We needed, wait, NEEDED (in all caps) a mini vacation. Sometimes you just need to stay in a hotel and enjoy a change of scenery. We didn’t want to drive far and getting on a plane was sadly not an option, so we decided on a nice weekend in San Diego. Destination decided, now came the tasks of finding a hotel that would help us escape the mundane and really enjoy our little getaway. Since we are hardcore Marriott lovers, we perused the options within the Bonvoy family and found the historic US Grant Hotel. This property falls under the Luxury Collection and one look at the historic lobby and the renovated rooms and we were ready to get our vacay on! Here are all the details of our fabulous stay at this landmark hotel.
COVID-19 Precautions
As much as we love travel, we have kept COVID-19 and all safety precautions at the forefront of all our bookings and planning. We wanted to do as much due-diligence as possible on our end so that we were comfortable staying in a hotel. That required us to investigate what their current protocols were for the hotel and its’ guest. The Marriott Group has implemented a global company wide procedure that all properties use as a guideline for their specific locations. Some of the protocols vary based on the location of the property as well as the current COVID-19 status in their respective area. For more information check out their official link here.
The US Grant Hotel had the following protocols in place:
- Plexi glass partitions between the reception desk and guest
- Social distancing signs throughout the property and directional arrows on floor
- Limit of one family per elevator
- Mask requirement for guests and employees while on property
- Hand sanitizing stations throughout the property
- Gym access by reservation only
- Restaurants closed for dine-in, Room Service Available
- No housekeeping during your stay
With these measures put in place, we can confidently say that there was never a moment during our stay that we felt like our health might be compromised. It was great to see other guests also heeding the rules and for the most part, guests were aware of social distancing even when passing in the common areas.
Parking
If you are bringing your own car, you can choose to self-park or Valet only. It cost $42.00 USD per day for self-parking and $52.00 USD per day (plus tip) for valet. The parking spots are narrow so if you are driving a large vehicle be prepared for some tight spots or hand your car over to the valet.
Our Welcome
Prior to our stay, we had reached out to the location to get more information for the blog (the things we do for y’all) and their overall protocols. We were in communication with Audrey Burton, the Front Desk Manager. She was amazing. We exchanged a few emails prior to our stay and we really appreciated her willingness to get us the information we needed. Upon arrival, we set our bags down and, lo and behold, Audrey was at the front desk, so we were able to chat about the property and say a quick hello.
What was Included in Our Room Rate
Our room had the following:
- King size bed
- Flat screen TV with cable
- Bathroom with Standing Shower
- Frette Sheets and Bath Robes
- Coffee Station
- Hand sanitizing wipes
The rate also included:
- Basic Internet (Because we are Marriott Bonvoy Gold Members we were upgraded to high speed at no extra cost)
- Use of Hotel Amenities (that were open)
The Room
You know how sometimes you see pictures and you get super excited about something and then in real like you’re like… nope. Well, I am happy to say this room LIVED up to the expectations we had.
We were upgraded to a King Deluxe Room and we were staying on the top floor of the hotel. We had a corner room so there were windows on 2 of the 4 walls and it was beautiful. It felt very European with the pristine walls framed by all the original crown molding. Just gorgeous! It was bright and there was plenty of room for us to move around and not get in each-others way. There was also a full-length mirror which is always, always a plus (we need to see what we look like to take gram-worthy photos 😉)
The bed itself was massive and with the Frette linens and duvet, it was heavenly. We really appreciated that the Luxury Collection lived up to its’ name and actually had luxury finishes. One of our favorite vacation indulgences is to laze on the bed and watch TV and of course consume junk food. This bed was perfect for our lazy Sunday morning. Bliss.
The Bathroom
The bathroom was not the largest that we have encountered in a hotel, but it was nice. We knew with the history of the building that we wouldn’t have a massive bathroom. The standing shower was a pleasant surprise. It was nice and deep so if you are a tall person you will have ample room to stand and enjoy your shower after a long day exploring. We loved the little touches of understated elegance like the silver bathroom accessories.
The shower has a rain-shower head, and we were OBSESSED with the in-house amenities. To be very honest, we normally take our own toiletries from home but man o man, when we say the in-house shampoo, conditioner and even body wash were heavenly! The smell was wonderful, and we are not ashamed to admit we took extra showers so we could enjoy the smell. (guilty travel pleasures come in all shapes, sizes, and forms friends)
The Property
History. History. History.
Did we mention history? Every nook and cranny of this property has a story. From its very inception, this hotel is a wonderland for history buffs. There are hallways with portraits showcasing all the presidents that have stayed in the hotel as well as other notable figures that have walked the halls and slept in the rooms.
Thomas Edison oversaw the installation of the NATIONS first ever electric fountain that is located right in front of the hotel. Like Science? Albert Einstein stayed here as well! There are soo many interesting facts and facets to explore. Make sure you grab a copy of the self-guided historical tour brochure; the hotel encourages guests to follow the guide and experience all the history firsthand. It was a fun experience and made us feel like we were on a treasure hunt, reading about the art and special facts hidden in the long, majestic hallways.
Aamir loved that the hotel was historical because under normal circumstances I would have dragged him to a museum, but I was able to get my history fix within the hotel.
Also, if you are an art lover, you are in for a treat! There is over $6.5 million dollar-worth of art displayed throughout the hotel. Safe to say, the understated elegance was oozing out from every corner of this beautiful location.
The Pool/Spa and Gym
Okay, brace yourselves, this hotel does not have a pool. We knew this while booking and were ok since, hey, its COVID-19. When the hotel went through a major refurbishment in the 1980’s and did away with the Turkish baths and pool. Guests are, however, welcome to go the Westin Gaslamp and enjoy the pool on site after showing their room key. The in-house gym is available with prior reservations during COVID-19. Ask us how many hours we slaved away on the machines, zero. We are unashamedly too busy enjoying our Frette sheets and super soft pillows. Regrets. None.
Final Thoughts
One of the key elements of a successful staycation in our humble opinion is a fantastic hotel. When you leave your home for a getaway you want to relax and, in our case, we like some glamour and luxury thrown in for good measure. If you are anything like us, you will LOVE this hotel just as much as we did. If you want to know more about this property and check for availability be sure to check out their official website.
Can’t Wait to Share Our Next Adventure
We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy!
-xoxo Sophie and Aamir
36 Comments
This is so helpful!! We’re planning to take a trip down to SD soon and have been looking out for hotels that are COVID friendly and safe. Tempted to check this place out now!
Yayy!! we are pro-vacations for everyone! We hope you fall in love with this place just like us
We were just thinking of taking a trip to San Diego .. now we know where to stay ❤️
yay!! glad we were able to help
Wow this hotel is absolutely beautiful! My husband and I would love to check it out! Thanks so much guys for sharing all this info . It’s always so helpful to read your blogs to plan our future trips! I totally agree that it is a must to stay at a nice hotel to make your trip relaxing and more enjoyable! I love how they are taking all those Covid-19 precautions. It’s good to know they care for their guests and I am sure that’ll make my husband feel more comfortable to stay there when we go visit SD next time!! Great idea for a getaway. It’s not too far from where we live and we need to get out for a change of scenery badly! Thanks again for all the tips and sharing your experience! Aisha 🙂
Always a pleasure! 🙂
This is so fun to read. I’m usually a hardcore budget traveler who steadfastly stick to hostels. But since I can’t travel abroad these days, I’m using the surplus money to have a staycation in a nicer hotel in my own city. Loved it! Might check out Marriott hotels in Malaysia next.
Yay, we are glad you enjoyed the read! There are soo many beautiful properties in Malaysia as well!
What a beautiful hotel! I love the grandeur and the history of the hotel. It looks stunning! I love it when accommodation lives up to the photos on the website! So often we’re left disappointed when it doesn’t meet expectations! Thanks for sharing this beautiful place with us!
Thank you Hannah, glad you appreciated the post, there was soo much more for us to photography but we controlled our urge so, fingers crossed, when everyone goes they can experience all the nooks first hand 🙂
Thanks for the detailed review. I think everyone NEEDS a mini vacation at this point regardless of how restricted that is.
We are glad you found the post useful and Amen to everyone going on vacation!!
Glad you wasn’t hotel fished haha . Looks like a great hotel . I love a hotel with history and memorabilia.
lol we have been verry lucky with getting what we expect but its after a LOT of research and also the Marriott Group is always great about sthe accuracy of their pictures.
This definitely looks like a gorgeous hotel to stay at! I’ll keep it in mind for when I’m in San Diego.
Yay! Krista you will really love this property! WE hope you get to experience it first-hand soon!
Nice hotel! Glad to see they are taking good measures with covid. If I ever find myself in San Diego, I’ll be sure to stay here!
Yes, Amy we are sure you will LOVE staying here and enjoying the chilled out vibe of San Diego as well 🙂
The hotel sounds wonderful! And I’m glad they were on top of safety precautions so you could relax comfortable!
Yes, we were really satisfied with the Covid measures and we have made sure at the time of booking that any property we stay at has a game plan 🙂
Tell me about needing a get away! You inspired me to take the leap and book something local. Thank you.
YAYYY!! Girl gooo.. get your vacay on!! We ALL deserve a break. Most hotels are really making an effort to provide the safest experience possible while still giving the best service possible. We hope you have a great local getaway 🙂
What a helpful review! The hotel looks great. I’m glad it lived up to your expectations!
Thank you! We love going to new properties and being “wowed”
This looks like a fantastic place to stay when visiting San Diego. The rooms look really comfortable and spacious, and I love the fact that the hotel is steeped in so much history and art as well.
It really was a great mini vacation for us!!! The history and elegance was just what we needed to recharge!
This hotel looks lush! I know it’s fickle but I love the colour scheme and desperately want a giant red poof in my house now (plus some elevators). Looks like a lovely stay
Not fickel at all!! We were gushing over the palm tree wallpaper and the red accents too!!
We’re part of the Marriot Bonvoy too and will have to check this place out, it looks fabulous!
YESSS!! We are hardcore Bonvoy memnbers and we have been fortunate to always enjoy their properties and the service we get as well.
Oh how I’d love to stay in a hotel right now. Just get away from it all and enjoy a few carefree days.
And this hotel looks super stylish and great, wouldn’t say no to that 🙂
That was our motivation too!! Lord knows we ALL need a nice vacation!! We hope you have a chance to get away for a few days.
Oh the US Grant looks like such a cool hotel! I would love to stay here. I love the history of it, especially with Thomas Edison.
It was such a nice change and it felt like being in the middle of history. Everywhere you turn in the public areas there is historical significance.
This hotel looks fancy and accommodating! I love that there’s a history to it and the greatest minds of the century have stayed here.
It was a nice hotel for sure, we personally enjoy nice hotels and look for amenities especially if we are planning to actually stay indoor which was the case for this trip.