Balboa Park Inn, San Diego

It's a charming fun place that's the owner and his team's labor of beauty and live! We love the Balboa Park Inn and our favorite room is the Beach House! Great sized room w/ fridge, microwave, nice sitting area for guests, and wonderful bathroom! We love the huge tub, jacuzzi, and nice shower. Very charming and surprisingly fun decor! Breakfast in your room, on the roof, or on the comfortable charming patio. The owner and team are all caring and helpful. Terrific location next to Balboa Park, the SD Zoo, and Hillcrest an eclectic delightful neighborhood. Stay you'll love it!!

I did not actually get a chance to stay at this dump down my block, I had the unfortunate and nasty pleasure of meeting its owner as I walked my 25-lb dog around the area. I have lived here for a while and have always noticed the dumpy-looking "Inn" down the street, it's window-dressings are decades old and crusty, the outside is themed in desert, dirt, and sort-of flowered. I pass by this place everyday and have for the last 400 days. It smells after a while, you can sense it coming down the street. I have no idea why they have not torn this place down and replaced it with a new, beautiful development that would spur tourism to the destination. I met the owner for the first time today. My dog was sniffing the sparse flowers around the dirt yard (it actually looks like some kind of wood-chippings) very cheap--anyway, my dog was sniffing the flowers, and as we left the yard (she had NOT peed on the flowers) this VERY corpulent, flamboyant, big man ran over to me from out of the street screaming about his flowers. I took my headphones off and said, "Excuse me?" He shrilly and snakily replied in a mocking voice "excuuuuuse me!" He was already mocking me and I had NO idea what he wanted. He then proceeded to tell me how crude I was to allow my dog on his precious flowers. I was so stunned I still had no said anything since "excuse me." So I then asked him if he owned the place and he said, "You're damn right I do, BI*CH." Now, I could tell this guy was a gay. I'm gay, I've had a gay person call me a bi*ch before and 1) I was already his friend and not a complete stranger, 2) I was never called it in such a nasty, angry tone. I was APPALLED. This guy is a freaking NUT. All for smelling the flowers!!!!!!! Well, if you want to smell the flowers, don't stop at this dump with the gigantic IDIOT inside.

We had a terrific time in San Diego and staying at Balboa Park Inn was perfect. Like having our own apt. Quiet, comfortable,like going home each night. Near to tolley pick-ups and bus lines. Never a problem with parking and the terraces at night were very relaxing. Check tripadvisor.com for more pictures. You're going to love this place as much as I do.

We were there September 5, 2008...Awesome, couldn't believe the room when we walked in...the Cheetah almost followed us home. The jacuzzi tub...we got lost in the bubble bath..My first time in California ...loved Balboa Park...the SD Zoo, amazing, within walking distance. Would return and have recommended....

Stayed in the Suite Escape. It was comfortable, roomy, and nicely decorated. The room was large, linens were nice. Lots of good coffee with coffeemaker. A good size refrigerator if needed. Internet service was good. We had breakfast on the sun terrace. Fresh fruit and heated sweet rolls, juice, and a pitcher of hot coffee brought to us. I had no complaints. Staff was friendly, service good, would definitely stay there again!

We stayed in a the Paris in the 30s room for the Rock 'N Roll marathon. What a find! The room was cute, clean and had all the amenities that we needed: refridgerator. It was a single room and what a bargain! We were blocks away from the marathon festivities and the staff was courteous and incredibly helpful. Housekeeping was meticulous and even changed our sheets every day. Best of all the inn is a bed and breakfast, with breakfast delivered to our room. The breakfast is mediocre, but we had the option of eating at a restaurant down the street if we wanted to. The inn is adjacent to a bus stop that will take you anywhere from Hillcrest, which has many fantastic restaurants to the gaslamp district, where all the shopping and downtown restaurants are located. We also took the bus and trolley system to Mission Beach for a couple of days. So easy and no need for a rental car. We couldn't have asked for anything more! And we look forward to our next stay there! I suggest using booking this inn on your next trip to San Diego.

We stayed in the Talmadge Suite which was very noisy from street traffic and a very annoying audible crosswalk signal (electronic chirping bird and bicycle horn) This suite is huge but only accommodates two. Bizarre decor - sort of early 90's flea market. Convenient location to Zoo, downtown and airport. I would stay at the inn again but would request a different room. Not sure whose network I was on , but had free access to wireless internet. Excellent value if you can reserve one of the $100 a night rooms.

We spent Labor Day weekend in the Jungle Nook Room! Wow it was amazing! The room was very very clean. The Jacuzzi and two person shower was the best!