I read all the reviews abt this hotel prior to my trip to USA and was horrified by some of them. In fact, 3 of us in the group that stayed there later were quite satisfied with this hotel. 1) excellent location - within 5 mins walk from the Amtrak station; close to gaslamp quater, shopping malls etc - all within walking distance. 2) receptionists were kind and helpful - with luggage and with giving directions to places of interest. 3) our room was just the rite size for us - basic, clean, tidy, fresh towels provided. 4) bathroom & toilet are clean and tidy - I met the housekeeper at midnite, cleaning the toilets and she was very friendly. 5) we had dinner at the hotel restaurant - food was not bad for the price, which was not expensive at all. 6) On the day we left, there was an airport shuttle bus waiting outside the hotel well before our departure. That was really handy and it's only $7 per person. I would recommend this hotel to budget travellers that require basic accommodation, which is still statisfying.

This hotel is just ok. The front desk and hotel staff were very helpful and accomodating, however it's not all they advertise on their website. The bathrooms are clean by definition, but the showers could use a good pressure washing - the once white grout is pretty grey/black. The blanket on our bed had cigarette burns and looked like it was about 100 years old - how much would it cost to replace a grimy blanket? If you're looking for somewhere really cheap - this is it. A new fun European hostile that also saves you money - nope.

The 500 West has some good things going for it, but if you don't know in advance what you are getting into, you will be extremely disappointed.

1. No ensuite bathrooms. They can try to class it up by calling it "European style," but let's face it, Americans expect bathrooms in our hotel rooms. For many people, this is a deal-killer.

2. The bathrooms are small individual "unisex" rooms with a locking door, containing a toilet and sink. The ones I used were very, very clean. I didn't see showers in these rooms. There were at least 10 bathrooms on my floor. I also used the handicapped bathroom which was a large room with a floor-level shower.

3. There is a certain Turkish prison-esque quality to the small rooms. Single bed with a beige blanket, small tv set, no sink, no bar of soap, no water glass, no reading lamp. The room was very clean and there were no funky smells or noisy neighbors. I called the desk for a water glass and a plastic cup was promptly delivered to my room.

4. The location is unbeatable for travelers without a car. It is steps away from the train and bus stations, and the main trolley station. The city bus to the airport stops in front of the hotel, very fast and far cheaper than a taxi or shuttle. There is a café in the building, and a convenience store around the corner is open 24 hours.

5. Finally, the cost. Two of my favorite budget places in downtown San Diego are gone: one demolished, one converted to a pricey "boutique" hotel. Rooms in other downtown locations all seem to be close to $300/night. My single at 500 West was $50, for which I was more than willing to skip a shower for one night.

Unlike the Alissa Hotel in San Francisco which supports its boast of great rooms and urban chic at affordable prices, 500 West is not what it promises to be. This renovated YMCA has a beautiful lobby and downtown location, but it is still being rented and operated as a residential hotel principally for indigent single men. While I am a firm believer in affordable housing and mixed income development, I did not appreciate the "bait and switch." The bathrooms were dirty, the room size miniscule, and the furnishings strictly Salvation Army. If you're going budget, stay at a hostel or try Super 8!