Ramada by Wyndham Gaslamp Convention Center

Not like Other Hotels - but this is not necessarily a good thing The interior design of this hotel lobby is beautiful and I really appreciated the charming vintage details. However, the elevators are very impractical. They're over 100 years old, so you're forced to pull open a heavy door, and then slide open a heavy gate (which is such a safety hazard for your fingers IMO). Palihotel would really benefit from hiring an elevator operator to make things easier for guests. Further, when I visited, only one of the elevators were working, so getting up and downstairs was incredibly slow. Eventually, I broke a sweat walking up the six flights of steps. Once I got to my room, it was decorated nicely (feels a little bit like Ralph Lauren or Nantucket vibe). However, it was so loud due to what I think could be some exhaust or exterior air conditioning unit. I was tempted to ask to switch rooms, but then I checked Tripadvisor and saw that loud rooms are kind of a thing at this hotel. The restaurant next door is really good and the bar and wait staff were awesome. Unfortunately, because I booked my room just a couple of weeks ago, I ended up right across from the elevator. This is an older building with thin walls, so I could hear the loud bangs of the elevator door throughout the night. I returned to my room on my second day and I didn't realize it had been "cleaned" outside of the bed being made and the toilet seat being up. Basically the cleaning was sloppy in comparison to other hotels I've stayed at where it's more obvious when your room has been cleaned. Valet seems to be doing the best they can, but they want you to give them at least 30 minutes to grab your car. Keep that in mind if you plan to park at the hotel. I didn't realize this at first, and ended up paying a pretty penny for Uber since I was running late and didn't have time to wait for them to grab my car. Otherwise, they're nice and super professional. On my last morning, I called the front desk to ask if I could extend my checkout time and was informed that "housekeeping said no late checkouts". This was a first for me as a hotel visitor, and I would have appreciated at least an extra 15 minutes. If you're willing to put up with all of the above, you can't be the price. It seems to be so much more affordable than other places, while being clean overall.

Iconic elevator aside. a quality option Getting the elephant out the way, the legacy elevator from 1913 is here to stay, as it is likely the heart of the former St. James Hotel. When I was there, one of the 2 elevators was out of commission. You need to open a heavy door to access an even stiffer gate, that you need to pull to get in. This stiff gate is a chore to open, and may not be possible to be opened by those who are disabled, or simply don't have the strength to do so. The elevators are also small, lack ventilation, and are on the slow side. So you can dread this ride while you read the funny sign about it being the fastest elevator 110 years ago. Aside from the elevator, almost everything else was above average. The rooms were very clean and there definitely was a charming aspect to the decor. Even the downstairs lobby was almost themed similarly in a 1920s or 1930s vibe. The bathrooms employed Diptyque products which definitely made it feel good to clean up. You get a heavy robe to wear in the room, and it was among one of the better robes I have used. A small issue was the AC "not being strong enough", but I didn't really mind. Eventually the AC did become too cold for me, maybe it was more of the remote being confusing. The rooftop drinks area is nice, but it was somewhat sparse when I went up there. I did not get a chance to go to the attached diner, but I don't see any issues with it, and they offer happy hour specials. A huge advantage is the location. While the Gaslamp Quarter is surrounded by the homeless, the area is key if you wanted to travel around the city and surrounding areas with public transportation. The trolley and bus system did it's job when I needed to travel around the city, and that area was accessible to many routes. Overall, the elevator was not a dealbreaker for me, though it might be for people who couldn't open the doors and gates. I think the pros outweigh the cons here, and I would stay here again if I were to visit.

Awesome hotel, super loud at night. The hotel itself is really nice. Boutique style, SUPER clean, comfy beds, friendly staff. Fun rooftop bar with great views of the city. I am rating a 3 because I feel like you would have to be OK with the incredible amount of street noise from 11pm - 3am. Drunk people screaming, cars revving engines and loud exhaust, sirens for HOURS at a time. We were on the 9th floor and I cannot imagine what it would be like if you were on the 2nd floor as an example. Louder than a NYC hotel without a doubt. This isn’t really a family hotel, more of a place you would book if you’re looking to party hard in the Gaslamp. If that’s what you’re looking for this is an EXCELLENT choice.

Extremely noisy. Wear noise canceling earphones Bring earplugs or noise canceling headphones. My room had a huge air conditioner duct running extremely loud all night just outside my window. Sleep was impossible. The hotel staff refused to allow me to change rooms. The only sleep possible 3 straight nights was when I wore my noise canceling headphones

San Diego Trip The front desk staff was extremely friendly. Each time we left or returned, we were greeted no matter what they were doing. The cleanliness of both the room and the hotel was incredible.