Where to Stay in San Diego: Hotel Z Review

The Hotel Z in downtown San Diego is a great place to stay during your visit. I recently stayed here for three nights while I was on a work conference trip and thought it was quite comfortable. It is honestly one of my favorite hotels that I've stayed at, and it's not only budget-friendly, but it has some pretty unique amenities that I haven't seen in any other hotels.

Where is Hotel Z located?

Hotel Z is right in the heart of downtown San Diego, which makes it super convenient for sightseeing and exploring all the area has to offer. It's also a short walk from Balboa Park and the Gaslamp Quarter, so you can easily access both places. If you're looking for things to do while in Downtown San Diego, check out my guide to San Diego for some ideas!

Customer Service

The first thing that stands out is customer service. Hotel Z staff are incredibly friendly and always willing to help you with anything you need. They were also great at answering any questions I had about what was going on in San Diego or suggestions for places to eat around the hotel. Not only were the multiple front desk workers we interacted with always friendly, but even the maid staff that we dealt with were extremely friendly.

Safety and Security

Hotel Z is a very secure place to stay, and I would recommend it to any solo-female travelers. San Diego has a lot of interesting characters that roam around downtown at night, and I always look out for hotels that have additional security measures when traveling. They had security cameras around the premises, and at night they have keycard access for additional security. The hotel is also incredibly clean, so I felt quite safe during my stay.

The Room

The room was well-maintained, which I appreciated. It had all the amenities that you would expect of a high-end hotel, at a good mid-level price for the great location. We got a standard room with a single queen bed, but they have a few different options including suites and double bedrooms as well. It was set up with the bed along one side of the room, with a big flat screen TV that can swivel out from the side wall, and the bathroom directly across the room from with bathroom with a sliding wooden door.

The Bed

This was one of my favorite things about the room. Not only was the bed super comfortable and the down-feather pillows were just right, but the bedding was amazing. I am always a fan of the clean white look when it comes to hotels, it just makes everything feel so much more luxurious. They had a European-style double duvet, which was great for 2 people so you don't have to fight over the comforter all night long. I liked the bedding so much that I tried finding it online, which to my surprise, Staypinneaple actually sells on their website. It was way out of our price range though, but still crazy to find!

The Bathroom

The bathroom was really nice, and I liked that they had a standing glass door shower. It wasn't anything too fancy, but it still looked very modern with the sleek tiling and glass enclosures. They also provided some complimentary toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion which was great. And they came in pump containers, so not only were you allowed to have a ton of product, but it's also way more sustainable than the tiny hotel toiletry bottles you usually see.

Work Station

The room also had a workstation, which was perfect for me as I had to do some work while I was on my trip. It was nice that they provided a desk and chair so you can sit and type in comfort, instead of having to just be hunched over your laptop on the bed all day. There was an adjustable lamp at the workstation, and it was next to the mini Keurig machine with different coffee and tea options. I love seeing the mini Keurigs since it's so much cleanlier than the traditional coffee pots that older hotels have. And you can still use it to make hot water, which I used to cook up some late-night instant ramen. The wifi there was also super fast, which is always a plus.

Unique Amenities

Hotel Z has some great amenities that you don't usually find in lower-budget hotels. Not only do they provide complimentary tea and coffee in the room, but also a few different perks that I've never found at other hotels.

• Complimentary Welcome Drink: Hotel Z offers a complimentary welcome drink when you check in, which was nice. They give you drink passes that you can use at any time during your stay for a drink from their cooler, which included some canned cocktails, beer, or non-alcoholic options as well.

• Bikes to Borrow: Hotel Z also offers bikes to borrow, which is great if you want to explore the city without having to rent a car.

• Dog Friendliness: Hotel Z is also very pet friendly, which is good to know since I love traveling with my dogs! They had a cute little welcome sign that had all the current dogs' names staying there, along with free treats. Also, you can actually keep your dogs in the room (as long as they are well-behaved) and leave for a bit if you need to get food or something without bringing your pup along.

The Downside

• No Gym: Hotel Z doesn't have a gym, which was kind of a bummer since I like to get in some cardio while traveling. That being said, Hotel Z is right downtown so you can always go for a quick jog around the city if you want.

• No Pool: Hotel Z also doesn't have a pool, which was a bit of a letdown since I love to just hang out by the pool when I'm on vacation. It is San Diego though, so most people probably don't mind and prefer going right to the beach anyways.

• No On-Site Parking: Hotel Z doesn't have a parking lot, so you'll have to find street parking or a private lot to park at. There is also spot hero which you can use for cheaper space. This wasn't really a concern to me since I didn't have a car. Plus it's walking distance to so many things that you wouldn't really need a car to explore downtown from here.

All in all, Hotel Z was great place to stay. It had everything we needed and more. From the comfy bedding to the amenities like bikes and drink passes, Hotel Z definitely exceeded our expectations. The rates were also super reasonable, and it was all around a great experience. I would definitely recommend Hotel Z for anyone looking for an affordable place to stay in San Diego!