Staybridge Suites Carlsbad - San Diego, an IHG Hotel — Hotel in Carlsbad

I cannot express the positive experience I had here enough. I stay at hotels OFTEN due to my industry in delivery and lifestyle as a van-lifer, and five stars is not nearly enough for this place. I was welcomed by the most unpretentious and friendly staff, the room was spectacular with a full kitchen (sans oven, but including dishwasher and dishes and toaster!) which pleased my partner who is a chef by trade and passion, and the guest services I experienced were better by FAR than anything I've experienced at a Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Extended Stay America, or any of the other long list of hotels and motels I've stayed in the past few years. The location is top notch, walking distance to Bressi Ranch Marketplace with restaurants, bars, grocery stores, BevMo, coffee shop options, and a gas station. I reserved the room for one night, but called the front desk two mornings in a row after that to extend another night for three total. There is even a laundry room with complimentary washers and dryers. Yes, not coin laundry, but free. The pool and courtyard shares with Holiday Inn and is amazing, but 5000 times better than Holiday Inn which used to be my favorite, but Holiday Inn keeps my deposit for 30 days after checkout and Staybridge released it immediately - I checked out yesterday and it's already in my account! They even allowed me to check out later than any other hotel I've stayed and housekeeping wasn't banging on the door for me to get out - I didn't feel rushed at all. I'm a frugal traveler and tend to frequent Motel 6 having animals, but this is worth every penny since we don't have to eat out when we stay. Complimentary breakfast every morning, a midweek social serving a light dinner/snack with beer/wine 3 nights a week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and a full kitchen saved us so much money while there. At one point, my partner found an issue with the washer/dryer and called on a manager (he thinks was named Adrien) who was so kind and attentive to the situation, found us a solution immediately, and even the maintenance man who helped was eager to fix the problem like it was a fun challenge. The kitchen staff was even wonderful - my chef partner and I enjoyed watching the way they interacted with each other and one tall individual with a thick accent kept singing with an incredible voice. The staff were obviously happy and enjoyed their jobs and their coworkers. I read a plaquard while waiting for the front desk person to return from a break one day that was a tribute to a man named Bob who began the "family" atmosphere as a hotel owner long ago and his memory lives on in the staff today. I saw this concept firsthand and am so grateful to Bob for understanding what true service is meant to be. ...

I picked this hotel because I was traveling with two dogs. Although they did accomidate my request for 1st floor near an exit, they put me on the opposite side of the hotel that had the dog walking path, even though I asked specifically to be near an area where I could take my dogs and emailed them ahead of time that I would be traveling with dogs. We were facing office buildings and no path. Just small little areas with brush or dirt for them. Went to investigate the path and it was small dirt path, with little areas of clearing that were full of animal feces. Needless to say, I was disapointed in the facilities for animals to walk, exercise and relieve themselves at this property. There really were few options with no open/grassy spaces. The rooms were very clean but nothing fancy. The hotel was was overpriced for what was provided. I did go down to breakfast, and it is stand in line and be served by a worker (probably due to covid) but when I asked for two yogurts (and didn't get anything else, I was told I could only have one). Therefore it is a not a buffet breakfast in my opinion. No fresh fruit was available and your tray was made up for you by the staff. It was just disapointing overall. When I checked in later in the evening after a long drive from Arizona, the front desk clerk glared at me like I was going to rob him. He didn't even say welcome but did promptly tell me there was "no housekeeping" which came as a surprise. Not too much of an issue for me because I usually don't have my room cleaned by housekeeping but I do like to be able to get towels and bathroom supplies as needed. When I did request towels from the front desk, they weren't delivered to my room that day. I had to ask again the next day to be told again they didn't have any and they would deliver them later. When I told the front desk "that is what you said yesterday and I didn't get any towels", he did promise to bring them by himself "when they are done drying" which he did do but I am wondering? what is going on that you don't have adequate towels on hand? Lastly the water pressure in the room was horrible. It felt like I was showering under a trickle which I felt was strange considering I was on the first floor? Usually water pressure is fine. Overall, I wouldn't stay here again. It wasn't horrible but there were definitely some issues that don't warrant the price...

We stayed at this location for six nights during a vacation in Carlsbad. As IHG Platinum Elite members, we expect these properties to be excellent on all the important dimensions.

We'd rate this place about average. The beds, shower, and quietness were very good. We were disappointed, however, that no housekeeping service was available during a one-week stay...even upon request. All we could do is ask for fresh bedding and towels and take care of things ourselves.

This lodging chain obviously has routine Covid precautions figured out for housekeeping between visits; it does't make sense to us that they cannot provide service midway through a long guest visit. Unfortunately, we chock that up to poor service.

Many consumables that you'd expect to run out of during a weeklong stay required a phone call, including dishwashing powder, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. There were only enough dishes for two people. We should not have to call down to the front desk day after day for things that a properly managed hotel would anticipate and provide in the room in the first place.

As far as other amenities go, the kitchenette was sub-par and understocked. Our dishwasher soap compartment popped open but even with store-bought pods most of the soap was not dispersed where it counts and remained caked in the dispenser. Our dishes were not getting very clean.

You'll read in other reviews that this property needs a remodel and has been let go. The common areas and hallway carpets looked quite worn and do not have a well-maintained appearance. The BBQ units were old and dirty and even had used utensils from the day before that had not been cleaned.

The staff always did their best to respond to our calls for assistance, restocking, etc. But we did notice several times when we were passing by in the lobby that desk staff were having loud conversations amongst themselves about issues they were having with difficult guests and things going on between staff that should have been kept behind closed doors.

Overall, we were not impressed with the condition of this property and the way it is being managed. We will not...