Extremely NOISY! My boyfriend and I are in our 20s and were given a room that was right above the front desk which is situated right along one of the largest and busiest roads in La Jolla. Lots of construction is being done everywhere in La Jolla so all day and night, you hear nothing but the roaring of large trucks and buses so that you can't even hear the person next to you talking! And that wasn't all! The front desk has a side door that is right below the room that keeps slamming every 5 minutes 24 hours a day as new hotel employees go in and out of work. Besides the loud noise when this door slams shut, you can find your room walls shaking and your brain rattling! It woke us both up dozens of times during the night and early morning. We requested to have another room in which the staff grudgingly gave to us. But if you thought that the noise level couldn't get any worse...you thought wrong. The new room they gave us is at a point on the first floor (Room 130) which is the closest room, about 5 feet, from the hot tub and rest of the pool area. Screaming children from multiple families will wake you up at 6:00am from a sleepless night to eat at the bland complimentary breakfast and jump in the pool where they stay all day. Their pale parents join them in the hot tub, flirting with each other's significant others in vomit-inducing behavior. Mind you, the beautiful Windansea beach is a mere 1 block away! Who stays this close to a beach only to stay at the hotel all day in a pee-filled pool?!

Making matters even worse, all the doors next to ours, including ours, does not shut easily, requiring you to slam the door with much force so that it will shut completely. You can imagine what this may sound like.

Hotel staff are unfriendly, lazy, and incompetent.

Great location but a hotel for a flock of retards! This is not worth it even for a cheaper price.

My family stayed at this hotel for 3 nights over Thanksgiving. The room was a great size and included a small kitchen area. My husband and I travelled with our 3 children and we never felt cramped in our room which was clean and well furnished. Although the bathroom could have done with far more towel hanging spaces.
My kids loved the pool which was well heated for the time of year. Breakfast was mainly pastries, cereal, bagels, toast and was plentiful. All the staff were extremely helpful, although one gentleman on the front desk gave us totally incorrect local restaurant information.
Downtown La Jolla was within a 10 minute walking distance and the beach was a couple of minutes away.

I've never felt the need to write one of these reviews before, but I can't leave this one unwritten.

Not much of one to travel by myself, I ventured out on a trip to CA with my young son and stayed at this hotel for 4 days, 3 nights. Very close to the beach. Lovely place. We felt safe, snug, and rested.

The best part, though, didn't come until after I arrived back home. There was an issue with the charge of the room; and although this issue was not the fault of the hotel, when I called to ask the hotel manager to help clear up the issue, she did not hesitate to act. She couldn't have been more pleasing and helpful, resolving the problem right away. How wonderful is that?

I give 5 stars and a huge recommendation for La Jolla's Holiday Inn Express.

Holiday Inn corporation bought this old bungalow type motel in La Jolla and jazzed it up. We loved it. The rooms are a little small, but very nice amenities and decor. The shower was quite large for such a small room.

The included breakfast was very nice with fresh fruits, cereals, waffles, etc. So many times the breakfast is really awful. Not the case here.

The hotel has a very nice pool and hot tub. Also, there are several other sitting areas. We used them to have our own happy hour.

The location is great because, of course, La Jolla is at the high end of housing costs in the San Diego area. We had originally thought we would stay in the "Hotel Circle" area (I think that is what it is called), but that location apparently has more crime and is noisy due to freeway traffic.

We were lucky enough to be able to get into the Crabcatcher in La Jolla for dinner on a Sat. night. The food was excellent and what a location on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Very nice.

As for getting into San Diego, it was a snap. Freeways are close by, but not within hearing distance.

Price was about the same as staying in the Hotel Circle area. Everything in SD is expensive, so be prepared. It is also a very busy destination, so book early.

Stay here if you can.