This hotel seems to prioritize large events over the comfort and experience of its paying guests. If you're traveling with children or looking for a relaxing weekend getaway, I would recommend staying elsewhere.
We stayed here over the Fourth of July weekend, and our experience was extremely disappointing. On the second day of our stay, we spoke with the front desk about the issues we were experiencing and asked if anything could be done to improve our stay. Unfortunately, no one followed up, and none of our concerns were addressed. I'm sharing this review so future guests know what to expect.
When we booked our stay online, there was no disclosure that the entire rooftop—including the pool—would be occupied by a private Fourth of July event. We were only informed at check-in, and it was presented as if it were no big deal. We were also told that hotel guests could not reserve cabanas or poolside tables and would instead have to share the pool area with attendees who were not hotel guests.
Beginning around 2:00–3:00 p.m. on July 4, the hotel played extremely loud music for the rooftop event. The bass was so intense that the windows and floor in our room were vibrating, making it impossible to relax or rest. The lobby was crowded with intoxicated partygoers, the elevators smelled strongly of alcohol and other unpleasant odors, and elevator wait times were excessively long because of the event. We also spoke with another guest staying on the fourth floor who confirmed that the music was clearly audible from his room as well.
As mentioned, we asked the front desk if we could be moved to a lower-floor room to escape the noise. We were told the hotel was sold out, which we understood. However, there was no follow-up, no attempt to offer an alternative solution, and no gesture of goodwill or compensation for the significant disruption to our stay.
We specifically chose Andaz San Diego because of our previous positive experiences with the Andaz brand, including excellent stays in Scottsdale and Seoul. Unfortunately, this property did not live up to those expectations. Beyond the event-related issues, the area surrounding the hotel had a noticeable homeless population, which further affected our overall experience. Most disappointing of all, it felt as though the hotel prioritized a private event and outside attendees over the comfort and satisfaction of its paying guests.
Had the hotel clearly disclosed the rooftop closure and large private event before booking, we could have made an informed decision and chosen another property. Transparency and guest experience should come before maximizing event revenue.
