Monterey Bay Coastal Trail Holidays from £908

I stayed at Hotel Sofia over the 4th of July weekend. Overall, it was a decent stay and I'd consider staying here again mainly because the price was reasonable for downtown San Diego. The location is good, though not quite as close to everything as I expected. It was about a 15-minute walk to both the Gaslamp Quarter and the waterfront/docks, which wasn't terrible but is something to keep in mind. There were a few maintenance and service issues that kept this from being a higher rating. Parking cost me $80 for two nights, which felt excessive. The staff was okay but nothing particularly memorable. I called for batteries for my TV remote, and unfortunately they never arrived. In the room, the toilet paper holder kept falling off whenever it was used, and the shower didn't drain properly, causing it to start overflowing after about four minutes. Despite those frustrations, the room was comfortable enough and the overall value wasn't bad compared to other options in the area during a busy holiday weekend. With some attention to maintenance issues and a little improvement in guest service, this could be a much better experience. Overall: 3.9/5. Good value for the location, but there are definitely a few things that need improvement.

The hotel offers a truly memorable stay, blending comfort with a distinct sense of character that sets it apart from standard accommodations. From the moment of arrival, the atmosphere feels warm and thoughtfully designed, with staff who are attentive without being overwhelming.

Fantastic boutique hotel in the heart of Santa Monica, beautiful views and great attention to detail. Fantastic staff. Nice pool, family friendly.

If I could give this place zero stars I would. First, it was very hard to find the location because there is construction outside. When I finally found the place, there was one person at the desk who was extremely rude and condescending. She made fun of the way I spoke (mimicked me). I was in shock. I had already prepaid for the hotel so I didn't know what to do. I figured I would let it go since it's one night. I asked about parking - she said can't give me parking until I checked in. So I checked in and then after I paid for parking - she said she didn't have anymore key cards to the parking garage. She told me that every time I would need to go in or out of the garage I would need to come into the hotel and tell them and they would meet me at the garage (!) I asked politely how does this work if there's only one person at the desk. and where do I park to call you to help me with the garage (since there's no parking - only construction - outside the hotel). That set her off in an angry tirade. I was afraid for my safety at this hotel with this person in charge. I called my friend that I was meeting - she came over a few minutes later and I told her what happened. We checked the room - which had an intense chemical odor - can't breath. She refused to let me talk to a manager and refused to refund. It was such a twilight zone experience. STAY AWAY FROM THIS HORRID PLACE.

Amazing hotel in a perfect location.