California Suites Hotel

“San Diego's Hidden Budget Retreat Lodge”

The California Suites turned out to be a nice budget hotel experience for my one-night stay. Offering both short and extended stay options, this independent property is conveniently located in between the Clairemont and Kearny Mesa districts. With only a short distance separating it from all the ... more

The California Suites turned out to be a nice budget hotel experience for my one-night stay. Offering both short and extended stay options, this independent property is conveniently located in between the Clairemont and Kearny Mesa districts. With only a short distance separating it from all the action of Mission Bay, La Jolla, and Downtown San Diego, this humble little gem provided me with an affordable option to rest up on a Friday night. Booking and Reservation...Searching for anything decent and affordable for a Friday night's stay anywhere near San Diego's tourism areas can be difficult. Thankfully, my airline's website popped up the California Suites Hotel for only $102 with free cancelation and a 2,000 point bonus worth approximately $30 toward future airfare. After looking through the pictures and reviews of this little place, Sold! Arrival and Location...CA Suites is a short ten-fifteen minute drive from many of San Diego's prime destinations with easy vehicle access to/from State Highway 52 which links the coastal communities to the inland mesa districts. Also close by is the robust Kearny Mesa business district home to many San Diego area employers. San Diego MTS's public bus Route 43 serves this hotel via Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and provides a short 20 minute ride to the Trolley every 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends. Numerous restaurants and an independent gas station and convenience store are within walking distance. A high school is also located behind the hotel; I was not able to see if school traffic impacted guest arrivals or departures but I would allow plenty of extra time if travelling during the peak hours. The Lobby...The entrance to CA Suites offered an uncanny, humble 'retreat' look-and-feel with its covered tiled entrance foyer and green planters. The lobby consisted of a check-in desk, complimentary coffee counter, and a community dining room. At the time of the stay, the dining room and free breakfast services were not in use. Guests can come into the lobby and help themselves to extra bathroom towels, toilet paper, and plastic cups. Check-in...The two ladies staffing the front desk were very friendly and efficient in welcoming guests to CA Suites. My check in process went smoothly. They located my reservation. ID was checked. CA Suites did not hold an incidentals deposit on my booking as I stayed for one night; however upon signing the paperwork, I saw that the inn does hold a $250 deposit for longer stays and for the ultra-long extended stays, up to $2500. Parking is free and is enforced by providing the hotel with the license plate number of the car used. Key cards and door locks are RFID. The hotel also provides a print map of the property that contains other guest information such as access codes for the Wi-Fi and pool hours. The Atriums and Corridors...CA Suite's two-story building layout forms four open air atrium gardens, each with a variety of trees and grassy fields for exclusive guest use and passage. Each room faces an atrium with the exception of a few rooms near the lobby which emulates traditional hotel rooms linked via a covered corridor. Multiple easements link the atriums from the guest parking lots, each secured with a pedestrian gate. One atrium features a decorative pond fountain. Another houses the hotel's outdoor pool and jacuzzi. The natural green landscaping provides a little taste of resort-style décor. The upper and lower levels are connected by both outside motel-style concrete stairwells together with additional interior stairways near the lobby. No elevator. The Room...CA Suites offers five different room types ranging from traditional standard rooms to master suites. I stayed in a standard room with one queen bed, carpeted flooring, and traditional wood furniture. Amenities included a walk-in closet and counter area with a mini refrigerator and microwave. No in-room coffee pot but the lobby did offer free coffee. The hotel's free Wi-Fi was also very easy to use. There was not one but three different free Wi-Fi network options and codes issued at check-in. All three of them were essentially of the same and I assume the choice of network depends on which spot of the hotel had the best connectivity. From my room, all three networks had full range and good speeds. The room also uses a small window HVAC--nice white-noise for me. The Amenities...The pool and jacuzzi area is located in the heart of one of the atriums and is open to guests until 10pm. Separate pool towels were readily available for guests on a small table. Because the hotel's buildings completely surround the pool area, swimming and spending time in the spa was peaceful. The pool's surface tiles and surface flooring appear to be due for a replacement and deep cleaning respectively but its waters were clean and refreshing. The hotel also offered guest laundry and a small private banquet hall. Overall...San Diego's California Suites is a unique place...a little retreat hidden not too far from all the action. I had a good stay considering that I was able to find a good $102 hotel room in San Diego for a Friday night. I really cannot comment on longer extended-stay experiences but I found that this hotel certainly holds its value for short one-nighter stays like mine. I think it would be best for the hotel to perform the renovations that are due for its pool sometime during the off-season and reinstate its breakfast service. But if you're looking to spend a single night or the weekend in San Diego without overspending on hotel accommodations, I would consider the CA Suites for a short stayover. Its uncanny and unique feel would make a budget hotel stay worth it.

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