in the room was a king, it must be from Munchkin land. No waters or candy bar in the room as are my preferences. For what I paid, the room was cramped, slow Internet and just not a good experience.

I will not be staying at this Hilton property again when in San Diego. The Hilton San Diego Mission Valley is the polar opposite of the Airport property. It is updated, clean and the service is excellent. If you need to stay near the San Diego Airport stay at the Mission Valley property.

If you need to stay near the San Diego Airport stay at the Mission Valley property.

The Hilton Bay Front is by far the BEST Hilton downtown. Great views, close to the convention center, great breakfast buffet, and overall best decor.

The Hilton Bay Front is by far the BEST Hilton downtown. Great views, close to the convention center, great breakfast buffet, and overall best decor.

I agree with the location of the Bay Front. Unfortunately, I always end up staying near the airport for an easy escape to my next location. :)

They do list that the property is "under construction" right now.


How bad was the noise from the construction if you happened to be around during the daytime? When I called the hotel yesterday they mentioned that all the construction is almost complete and its only areas of the lobby that are under construction now and was assured that the rooms were away from the lobby. Is this true? I've booked a 9-day stay here and will be working from the hotel part of the time, so I'll appreciate any feedback.

Thank you!

How bad was the noise from the construction if you happened to be around during the daytime? When I called the hotel yesterday they mentioned that all the construction is almost complete and its only areas of the lobby that are under construction now and was assured that the rooms were away from the lobby. Is this true? I've booked a 9-day stay here and will be working from the hotel part of the time, so I'll appreciate any feedback.

Thank you!

I wasn't around the hotel during the day so I cannot comment on the construction noise. I was just disappointed at the whole property and the condition of the guest rooms, the lobby and the restaurant.

Is there parking near so you can skip the $22 a day at the hotel ?

There is parking... however it is till sunset/2200lcl time. If you are really, and mean really trying to stretch a few bucks. park your car in Bankers Hill in a non-metered area, and then cab it back (2-3miles).

That particular Hilton has been terrific! I recommend it to any family and friends who are flying into town. The view of the bay/Coronado is reason enough.

I wasn't around the hotel during the day so I cannot comment on the construction noise. I was just disappointed at the whole property and the condition of the guest rooms, the lobby and the restaurant.

Thank you! I called the Hilton Bayfront and they had availability. So I ended up booking there as I did not want to take a chance with the construction in the lobby, even if its far away from the guest rooms. I had a REALLY bad experience with construction going on at the outside pool a couple of years ago at the Hilton in Destin, FL and that totally ruined my stay. I had this as a back up reservation, but ended up canceling it.

Thanks again for your time and feedback!