TOWER23 HOTEL

The Good: In-House classy restaurant but food quality not up to par with pricing. Nice views from the upstairs deck but no way to cool off when the weather is warm without having to make your way to the beach or taking a cold shower in the room. Complimentary bike & beach rentals help offset the high cost of the room. The Bad: No lobby to speak of, no pool, no jacuzzi, no gym, no ATM, restaurant not open until 9am. In house restaurant an echo-chamber and very noisy. Parking $30 a night. Park in the surrounding neighborhood free if u want to save $$$, just make sure to familiarize yourself with the signs/restrictions regarding overnight or street sweeping on some days. We asked valets where to park and they gave us some tips. Tip: Drop off luggage in garage and find yourself free street parking. Summary: Hotel has really no common indoor areas to relax in other than a bench just outside the elevator, and the tiny lobby. The deck on the 2nd floor has a nice view of the ocean, but also provides a privacy issue for all rooms except for the oceanfront rooms. There is a decorative water feature, but NO POOL. You're right in the thick of activity in the surrounding area...albeit at the north end of the action. Even tho the hotel itself is nice enough, for the money, would be nice if the hotel itself was more upscale, and the surrounding area wasn't chick full of broken pavement, run down buildings, and seedy individuals in the neighborhood. Long story short, the rate for the hotel is too high for the level of accommodations when taking into acct both the hotel and its immediate surrounding area (No gym or pool). Aside from the nearly oceanfront aspect, there is no real air of exclusivity. After touring the local area during our stay, we found there are better and less expensive options just north in La Jolla...properties that have the full range of not just wants, but needs as well. I mean, this hotel doesn't even have an ATM in the lobby! My advice, stay somewhere else and maybe stop in for a drink on the patio during happy hour. But for the money, can't really say you get what you pay pay for here. Sidenote: Ocean water temps in SoCal are unbearably cold except from late June thru September. Book during those times unless you plan on renting a wet suit!

First of all, the location couldn't be better. Right on the ocean. The room is cool, contemporary, pricey, but right on the ocean....and the transient camp. We have been going to T23 since it opened, so almost 10 years. We always splurge on a surf pad and I do mean splurge. We have always had the perfect stay, dinning experience and hospitality. This time however, we were greeted by our miniature complimentary cocktail, it used to be at least 2-3 ounces larger. No biggy, we had a laugh about it and looked forward to our stay. That night was great. The next morning however, we were awakened by the hobo party that was happening directly below our room. Long story short, we observed fighting, yelling profanities, drinking vodka and mad dog 20/20 like it was water and drug use for five days. All right there in front of our $350+/night room. So we called the manager, "what do you want me to do'" "They have been harassing other people too" was his reply. He was much more concerned about the key to the bike lock that I had inadvertently taken to our room just moments before. They called twice in 20 minutes about that. No response at all regarding the hobo problem they had growing right in front of the hotel. So we called the police. They responded in about 20-30 minutes and the transients found a new home for the rest of the day. First thing next morning, they were back, yelling back and forth "F" this and "F" that... on and on just like every other morning. No response from management; No offer of a discount on the room, no offer of a complimentary miniature drink, no offer to move us to another room, nothing. To date, even after I wrote a detailed email to the hotel, I have yet to get a response. It is very sad to me that a long time guest of the hotel (1-3 times per year over the past 10 years) would be treated this way. Even if it was a guests very first stay, they should have been taken care of in one way or another. So, buyer beware, if you stay on the water, you will be forced to accept all that comes with it and be prepared to deal with the consequences on your own.

This hotel is amazing, if I could live here I would. Luis went above and beyond during our entire stay. We felt like we were in the presidential suite and that we were personal guests. Tory, Kathy and Stephen are three other people I'd like to mention for their amazing service and attention to detail during our stay.

Love love love tis hotel. It's right on Pacific Beach. Which has it's perks but also a downside. First, the staff is great. Top to bottom. From front desk to valet to bartenders to servers. They'll give you chairs and towels to take to the beach. The restaurant was solid. Not great for kids. But great for adults. The location sits right on the boardwalk. We had a suite overlooking the ocean. The view was awesome and watching the activity on the boardwalk in SD never disappoints. But it's loud at night. If people are partying on the boardwalk you hear it in the those suites....all night. And our suite was right over the restaurant. So we were woken up to them pulling out the chairs to the restaurant each morning. Other than that it's GREAT. And I'll stay again when I'm back in San Diego

A great hotel in many ways and certainly the best we could see in the area; the staff were super helpful (even giving us a lift into San Diego city centre one evening) and the location is fantastic. The sunbathing deck overlooking the ocean has a wonderful view and provides a nice break from the beach. Cocktails on the deck watching the sun going down at the end of the day was a real highlight. The 'but' which drives my 'average rating 's the price. We were astounded that £270 or so a night doesn't include parking or breakfast, all of that is extra and at $30 a night for parking really expensive. And be way of the overnight occupancy tax too which, coming from the UK, we weren't used to.