The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego — Hotel in San Diego

I am an Ambassador Elite member of Marriott's rewards program (top tier customer). I recently completed stays at to other Luxury Brand hotels this month and found this, my third, lacking. I will lead with the positives and then share some of my disappointments.

The Good: The valet team here is on the ball. No waiting 20 minutes for your car. They keep the arrival area running smoothly, act professionally, and are quite thoughtful - offering directions, cold water, and a smile. Very well done. The decor is appropriate to the history of the property. Nicely appointed, especially the bar and restaurant areas. They have an engineer on duty 24/7 to address maintenance issues. Ample comfortable seating in the lobby if you traveling or waiting to meet with others. The location is good, but there are better in the area for better value.

The disappointments: If you turn on the privacy light to sleep in or otherwise be left alone, housekeeping will still call to ask if you want your room service. Please, the light on means I want to be left alone. The thermostats in the room are equipped with motion sensors. If you are a sound sleeper, be prepared to wake up one or more times during the night either sweating or freezing because the unit has shut off. No tubs in most rooms. The showers are single heads - nothing fancy at all here. No step or stool if you want to shave your legs or otherwise scrub toes. Certain staff will only do certain things. For example, the housekeeping staff doing turn-down service left dirty dishes in my room which were placed next to the ice bin that they filled nightly. We had a corner room facing 4th Ave and Broadway. The windows are far from soundproof and the traffic noise - sirens, beeping bus lifts, and similar - make a hell of a racket. Room service is ridiculously slow. I called for beverages and/or ice several times during my 8-day stay and it too 30 minutes or more for it to arrive. The house phone is not answered promptly. I often had to call 2 or more times and let it ring 5-6 times before getting an answer. The bathroom door has opaque glass, so while privacy is afforded, if you go to use it at night and are traveling with another, the light is sure to wake them up. The desk chair is terribly uncomfortable. Be warned - the beds are super soft and the pillows offer little support. No pool or hot tub on property and the ones on offer across the street at the W leave a lot to be desired. Breakfast value is poor at best.

I was also sad that I was unable to score an upgrade to a suite using my Suite Nights (I have lifetime Titanium status and am currently Ambassador status). I had check in problems that could have been made easier had a bit of thought and consideration gone into the matter. The manager may contact me if he/she would like further details.

Overall the value just isn't here, especially for a "luxury property". The rooms at the Marriott Marina are far more comfortable if you want to stay with the brand - especially if you're in town for a conference at the...

They still won’t release pending charges after six days for vengeance for this review I would assume. These people don’t care about their guests.

One Star – A Luxury Mausoleum for the Overpriced and Underwhelmed

The US Grant in San Diego is proof that you can slap a “luxury” label on a rundown relic, charge premium rates, and still serve up an experience that’s equal parts frustrating, depressing, and insulting.

Let’s talk rooms: crusty, tired, and suffocating. If you get the “lucky” backside location, enjoy your panoramic view of a once-beautiful but now dilapidated building that looks like it’s been waiting for a wrecking ball since the 90s. Fresh air? Forget it — the windows don’t open, so you get to stew in stale air like a forgotten display in a history museum.

The neighborhood isn’t any better — step outside and you’re in the middle of San Diego’s fentanyl zombie parade. This is not a safe environment, particularly for older guests. But don’t expect the staff to care; they’ve perfected the art of looking right through you.

Service is a comedy of incompetence. The manager? Inept. The staff? Smug, condescending, and completely unfamiliar with the concept of hospitality. I arrived with my handicapped son — not a single person lifted a finger to help get his wheelchair out of the car. Apparently, “luxury” here means “figure it out yourself.”

And here’s the kicker: if you’re expecting basic conveniences, like receiving packages, think again. Once you’re labeled a “problem guest” (translation: you dared to expect service), the phone will ring incessantly as some twisted form of passive-aggressive punishment — and when you answer, no one’s there. Try calling the front desk yourself and you’ll get radio silence. Thank God for DoorDash, because that was the only reliable “delivery” during my stay.

The in-room water pressure is laughable, barely strong enough to rinse a toothbrush. Dining? I dropped $250 on dinner, and the only edible thing was a pork loin — everything else was overcooked and oversalted, like the chef’s sole seasoning strategy was “drown it in salt and pray.”

The clientele and staff skew young, arrogant, and completely clueless about treating older guests with dignity or respect. Instead of charm or professionalism, you get thinly veiled disdain.

The US Grant may still trade on its historic name, but inside it’s just a rundown, overpriced mausoleum coasting on a reputation it no longer deserves. My advice? Save your money and go literally anywhere else. You’ll get better service at a mid-range chain — and you won’t have to breathe in the stench of decay, both in the building and in the attitude. And insult to injury they charge my credit card three times over two cards to the tune of $10,000 so they robbed me of my money to even have any fun in this hell scape. So make sure you bring extra...

Picture this: You're feeling spontaneous, so you decide to book a hotel room on a whim. Excited about your impulsive adventure, you arrive at the hotel and make a special request for a room with a nice view. Lo and behold, the management graciously grants your wish! You can already envision yourself gazing out at a picturesque city.

But, hold on tight! As you step into your room, you notice something rather odd. The windows are covered with plastic! Yes, that's right—plastic. Instead of the breathtaking view you were promised, all you get is a plastic paradise. Not exactly what you had in mind, huh?

Now, let's fast forward to the middle of the night. You're trying to catch some Z's, but every little noise from the outside world penetrates the paper-thin walls. It's like you're sleeping in a symphony of construction sounds and off-key singing. Suddenly, it hits you: the contractors working on the building are having an impromptu American Idol audition just outside your window. Talk about a sleepless night!

As if that wasn't enough, the next morning, while groggily stumbling into the bathroom, you come face-to-face with a shocking revelation. There, on the mirror, is a note about the hotel's ongoing renovation. You, my friend, have unwittingly stumbled into a construction zone masquerading as a hotel. Bravo!

Despite this comically disastrous experience, you manage to find a silver lining amidst the chaos. You award the hotel a well-deserved 4-star rating for one reason and one reason only: the valet service. Ah, the valets! Blake, Juan, and Jae—who knew they would be the heroes of your misadventure? These fine folks not only handled your car with care but also engaged in delightful conversations. With their down-to-earth go-getter attitudes, they are destined for greatness!

And, oh, the icing on the cake! As you reluctantly prepare to depart, still feeling a tad cranky from your sleepless night, you discover an unexpected surprise. Your car, without you even requesting it, has been fully charged. It's like a beam of sunshine breaking through the gloomy clouds. You're overjoyed that you don't have to make a pit stop to charge your vehicle. Such a simple gesture, yet it brings immense relief. Kudos to the valets for going above and beyond!

So, my weary traveler, while your hotel escapade may have been an unexpected comedy of errors, it seems that Blake, Juan, and Jae, along with their car-charging prowess, managed to salvage your experience. Who would've thought that the valets would steal the show in a tale filled with plastic windows, construction karaoke, and hidden renovation surprises? Life sure has a way of surprising...