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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
