Hotel Solamar - a Kimpton Hotel

Excellent Location

The hotel staff was really friendly and attended to my every need. Food was a little on the expensive side for room service, especially when they charge 22% gratuity + a delivery charge.... The location is very good, close to many restaurants and the convention center. The room was not big, but comfortable and the pool area is really nice with a very good bar where they have happy hours with complimentary wine. Overall, a very nice hotel to stay, especially if you compare with the huge hotels in the same area, which are way more expensive. This is more of a boutique hotel, which I really enjoy.

Go to Nobu restaurant if you have the chance. Reservations are a must, and yes, it is expensive, but for those who like Japanese food, it’s delicious with lots of eccentric dishes. Try the live octopus sashimi and the mochi ice cream.

Club on bottom floor too loud - Dont check-in on Fri/Sat night

We booked this hotel for a week despite warnings from others on this site that the noise is really loud on Fri/Sat night when they have the bar/club scene going on by the pool. The pool is definitely a hook-up area, 20-30 somethings.. no families. The hotel in general is not kid friendly. I wish we were warned about the noise on Saturday night till 1AM. Its impossible to sleep. We were in a room facing a pool on the 8 or 9th floor. Thats about as high up as you can get. I wish I could get a refund for that night. Parking is 35 dollars a night!! Why can’t they just roll that into the price of the room

very good experience

Spent 5 nights at the Hotel Solamar, and if you are looking for GREAT customer service, this is your place. Everyone working within in the hotel was cordial, sincere and just overall showed pure affection to the fact that we were their "guests". They were the first to point out places of interest, get us transportation or just let us know a great place to eat. We celebrated our 2 year anniversary while we were at the hotel and they even sent up some appetizers and a bottle of wine for us...very classy move by our conciege Jose. Great experience and we will be staying there again!!

Great hotel!

We read mixed reviews on this hotel - mainly due to the noise from the pool bar. It didn’t bother us at all. Our room was on the top (10th) floor overlooking the pool and you couldn’t hear the noise at all unless your window was open. Rooms were furnished very uniquely. Staff was great.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

The location was excellent. It was very close to a number of great restaurants and bars and also very close to the Convention Centre.

AWESOME PLACE & GREAT LOCATIN

Really enjoyed my stay there. Staff was great, bar tenders were also very helpful!!!! My experience there could not have been any better. Like a block away from all of the clubs and bars.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

If going to a football game the trolley is the way to go. like 5 bucks round trip, but the ride back will take awhile

Right in the Center of Things

My wife and I decided to spend our anniversay weekend in S.D. and wanted to do walking tours. We found the Hotel Solamar and decided to book because of its location and reasonable pricing. We were not at all sorry. The location made it ideal to tour the Gaslamp District, Petco Park, and all pier attractions. The hotel itself was very nice; we had a room facing the pool. The room was comfortable and relaxing. Overall service was great, hotel personnel were very friendly and helpful. And the 5:00pm wine tasting was tops. Next year we want to go back and do the Metro train tours. We’ll probably stay at the Solamar again. We loved it.

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

If you stay downtown, don’t get a car rental from the airport. Take a cab or shuttle, the hotel is only 5 minutes away. The hotels charge 30 to 35 dollars a night to park your car (don’t forget that’s in addition to your 25-30 dollar a day rental). Do without the car; walk, or take the train. For trips to Balboa Park or La Jolla, take a cab or a bus tour. You’ll save yourself a ton of money!

Very nice

Great Hotel Room. Service was wonderful and the restaurant food was amazing. Loved the wine hour and the roof top pool over looking the city. A must stay.

Nice downtown location

We got a great deal on the hotel that is in a excellent location.

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

Don’t forget to add valet parking to your expenses.

Great Getaway

This is a great place for a weekend getaway in the Gaslamp District.

Modern Artistic

The Hotel did a great job of making sure we were well taken care of. It was clean and comfortable. The thermostat didnt seem to work. Only the fan was controllable, the temperature remained the same. for the price you pay it was a decent place, close to everything downtown and the staff were very courteous and helpful. Beware of the hidden charges for nearly everything in the room. Overall, I would stay there again.

Very classy hotel...But be warned!

We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Solamar except for the fact that we had to pay $35.00 a day to park our car. (We stayed there for 3 days)After spending almostquite a bit of money a night to stay here we had to pay another $105.00 just in parking. Other than that the hotel is beautiful and very classy and the service was great and it’s located next to all the great restraunts and nightclubs.

Traveler's tip on nightlife

Great nightlife within a few blocks of the hotel. ( all walking distance)

I would not stay there again

This hotel was exceptional 4 years ago, now that I returned for a 3 nights stay, it has decreased seriuosly its quality and the rooms are not that great anymore.

Greatest Honeymoon Ever!

Wow...where to begin with this hotel? It is in the vibrant Gaslamp district, and in the district there is SO much to do! The hotel is AWESOME. They have a popsicle hour and a wine hour every day. The style of the hotel is so trendy and cool, and every room has a HUGE TV! The cleaning service is prompt and extensive. The concierges always answered the phone when we called, and always had an answer to our questions. My wife and I walked 4 times to the ferry off Broadway to Coronado island (don’t go to the one closer, it is $7 per person PER WAY, and the other ferry, while a little farther, is only $6.50 round trip per person). Coronado island is so beautiful...Ah! I daydream about this trip all the time. Go to Pinkberry in Gaslamp! Everything was just wonderful. My wife and I had an amazing honeymoon, and can’t wait to come back.

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

As I said, walk to the farther ferry by the battle ship rather than the one off the pier, it is way cheaper. If you go to Coronado, stop at the surf shop close by and get a boogie board! Also, admire the awesome houses!

Nice place with friendly staff.

The only complaints I have are: 1. The pool is very small and gets crowded, so if you don’t arrive early you will be forced to sit on a barstool or the cement. 2. Parking is $35 per night, which is a bit excessive. 3. The room doors are very heavy, which is nice to keep the sound level down, but inconsiderate guests let them slam shut, which can jar you out of a sound sleep. The hotel is conveniently located to almost everything, including the trolley service, so you can move around quickly and efficiently. Overall a very nice place to stay and I would consider staying there again.

Great Stay

Great location, and service!

Nice hotel in a great area of downtown.

I liked the hotel and it’s proximity to restaurants and shops in the Gas Lamp area of downtown San Diego. I had only 2 complaints. The first was the J-Six Skybar, where there was way too much attitude and they seemed to cater only to the local 20 somethings. I was in San Diego for a High School reunion. After the reunion ended, I invited a few of my class mates to join me for drinks and appetizers in the J-Six skybar. When we arrived, I informed the host who was monitoring all of the seating, that I was a guest at the hotel, but that didn’t seem to give me any clout. They were not very busy, but we were informed that we could not sit at the empty Cabanas, because they required a $300.00 min. bottle service. All other 2 top and 4 top tables were aparently "reserved" though no one was sitting at any of them, and most remained empty, as did the "Cabanas", the entire time we were there. We left at 12:30 AM and I doubt they were used after that. We were finally "allowed" to sit at a table, but it was in a very undesirable location in the middle of a loud, mostly drunk group while all the tables around us sat empty. If I return to this hotel, I will not patronize the Skybar. I will definately take my business elsewhere. My second gripe was the cost of the daily overnight parking charge. At $35 per day, I thought this was excessive for the level of this hotel. Higher level, more expensive hotels in the area charged a lower daily rate for parking.

Solamar

Great hotel. Very comfortable rooms and excellent front desk service.

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

Very nice fitness center nearby called Fit located next to Petco Park. Tell them you’re staying at the Solamar hotel and sign in the guest book for free gym visits while in San Diego.

It was ok

The decor was a bit ad hoc. Fish in one part of the room with a weird dark late 90s thing going on else where. Overall not a bad place, but I’ve stayed in much better - especially for the price.

excellent place to stay in downtown san diego.

great property, room and location. my room only had a shower. not an issue for me, but maybe for others.

San Diego’s Stylish Hotels

We had a great experience, the hotel staff was very friendly, and the decor of the room was impecable with a modern flare.

Loud/Dog Friendly Hotel

Hotel Solamar is dog friendly which must mean that they allow dogs to bark until 2:00 am. I had to call the front desk 4 nights about the dog in the next room. It barked constantly. When I called the front desk, they said they would contact the people in the room. Yet, nothing changed. The hotel is also open to the public which means the pool is always busy and very noisy. Overall, it was not the relaxing stay we were looking for.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

The hotel is close to the ballpark which is a huge plus. There are also many good restaurants in the area including Fred’s Mexican Cafe and The Olde Spaghetti Factory.

Lovely Hotel

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Solamar. This Hotel is probably best for young people; the rooftop pool turns into a nightclub that is open until almost 2am. The service was great, the room was wonderful and the location in the Gaslamp is sweet.

Traveler's tip on nightlife

The Gaslamp is a very fun scene!

Great Hotel in a Great Location

This is a fine hotel, with nice amenities and a helpful staff. The front desk staff were very friendly and went out of their way to assist. It is located perfectly near great restaurants and bars, and within a very short walk to Petco Stadium for the Padres games. Will stay there again for sure

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

Do not valet park with the hotel--it is over $30 a day. Go one block down the street to the public parking garage for less than half the price per day.

Go Green!

The overall accommodations were pleasant, and our room was well kept. We especially enjoyed the wine tasting happy hour. The hotel location was suitable for all of our needs. I would like to suggest that the hotel provide receptacles for recycling both in the rooms and in the lobby.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Centrally located for business and lesiure activities.

great hotel, great location

what an enjoyable stay. great hotel.