The Declan Suites San Diego

The only reason I give this place a 2 star is because the staff was very friendly and tried to help, but this hotel needs a huge overhaul! It has a great location and has potential but after switching to our third room due to several issues (i.e. Wet floors, mildew, light not working, and a/​c issue) we decided to only stay one night and check out. So buyer beware!

We Loved Our Stay!!!
The rooms are designed & laid out Excellent!
The DeClan Suites have a Elegant old school Rockstar/​Hollywood feel with a Modern Contemporary Flare!
The Entire Staff was Absolutely Awesome!!!
Definitely Coming Back! With Friends!
–ALOHA
Jason & Johnna Parker
Las Vegas Nv.

This hotel was one of the few that had affordable rates during a busy time of year (late August), but was a terrible experience in terms of comfort.
Unfortunately, the AC did not work properly, blowing out warm air no matter what setting we out it on or how cool we tried to set the thermostat. When we asked to switch rooms, we were told our room was cooler than most. The tech was not able to fix our vent, and suggested we just open the windows (it was 85+ degrees out that weekend).
The parking garage was not very well marked, so we missed the turn twice. After going up the narrow spiral parking garage tunnel, we decided it was a bad idea and went out to valet instead.
Inside, the reception area was clean and modern, but the actual suites were very rundown. The bedroom was in better shape than the living room, which had stains on the carpet and sofa and a super thin pullout sofa bed. When the tech came to try and fix the vent, there was a ton of dust trapped behind the vent.
The one nice thing about the hotel was the location. It’s within easy walking distance of Gaslamp and Petco Park.
If you don’t mind a no-​frills budget hotel and don’t mind a little bit of dinginess, this place is fine (minus the huge AC issue, which I’ll assume was just a problem in the summer).

Decided to stay here after we found a Groupon for the king suite without looking at the reviews for this place first. huge mistake. The pictures made this place look great.
Came here and we became super nauseated after the unusual circular drive up 7 floors-​literally who designed that… very inconvenient parking which we had to deal with Everytime we left and returned to the hotel.
The lobby smells nice at least. I think we stayed on the 23^rd floor or something like that which was nice. But there was nothing great about the hotel room, and I don’t understand why it was so expensive. There was no fridge, and the view wasn’t very nice.
Thankfully we didn’t encounter some of the horror stories others have encountered but the hotel experience was bland at most and gladly we only stayed for one night.
We called asking what time checkout would be and they didn’t say anything and when it was around 1PM they told us to get out before they charged us.
Although it was conveniently close to the Zoo and little Italy I wouldn’t stay here again.

I find it weird that the check in lobby is on the 12^th floor. If you have never been here and wanted to stay here how would you know where to go? Parking in the area is the worst during the weekend but if you’re lucky enough to find a spot its free on Sundays on the street. The staff is friendly and very helpful. The room itself was very spacious and the bed was absolutely heavenly. The view from our room made me want to not only visit San Diego more often but stay at this hotel again. Not far from all the spots in San Diego. Easy access from the freeway. Thanks for a great experience.

I stayed at this establishment this past Monday. The photos on their site are very deceiving. Upon arrival
(If self parking) you have to take a narrow spiral tunnel (one way) up 11 stories. When you go into the entrance, the place seems really nice. The young girl at the check in was pleasant. She was the only positive. Once you leave the check in area and go into the elevator, the reality of this hotel hits. The room was comparable to a motel 6 or travel lodge. For staying in downtown San Diego I expected more. That’s not all tho… I go to use the restroom just to find dried urine on the toilet seat and under the seat. I always bring Clorox wipes for this very reason. So I clean my own toilet. Then look down and see mold on the shower bottom. What the heck!!! Well I see the maids card… I don’t want to humiliate her by putting her name on here. Her name started with a C. So I go to validate the parking ticket, young kid at the hotel counter says that will be $ 29. What the hell!!! So you have to pay to park just to stay at this hole??? And with all that money in parking they can’t clean the rooms??? So parking gets paid and a blue card is given in exchange. The next morning at check out I see they try charging me again for parking. I go down to check out and then I run into an employee named Gustavo. I will use his name because he is the face of the business and he was fricken rude. I inform Gustavo that the parking was already paid for. I show him the card. He starts questioning and saying he needs to search etc. I understand he needed to verify things but he was very rude when I asked him why. Meanwhile I hear a woman going off on the next hostess at check in because it was her and her husbands THIRD time moving rooms. She was livid. Oh and don’t forget they don’t give complimentary coffee. Pretty sure motel 6 does. That’s pretty bad. I realized the owner of this place probably doesn’t understand why their hotel is going down hill. Well I hope this gets to them so they can clean house and start fixing within.

Weak sauce! Get to room, no remote for one tv and the remote for the other tv didn’t work! No mini fridge, pungent smell, cheap wall paper, non functioning windows, stuffy etc… No restaurant but they offer a not so complimentary continental breakfast in the lobby $ 6 for a tiny bowl of cereal!!!
Don’t let the fancy name fool you!

At BEST, one star!
Let’s start with the parking deck. Because that’s what started it for us. A narrow one way ascent in an upward spiraling tunnel that can make the stoutest traveler sick. But just to the 7^th floor, which then converts into a maze-​like, bizarre 5 story parking deck that will confound anyone. Finally, you reach the 11^th floor hotel parking lot. On the eleventh floor!
Next, try to figure out the signage indicating where the h— is the hotel lobby. We followed one sign with an arrow pointing to an elevator that said «Hotel Lobby» 12^th floor. Not so. It only went down. Down to the 7^th floor where it stopped and never opened. So back up to the 11^th we go. We study the parking deck and notice another sign across the lot. It was the right one. We go to the 12^th floor, and enter into a windowless lobby, sparcely furnished.
At the checkin desks, we find three totally disinterested employees. One checks us in, then informs me that NONE of the hospitality facilities are open. (Pool, bar, restaurant, gym, etc.) It’s «renovation» she says. Then she goes to make a parking lot card, and there are none. So she writes down «paid» with her name and date on the back of someone’s business card, and tells us to use it., and hand it to the attendant. Parking here is $ 30 a night, BTW.
We go to our Suite in yet a 3^rd elevator.(the hotel is from the 12^th– 24^th floor). The «kitchenette» is a microwave. Nothing else. No fridge, no coffee pot, and a handful of really flimsy disposable plastic cups.
No sheets or pillows for the sleeper sofa. Found that out at midnight after an exhausting day sightseeing. Oh yay. The suite is roomy enough, the king sized bed was very comfortable with good quality linens and pillows. Heat worked well.
Bathroom was roomy and nice hot shower. Faucet was busted and hot water handle turned all the way around.
Then, dreading the exiting decent into hell-​tunnel, we are faced with an empty booth. No one to hand the written on business card. So we hit the assistance button, get someone and we are telling her what the problem is. She does not respond. She shut us off. So we call the hotel. No answer. 4 calls. No answer. So we all 3 called simultaneously and got someone. He comes down, (supposedly he was in an office right there!) and opens the gate. We go down through the maze for 5 floors, and 7 floors of spiral and vow to warn the world.
Just pay $ 50 bucks more and stay in a decent hotel. Don’t come here to «The Decline Suites».

There are couple of issues with the hotel: 1) Rooms are not well maintained. There is a good chance something is broken in your room. Repair requests are not always fast and effective. 2) Breakfasts: before they had restaurant which as we were told was permanently closed. You could have good breakfast for $ 14 a person there. Currently for the same price they give you coffee (you might get milk to the coffee if you are lucky), one little pastry, and one fruit. For $ 14! First 2 days as restaurant was closed they gave cereals as well, but not any more: just fruit, pastry and coffee. And there is no a single café around (at least we have not found), you need to drive for breakfast. Not quite convenient. No fridge in a room, so having breakfast in a room is not an option too.
However if you need more space and a separate bedroom as many families with young kids prefer, this is not the worst option for this price.

Parking is horrible. Staff is friendly but the hotel is a bit out dated. The room had dirty towels, they had to deliver a mini fridge because it’s only in the room by request. QUESTION: why would you have a microwave for frozen goods yet not have something to keep your food cool or frozen? Plumbing is horrible. When you take a shower the drains smell of sewage. Remotes didn’t work to TV. I Called room service 8 TIMES and got no answer!!! Ice machine didn’t work on our floor. I’ll never stay here again. I beget better service at motel 6.

This was our first time staying here and will be the last. Once we got there they gave us our room and it was disgusting. The manager upgraded our room but was not able to give us two beds. After that I asked for ice and the ice machine did not work, no pool and no restaurant. Our valet guy was very rude since we were going in and out a few times (3 times). Again new place and we wanted to explore. Hopefully they change and I had no room service.

All the reviews that are written about this place are true! It’s cheap for a reason. The photos they have on the rooms are like the old school my space angle photos. They make things appear way nicer than hey actually are. The lobby is on the 12^th floor so when you walk in you have to take the elevator up there. When we walked into the room the air conditioner was on and it smelled like wet feet and bo. Once we turned off the AC and the smell kind of want to way. The doors into the bedroom can’t fully open because of beds are in the way which is very cheap. They said we will have a refrigerator in the room but there was no refrigerator in our room. The beds were not too bad but again you get what you pay for. When we checked in they sent out a text message to see how our service was and when we responded with a negative response they never responded to that. Overall I would recommend on finding somewhere else to stay unless you’re looking for a cheap place.

Ok, this hotel is sorta that last minute cheap deal two/​three star hotel. You probably don’t want to risk staying here for a special occasion but for a regular getaway with friends… maybe. If you’re in your early mid twenties.
Pros: location for sure! Very close to central gaslamp.
Price
Also, parking at the meters across the street is free after 6 and on Sundays. There is also a parking lot down the street.
The staff was okay, they did try to accommodate my needs.
Cons:
I had two rooms. The rooms were outdated for sure, but not terrible. You are going to get a Travelodge feel.
We had alot of small issues, the a/​c, the plumming, needed a fridge. Etc, service was slow but not non existent.
Overall, don’t have high expectations and you won’t be that disappointed. It’s not that bad, but it’s notbthat great.

This place is a little bit like the 99 dollar paint job… as long as you don’t look too closely at anything, it’s just fine. The prices here are better than just about anyplace you’ll find for downtown. The service at the front desk and at valet is really friendly and it’s walking distance to everything.
If I was looking for a romantic weekend away, I would not be staying here, but it’s the perfect spot for a night out on the town and a place to rest your head.
Pay the extra 6 dollars and get your damn car valeted. It’s worth the headache of navigating any high rise parking lot… and for anyone complaining at parking being 29 dollars a day — this is actually reasonably low compared to most hotels in gaslamp. If you feel like saving a buck, go park in a sketchy corner lot and walk like a fool with your luggage.

This was our second time staying at the Declan and nothing has changed (not a good thing). The parking structure is tight, confusing and creepy. The lobby is modern and clean. But as soon as you get into the elevator that lead to your room and see the hallways, you can tell that the hotel is rundown. There are rips on the hallway wallpaper.
The rooms need a renovation. There were stains all over the carpet in our room. The AC vents have dust that desperately needs to be cleaned. The drawer for the desk came off as I tried to pull it open, exposing the nails. The room just felt and looked dirty. I was waiting for a cockroach to come out and say hi.
To top it off, they had a lot of noise due to construction right next door.

I stayed for 3 nights. $ 124 a night (basic «suite») 21^st floor
Cons–
Parking isn’t the easiest to figure out and it costs $ 26 a day for hotel guests!
They will not call the rooms «rooms» they refer to them as suites but they are your run of the mill hotel room.
Dilapidated rooms (see photos) broken furniture and leaky fixtures. Weird chemical smell in room.
Cable went out and I called 4 – 5 times no answer at front desk.
No room service.
A/​c was out during a heat wave.
The staff was young and borderline unprofessional.
Hair ball in the shower drain!
Tiny shower with no shelves
Pros–
Plenty of parking
Okay view from my room.
The hotel décor was nice
Great location.
Large room
Free slow wifi
Overall for the price not worth it. I will not stay here again.

Most of these reviews are ridiculous. Before my trip, I wasted a good 2 hours reading them and I was almost deterred from giving the Declan a chance. I called days prior to express my concerns about my existing reservation in light of these reviews. I spoke with Grecia. I mentioned that my reservation was for my anniversary and that I want to have the best experience, but I was reluctant to stay here because of the horrific reviews. She sensed I was leaning towards canceling entirely and at that point, she offered me a FREE upgrade to the top floor (27^th from the 12^th), with a view of Balboa Park. FREE.
Upon arrival on 9÷20÷15, the staff was welcoming and friendly, all so kind. My room wasn’t ready yet because we were early, but it had been handpicked and reserved by Grecia in advance, so I wasn’t worried about checking my bags, leaving for lunch and returning to any unexpected changes.
Once in my room (2710), I was blown away by the cleanliness and appeal of the King Suite. Even more so, the view! I did not find stains on the carpet, couch, walls and bed, as others on here have mentioned. No hair in the sink or bed. There wasn’t any mold, bedbugs, roaches or fleas. The ac worked great. The 2 doors leading to the bedroom/​bathroom (one regular, one sliding) is NOT a big deal. The room was NOT «out of date,» it came with 2 flat screen tv’s. The things people complain about it on here… unbelievable. It was perfect! I couldn’t believe what we were getting for only $ 117.
The next morning, I woke up around 6 a.m. and there was an envelope slipped under the door. It was a «Happy Anniversary» card with 2 complimentary breakfast vouchers, signed by Grecia. It made my day! As if this experience couldn’t get any better, it DID!
Pros: Price
Beautiful room and view
The most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on
Location
Kindest staff, full of recommendations in the area
Walking distance to Gaslamp, but Über was only $ 4
Free wi-​fi
Pet-​friendly
Beautiful bar/​good prices
Great café and portions
Complimentary morning coffee on lobby floor
Cons: Every single negative review on here! You have all given this place a bad rap with your nit-​picky, negative reviews. The only thing I agree with is the small shower and low water pressure, but I don’t care about that.
Also, parking is $ 29, but MOST hotels charge here. We went on a Sunday and parked at a meter for free. If you don’t want to pay the fee or deal with a tight, spiraling lot, find a cheaper 24 hour lot outside!
I will definitely be returning! Highly recommended! If you’re having an issue while there, SAY SOMETHING and the wonderful staff will fix it the best they can! Marriot just bought the hotel, so I’m sure the renovations some of you feel are needed are coming, but I was pleased with what I got. I will not be using Unilocal again, as I almost missed out on one of the BEST hotels and BEST experiences I’ve ever had over reviews.
I wanted to personally thank Grecia in person, but I missed her the next morning. She went above and beyond her job and deserves a promotion. Not only for making my anniversary extra special, but for making a future returning customer out of me. THANK YOU, GRECIA! You’re the BEST! :)

I’m safe & dry is what earned the two stars, from me. The reviews about the place needing an update is true; carpets are stained, pulled, crinkled & worn. Multiple wood finished indicate their patch-​style maintenance habits. Mildew/​mold in shower stall speak to their give-​up approach on detail. They have pretty much adopted a «Customer Non-​Service» approach at every level of interaction (except the bellman/​concierge desk, they seemed interested).
No mention of the $ 28/​day parking fee. Door card lost its programming. In-​room phone actually DOES NOT ring direct to the front desk as indicated. Put on «hold» 3 times for a total of 11 minutes until I was finally «disconnected» (and never called back).
Yield all the warnings. Save yourself the frustration. Finding a much better «hospitality-​focused» establishment will certainly be effortlessly successful.
What they are good at is hiring a very skillful & talented photographer. The pictures are amazing & border False Advertising litigation.

Beautiful suites! Stay here one night and hotel offered us a wonderful experience! The hotel is located on ash and seventh in the downtown gas lamp quarters, San Diego. The suite is big enough for two couples or four friends. The couch has a pull out bed which is perfect for groups on a budget!
The hotel can be pricey but my suggestion is to search on Groupon for better rates! If you get the chance to visit gaslamp quarters, this hotel along with others I have posted about are must stays.
No hidden resort fee and there is valet rates but parking on the street is cheaper.

Normally I stay in the heart of gaslamp within just a few steps away from everything I want to be close too but the hotels in that area were higher than i expected during a weekday. I kept searching and came across The Declan Suites and found a great rate of $ 106 on
.
PRO’s:
–was able to do an early check-​in at 12:30pm with no problem.
— staff was very friendly and welcoming
–lots of open space and couches and chairs to hang out and relax throughout the lobby floor of the hotel (12^th floor)
–had a deluxe king one bedroom suite along with a sofa sleeper, very spacious! could comfortably sleep 4 –6 people and still have room for a air mattress
–there are doors to separate the bedroom from the living room for privacy, and there are two entrances to the bathroom, one from the living room and bedroom
— lots of mirrors (including full body length mirror in the bathroom) and electrical outlets throughout the suite which is perfect for large groups and women getting ready lol
— comfortable beds
–FREE wifi up to 3 devices
CON’s
— the TV in the bedroom was very old
— the sliding doors to the bathroom did NOT lock and are very noisy when you try to slide it till it closes all the way.
although declan suites is still considered to be part of the gaslamp area, the hotel is a bit further away… probably about 4 –5 blocks to get to broadway and 5^th avenue (starting of the restaurants, bars, shopping, nightlife, etc)
I would definitely stay again especially if im with a larger group. room is spacious and thats definitely a plus!