Ocean Beach Hotel, San Diego

My husband and I stayed at this hotel in 1978, on our honeymoon. When we checked into going back in 2012, we had been told of the renovations. We told them of being there for our honeymoon and we requested a King Kitchenette with balcony. We sure did not get it! We arrived just before midnight, after coming in from Hawaii. The girl at the front desk was quite young, but very nice. We had to carry our suitcases up to the 2nd floor, as there was no elevator. The room was TERRIBLE! My husband and I could not stand up comfortably in the room together. The balcony doors could not be opened because the bed was in the way! The balcony itself was non-existent! My foot could not have fit out there. It was just a ledge! The kitchenette was a small refrigerator with a microwave on top. When calling the front desk, there was no answer! We ended up getting the phone book and calling Embassy Suites, where we had stayed before going to Hawaii. Even though their check in was not until 3 p.m. they got us in immediately in the a.m,. and even served us breakfast, which was complementary with the room rate. When leaving OBH, they did not ask why we were shortening our stay from 3 days to less than 8 hours, and still charged us $243.04! Definitely NOT HAPPY!

Good prices, great location basically on the beach, close places to eat and drink good beer, great people watching, fun pier to walk, cool tide pools to check out, great sunsets, not really crowded (even on weekend), close to SD airport. Small room but who cares because you are on the beach and if you spend too much time in your room you should have stayed at home, room definitely gets the job done!

We reserved a room a couple of months in advance and were given a rate of about $150 per night for 3 nights. After making the reservation, I asked for a confirmation a couple of times but never received it, and forgot to continue following up (bad mistake #1). On arrival we were told that they didn't have us reserved until the next night. Also, without a confirmation, the rate was now $220, quite a bit more than promised. We had just driven over from Phoenix with our dogs and thought it would be hard to find a dog-friendly hotel last minute, so we checked in (bad mistake #2) without first looking at the room (bad mistake #3). (Also, we fortunately discovered that most hotel chains are dog friendly these days.). At the promised price of $150, we would have tolerated the disgusting room conditions to take advantage of the Ocean Beach charm. At $220, this was robbery pure and simple. The supposed recent 2 million dollar renovation didn't include this room. You might ask what was wrong? 1) Paint peeling off the walls in several places. 2) drawer handles missing from the furniture. I guess handles weren't really necessary since the drawers were cracked and didn't really close anyway. 3) I put on white ankle socks which were filthy in 10 seconds. I realize that it's hard to keep things clean at the beach, but that was just gross. 4) Baseboards cracked and didn't come together with the door jambs. I guess the dirt was keeping them apart. 5) The "patio" had a table and four chairs, one dead plant, empty planters, weeds, and a chunk of concrete missing from the wall. . 6) Missing faceplates and exposed wires on electrical outlet. We checked in and tried to get on online to find another place but could not connect to the free wi-fi. After about an hour, we told the front desk clerk (in person because the phone didn't work) that we preferred not to stay, and were told that they would be keeping the money for the night ($245 after taxes). No curiosity about why we were dissatisfied. We checked out the next morning (2 days early), and the same person who checked us in did not even ask why we were leaving. When looking on Trip Advisor when we returned, there was a positive review from some other people who just walked in off the street without a reservation less than a week before and paid only $130, a much better price. Why were we, with a reservation, charged almost $100 more? Bottom line, unless you're looking for a beach flop with your college buddies, find another place to stay.

We had a great time at the OB Hotel. It was our first trip as a couple to the Pacific coast and my wife and I will remember it always. The room was small, but cozy. The staff was friendly and did a good job of room maintenance every day. We made great use of the refrigerator for storing food that we bought nearby. The hotel has an excellent location! There are lots of small shops to visit; bars and restaurants are in abundance. The area attracts lots of tourists and everyone seems happy.Then there is the matter of the beach. You cross the street from the hotel and almost magically, you are facing the beautiful waves of the Pacific Ocean. If you want to experience the beauty and power of the sea, this is a fine place to do it. Recommended for everyone.

after reading some of the horrible reviews the hotel got i was nervous to stay there..but it was great! the town was super fun with lots of shopping, bars, great places to eat and lots to see..the town stays up late so its great to walk around at night..there was a band playing music and we sat and watched the waves at night..it was so romantic and relaxing..it is sort of a "hippie town" so expect an interesting crowd..there is homeless people everywhere..but they didnt bother us once..the beach is like 10 steps from the hotel and the pier is also less than 3 minutes away..everything is within walking distance..the rooms we not bad at all..had a mini fridge and a microwave..iron..no blow dryer..so come prepared..cable..great view and nice courtyard to sit and drink coffee or read..cant wait to go back!!

The hotel was nice but extra pricey. When we checked in, the gentleman was extra nice and told us when we were ready for a cab, to give him a call and he would call the cab for us. When it was time to get a cab, there was a female at the front desk and she told us she would not call the cab and gave us the phone number to call ourselves. She was rude and also used profanity.She should not be there if she does not like her job. It was the most awful experience because there was nothing we could do about it but take her inappropriateness. She ruined what could be a really great stay at a nice hotel. There is nothing worse than bad service with bad personality that uses profanity with the guests. TERRIBLE AND TOO BAD THAT SHE RUINS IT FOR THE HOTEL.

The first and most noticeable thing about the room is the SMELL. Kinda musty, mildewy, but very pervasive. Take some febreze fabric freshener along to help it. There is no elevator, but the front desk carried my bags up to the 3rd floor for me. Everyone was very nice. And it is just across the street from the beach..which is what I was looking for. There is a nice variety of restaurants within walking distance. And yes they do take plastic. Only the small places don't seem to take the credit cards. I did not even rent a car for the 4 days that I was there. But I just wanted to rest at the beach, not do a lot of other sightseeing. So yes, I owuld return if I was just looking for a simple basic room.

I was a little nervous to stay here after reading some of the previous reviews. My stay proved to be just right. This is a beach hotel and is set up for practicality, not luxury. It is very clean. The location is unbeatable. The walls are paper-thin though, so bring an iPod or earplugs.

We stayed at the Ocean Beach Hotel for my birthday and were very pleased with the hotel. The hotel was on the ocean, close to all the local attractions, there were many spots for taking photographs. We definitely recommend staying at this hotel and will definitely return.

When my wife and I need a quick getaway to get some time alone, we head down to the Ocean Beach Hotel. A couple of adult cocktails, relaxing to the sunset at the end of the pier, dinner and a long moonlit stroll on the beach is just what we need to unwind. The only problem with this hotel is that we have to leave. The price is right, staff is friendly, and the rooms are clean.