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This year we spent the Labor Day weekend in La Jolla, California, and stayed at the Residence Inn by Marriot. The Residence Inn is a well-known extended stay hotel that offers suite-style accommodations and that’s exactly what we needed for the holiday weekend. 

First Impressions

I waited in the car with my two English Springer Spaniels (Zooey and Captain) while my husband checked in. He signed a pet waiver form and had the keys to our room within ten minutes. 

I love it when we can stay at an accommodation where we can actually park in front of our room. The premises had plenty of parking and it felt like we were staying at a well-maintained apartment complex.

The Room

We were in room 2423, on the second floor, which was a convenient location near the lobby. Our Studio Suite offered one king-size bed and a sofa bed. The room was very spacious for two adults and two medium size dogs.

When you open the door to the room, immediately to the left is a workstation with plenty of outlets (to charge your electronic devices) and a comfy office chair. To the right was a nice-sized coat closet with hangers, an iron, and an ironing board.

The bed was fairly comfy with plenty of pillows for two people. I’ve definitely slept in better hotel beds and this mattress was average. There were nightstands on each side of the bed, which had outlets and a bedside lamp.

I ended up having to sleep on the sofa bed to accommodate my two spoiled pups, and that mattress wasn’t the comfiest. It made my back hurt if I slept more than six hours on it. An extra pillow and blanket for the sofa bed was in the coat closet.

Bathroom

The bathroom area was separated into two sections. The bathroom vanity was spacious with one sink. There was a huge mirror above the vanity and a floor-length mirror off to the side. There was plenty of light in here which I greatly appreciated. 

The shower and toilet were in a separate section and it was a pretty small space. The shower never ran out of hot water and the water pressure was decent, but it could definitely use an upgrade. 

The toiletries were basic and inside the vanity cabinets, there was extra toilet paper and an extra tissue box. We had plenty of towels and the two wardrobe closets in the bathroom hallway were huge. We both fully unpacked our suitcases and stored our wardrobe on the multiple racks and hangers.

Kitchen

The kitchen was equipped with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, stove, and oven. 

The cabinets were fully stocked with dishware, pots, pans, a toaster, a coffee machine, cooking utensils, etc. I was happy to see that there was dishwashing soap, sponge, paper towels, and dishwashing detergent. I had everything I needed to prep and cook a meal. 

We sat at the small dining room table during our meals and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a small basket of condiments like salt and pepper. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a hotel that provided mini salt and pepper shakers. Coffee and tea were also in this basket.

Complimentary Breakfast

Even though we had a kitchen, we enjoyed our complimentary breakfasts in the dining hall. It was located in the same building as the lobby and a short walk from our hotel room. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the breakfast. Typically, complimentary continental breakfasts aren’t the best, but this one was great. 

The scrambled eggs tasted like freshly cracked yolk and not that spongy powdered egg mix that’s usually served at buffet-style breakfasts. There was an array of pastry options, bagels, toast, fruit, salads, individual-sized yogurt, and a waffle station. 

The bacon was crispy and the sausages were pretty tasty. The one thing I didn’t expect to see was freshly cooked rice. Being half Asian, I am always craving rice with my meals and I have never encountered a continental breakfast that served rice. 

I was also impressed by the oatmeal station. I usually skip the oatmeal station because it’s usually a sad spot in the corner, but not this one. There was an array of toppings for your oatmeal from coconut flakes to a variety of nuts. I almost had a bowl of oatmeal, but the rice and eggs with sausage were what I ended up eating for all three days.  

Pet Friendliness

The property is pet-friendly with a non-refundable fee of $150 per stay with a max of two pets per room. You don’t receive any water or food bowls, so be sure to pack those items.  There is a dedicated pet relief area towards the entrance of the property. It’s a fairly large grassy area with picnic benches and a dog waste depot station.  

Walking the dogs in the mornings and evenings was great because it felt like we were walking in a residential neighborhood and not a hotel. We enjoyed making stops at the lobby because the pups would sometimes get a yummy treat.

Location

La Jolla is a picturesque coastal neighborhood and the hotel is located right next to the University of California San Diego. We chose this location since it was close to where my husband had to work. Although he had to work during the holiday weekend, the dogs and I tagged along because there was so much to see and do in the area.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover that our accommodation was not only conveniently located near a multitude of pet-friendly shopping and dining options, but it was also within easy reach of two iconic attractions in La Jolla - La Jolla Cove and the Scripps Pier. These two spots are highly recommended for anyone exploring the area, offering breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences.

Final Thoughts

Our apartment-style suite was spacious, comfortable, and located in a convenient location. When my husband had the car for work, I was able to walk across the street with my pups to grab lunch at The Shops at La Jolla Village. We even did a little shopping at Nordstrom Rack and Sephora. 

The staff were all very friendly and were always happy to help when I had questions about something. Parking was plentiful and never an issue for us. There were also several outdoor pool areas, barbecue grilling stations, a fitness center, and laundry facilities. 

The room felt a tad outdated, but that did not bother me since it was very well maintained and the kitchen was spotless. Everything in the kitchen looked practically brand new. I would gladly stay here again and recommend it to friends and family. 

Residence Inn by Marriott in La Jolla
Address: 8901 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037 (MAP)
Phone: (858) 587-1770

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