Old and charming, but that is not necessarily good.
Written: Oct 27 '06 (Updated Nov 07 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Location, room size
Cons: No air conditioning, indifferent service
The Bottom Line: Good location, historic charm, and a spacious room can't make up for the Park Manor's many flaws.
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| ayjay's Full Review: Park Manor Suites |
We recently spent several nights at the Park Manor Suites in San Diego. Unfortunately, ours was not a positive experience.
The Park Manor is located in an historic building, and it definitely has some old world charm. The small lobby is ornate with wood trim and stonework. Antique furniture abounds.
The location is near the Hillcrest neighborhood, and just across from west edge of Balboa Park. It is convenient to the zoo and museums, though most attractions are on the east side of the park. A free park shuttle is a short walk from the hotel. Hillcrest offers a large number of shops and restaurants, which are a short drive away. Access to major highways is nearby. Good beaches are 10-15 minutes away. You will probably want a car if you are headed anywhere other than the park. Parking is free in a lot directly behind the building, although the lot is small and at risk of filling.
We travel as a family, so a spacious room is required, and we tend to favor hotels that offer suites. We chose the Park Manor Suites for the available two-bedroom apartment-style suites (there are also one-bedroom and studio units). The rooms are tastefully furnished and each one is unique. Ours had a full kitchen, which included dishes and basic cookware. Some of the furniture could be called antique, some just plain old. Unfortunately, the bathroom, while technically clean and functional, was in desperate need of renovation.
The charm quickly fades, however, particularly in the summer. The Park Manor Suites has NO AIR CONDITIONING. This was not mentioned anywhere on their web site or in any brochure.
During most of the year, air conditioning is not required in San Diego. The days we spent there, however, were hot and humid. The only option for ventilation was two cheap box fans and lots of windows. The fans were of limited use and noise from the traffic and construction outside meant we couldn’t keep the windows open at night.
Management was unapologetic, occasionally rude, and unwilling to offer any solution. They even claimed that their web site says that there is no air conditioning, but later recanted. Desk staff was sympathetic, but not helpful.
Service overall was a disappointment. Our room was not ready at check-in time. There was no baggage service. Housekeeping was slow, and even completely failed to clean our room one day (they offered at 3:45pm, but by then we were back from a day at the beach.)
Breakfast was included in our rate, and was adequate. Bagels, breads, fruit, cereal, yogurt, juice, and coffee are served on the top floor. The highlight of breakfast is the penthouse room it is served in, offering nice views of the city and some tables outdoors on the roof deck. For dinner, there is also a pricey restaurant in the basement, which also functions as a night club. The neighborhood has several restaurants nearby.
Despite the good location, historic charm of the building, and the spacious room, the Park Manor Suites has too many flaws for me to recommend it.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
ayjay
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Reviews written: 74
Trusted by: 7 members
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