Pros

  • Quick freeway access and a brief drive to several area attractions
  • Free shuttle to zoo, SeaWorld, Old Town, nearby mall
  • Large outdoor pool with poolside food service and whirlpool
  • Simple rooms with iHome docking stations and free Wi-Fi, some with balconies
  • Lots of indoor/outdoor event space
  • On-site restaurant with room service
  • Lounge with happy hour and live music
  • Small business and fitness centers
  • ATM and convenience store on-site
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Cons

  • Older hotel with small and dated bathrooms
  • Parking is an additional fee
  • Breakfast is not included in the room rate
  • Rooms closest to freeway can get street noise
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Bottom Line

The 217-room, mid-range Handlery Hotel San Diego was built in 1954 and it shows in the guest rooms, especially in the small, dated bathrooms and the sliding doors leading out to the pool. But the hotel scores well on its location, free local shuttle, large pool, and reasonable rates, all of which tends to draw plenty of tourists and convention groups. Some guests complain of noise from rooms closest to the highway and the fee for parking. Mission Valley offers lots of newer, mid-range hotels at comparable rates such as the Hampton Inn San Diego-Sea World/Airport Area, so shop around before booking.

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pets Allowed
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Handlery Hotel San Diego

Scene

Bustling with tourists and convention groups and a popular pool area 

The large marquee sign welcoming convention groups suggests this hotel gets busy, and it does. The circular lobby bustles with activity from the attached Enterprise rental car office as well as from arriving tour groups, conventions, and tourists. Dark brown tile, wood slats on the ceiling, and a brown tile/granite front desk create a rather dark lobby environment, despite a circular skylight and lots of floor-to-ceiling windows. A few chairs surround a small round coffee table, but this isn’t a lobby made for lingering. The events area with its wide foyers, gold walls, and beige patterned carpet stays active, as does the large outdoor pool, which connects to several of the rooms through a patio. The 950 Lounge also sees crowds, especially when groups are meeting and on Friday evenings when live music is featured. This is a casual hotel in a city that celebrates a beachfront, casual lifestyle.

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Location

In Mission Valley near shopping, restaurants, golf, and attractions

The Handlery is located in Mission Valley, just off the Mission Valley Freeway and near a host of area attractions. It’s a three-minute drive to Fashion Valley Mall, home to several restaurants, movie theaters, shops, and Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus department stores. Several other restaurants are nearby including some just across the busy Mission Valley Freeway, but the distance must be crossed by car (not on foot). The hotel is adjacent (a two-minute drive) to the Riverwalk Golf Club, and Old Town and its museums and historic sites is a three-minute drive. Other nearby attractions include Balboa Park (eight minutes), SeaWorld (10 minutes) and San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park and Gaslamp District downtown (10 to 15 minutes). An Enterprise Car Rental office is on-site, and other rental car offices are nearby. 

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Rooms

Small and dated with tiny bathrooms

Built in 1954, the Handlery shows its age in the guest rooms. Rooms are clean but generally small, especially the bathrooms where the tiny, granite vanities are wedged between toilets and shower/tub combos. And the white tile grout framing the shower looks in need of a good scrubbing in some rooms. Painted brick walls inside the closet reveal the property’s bones, and old-style sliding glass doors lead out to patios or balconies. Standard rooms (king or two doubles) don’t offer patios or balconies -- but Superior Rooms do. Premier Rooms add bathrobes, pool views, and free bottled water and newspaper delivery. Free Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, iHome docking stations, and safes are available in all rooms. Suites offer a separate living area, wet bar, and upgraded toiletries. Room decor is simple yet pleasant, with light brown carpet and light tan walls and drapes accented by reddish-brown wood headboards and matching nightstands and dressers with tan granite tops. Small, glass-topped wood desks and office chairs provide a comfortable work station. Some guests complain that rooms closest to the adjacent freeway can be a bit noisy.

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Features

Free local shuttle, concierge, large outdoor pool, on-site restaurant, and lots of meeting space

A free shuttle runs a regular schedule to the Fashion Valley Mall and Old Town, along with once-daily shuttle service to and from both the San Diego Zoo (Balboa Park) and SeaWorld. On-site parking is available for what some guests consider a hefty fee. The Postcards Restaurant has a hot breakfast buffet daily, but it’s not included in the room rate. It also serves lunch and dinner. And room service operates during the restaurant’s open hours. The 950 Lounge has daily happy hour specials and offers live music on Friday evenings. The large pool complex has several umbrella tables, loungers, and a whirlpool. The tropical-themed Reef Restaurant abuts the pool complex and provides poolside service during the summer. There is 42,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor function space, free Wi-Fi is available property-wide, and the business center has two computer stations and free printing. The fitness center is rather small, with a few cardio machines and dead weights. Self-service laundry facilities and same-day dry cleaning and laundry services are available. An ATM and snacks shop/convenience store are on-site. Concierge services are offered. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Handlery Hotel San Diego

Scene

Bustling with tourists and convention groups and a popular pool area 

The large marquee sign welcoming convention groups suggests this hotel gets busy, and it does. The circular lobby bustles with activity from the attached Enterprise rental car office as well as from arriving tour groups, conventions, and tourists. Dark brown tile, wood slats on the ceiling, and a brown tile/granite front desk create a rather dark lobby environment, despite a circular skylight and lots of floor-to-ceiling windows. A few chairs surround a small round coffee table, but this isn’t a lobby made for lingering. The events area with its wide foyers, gold walls, and beige patterned carpet stays active, as does the large outdoor pool, which connects to several of the rooms through a patio. The 950 Lounge also sees crowds, especially when groups are meeting and on Friday evenings when live music is featured. This is a casual hotel in a city that celebrates a beachfront, casual lifestyle.

See More Scene

Location

In Mission Valley near shopping, restaurants, golf, and attractions

The Handlery is located in Mission Valley, just off the Mission Valley Freeway and near a host of area attractions. It’s a three-minute drive to Fashion Valley Mall, home to several restaurants, movie theaters, shops, and Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus department stores. Several other restaurants are nearby including some just across the busy Mission Valley Freeway, but the distance must be crossed by car (not on foot). The hotel is adjacent (a two-minute drive) to the Riverwalk Golf Club, and Old Town and its museums and historic sites is a three-minute drive. Other nearby attractions include Balboa Park (eight minutes), SeaWorld (10 minutes) and San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park and Gaslamp District downtown (10 to 15 minutes). An Enterprise Car Rental office is on-site, and other rental car offices are nearby. 

See More Location

Rooms

Small and dated with tiny bathrooms

Built in 1954, the Handlery shows its age in the guest rooms. Rooms are clean but generally small, especially the bathrooms where the tiny, granite vanities are wedged between toilets and shower/tub combos. And the white tile grout framing the shower looks in need of a good scrubbing in some rooms. Painted brick walls inside the closet reveal the property’s bones, and old-style sliding glass doors lead out to patios or balconies. Standard rooms (king or two doubles) don’t offer patios or balconies -- but Superior Rooms do. Premier Rooms add bathrobes, pool views, and free bottled water and newspaper delivery. Free Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, iHome docking stations, and safes are available in all rooms. Suites offer a separate living area, wet bar, and upgraded toiletries. Room decor is simple yet pleasant, with light brown carpet and light tan walls and drapes accented by reddish-brown wood headboards and matching nightstands and dressers with tan granite tops. Small, glass-topped wood desks and office chairs provide a comfortable work station. Some guests complain that rooms closest to the adjacent freeway can be a bit noisy.

See More Rooms

Features

Free local shuttle, concierge, large outdoor pool, on-site restaurant, and lots of meeting space

A free shuttle runs a regular schedule to the Fashion Valley Mall and Old Town, along with once-daily shuttle service to and from both the San Diego Zoo (Balboa Park) and SeaWorld. On-site parking is available for what some guests consider a hefty fee. The Postcards Restaurant has a hot breakfast buffet daily, but it’s not included in the room rate. It also serves lunch and dinner. And room service operates during the restaurant’s open hours. The 950 Lounge has daily happy hour specials and offers live music on Friday evenings. The large pool complex has several umbrella tables, loungers, and a whirlpool. The tropical-themed Reef Restaurant abuts the pool complex and provides poolside service during the summer. There is 42,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor function space, free Wi-Fi is available property-wide, and the business center has two computer stations and free printing. The fitness center is rather small, with a few cardio machines and dead weights. Self-service laundry facilities and same-day dry cleaning and laundry services are available. An ATM and snacks shop/convenience store are on-site. Concierge services are offered. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.