This is a nice hotel that is in a great location -- two blocks from touristy/schlocky Old Town, five minutes from Mission Bay and Sea World and ten minutes from Balboa Park. Thanks to other reviews, I knew to stay away from the side close to the freeway and I must say that I did not hear any traffic noise at all. I was by the elevator and I didn't hear that either.

The staff was very friendly and attentive. Had a very minor problem with my room phone and I got a very nice email from the manager a day later. The hotel was spotless and they had a nice fire going in the lobby fireplace. They offer free internet services in room, which is a plus.

The room was nicely furnished and adequately sized. The bed was really comfortable and the shower was nice too. The sink area is outside the room with the toilet and the shower, but it was a little cramped. Plenty of towels and pillows.

I didn't get a chance to eat in the hotel. The pool looks fairly small, and the tiny exercise room has a bike, treadmill, eliptical trainer, single weight machine, tv, a/c and water cooler. As other people noted, there is plenty of street parking and about 10 free spots on the hotel grounds so you can avoid the $15 parking fee.

The hotel is a bit pricey, but I think that's the nature of the area. In comparison to what other places are going for in the nearby areas, it seems reasonable. For what it is, it was very nice.

The hotel is new looking and attractive, but the rooms are small and noisy, if you're unfortunate enough to have one of the rooms that are directly facing the freeway. Yes, I could have asked for another room, but once you get settled in at night with 2 small kids, trust me, its not worth it. I didn't want to pay the $15 parking fee, so I parked on the street. $15 doesn't seem warranted in that part of Old Town. I found street parking at 6 p.m. Friday night.

Pros:

The rooms are clean and look new. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Cons:

Our room was facing the freeway. It was basically backed right up ON TOP OF THE FREEWAY. I ran the fan all night hoping it would mask some of the noise, but was woken up several times by noisy vehicles.

Very small rooms. O.K. for adults, but not good for families with kids!




Even though the nearby Best Western Hacienda is older, dated, and has a confusing layout I would choose it because of the bigger rooms and better location within Old Town.

If you do decide to stay here make SURE you request a room away from the freeway.

My wife and I stayed here for 4 nights after abandoning Humphrey's Half Moon Inn. We did not have a reservation but the staff was friendly and helpful as they rearranged other shorter stays to accomodate us. The room was excellent. It was clean and neat with a king bed. Our room overlooked the pool. Try to get a room away from the highway. The hotel restaurant had an excellent breakfast buffet. The location was great for exploring Old Town and central for the whole city with easy highway connections and it's not too far from the trolley. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised after leaving our original hotel. We would stay hear again without a doubt.

Recently stayed for two nights at the Courtyard... Initially booked into a room overlooking the Freeway - the noise was as if the windows were open. Complained in the middle of the night because I just couldn't sleep. Promised that our room would be changed for a quieter one the following day. This was duly done and the noise reduction was remarkable - just moving from one side of the hallway to the other.

Hotel on the whole was OK for a large chain - expensive for the facilities on offer so just OK