I visited this hotel with a friend who wanted to stay right on the beach. For that purpose, this was very convenient. The snorkeling right off the beach, to the left of the hotel, is amazing. However, this is a very, very family friendy hotel and the kids rule the place. If you're looking for relaxation, this is not the hotel. The pool area is small, for the size of the hotel, and they only supply about 18 lounge chairs. When I asked the front desk to bring out one for me, they said due to the fire code they could not. There was no place for me to sit or lie down. I went in the jacuzzi, which was the size of a bathtub, and waited until a chair opened up. Most people leave their towels on the chairs, it was hard to know if they were done or coming back. I finally just removed the towels and took a chair. The hotel does not supply any pool umbrellas, so you will be in the direct sunlight the whole time. The hotel does provide beach umbrellas, though. They also supply little beach chairs, which offer a very low seat and a back that does not recline, not chaise lounge chairs. While I was at the pool, there were kids everywhere. They had taken over the small jacuzzi as their own kids pool, even though there was a small kids...I visited this hotel with a friend who wanted to stay right on the beach. For that purpose, this was very convenient. The snorkeling right off the beach, to the left of the hotel, is amazing. However, this is a very, very family friendy hotel and the kids rule the place. If you're looking for relaxation, this is not the hotel.
The pool area is small, for the size of the hotel, and they only supply about 18 lounge chairs. When I asked the front desk to bring out one for me, they said due to the fire code they could not. There was no place for me to sit or lie down. I went in the jacuzzi, which was the size of a bathtub, and waited until a chair opened up. Most people leave their towels on the chairs, it was hard to know if they were done or coming back. I finally just removed the towels and took a chair. The hotel does not supply any pool umbrellas, so you will be in the direct sunlight the whole time. The hotel does provide beach umbrellas, though. They also supply little beach chairs, which offer a very low seat and a back that does not recline, not chaise lounge chairs.
While I was at the pool, there were kids everywhere. They had taken over the small jacuzzi as their own kids pool, even though there was a small kids pool in the area. I discovered from those conversing around me that a lot of these families and kids weren't even staying at the hotel. They were staying or live in the apartments near the hotel, or just came off the beach. Considering the high cost of staying at this hotel, that was disappointing to learn I couldn't even use the amentities due to people who were not paying for them at all.
I had ordered some items to be delivered to the room on check-in. After asking twice, they were finally delivered, only it wasn't what I ordered. Before I called to ask them to correct the situation, they phoned me saying they made a mistake and would correct it shortly, which they did.
The room itself was a mind boggle. Everything is hidden. I couldn't find the light switch to the outside bathroom sink area. After much searching, my friend found it hidden behind a wooden panel. I couldn't find the mini-fridge, which was hidden in the closet. I also couldn't find the hairdryer, and searching was futile, so I called the front desk who said it was located in the dresser drawers under the television. I said how odd and he agreed and laughed. I would have thought it would located in the bathroom area, as every other hotel I've visited stores it there.
We had also reserved one king bed yet received two beds. When I called the front desk, I was told "here at the La Jolla Shores Hotel we do not guarantee bed type or floor location". I pointed out that it specfically says king on the reservation confirmation, which fell on deaf ears.
I had the impression during the whole stay that a Comfort Inn would have been nicer than this place. The hotel charges as much as they do simply because it's directly on the beach. They rely solely on their location and could care less about actually taking care of their guests - as was evident when I pointed out to the front desk that there were about a dozen 12 year olds that just came off of the beach without adult supervision and who had overtaken the jacuzzi and pool area. The front desk said they would send someone to do a room check, which they never did. Eventually the kids went back to boogie boarding after warming up in the heated pool and jacuzzi. The pool area itself was left unkept, as the waitress brought drinks, food, etc. but never cleaned up after anyone. And the guests certainly didn't clean up after themselves. The only time the beach attendant did a clean sweep by the pool was at the end of the day, when he picked up the towels left behind by guests who had abandoned their chairs, but left their mess.
The hotel housekeeping also had their own agenda, as I finally had to call the front desk at 430p in the afternoon to ask that our room be cleaned up. The housekeeper eventually arrived, though did not replenish all of the coffee amenities.
Customer service goes a long way, and for these prices it was sorely lacking.More