Hotel Del Sol

Great location! Clean rooms, friendly staff. The price point is right, I’ll recommend my friends and family stay here when visiting.

Real pleasant hotel stay; affordable, clean, and friendly. I was upgraded to a larger room for free (off-​season). As others have noted, it’s more of a nicer motel than a «hotel», but for the convenience and price it can’t be beat. Pool, outdoor amenities (hammocks), and continental breakfast are pluses.

What a great little hotel! Oscar at the front desk was super nice and informative. We were really impressed. We stayed one night in the family suite and were stoked on the room. The kids room had a twin bed with a pull out trundle, a small table and chairs & a cool night light. The «adult» room was spacious and homey! Wish we would have brought our swimming suits because the pool is heated and it was empty! Dang it! A few other fun touches for the kids were… Beach balls in the pool, hammocks and lit up Palm trees, fresh baked cookies, and a DVD player in the room. We will definitely be back. The only thing I would say is change out the sponges for washing dishes in the suite (that thing reeked) and wipe down everything in the kids room. The toy, light and table were pretty dirty.
Thanks for a great stay!

For some reason Joie de Vivre hotels are continuously a let down for me.
They are all different except in that they attempt to provide a contemporary beachy-​palm springs type of atmosphere. There’s a lot of misrepresentation of the accommodations at many of their hotels, this one is no exception. Basically I’ve consistently felt like they buy a cheap run-​down hotel and dress it up without really paying attention to the details. Hotel Del Sol was pretty much the same thing, a run down over used hotel in bad need of a real remodel that has just been dressed up with cheap furniture and bright colors.
Now tackling this hotel specifically here is a list of Pros and Cons:
Pros:
Excellent service staff (reason for two stars instead of one). They are attentive and polite.
Comfortable bed.
Cons:
Not really walking distance to anything unless you’re planning exploration of the Marina only.
There was a broken iron in the room which caused a minor wardrobe malfunction.
There was a giant gaping whole where the room’s refrigerator used to be. Fill it with something.
There were scuff marks on the wall and damage to the furniture.
The hotel courtyard where the pool is was somewhat dirty/​ram shackle and are wide open to street access.
There is very little insulation from noise. I was awoken multiple times in the morning by people gathering in the court yard. All rooms face the court yard.

PROS:
This hotel is second to none in the area for comparable type hotels. Location is perfect, 5 minutes from the marina area, a very quiet and safe neighborhood, extremely attentive service by the front desk who greets you by name.
As for the rooms– modern furnishings and very clean. Bathrooms a bit small— but they sparkle!
CONS
During peak months it can get noisy in the complex itself during vacation months– many families with kids. On site parking is very convenient but they started charging $ 20 a night– last year it was free. Nice area outside to relax, could use sprucing up, due to wear and tear. Stairwells could use a good cleaning too.
Overall I would highly recommend this place – watch for specials on rates. Food and beverage options are plentiful and close along with nice small shops.

So you get there and you see a motel and think «really?» but then after the initial confusion it’s all good. Our room was lovely, big and clean. The location is good enough, the staff is super-​mega-​friendly and helpful. Breakfast is standard and ok, nothing special. All in all enjoyed our time there, great people and atmosphere.

Great experience. Friendly staff, great manager who made sure that we were taken care of, AMAZING location! Walking distance to so many great things. This place was a fun place to stay. Didn’t have the pretentiousness of a high-​end hotel. It has character. Looking forward to coming back.
Oh, and the pool is warm.
It is noisy, but hey, you’re in SF. That should be expected. This is a cool little place to stay.
Great overall experience.

Stayed here earlier this year. Don’t understand how this place could ever get more than two stars. The staff were friendly but the rooms were small and below standard, grounds were not clean or nice at all, it was overpriced, and most of all: loud.

DANGEROUS!!! Stay at your own risk! I suspect many of these Unilocal reviews are fake. We were supposed to stay one night at Hotel del Sol during our last trip up to San Francisco. We arrived late at night to check. The man working the desk wasn’t rude but he definitely appeared to be under the influence of something (we suspect meth or a different stimulant). He was very fidgety and spoke as if he was. We wrote that off as «well he does have to work and stay up all night in here». He gave us our room key and told us our room number. We went to the elevator to bring our luggage upstairs. The elevator was almost too small for my suitcases. Upon entering the elevator I noticed the inspection sign normally in elevators was old and the elevator was way passed due for inspection. (A year passed due) I laugh it off until the elevator closes and starts going up. It was quite a scary little ride up a single story. There is no wonder it didn’t pass inspection. We still try to laugh it off and say «well we will stick with the stairs». We then walked over towards the room we were told. We put the key in and it works we open the door part way but it is stopped by the chain. The lights where off and sleeping people where awoken inside!!! We scared them to death trying to get in. I say half trying to reassure them we weren’t there to kill them «I don’t think this is our room…» Why the heck did the key work??? I’ve never had this happen at any hotel before. We at this point are creeped out by the place knowing how easy it is to get in the rooms accidentally. I deduct maybe he said a room number that sounds similar we try that room and the key does not work. We go back down to the tweaked our man at the front desk and tell him what happened. He didn’t look alarmed and set the key to the second room and it worked. The rooms are small and stuffy. The entire place smells of some form of fake sunscreen and coconut spray, which would usually be nice but in a small shoebox room it makes it even the more unpleasant. We put our things down on the bed and weighed our options. Not feeling safe and being pretty creeped out, We ended up leaving the hotel and getting a room elsewhere. If you are a single guy who doesn’t find my experience creepy this place may be fine. If you are a young lady or a family looking for a safe place to spend the night in San fransisco, DO NOT STAY HERE!

This is my third week long stay here and it’s pretty much been downhill ever since my first stay. The pricing has stayed consistent (about $ 300/​night plus $ 20/​day for parking), but my room keeps getting worse. Anything in the «01» line of rooms should be avoided. They’re TINY — like barely fit a queen bed tiny and under the stairs or right by the pool or both. Room 101 has two small windows, both of which look directly out on the street. Last night a homeless person settled himself right outside, mumbling and banging against the wall until I called the front desk to ask him to stop.

Very pleased with our stay overall. Reserved room for my wife and I while I attended a business conference at nearby Palace of Fine Arts in Marina District. I didn’t want to break the bank on a high end hotel in the Marina… Hotel Del Sol was moderately priced and ended up being a nice 20 minute stroll back and forth from the conference to the hotel.
Pros:
Good value
Very nice staff /​excellent service
Complimentary pastries and coffee in mornings
Free wifi
Lots of nearby shopping and restaurants/​bars on Lombard and Union streets
Cons:
Older room décor
Thin walls /​we stayed on 2^nd floor and noise/​footsteps in room above was annoying

Great little hotel! This place has been perfect and we have loved our stay. The location is good with lots of great food and little shops nearby. It’s pet friendly and there are 3 nice doggy daycares in the area which is perfect if your traveling with your pooch.
STAFF at the front desk have been super friendly and helpful.
ROOMS are nice and clean and the showers are just fine, not sure why people say they are tiny?! The beds are very comfy and both the heat and ac work great. This is not a high end hotel but if your used to staying in middle of the line places (holiday inn express, best western plus etc) then you will enjoy your stay. Keep in mind this is a 50s motel fixed up. If your coming to stay in your room the entire time then you might want to go elsewhere. The entire hotel has a cool retro vibe which I enjoyed. There is no fridge or microwave which is a little surprising but I overheard they can supply if needed. I would never pay their full price which seems insane but for around $ 200 it’s hard to beat.
PARKING is $ 20 not $ 10 or free. BUT on their website they do have specials so look there before paying full price and some come with ‘free parking’. The spots are nice and seem safe.
BREAKFAST isn’t anything special but they have juice, water and coffee all day and night which is nice.
I would come back on my next visit again.

What a lovely little hotel!
This is kind of little hidden gem hotel that my boyfriend and I really love finding. We booked our room using the «Hotel Tonight» app on my phone. We got a great rate, and I loved the idea of being in the area that it was. The room was nice, we laughed at having two beds, but the room was quaint and comfy. Plenty of space, comfy beds, soft linens, and the temperature system worked great. The bathroom was small, but the two of us could fit in there together with no issues. I rather liked that they simply had the body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in canisters on the wall of the shower. Also I liked the automatic motion sensor for the bathroom light. This little hotel also had more amenities than a lot of the other hotels I looked at. They have a small breakfast offering, danishes, muffins, bagels, and other things of that manner, instant oatmeal, and coffees and teas. Not amazing or huge, but perfect enough to have a quick breakfast, get something in your tummy, and go out to start your day. They had cheaper parking than a lot of other hotels in the area as well (ours was even less, since our app had stated it was a lower rate, and they graciously honored it!). We also actually really enjoyed having the DVD player in the room! We didn’t watch any tv, but on our last night we were tired from running around and so we ordered take-​out from the Thai place across the street (also awesome), and stayed in and watched movies all night. They have a whole drawer full to choose from in the lobby, so lots of choices, and we were all set. We did not use the pool on our trip, but there were some folks who did, and it looked like a nice little pool.
My only con, was that it could get a little noisy. There was lots of street noise that came right in our bathroom window, even while closed. You could hear anyone moving around in the room above or next to you very easily, and whenever a cart or suitcase rolled down the walkways outside, you sure knew about it. It wasn’t terrible, but if you’re sensitive to sounds, it could be an issue.
Overall we really enjoyed our stay here, the staff was very friendly, and I hope we can stay here again in the future.

Only stayed here for one night, but it is the cutest little place! At first I was hesitant because it was an old motel; I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I was beyond pleasantly surprised. The staff were super friendly. The rooms are bright and modern considering the building. My room was huge: an entire living room, bathroom and bedroom. Beds were super comfortable. Free wifi, and even though I didn’t take advantage of it they also have breakfast & coffee available.
Highly recommend staying here. Don’t let the fact that it was an old motel fool you!

I went to Hotel del sol for the first time for the thanksgiving break. I absolutely loved it. The bright colors in the hallways and in the room were wonderful. The bed was extremely comfortable and the location is perfect. It is very close to the action on Chestnut and Union. It is walking distance from everywhere. We could go out for dinner and drinks and not worry about driving back. Parking was SO convenient only $ 10/​day, we walked everywhere and didn’t have to worry about our car during the day. The breakfast was simple and adequate and the staff very courteous. The bathroom was modern and attached to our room, there was even a walk in closet! I highly recommend this cute hotel and I will definitely be staying here again :)

This place is a dump. I would never recommend this «hotel» to anyone. Why it is part of the Joie De Vive group is beyond me. I was told the rooms were recently remodeled but they looked completely beat up. My shower was so tiny I could barely turn around. Forget trying to shave your legs. Ain’t happening. The air conditioning unit is deafening. Speaking of noise… why don’t hotels tell you they are remodeling when you book a room? The place is in the process of upgrading their pool. The banging and grinding of cement made it impossible to stay in the room during construction hours. Finally, the complimentary breakfast consisted of bagels covered in gnats (I brought this up to the manager and she didn’t do a thing about it), hard boiled eggs, sweet rolls and coffee/​juice. At least the coffee was decent.
It’s too bad they don’t clean this place up and make it as nice of the rest of their hotels. It has a great location and the parking fee was cheap ($ 10 per night). The pool could be fun for kids but like I said, it wasn’t available during my stay. A huge disappointment all around. If you need a place to crash, you can do better. It’s not super cheap and there are plenty of options in San Francisco.

As others have stated, there are certainly some core expectations you must keep in mind when staying at Hotel Del Sol. But overall, it’s a great option in a super location.
For out-​of-​towners, the Del Sol is right in the middle of the action. Public transit will get you to where you need to go, and you could literally walk to the Golden Gate Bridge (not a short venture, but it’s closer than, say, staying in the Financial District or Wharf). Terrific dining, drinking, and shopping options are all within hundreds of feet.
The rooms are clean, a bit on the small side, but comfortable. The bright colors cheer everything up, and on a warmer day (the City does get them, particularly in September), you can climb on the hammock, close your eyes, and imagine you’re staying at an ocean property (and indeed, the ocean is within walking distance, perhaps a half-​mile). As a bonus, A/​C is provided, so on those rare warm evenings, you can stay cool.
Things can get a bit noisy, reflected in other reviews, if you are facing towards Lombard Street (as I was), on a lower floor, near stairs, etc. I use a Sleep Machine app on my iPad so those things don’t bother me
For me, it was the service that set Del Sol apart. I was warmly greeted and recognized as a JDV member by Tiffany, checked in a bit early without an issue, provided two bottles of complimentary sparkling water, and even upgraded at no charge. While part of my experience must be attributed to the JDV element, her kindness and positive spirit put a smile on my face.
They offer afternoon refreshments, a Continental Breakfast that is better than it has to be, and even multiple coffee choices. It all adds up to a delightful experience that will certainly be a serious return option should I desire to stay in this area.

You will not be disappointed so long as you have clear expectations.
To start, this is an old motel that has been redone in a fun and whimsical way. But the bones are still an old motel/​motor lodge, so things aren’t perfect.
The room was quite comfortable and fairly spacious. Nice bath products in the well appointed bathroom too.
The location is quiet, near the bay, and there are plenty of restaurants, bars and shops nearby. There also seem to be lots of bus stops for access to public transit. If you are driving the 101, you are a block away and quite close to the Golden Gate Bridge…
The heated pool, free parking, continental breakfast and wifi are really a great value, and how often can you walk on AstroTurf, swing from a hammock or lounge on a brightly colored adirondack chair, all in the middle of a motel parking lot?
If this doesn’t sound «charming» than the Del Sol is probably not for you.

I really feel inclined to give this 3 stars, but it wasn’t the kind of «bad» that 3 stars implies. Like, I’d probably come back and stay again.
I came here and booked the cheapest room (yeah, yeah, I know) but BOY are the cheapest rooms tiny and sad. Although they did a nice job with the paint colors and décor, you are very aware that you’re living in a first-​floor refrigerator box with an attached bathroom.
Still, it’s a motel in SF, and you do get what you pay for — the price was extremely acceptable. And as far as budget hotels go, it really wasn’t bad. The room was neither gross nor unpleasant. Maintenance appeared up-​to-​date.
Location is terrific (but not particularly touristy). You can walk to lots of things, including some good takeout. Great area to go for a run.
Also, the night I stayed there, there was a small earthquake. And I didn’t die. So how could I give them three stars?
The lit-​up palm trees in the parking lot look like a forgotten ‘50s roadside attraction.

A 3 star review seems so low, but keep in mind it still means «A-​OK»… and that’s exactly what Hotel del Sol was. The days that I was in town, seemingly everyone else in the world chose to visit SF, and hotel prices were out of control. I landed on Hotel del Sol for the location & the somewhat reasonable price compared to other places I looked at.
Pros:
–Location. The perfect location, in my opinion. Walking distance to the Marina & a ton of great restaurants. Far enough away from the more tourist-​trap type of spots.
–Décor. Very cute rooms.
–Price. Decent price for the time that we were in town, but I’m hoping what I paid is not the norm for the room we had.
–Cleanliess. Overall, our room was very clean.
–WiFi. Free wi-​fi in the room!
–Parking. $ 10 (all you people that got free parking, what the crap?! Mine was $ 10/​night)… pretty sparse, but we always had a spot. Even if some idiot parks his SUV in 2 spaces, they’ll do whatever they can to get that person to move so you have a spot!
–Breakfast. Nothing fancy, but they have oatmeal, bagels, scones, coffee, OJ, etc., and it’s nice to have just a little something before you get going for the day, so that is much appreciated.
–iPhone dock. For the first time ever, I’ve found a hotel with an iPhone/​iPod dock that has the Lightning connector instead of the 30-​pin version. Very exciting stuff, folks.
–Hammock. I mean, duh. Who doesn’t love a hammock?
Cons:
–Location of our specific room. We were quite literally «the people under the stairs»… what an awful room location. I booked the cabana queen room to try to save some $$, knowing it was small & near the pool, but I had no idea it was under the stairwell.
–Shower. Management, what the heck is up with that shower? I’m only 5’6″, and the showerhead was at my shoulder level, so I was doing backbends just to wash my hair. Not to mention the tub clogging like crazy. Gross.
–Quick add-​on $$ at checkout. Upon checkout, I was told my total, and then that there was a $ 2 or something charge added as a donation. I’m all fine with the donation & I would have donated anyway, but I just find it shady that they added it on before I said I wanted to (and, they added it twice). No one wants to be the a$$hat that says no, so I’m sure that’s why it was done that way, but c’mon.
Overall, I would stay here again, but only if I could afford one of the better rooms (i.e.: NOT under the stairs). Everyone I spoke to was very nice, and I have no complaints there. For 2 nights, it was totally doable, but I couldn’t do more than that in the specific room we had.

Très jolie et bien situé, très propre, R.A.S