We recently decided to pivot our hotel loyalty over to Hyatt and one of our first planned trips after this was to San Diego. We had originally booked at a Marriott in the Gaslamp Quarter, prior to switching allegiance, and we didn’t think we’d be able to switch over to a Hyatt as the closest one was a good deal more expensive than the Marriott. Thankfully, prices dropped a week before the trip and we were able to book our first stay at an Andaz property. So we found ourselves at the Andaz San Diego located in the Gaslamp Quarter.
It had been several years since I had visited San Diego and like many other cities in the country, it hasn’t been immune to the challenges of homelessness. The Andaz itself, as of May 2023, wasn’t quite the epicenter of this in San Diego, but it was very noticeable. I personally don’t mind staying in a hotel where this is an issue and don’t hold the hotels responsible for it at all. That said, I could certainly see how some could feel safety concerns.
That being said, from a location perspective, this spot isn’t bad. Within a 5-10 block radius you’ve got lots of restaurants, bars, breweries, etc. Petco Park is also close. You’re less than a 10 minute drive from the zoo and even closer to Balboa Park (the zoo is located within the park). You’re also only a few block walk from the Blue line that gets you to Little Italy or down to Tijuana.
As this was our first experience staying at an Andaz, we didn’t know exactly what to expect from this brand of Hyatt. Having since stayed at a different Andaz, and having something to compare it with, I have to say our experience left something to be desired. Upon arriving at the hotel to check in, there were two people working the front desk. One was dealing with a guest and the other was on the phone. When the one finished with the guest, they left to go to a back office rather than check us in. When the second person finished their first phone call, they then made another, and when they finished that, finally checked us in. We probably only had to wait five to ten minutes but it still felt like a miss, especially as a first impression.
The room was perfectly fine though the sink in the bathroom was oddly hard to use. I forgot to take a picture but you can see what it looks like on this bathroom picture from TripAdvisor. The water comes down on the far side of the sink which makes using it awkward.
The crowning (pun intended) feature of the Andaz seems to be its rooftop bar, restaurant, and pool, complete with DJ and pool parties on the weekends. It’s a bit more clubby than what we usually opt for though we did get a drink one afternoon. Kudos to the hotel for having a drag brunch on the Saturday we were there.
All in all, there’s not a lot that makes this hotel either worth a recommendation or suggesting people avoid.
