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Our youngest sister was visiting Los Angeles from Japan, so we decided to take a quick getaway to San Diego. While I usually love strolling around Little Italy in downtown San Diego, I was excited to switch things up and delve into the vibrant energy of the renowned Gaslamp Quarter. I booked a two-night stay at the AC Hotel San Diego Gaslamp using my accumulated points from Marriott Bonvoy.

PARKING

The hotel is conveniently situated in the lively city center of downtown San Diego, a mere 15-minute stroll away from the San Diego Convention Center. When we arrived for check-in, we had to drop off our car at valet, which was located just around the corner from the hotel entrance.

If you’re feeling a bit anxious about navigating through downtown, there’s no need to fret as finding the hotel’s valet was a breeze with the precise address conveniently listed on their website. For those who prefer self-parking, there are nearby garages available, but opting for valet parking proved to be the more convenient choice for us.

CHECK-IN

Once we handed our keys to valet, who were very attentive and friendly by the way, we headed to the check-in counter. We arrived a couple of hours prior to our check-in time, but luckily, a room was available for us to settle in early. The smooth and efficient check-in process made us feel welcomed and eager to start our stay.

I was hoping to secure a room upgrade leveraging my Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy; however, the staff kindly explained that even if they wished to provide an upgrade, there weren't any available as all the rooms at this particular hotel were identical in size.

BEDROOM

I booked the standard guest room with two queen beds, which was 324 square feet of space. The room was equipped with the essentials like a mini fridge, flat screen TV, coffee and tea, work station, iron, and high-speed internet. The internet speed was fantastic and we never had any issues with it.

One feature that caught our attention was the compact mini fridge equipped with a transparent glass door. The convenience of being able to glance at the contents without opening the door was quite appealing to us. It eliminated the risk of forgetting items stored inside when checking out.

We were grateful for the long bench and tables that made it incredibly convenient for us to organize our luggage. It's such a huge advantage for us to have enough room to neatly layout all our belongings.

The beds were comfortable, with a selection of soft and firm pillows per bed to cater to guests' preferences. Positioned between the beds, the nightstand proved to be a convenient hub, featuring easily accessible USB outlets that made recharging our devices a breeze throughout our stay.

We utilized the comfortable seating area positioned along the wall, providing us with a cozy nook to unwind. Next to the chair was a small table, perfectly placed to hold our drinks and snacks.

The room was pretty dim and even if we opened the drapes, it didn't make much difference as our view consisted of another building. It was certainly not the most picturesque angle.

We hung our coats in the slim open closet at the entrance, carefully arranging them to maximize space, while using the shelves to neatly store away various miscellaneous items we had brought along with us.

Surprisingly shielded from the bustling city outside, it was pretty quiet in our room. We were staying during the week, so the calmness extended throughout the hallways.

Daily housekeeping is provided but we chose to request additional towels and water rather than having our entire room cleaned. The room proved to be comfortable for our group of three, with two of us opting to share one of the queen beds.

BATHROOM

The bathroom was spacious, offering ample room for all three of our toiletries. Below the sink were two small racks where we found the towels and tissue paper. Once we hung our towels, we used this space to place other miscellaneous items we had.

On our first night at the hotel, we realized that washcloths were missing from our room amenities. Luckily, one of us packed a loofah so we used that instead of using our hands. The following day, when our towels were replenished, we were pleased to find that the staff had remembered to include washcloths as well.

The toiletries provided in the room were a bar of hand soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and an unexpected addition of a shoe polish sponge. Additionally, there was a small amenity kit containing cotton balls and Q-tips.

Since the entire room itself was on the dim side, it was a much appreciated that the bathroom mirror was equipped with a ring light. This thoughtful addition made it significantly easier for us when we were getting ready and applying makeup.

LOCATION

It’s a fantastic location for nightlife activities as there is an array of restaurants, roof top bars, clubs, etc. Given its prime location, the surrounding streets are cordoned off to vehicle traffic, creating a pedestrian-friendly environment from noon until 3 AM.

The area surrounding our hotel offered an array of dining choices, but our standout picks were Rustic Roots, where we enjoyed a delightful rooftop dinner, and Lumi, where we savored drinks with an unbeatable rooftop view.

Gaslamp is more known for the night scene, so during the day, we decided to take a quick Uber ride over to the USS Midway Museum, a spot that Candy had been eager to explore for quite some time.

The Gaslamp Quarter is not only an ideal place to stay for Comic Con attendees due to its proximity to the Convention Center, but it also a prime location for numerous Outside Comic Con Events for those without tickets to the main event.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We had a wonderful time during our stay at the hotel. Its convenient location allowed us to explore nearby attractions on foot and the cozy rooms provided us with a comfortable retreat after a day of sightseeing.

One evening, as we returned to our room, we were pleasantly surprised to find bags of dried lavender delicately placed in front of the elevator for guests to enjoy. All three of us grabbed a bag of the thoughtful goodies.

The staff we encountered was hit or miss. While some team members were knowledgeable and helpful, others seemed confused and provided inaccurate details that left us feeling uncertain about the amenities available. The valet staff, on the other hand, went above and beyond by not only retrieving our car quickly but also providing us with refreshing bottled water as we waited.

AC Hotel by Marriott Downtown San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
ADDRESS: 743 Fifth Avenue, Downtown San Diego (MAP)

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