Holiday Inn Express & Suites San Diego – Hotel Circle

First impression, everything was new. It even smelled new, and was very inviting .
Parking is a little tight, but it was no issue at all for me. 18 $ a night, which is charged after your stay .
Check in took less than 10 mins, and a deposit is charged to the card on file (100)
The lobby feels welcoming and modern. They sell snacks if you get hungry and have free coffee and tea all day on the lobby. Which was great after a long day.
The elevators need a keycard to go up which feels secure.
I stayed in the jacuzzi suite with a king size bed. The bath is amazing (jets & large). It is right next to the bed so you can watch tv and soak. The restroom had sink and a separate room for the toilet and additional stand up shower. There was no lock for the restroom door which I disliked but no big deal. An awesome feature was the lighting on the mirror. They have a hair dryer and bath&body works soaps and one lotions ! They also had a couple of makeup remover wipes which was great since I forgot mine
The bed was large and firm but offered two very soft pillows. The bed side lamps have USB ports to plug in your charges without searching for it. Convenient
By the bed, they had a microwave and fridge. So if you brought snacks your set to store .

Two very nice TVs, one by bed the other in the «living room»
That room had a modern pull out sofa and a niceottoman with a work desk space. Don’t forget the free wifi! The room offered some night blackout curtains and a view. There was a nice little closet with hangers, iron, iron board and safe. One thing I loved was how easily you can adjust the temperature in the room. Nice view too!
Complimentary breakfast was great! And if you didn’t want to eat it downstairs ask for a tray or a to go bag. They had healthy options and a juice machine. Yum! The staff on duty (to keep that area stocked and cleaned) did an amazing job. I even over heard the manager compliment the staff, it’s always nice to hear management do that. They were very polite and even let me get a quick toast before they closed (9:30 am) .
Pool looked amazingly warm but I did not go in. The patio was gorgeous, I was taking lots of picture so I could hopefully recreate at home .

I will stay here again, and recommend to other to do so as well. Book & pay in advanced for a cheaper rate

exceeded our expectations
New modern hotel
Awesome lobby with open bay doors leading to the pool area and outdoor gas fire pit. Lots of seating for complimentary breakfast and games for kids
Room is very comfortable
Beds are very comfy with pillows labeled soft and firm :) nice comfy sheets and comforter
Bathroom is awesome!
Gorgeous mirror lighting makes anyone look amazing
Humidity control dial keeps the bathroom warm so you aren’t freezing when you are walking on the tile or get out of the shower.
Cool modern sliding glass shower door (barn door feel).
Tall rain shower head was very nice :) they even have a step installed to sit or shave on.
Shampoo and conditioner were actually good. Bath and Body works brand white citrus smelled yummy and actually left hair a little soft ;) the bar soap left the usual residue but that’s just a personal pet peace with bar soap ;)
Furniture is a nice modern grey grain
Would definitely come back :) kids loved it. Haven’t had the breakfast yet so I can’t comment on that.
Edited
Breakfast was great lots of options and biscuits and gravy and bacon and pancake machine
***Cons
AC and heat only no fan so at nite if you like fresh air windows don’t open and no fan option just high or low
And you have to pay $ 18 to park your car on the premises!!!

DO NOT STAY HERE. GO ANYWHERE ELSE. On October 31, 2015 an employee broke into our room while we were at the pool and stole a cell phone and an Ipad. The manager on duty told us that a pass key was used, and that it was an employee that broke in. There were NO security cameras, and NO security guard on duty. A police report was filed. The items have not been found. Holiday Inn’s treatment of us was shameful and deplorable. I called the hotel, the hotel’s owner (HOTEL INVESTMENT GROUP) and left countless messages. I received exactly one return phone call — the one telling me that they would not compensate us for the stolen items. EVEN though their security is terrible. EVEN though it was an employee that broke into the room. EVEN though we were repeat customers. None of that matters. This is the worst of the worst of customer treatment, and this place is NOT safe. DO NOT STAY HERE.

Easy to find location, Great rooms, and customer service rocks! I work in the hospitality business and they were sure friendly and professional! It’s a newer location and the architecture in here is pretty neat. The lobby is sort of indoors/​outdoor with a fireplace so it has a really nice feel to it. Breakfast is always great. One time, I think it was pretty slow and they upgraded my room to a King Suite– super sweet of them. I don’t usually stay at hotels especially in San Diego just because I don’t live that far at all but I still reccomend this hotel to everyone!!! :) Thank you!

Randomly swooped in here just needing a hotel for a few days. My wife and I are hooked! We now only want to stay at these hotels. Very reasonable price, the staff is extremely friendly and helpful, the breakfast is wonderful the rooms are clean, big and nice, and you really just have to see the lobby to experience how cool it is! Love it!

Very nice hotel. It is new and has very nice rooms and a very pleasant staff. I would definitely stay here again. The prices are reasonable also.

I just had a week long stay at this holiday inn. From the check in to the check out the experience was great. The rooms are nice and clean. House keeping staff does a great job on cleaning and making it quick. As for the room itself bed are comfy has a home feeling to it. The staff members are very helpful and friendly. I will recommend this hotel to everyone they has computers in the lobby available, they also have board games. I will be planning another stay here soon.

If possible I would give «NO» stars but I had no choice but to stay here 1 night surviving my experience! Also my best friend works in the Hotel industry so I know what good hospitality is supposed to be.
So my Wife and I decided to go to San Diego for our 5 year Anniversary. As always we read tons of reviews before making our decision about a hotel. Well this time we made the wrong decision!!! First of all I booked this room on one of the usual popular discount hotel sites online. I booked and confirmed a «King» size bed. When we showed up at the front desk the hotel employee confirmed our reservation and was really not that firendly and did not mention the type of room we booked or bed type via King or two double beds. After I got the room keys I proceeded into my room and low and behold there were 2 double beds, what? no King size bed! I immediately called and spoke with the manager who made me come down to the lobby and present him my ID to discuss why I have double beds. He stated this is what I booked and since they are sold out he can not change my room to a King size bed. I was Furious!!! I I asked him if I could get my money back so I can go somewhere else and he stated «sorry I can’t do that» and that I would need to contact the booking site for the mistake they made for some if any compensation.
I did contact the booking site and they confirmed that what I booked was a room with a King size bed. The hotel booking site was so nice that she called the hotel manger and spoke with him immediately. She called me back and stated that this indeed was Holiday Inns mistake and that they would issue me a small 20% discount. She was the nicest part of my entire Anniversary experience. After this i had made multiple trips into the lobby area and the manager just watched as I passed him with big eyes not saying a word!
Now For Breakfast!
The breakfast was not bad for being free but it did have its setbacks. Although it was a weekend morning, it was very crowded and my wife and I often had to wait in line for a few minutes to get some food. The cinnamon rolls, pancake maker, and orange juice were pretty good. The only meat they had was bacon which was very tasteless! At one point people had to wait about 35 minutes for them to bring out some more bacon and then there was a 5 minute line after it came out! After this my wife and I agreed that we should check out of this hotel and proceed with our weekend and not look back!
After all this 2 days after I returned home, they charge my credit card and additional 50 bucks!!! I immediately called back the hotel and asked for an explanation of this charge. They claimed it was a credit card authorization charge and the hotel employee «very skeptical» said that this was supposed to be charged when I booked my room and not after I left and that she had never seen a transaction like this before. I explained you need to put this charge back immediately! !! She said yes we will put it back but it will take 3 – 5 business days!!! WTF? Luckily I wasn’t still at the hotel to confront the manager again! Upon this i immediately called my bank, disputed the charges, and made a claim resulting in further Headaches! !!
The majority of our experience was terrible and I wouldn’t stay here again if I won a free nights stay off the radio! Sorry Holiday Inn Express, these great reviews that you have received are not the truth! Please think twice before booking this Hotel!

Friendly service at the front desk. Hotel looks brand new and brightly lit. Room is clean, quiet, and spacious. It has small microwave and refrigerate which makes it very convenient if you travel with family and kids. Hotels also offered free general simple breakfast. The ground also has a small pool in the back too. Price is reasonable and plenty of parking.

Nice place to stay during a vacation in San Diego or near it. Nice rooms with clean sheets. I really enjoyed my two night stay. I will definitely come back.

Great hotel! Love the modern look. Super clean room, comfy bed, and cool bathroom! The front desk was so friendly. We went swimming around 9:30pm when the pool was closing at 10 and even though we lost track of time being in there 15 mins longer than we should’ve, they didn’t kick us out or anything. The little patio by the pool is so cool and relaxing. Wish we could’ve spent way more time there. The only thing I would change is to have the breakfast out for a little longer but I love my sleep so that’s not their fault. Overall, I enjoyed my stay and I highly recommend this hotel!

Thank you so much to all of the wonderful staff at the Holiday inn, Raul, Elisa, Jose, Michael & Desirie all went out of their way to make my 5 day stay really feel like home. I work in the hotel industry and Holiday Inn really went above and beyond every expectation that I had. Would highly recommend this hotel to anyone coming to san diego that expects nothing but superior service.

First time here! Came here with my bf to celebrate his bday in SD. I chose this hotel because I prefer newer and modern hotels and there was a complementary breakfast! Upon walking in, we were greeted by friendly employees and made us feel comfortable and welcome. I liked that a lot! They were talking to us like we were friends which was a plus. Like always, for my bfs bday or mines, we ask if there’s any bday specials but they said there’s none, which we didn’t mind or fight for. I only asked because one of the reviewers on Unilocal said their parking fee was waived. But like I said that doesn’t matter. After all the explanation on how to get to our room, we walked in to a very clean, chic and modern room. I loved the lights surrounding the bed the most. I wish I had that at home. Bathroom was pristine. Bed was nice and big. Pillows were fluffy but firm. TV looked nice but remote was a bit annoying to use because it wouldnt work properly. Up button wouldnt work or the battery was probably too low. But thats ok. The ac was a bit tricky to operate and i found myself in the middle of the night sweating and saw that the ac turned into a heater! It was a whopping 84 degrees at 2:30 am. I fixed it and then went back to sleep. Oh I loved the pancakes at night! Yummy! I wish I had that machine at home! Nifty! I enjoyed playing their giant tic tac toes in the lobby area while enjoying some hot chocolate. Their breakfast wasn’t amazing but wasn’t bad either. Who can say no or complain to free food? Not me! I liked it! But like I said it wasn’t amazing but wasn’t terrible like other reviewers have said. Overall, me and my bf enjoyed our stay at holiday inn! Would totally come back.

Immaculately clean rooms, great breakfast and friendly staff. Highly recommend. The nightly rate was relatively cheap, given the quality of the hotel. There were a lot of families, and their pool and outdoor fireplace made for a great hangout for parents watching their kids burn off energy! I also appreciated the snack area in the lobby. I bought a soda and water. They were inflated price wise, but it was nice to have a selection of snacks and drinks in case of late night munchies. My favorite feature was in the bathroom, it had an anti humidity fan which prevented the mirror from fogging up. I need one at home! It wasn’t even loud either.
Id book here again with zero hesitation.

This hotel is pretty new and will agree with last review. It does remind me of an IKEA store. Kind of creepy in a way. The rooms are great and clean. My favorite part was the shower! I didn’t want to wash my hair, but had to test that modern shower head. The only bad thing is that I was unable to dry my hair, because the hairdryer didn’t work. Also, bathroom door is pretty heavy. Breakfast was OK and its a great incentive if you’re on a budget. Coffee was good and so were the waffles. Another thing I didn’t like is that the pool is practically in the lobby. Other than that, good stay and will most likely consider booking there again.

I am giving this a higher rating than I should probably be giving it, due to the number of little things that were uncomfortable or wrong during my stay. But I have huge hope that this Holiday Inn Express will succeed in the long run.
When you walk into the lobby, you get an immediate modern vibe from the place. The staff is extremely helpful and welcoming. The rooms are a great surprise too. They are very spacious and comfortable, and they are one of my favorite rooms I have stayed in.
But there are a few problems…
1. The chairs for the high tops in the lobby are way too high. When I was sitting on them, I could barely get more than my knee under the table.
2. The breakfast area is too small. When I got breakfast in the morning, it felt crowded.
3. There are wires hanging from the high tops. I feel that they would be better off being concealed to make the place looker sleeker.
4. The bathroom doors in the rooms lose by themselves. Some people, like me, prefer the bathroom door to stay open in the middle of the night with the light on to allow some light into the room.
And lastly…
5. The room keys! This had to have been the worst part. I had to go back down to the front desk at least 3 times to get new ones because mine weren’t working.
But a lot of positive things made up for the negative things.
1. There are two types of pillow options in the rooms: soft or firm. This is an exceeding way to make sure a guest is comfortable at night.
2. Free coffee! Who doesn’t love free coffee?!
3. The lounging area is incredible! At night, a fire is lit outdoors with a small sitting area by it and doors are open into the lobby. There are a variety of seating options to choose from.
4. In the evening/​night, there are «giant» games set up in the lobby. These include checkers, Jenga, and playing cards.
5. The staff is extremely nice! They never let you walk in or out of the hotel without being acknowledged.
6. Going along with number 5, the staff is helpful. When I got a minor injury, they gave me several things from their first aid kit to help me out.
7. It’s so modern! I haven’t seen a place so modern and sleek looking. A beautiful, warm, purple palette was chosen for décor in the lobby, creating a magnificent contrast between that and the white walls and floors. The rooms are spacious and the desk chair is just amazing! Everything about this place screams NEW!
Although there are tweaks that need to be done to this hotel, I believe the people working to build it up will continue to do so. I am not complaining, I am just trying to help this hotel succeed. I have high hopes for this Holiday Inn Express Hotel, and if I ever come back to San Diego, I will make sure to book a room here.

This hotel is gorgeous and way prettier than most new Holiday Inn Express & Suites! I know they just opened within the past month, but they’ve really got their service together. Open al fresco lobby flows into the pool and fire pit, and the high top tables have plugs for working and charging — which I loved. Breakfast attendants were friendly, and I’ve eaten my fair share of HIEX breakfast — they’ve got this nailed. Room was clean and comfortable. Loved, loved, loved my stay!

I was excited to find this new hotel online as I looked for one close enough to a conference I was in town for. It is rather small and located behind a run down Vagabond Hotel. This makes you appreciate the modern hotel even more!
Seeing that this HI Express opened less than a month ago, it doesn’t give you the «feel» of a typical hotel. It’s contemporary style looks more like a computer lab of some sort, in my opinion. The check-​in counter seems randomly placed in the lobby/​lounge area along with some snacks and souvenirs for purchase.
Furniture throughout reminds me of IKEA. It isn’t very high-​end which is okay. The best part… it is all new!
Rooms were a bit small, but again, no biggie. Beds were cozy and pillows were just right. I slept like a baby. The modern shower… a winner!
Fridge, microwave, and free continental breakfast… all reasons I am a rewards member and look to book a HI if available when I travel.
As for pricing… it seems unnecessarily steep. What hotel on Hotel Circle isn’t?
Nowhere on the site or upon check-​in was the $ 18/​night parking fee mentioned. I knew from reading reviews. I had to ask the gentleman checking me in.
Parking: spaces are way too compact. Someone parked so close to my car, not one could get into the passenger side unless I backed up. I was pissed and made sure I had no scratches or dings in my doors. There is also an underground lot. Not sure why there is an $ 18/​night fee, however. It is unwarranted!
Modern room/​door keys: I HATED them! Every time I went to my door, I had to scan the key card 4 – 5 times before it would finally open. The light would turn green, but the handle wouldn’t unlock. At one point, I couldn’t get into any side doors. There was no red or green light flashing. I had to walk all the way around to the front to have my card recoded. Key cards and scanners are a NO GO!
Overall, my stay at this hotel was pleasant. The cleanliness, amenities, breakfast options, and proximity to what I needed, was all on point. With time, I believe the staff with get familiar with check-​in policies, hopefully key cards will work well, and décor/​lobby set-​up will look a bit more welcoming and be more inviting to guests.

First of all this stay could of been way better. But the staff didn’t seem to care about anything we had shoved in our face!
So was 12:15 am Sunday May 21^st. We walk in and this was the only room left in hotel circle.
Plus the grand opening of this hotel.
The room had been used.
The pillows not in cases. A full trash can. Mouth wash spit in the sink, trash all over the floor.
The next night the sewer had backed up and stunk the entire floor up.
The staff banged the doors close on the locks over and over again while cleaning.
I’m gonna post pictures.

Very clean and attentive staff. Rooms are quite spacious and very good for the price. Because the hotel is new, some employees may be in training BUT if you need anything fixed, they will get it done! Thank you and we will be returning if we are in San Diego again.
Family friendly!