Super 8 by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle

With large arched windows, green-tile floors, black-leather sofas, and natural light flooding through the arched windows, this Super 8's lobby is attractive, but it’s not a place where guests tend to linger after they check in and grab a cup of free coffee. Even at breakfast, many guests take their meals back to their rooms, as the breakfast room is too small to accommodate peak-hour crowds. Still, the vibe is friendly and casual, and the hotel draws a wide range of guests -- tourists (including groups on bus tours), business travelers, construction workers, and others passing through from the adjacent freeway or airport.

This Super 8 is located off the Mission Valley Freeway in Mission Valley’s Hotel Circle. One burger restaurant is adjacent to the hotel, but that’s about it for restaurants within walking distance -- it's not a pedestrian-friendly area -- though several eating spots are within a five-minute drive. It’s a three-minute drive to the Riverwalk Golf Club and a five-minute drive to Fashion Valley Mall, home to several restaurants, a cinema complex, shops, and Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus department stores. Old Town is about an eight-minute drive, and Balboa Park, Mission Beach, and SeaWorld are about a 12-minute drive away. San Diego International Airport, San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, and the Gaslamp District downtown are approximately a 15-minute drive or taxi ride.

The Super 8's 144 rooms are on the small side, and come in Queen or Double Queen options. Decor is a step above what’s typically found in budget hotels -- the playful bedspreads, with large circles of green, gold, and red, provide a chic, '60s vibe. Massive black-and-white photos of San Diego scenes act as headboards, giving another splashy decorative touch. Olive-green drapes coordinate with the bedding, and the striped carpets give another graphic punch. Matching dark-brown wood furniture has black granite tops, and stainless-steel desk chairs provide the only seating. The average-size bathrooms are far less stylish and include white acrylic shower/tub inserts and beige tile floors, with roomy tan granite vanities. Amenities include microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Views are mostly of surrounding hotels, the freeway, and the grounds and parking lot.   

While the style and amenities are solid, maintenance and housekeeping are where the rooms come up short. When Oyster visited, the grout around the bathtubs and tile floors needed a thorough scrubbing, and past guests have complained about musty and smoky odors, worn or dirty carpeting, dirty tubs, and malfunctioning toilets, TVs, and mini-fridges. Rooms also suffer from inadequate soundproofing and pick up outside noise.

This Super 8 packs a nice array of amenities for a budget property, such as a free hot breakfast buffet with eggs and meats, free coffee in the lobby, and free on-site parking. Be aware that parking spaces are limited, and might not be available, especially for late-arriving guests, and that it might be tough to find a seat at breakfast (many guests take it up to their rooms). The hotel has a small fitness center with cardio and weight-training machines, a computer station with internet access for guests' use, a meeting room, and a coin-operated laundry; valet laundry service is also available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.