Don't think I've seen a review yet since the Ivy Hotel became part of the Hyatt chain, so I thought I'd offer some info, observations and comparisons to Andaz West Hollywood (WeHo) and other hotels in the immediate area.
AN
dAZ San Diego
Date of stay: Feb 17, 2009
Rate: AAA (10% off lowest online rate)
Used Diamond Confirmed Suite Upgrade Award
Room: 515 sq ft King Bed Suite on 6th Floor (rooftop is 7th)
Valet: $30 charge, in-out privileges, friendly (for most part), though car retrieval can take a while and no water bottles provided; there was 1 issue that I will bring up later.
Check-in: unlike the AN
dAZ WeHo, there's a traditional front desk here (though HOST's greet you in front of the desk) and HOST's are professionally attired. They'll offer you refreshment upon check-in. Also, from 5:30pm, they offer complimentary wine as well at the front desk. Their system is not fully in-synch with Hyatt GP program yet as I had to provide my Hyatt GP number...good thing I had my new Diamond card with me. They did mention I get 1 complimentary breakfast entree and beverage (though charge still showed up on my folio
) and offered 2pm late check-out for the following day.
Suite: compared to a 800 sq ft Andaz (corner) suite at WeHo, the 515 sq ft Andaz suite at SD was disappointingly small. The SD suite though has a warm sense thanks to plentiful rich, contemporary hardwood for flooring, closet, minibar, heardboard and canopy. 2 flat panel displays with actual HD feed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371898723
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4372653450
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371901753
Best of all, the bathroom at SD was stupendous compared to the 2 meager bathrooms in a WeHo suite. Huge tavertine, rainbath shower area with large soaking tub and a large, private toilet. The Korres Natural Products toiletries, though visually appealing, were just OK IMO and those damn twist caps are hard to open when bottle and hands are wet. But the soaps and skin products coming in plastic cases were a nice touch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371901721
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371901863
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4372653550
One particular highlight is the mini bar. Just like WeHo, the AN
dAZ standard seems to be a few complimentary snacks and multiple non-alcoholic beverages. But this hotel, formerly having been the very adult Ivy Hotel, offers interesting "luxury items" as well such as Booty Parlor's Intimacy Love Kit ($30) - contents include vibrating couples ring, add magic lubricant, don't stop massage oil and safe is sexy condoms x2. There's a nice selection of premium liquor as well: 4 bottles of Grey Goose, Corzo Tequila, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Bacardi Rum, Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker Black Label & Bailey's. Along with lots of pay snacks, tonic water, club soda, cocktail shaker & even a jar of olives. Another great feature is a Keurig coffee maker.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371901685
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371901933
Hotel Location: great if you want to be near the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter; rooms on the southwest corner would offer the best views but also suffer from the most noise due traffic and Double Deuce, the large bar with a mechanical bull that's directly across from the hotel.
No on-site spa or club lounge
Fitness center: small, on top floor and open 24 hrs
Ivy Rooftop: great, wide-open lounge area; large flame pit; cool bar; small pool but a few roomy cabanas. Have enjoyed it in the past; can get particularly crowded on weekends. It'd be cool if they offered a few of those pods that the WeHo has or the heated sand floor like the beach bar at the W San Diego.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371901813
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167723@N02/4371901895
Others' photo links:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amygarrick/2486023343
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amygarrick/2486836306
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amygarrick/2486013179
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsmithjr/2357835329
Quarter Restaurant: went for breakfast only but it's very expansive, contemporary, with an open kitchen; disappointed in the basic breakfast menu - rather basic (boring) but may be different for dinner.
Ivy Ultra Lounge and Wine Bar: has walls of automatic wine dispensers where you can get a taste, half and full glasses of specific wines including Opus One
Ivy Nightclub (Thu-Sa 9pm-2am): formerly Club Envy and is still a scene in San Diego
Hotel guests receive VIP admission to both NC and Rooftop.
Alas, if you're not familiar with the area, just know that there's plenty of other dining, lounge, bar, club venues within a short walking distance as well.
For the above reasons, I would never consider it as a family-friendly hotel or as a peaceful, relaxing destination. If looking for such, I would definitely recommend the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina. The AN
dAZ SD is synonymous with nightlife, much like the WeHo one is on the Sunset Strip.
Service at valet, front desk, lounge and restaurant were fine except for 1 issue I'd like to bring up:
In-room brochure states hotel provides car with driver "to take you to the airport, for a ride around town, or for a night out in the Gaslamp Quarter." Supposedly, you arrange it through your HOST, but after calling down in the morning to request it, I was transfered to valet. Well, this one valet prick indicated in a brusque manner that car service wasn't available for my desired timeframe. When I inquired as to other times, he then stated that the car wouldn't be available at any time as it was reserved for the GM for outside meetings for much of the day. I then kindly called the GM Rusty Middleton to inquire as to alternative car service arrangements. He was surprised by the valet's response and looked into the matter. Turns out the primary car was being serviced that day and thus unavailable; GM apologized and arranged for a secondary vehicle (Black Escalade) for me. Hope others don't get treated as rudely as I did at first. If only their car service was on par with the Acura Experience at W Hotels. But I appreciated the availability and attention by the GM.
I've stayed at every Hyatt and Starwood hotel as well as others in the San Diego area, and I have to say that the Andaz is at or near the top as my favorite for business or weekend trip (with wife only). For an urban, contemporary hotel, I prefer it over the W SD on the basis of location, comp internet and breakfast. I can't ever see myself returning to the Manchester Grand Hyatt unless its rate is substantially below the Andaz and Mission Bay properties, which it rarely is.
When I get a chance this weekend, I will upload the photos from my Blackberry to this review.