The Boardwalk Hotel: Bikes, Boards & Beach Gear Included — Hotel in San Diego

So much better than a typical hotel. The Boardwalk Hotel is in a class all by itself. You won’t get complimentary powdered eggs for breakfast, but you will get complimentary access to all kinds of beach gear and ride-ons. So much better than eggs, right?

My family of 4 stayed in the 2 Bedroom Suite with a Pull-Out Couch. The rooms were a good size and had lots of natural light with screened-in windows that opened so you can feel the breeze. We didn’t have a problem with noise from other rooms, and the blackout curtains made it really easy to get a good night’s sleep. It really felt like our home for the week.

The location is unbeatable and feels very safe. Parking is limited, but if you purchase the hotel parking pass, you have access to dedicated spots in front of the hotel. There are lots of restaurants within walking distance from the hotel, plus a coffee shop, a smoothie shop, and Olive Bakery across the street. (The cinnamon rolls and kolaches are so good you won’t even miss the powdered eggs.)

A laundromat is also a couple blocks away.

The beach is a block away in one direction; the bay is steps away in the other direction. The bayside boardwalk is tranquil; the oceanside boardwalk is lively. We rode bikes on the oceanside boardwalk all the way to Pacific Beach where there were additional shops and restaurants.

Belmont Park is an easy 15-minute walk away. Roller coaster rides are $1 on Tuesdays.

As a Boardwalk guest, you also get a 15% discount at Belmont Park, and a 10%-15% discount at several restaurants near the hotel.

If all that wasn’t enough, the Boardwalk Hotel collaborates with Cheap Rentals a few doors down. We borrowed surfboards, wetsuits, bikes, skateboards, and roller blades— we didn't save time for the kayaks and SUP boards. No additional charge for the rentals! (They’ll hold a deposit on your credit card, but the hold drops off after you close out.) This amenity added so much to our trip and by the end of the week, my husband and kids became really comfortable surfing in the Pacific.

A shoutout to Julia and Laura at the front desk. They were so hospitable and helpful, they were Hosts more so than “hotel desk clerks”. They made sure we had everything we needed and were always gracious and quick to respond if anything came up.

My family travels quite a bit, and we have never stayed at a hotel that offered so much, and at a very reasonable rate. From the incredible location and beautiful rooms to the remarkable customer service and amenities, everything at The Boardwalk Hotel was...

My wife and I recently stayed at the Boardwalk Hotel for a one-night getaway, and while the location is outstanding—just a block away from the beach, a quick 3-minute walk—the experience wasn’t without its issues.

The room itself was bright and had a nice bed, a full kitchen, and a modern bathroom, which we really appreciated. However, we did notice some cleanliness issues: there was trash in the nightstand drawer, a used towel in the bathroom, and a large lump of hair on the shower floor. While these things were disappointing, they didn’t completely ruin our stay.

The major letdown was the private hot tub, which was the primary reason we chose this particular hotel/room and paid extra for it. When we arrived at 4:30 PM, the first thing we did was check the hot tub, and to our dismay, the temperature was only 76 degrees. I set it to 104 and figured it would warm up in time for a late-night soak. I texted the front desk, and they were kind and empathetic in their reply, advising me to leave it on the highest setting and wait.

We decided to take a walk around Mission Beach, which is a lovely, peaceful area with tons of food, bar options, and nice little shops. After returning at 8:20 PM, we checked the temperature again, and it had only risen to 79 degrees. By this point, it was clear we wouldn’t have the hot tub experience we were looking forward to, which was very disappointing. My wife felt guilty for picking this place and thought she had failed at planning our rare little staycation.

I texted the front desk again, and while I didn’t get a reply until the morning, they were once again professional and friendly. I was told I’d be receiving some kind of discount for the inconvenience, but I’m unsure how to redeem it since we booked through Expedia.

All in all, I would still recommend the Boardwalk Hotel for its fantastic location and nice rooms. However, I would advise caution when booking rooms that feature a private hot tub. The regular rooms were priced around $200, while the private hot tub room was over $300—a premium we were willing to pay but ultimately didn’t get to enjoy.

When we left the hotel, I checked the temp. one more time...84 degrees. Its technically heating up but definitely...

We stayed here for two nights as a family with a one year old. There was ample space in the room to set up the playard which we used as his sleeping space since the hotel didn't provide cribs.

The room was very clean. One year olds tend to be very good at finding nooks and crannies that make parents go "that's yucky, don't touch that!" but I didn't find that to be the case. The decor is inviting and makes the space very comfortable to be in. The kitchenette was stocked with everything that we needed.

I believe our room was an accessible room because we had a walk in shower. It was basically a wet bath. Large and with plenty of handlebars. The problem is that to get to the room you have to walk up a large step to get into the hallway that leads to the room. Not stroller friendly, not wheelchair friendly. The only other way to the room is through the back and that hallway has housekeeping stuff taking up the space throughout the day. We made do but a wheelchair user will find it difficult.

The one problem with this room is the noise. I don't expect it to be quiet or to not hear our neighbors but it was excessive to hear the housekeepers shout at each other while going about their day. I expect to hear them talking at a reasonable volume since the housekeeping room is right across from our door, but the shouting was so loud and made it unpleasant to be in the room during the day.

Lastly, it is a bummer that there was no sheer curtain, only blackout. The window looks out to a cornhole playing area. While we never did see anyone playing, if there were I believe they could see right into the room. The weather and light was so nice but we drew the curtains mostly to have privacy and that seemed a shame.

A great place to stay for the location, contactless check in, comfortable room and proximity...