This is the best hotel I have stayed at in years
It is clean and wonderful
The staff is great and the free breakfast is awesome
Friendly enviroment heated pool.
We need more hotels like this one

Simply wonderful! However, keep in mind this hotel was built in 1946. The adventure started with driving up the half-moon drive to the grand columns. My fiance had just picked me up from the U.S.S. Stennis after a three week pre-deployment work up. He (Dave) & I have stayed in MANY hotels around the world and already have plans to stay here again, soon!! The charm of this hotel lies in the grandness of an era gone by, the late '40's. The entry/lobby is magnificient. The Spotlight Bar boasts local talent a pool table and food, all with a sweeping view of the the Johnny Weismueller terrazo swimming pools. We had a Lanai room, poolside, the ONLY way to go. We are smokers and thoroughly enjoyed sitting poolside in the moonlight and even took advantage of the upper deck hot tub/jacuzzi, and for those of you who have tried hotel jacuzzi's, this one was HOT! A rarity, most are barely lukewarm! As a huge added bonus the Red Fox restaurant/lounge inside the hotel complex is outstanding! We found the atmosphere there mesmerizing. The clientel was a mix of locals (always a good sign for a restaurant!) and guests of the hotel. Four things made us repeat dinner there two nights in a row. The service was terrific, never ending coffee cup, the steaks (New York Strip) were outstanding - cooked as ORDERED - and very savory, I had cheesecake which was out of this world, Dave ordered the Chocolate mousse - which he said was so-so, BUT the cook makes the ABSOLUTE best Blue Cheese dressing I've ever tasted, and that includes 5 continents! (Next time back...I'm GETTING that recipe!). OK, they are in the process of renovating, the bathroom ceiling was a bit rough. But, what isn't after 60 years! If you want to step back in time, and enjoy total relaxation, this hotel allows that opportunity.

I had to leave my house for a couple of days because of termite fumigation, and I chose the Lafayette because I'm always looking for unique hotels to recommend to out-of-town friends. I also was drawn by the fact that the hotel is a San Diego icon. The good news is that the ongoing refurbishing is truly bringing the Lafayette back to its glory days. The lobby is gorgeous--spacious and a wonderful place to relax with friends. The lobby bar is quite nice too, with an extended happy hour, inexpensive drinks, and cheerful bartenders. My room in the main building was huge, nicely decorated, and it was easy to set up shop and work from there. The refurbishing and restoration are still in full swing, so I expect that the physical part of the hotel will soon be top notch.

There were a few problems, though. The hotel touts its wireless access, yet it was nonexistant. Even the desk clerk conceded it was "sporadic." However, high speed broadband in my room worked well and was a fine substitute, although I grew weary of being confined to my room. Also, housekeeping neglected to replace coffee supplies in my room, the kitchen staff failed to replace depleted breakfast items (eggs and juice), and the main desk clerk was crabby, barking at employees and guests alike. Finally, the clock radio in the vacant room next door started blaring music in the middle of the night, and I had to call the front desk to send someone to turn it off.

An isolated occurance of any of these missteps would not be an issue, but the pile of them shows an inattention to detail, something that distinguishes a good hotel from a so-so one. I honestly think the Lafayette is headed in the right direction, but it's not there yet. Still, I'd recommend it to friends with a couple of caveats ahead of time.

One final note: The Red Fox Room is just tired. I love nostalgia and tradition, but this restaurant needs updating so badly that it's scary.

The hotel I believe is still being renovated. The hotel lobby, memorabilia, and pool area were the selling features of the hotel. Upon check-in, we were informed that they overbooked our poolside room and instead upgraded us to a penthouse suite on the top floor (4th floor). Unfortunately, the hotel elevators weren't working for at least a day. So we carried our bags to the fourth floor. There was no bellhop to help you with your suitcases. The room itself was nice, more than what we needed. It had a separate living room with a foldout couch. The furnishings and cleanliness of the room could probably be better, in line with what you expect a penthouse suite should be. The refrigerator door did not close and the freezer section was caked with ice. The toilet did not flush well. We needed a plunger to resolve the situation. At times, it was loud in the area, both by sirens and guests of the hotel who were there for more than relaxation. We did, however, manage to get a good night's sleep. The plus of the hotel were the free breakfasts (eggs, toast, cereal, coffee, etc.) and the front desk personnel were also pleasant. The side door was not secured, however, there is a security person walking around the hotel. The location of the hotel is convenient to freeways and has a cityish type feel. If you're looking for a more touristy-type area, try the Hotel Circle area or Mission Bay areas. The hotels there are more mainstream. We probably would stay there again but not at $199/night (Saturday night). It dropped to a more reasonable price for the summer to $99 on Sunday. For those still contemplating, this hotel is more for the experienced traveler looking for nostalgia of some sort. It would be great for families that want to take there kids swimming in the pool, but if you're in San Diego, I don't think your vacation will be centered on just pool activity. The zoo is in close proximity to the hotel, as well as other main attractions. Hope this helps with your decision making.