After my prior stay at the upscale and trendy Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego, I opted to try another IHG hotel located in downtown San Diego.
This time, I chose the Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown primarily for its location and IHG Rewards Club redeemability.
But was it a good choice?
Review: Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown (San Diego, CA)
Editor’s Note: This article is part of my ongoing series on the state of California and its sister-series, San Diego.Â
About The Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown
This is the official description from IHG.com:Â
Image: ihg.com
The IHG Rewards Club Redemption
This Holiday Inn Express is an IHG Rewards Club property redeemable for 40,000 points.
At 40,000 points, that also means this property is eligible as a redemption as a Chase Reward Night (for holders of eligible Chase credit cards).
On the night I stayed there, the price of a One Bed Standard Room went for $158.00 USD (plus taxes and fees).
This meant my IHG Rewards Club redemption was 0.4 CPP (standard for a IHG redemption).
Arrival At The Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown
Self-parking is available for $23.00 USD a night.
FHOP Tip: If you really don’t want to pay for parking, it’s possible to park at the many metered parking spaces near the hotel. Beware though, the meters start in the morning and so do the tickets, so make sure you read the parking signs carefully and set an alarm on your phone for when you have to move your car or feed the meter. Â
Entrance to the lobby
Bridge to the parking lot
Inside The Lobby
Check-In And The Room Upgrade
I was warmly greeted at the front desk by the late-night staff.
As I placed my ID and Chase IHG credit card on the desk, the representative commented, “oh, a Platinum member”.
He then said, “sir, we want to thank you for being an IHG Platinum member and so we are upgrading you to a Suite – the largest room in the hotel”.
I was very [pleasantly] surprised by this. As most travelers will tell you, IHG hotels are not typically known for their generous upgrades.
The Suite (Upgrade)
Indeed, I was luckily upgraded to a very large corner room suite.
Although dated, the room was very spacious and “on brand” with the typical Holiday Inn Express room decor.
The Living Area
There was a living area separated from the bedroom with its own couch and flat-screen television (and balcony).
Room Amenities
The Bathroom
The Living Room Balcony
The Swimming Pool
Image: ihg.com
The Business Center
The Complimentary Holiday Inn Express Breakfast
The complimentary breakfast is always popular at Holiday Inn Express
The Bottom-Line Review: Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown (San Diego, CA)
Let me first commend the Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown on their service. It was great. If all IHG hotels treated their elites like this, IHG would be the hotel brand to beat.
The location itself was exactly like the description says, a prime location to downtown attractions and nightlife (however, the entire downtown San Diego area can be a little seedy [especially at night], so be aware). I was amazed at how close the hotel was to the San Diego Zoo.
Yes, the hotel is dated, but I wouldn’t classify a Holiday Inn Express hotel as a “destination hotel” anyways. Rather, it’s clearly a “homebase hotel,” perfect for conveniently exploring San Diego on vacation. And who doesn’t love a complimentary Holiday Inn Express breakfast?
Final Rating: 8/10 – The Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown is a convenient, stand-out value for families on vacation to San Diego. The hotel’s excellent treatment of its elites is noteworthy [and appreciated].
