Hilton San Diego Mission Valley — Hotel in San Diego

I have been attending the San Diego Comic-con since the 90s, and since it expanded in the 2000s, I have tried to avoid Mission Valley to be closer to downtown. This year, the hotel system hooked me up with this Hilton and I was slightly annoyed (only because I felt it was too far out), but in the end, I was happy with the selection. It turned out to be a very pleasant experience, especially since I stay an extra day now to avoid the rushed travel on Sunday when the convention ends, and there was plenty to do around the hotel so I didn't have to Uber anywhere that night. It was all within a quick, and safe, walking distance.

The hotel itself is inviting. Nice lobby, great restaurant with a breakfast buffet. The waiter that assisted me in the two days that I ate down there was fantastic. Friendly, fast, great. The location that seemed to me to be an issue beforehand wasn't as the shuttle system for SDCC made it convenient. The ride was fast, and we were the first pick up and drop off spot. Not to mention, there is a mall across the freeway so I had access to more, less crowded (also more affordable), amenities than I would have had I been closer to the convention center. The location in no way held me back from anything I had planned at SDCC, and it was quiet at night. Even with the freeway right outside my window, I didn't hear any noise, and I kind of liked the view even if it was just of a freeway and a mall. Nice big window, and the sun coming in the morning was a nice greeting to the beautiful Southern California day!

The room was decent. You could tell it was a little old, only by the chair in the corner (it has seen better days) but I mean, I was there for SDCC so barely in there. The beds were comfortable, and the AC unit was easy to shut off (like most hotels, it was freezing when I first came in, but I figured it out fast and the cleaning staff figured out that I wanted it that way and left it off after the second day). I think if anything, the shower pressure wasn't the best, but a minor quibble. I managed. Oh yeah, the wi-fi was good and dependable.

The staff at the front desk were insanely friendly. The concierge assisted me in finding a theater and restaurant nearby as I stayed an extra night after SDCC and was looking to be entertained. The check in attendant was super happy, as was the gentleman who checked me out.

The biggest thing I need to compliment them on is this. They made a mistake on my account. I was accidentally charged twice. THEY caught it (I didn't even see it) and refunded me right away once the error was caught. I am always a fan of a company who catches a mistake and corrects it before I notice it. Now I am Canadian, so of course the currency exchange rate comes into play - and does it ever, with a vengeance (in this case, to the tune of almost $450 more). They refunded me the correct amount in USD HOWEVER it ended up that the currency exchange rate had shifted by quite a bit in the days between the charge and the refund (of course the dolalr goes up AFTER i"m there - blarg), and I suddenly found myself with over $50 additional CAD charged extra because of it. I called, they got on it right away (and even I was like...this is a strange one guys, you made good but I'm not sure what to do here). They weren't able to refund me any more since I was locked into SDCC using their hotel system and hadn't charged any extras (darn me for using cash at the restaurant and not charging to my room) but they hooked me up with some cash refundable points on my Hilton Honors card and all is good. Resorts World here I come!

I do like staying closer to downtown for SDCC but I did like this hotel a lot. I would happily stay there again for SDCC or if I am in San Diego for another reason. I mean San Diego is such...

DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL!! THEY STOLE MY CREDIT CARD INFO AND USED IT FOR A 3 WEEK STAY that began AFTER I checked out and left the hotel! This FAKE STAY began after I had already flown home. I had no idea this happened as I had the invoice for my real stay, then 3 WEEKS LATER I got a new invoice saying thank you for your stay! TOTAL COST $3604.02!!

I immediately called the hotel and spoke to Front Office manager Miriam Baker who I told I received this invoice for 3 week stay but I was not even in San Diego! I told her this must be a mistake! And asked her to please check security cameras and electronic key log where they could see that no one even picked up a room key! Or even entered the room! How could I! I wasn’t there! She refused to check anything and told me I have to take it up with the credit card company! She left me no option but to dispute with my credit card company. THIS HOTEL LIED to my credit card company that they “properly verified the guest.” NO WAY!! I have my plane ticket to prove I wasn’t there and also my work verified me to be in my home State before and during this fraudulent stay that they charged me for. I called the General Manager and he did not return my call. The front office manager Miriam actually told me there was no other manager I could speak to! They are running a shady scam operation! I called several times very distraught and Miriam Baker told me very nonchalantly that she just put through the last incremental charge of $1201.34 so to look for it on my credit card statement! She was not even trying to figure out what happened. After 5 months of disputing and total stress, my credit card company told me that because the hotel provided me an invoice, that the hotel provided the service so the credit card company approved the charge. The credit card company told me they do not do investigating of the key logs etc., that I need to sue the hotel in a civil law suit. I called the San Diego district attorney who referred me to the San Diego police department to make a report. When I spoke to the police detective, he said I definitely have a case of FRAUD. I am not going to let this go and I am going to file a police report and call the Better Business Bureau! The Hilton worldwide customer service also said I have a case of FRAUD. They cannot help me because they don’t handle fraud but they recommended me to file a civil lawsuit! The Hilton San Diego Mission Valley grabbed my credit card number from a previous stay and used it to pay for a new 3 week stay! My credit card was not presented for check in of the fraudulent stay. The credit card company can see the chip card was not physically present!

The fact that the card was never presented at the fraudulent stay check in, which is a standard procedure when checking in, is proof they committed FRAUD!! Also you must present an ID that matches the name on the reservation when picking up a room key! This did not happen because I wasn’t there!!

This hotel would not listen to me or even try to investigate. Instead they just told me I have to take it up with my credit card company! BEWARE!! DO NOT STAY HERE!! THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE!! ONCE YOU GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO THEY COULD DO THIS TO YOU!!

This post is forcing me to give one star! I would give minus one million stars...

Sandwiched between a motorway and a cliff, this property has the charms and warmth of a socialist colony. Here at 13 reasons why you should not stay there: The rooms are not clean nor cleaned, nor maintained. This is my experience: !) The carpet was littered with bits of plastic and large cooky crumbs. It was not a pleasant feeling to step on other people’s snacks bare foot. 2)The bathroom was not clean. Long back hairs were on the floor and in the shower tray. The space between the toilet seat and the cistern was not clean: dry urine and bits or hair and dust. 3)The coffee machine tray was not clean. There was a puddle of coffee and water under the machine. I had to soak it up with a towel. 4) One of the bedside lamp (an LED one) was not working. The electrician came and could not replace the bulb because of no available replacement parts (in the whole Hilton network??). 5) The sockets at the base of the desk lamp did not work. I could not charge up laptop and mobile phone from these sockets. There was no spare lamp, so the electrician lent me an extension cable to trail across the room to the desk. 6) The sink faucets were loose and the drain was very slow. I had to call engineering to fix them, which they did successfully. Is this my role to check up on maintenance? 7) The message light on the phone flashed constantly for 7 days, no one in your property seems to know hot to turn it off. 8) The air conditioning was fabulously noisy: how can you sleep with this steam engine on? 9) Although it claims to be a 4* property, there is no laundry service available. Do you really think guests come to your property and expect to receive a worse-than-AirBnB service? No thank you for the offer to use the laundry machine in the basement. 10) The daily cleaning never happened unless I repeatedly asked for it. I understand Hilton wants to save money by not sending the chamber maid round the rooms every day, this is mean, but I understand why it would do it. The front desk did offer for me to request a light room service every day, which I did. Jane (front desk) booked the service for 10 am every day. It never happened unless I reminded the front desk of the request every single day. I resorted to tip the cleaners; it was more effective. In effect I had to pay extra to get the bed made and the bathroom tidied up. 11) Everyday I approached the front desk to talk to the hotel manager I was told they had gone home or were busy. A clever way to deflect difficult conversations. 12) The breakfast quality was abysmal: the selection of industrial quality items was revolting to taste and feel. Even Wendy’s round the corner on Rio del Camino offers better fare, say no more! 13) I could also mention the noisy teenagers running amok at 2 am, no need to ring the front desk, they can’t do anything apparently. To say I am disappointed by this property is a euphemism, the service and quality of the property are substantially below expectations from the Hilton. It was shocking! Don't stay there: so many hotels are available in San Diego, no need to...