Title should be "La Pensione a Winner" - I'm tired and hit the return key by accident...

A friend and I stayed at the SAN La Pensione last week and thought it was a great buy. I can see why it's so highly rated by Fodors and Frommers. Our rooms were $79 each.

Be advised, the rooms are really small, think NYC-type, but the lobby/room decor is very nice, the whole place is spotless, and the location cannot be beat in the heart of Little Italy. The neighborhood is loaded with little restaurants, galleries, and gentrification rules with old buildings transformed into trendy condos. I think La Pensione is the best hotel buy in SAN, barring a good Priceline win, which is a crapshoot since it's hard to know what/where you'll get with P'line.

La Pensione is a $9 taxi ride to the airport, and a trolley stop is about 3 short blocks away. I'm pretty sure the 992 airport bus stops one block away. There is a wonderful courtyard open to the sky, and a hip coffee place with free wireless, plus a little restaurant. The laundry (75 cents/load) and ice machine are right off the lobby, and don't forget the best amenity - "Penny" the shaggy lobby dog.

What a find and thanks again, FlyerTalk, for the tip on this budget hotel.