Thinking about booking The Pearl Hotel? I was too – and here’s exactly how that turned out.
So my birthday was coming up and I’m sitting there thinking, you know what, this year I’m actually gonna do something fun instead of just ordering takeout and calling it a celebration.
My husband and I ended up booking this weekend trip to San Diego, and I’d been stalking The Pearl Hotel on Instagram for months.
All those retro vibes and that crazy oyster–shaped pool – looked like the perfect birthday spot, right?
Well… after three nights there, I’ve got some thoughts. And by thoughts, I mean this place is beautiful but also kinda weird?
Like, I’m torn between wanting to go back and never dealing with certain things again. Let me just spill everything.
Getting There: Airport Close, Everything Else… Not So Much
The hotel’s in Point Loma, which honestly I didn’t really think about when booking.
At first, it seemed perfect – it’s super close to the airport – like stupid close, which was great when we landed. But then we realized we’d basically be driving everywhere else.
I’m talking 20+ minutes to get to literally anything worth seeing. Gaslamp, the zoo, all those cute neighborhoods – nope, you’re driving. The only thing you can walk to is this harbor area with some seafood places, but that’s it.
If you’re planning one of those jam-packed San Diego trips, this location’s gonna get old fast. We spent so much time in the car, which wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for a relaxing birthday weekend.
But hey, if you just want to chill and not deal with tourist crowds, then maybe that’s a good thing?
First Impressions: Okay This Place is Actually Gorgeous
When we pulled up, I immediately got why this place has such a following. It’s like someone took a 1960s Palm Springs hotel and mixed it with modern California cool.
The whole mid-century modern thing with these boho touches that somehow work perfectly together.
Honestly, the lobby made me want to redecorate my entire apartment. All these natural textures and warm colors, really good lighting that makes everyone look better.
Plus, they always have coffee and tea out, which is nice since we’re paying enough to stay here.
The Whole Vibe is Very Chill
The whole place just screams California laid-back. Not fancy-schmancy, just… cool. Like, effortlessly cool in a way that probably takes a lot of effort to pull off.
Everything screams vintage in the best way – these atomic age lamps, colors straight out of a ’70s magazine.
So, if you’re into that whole aesthetic, you’ll probably fall in love. But if not, it might feel like you’re staying in a museum.
Our Room: Beautiful but… Damp?
We got a Deluxe king room with a little balcony for about $1,000 total.
The room looked amazing – all light and airy with these gorgeous natural textures. Very Instagram–worthy, which obviously I appreciated.
The Good Stuff
The bed was actually comfortable, thank god. You never know with boutique hotels sometimes. The bathroom had this amazing rainfall shower with really nice organic toiletries that smelled incredible.
As for the balcony, it had two cute chairs, though we didn’t end up using it much. The view was… fine. Nothing spectacular but whatever.
The Weird Humidity Thing
But here’s where things got weird. There was this humidity problem that just wouldn’t go away.
At first I thought maybe it was just us, but no – there was definitely this musty smell, and nothing would dry. I’m talking our towels, our clothes, everything just stayed damp forever. Super annoying.
And get this – all the hangers are in the bathroom. So your nice clothes are hanging in the humid bathroom. Makes total sense, right?
Daily Life: Some Bumps Along the Way
Restaurant Noise Drama
We got stuck with a room right above the restaurant, which would’ve been fine except the restaurant’s open to everyone, not just hotel guests.
During our stay someone was throwing a birthday party down there with music until like 10 PM. Not exactly the romantic birthday vibe I was going for.
Basic Stuff That Worked
The AC worked okay, but obviously couldn’t fix the humidity issue. WiFi was fine, all the basic stuff worked. No major complaints there.
The staff was really sweet though. Like, genuinely nice people who seemed to actually care, not that fake hotel smile thing. Since it’s a smaller place, everything feels more personal.
The Famous Pool: Pretty but Impractical
Okay so this pool is literally all over their marketing, and I get why. It’s shaped like an oyster, looks amazing, very unique. Plus, they do movie nights which sounds romantic and actually is pretty cool.
But here’s the thing – the water was salty! Like, ocean salty. Not sure if that was on purpose or what, but it was definitely weird.
On top of that, instead of normal lounge chairs, they have these folding chair things that look stylish but hurt your back after ten minutes.
We tried to have a relaxing pool day and basically gave up because it wasn’t comfortable. Pretty to look at though.
Food and Drinks: Hit or Miss
The Bar is Amazing
The bar downstairs is honestly the best part of the whole place.
Great drinks, perfect atmosphere, exactly what you want after dealing with San Diego traffic all day. The bartenders actually know what they’re doing.
The restaurant’s decent but if you’re vegetarian like me, good luck. Very limited options for dinner. The food that’s there is good, just typical hotel pricing.
Breakfast Though… Ugh
Breakfast was honestly disappointing. First, it’s not included, which is annoying when you’re already paying this much.
Second, when you do pay extra, you get chia pudding and some basic stuff that’s honestly not worth it. We ended up going out for breakfast every day.
At Least There Are Bikes
Oh, and you can borrow bikes, which is actually pretty cool. One of the few free things they offer.
The Money Talk: Surprise Fees Everywhere
Here’s where I got really annoyed. So we thought we were paying $333 a night, which seemed reasonable for San Diego.
But then there’s this $20 resort fee that just gets added on. Plus parking is another $20 a day, and you can’t even reserve a spot – it’s first come, first served.
So suddenly, our $333 a night suddenly became $373 a night. That’s over $1,120 for three nights! For that money, I expected everything to be perfect, and it just… wasn’t.
The resort fee especially bugs me because what resort amenities are we talking about? There’s no gym, no spa, no pool service. You get to use the WiFi and… that’s about it.
My Final Take: Style Over Everything Else
Look, this place definitely has character. It’s beautiful, the staff is nice, and it’s totally different from your typical hotel chain.
If you’re really into design and don’t mind some quirks, you might love it.
However, for almost $400 a night with all the fees, I expected better. The humidity thing, the uncomfortable pool setup, being far from everything, those surprise charges – it adds up.
What I Actually Loved:
- Seriously gorgeous design everywhere
- Really nice, genuine staff
- So close to the airport it’s almost silly
- Amazing bar with killer drinks
- Bed was actually comfortable and that shower was perfect
- Free coffee in the lobby (small things matter!)
- Movie nights are actually fun
- Quiet area away from all the crowds
- You can borrow bikes which is sweet
- That pool really is unique, even if it’s not practical
What Drove Me Absolutely Crazy:
- Everything stays damp in those rooms
- That musty smell that just won’t go away
- Why are the hangers in the bathroom??
- Those pool chairs are torture devices disguised as furniture
- You’re so far from everything cool in San Diego
- If you get a room above the restaurant, good luck sleeping
- Breakfast costs extra and it’s not even good
- If you’re vegetarian, dinner options are pretty sad
- Twenty bucks for parking you can’t even reserve
- That sneaky resort fee that appears out of nowhere
- For almost $400 a night, where’s the gym? The spa? Anything?
- Feels more like a really pretty motel than an actual resort
My honest rating: 6/10
I’m lowering the score because of hidden costs and room humidity.
This place is for people who value style over comfort, but the real price of over $370 per night makes the quality-to-price ratio less attractive.
Who Should Actually Stay Here?
Definitely recommend for:
- Couples looking for a place with character and vibe (with higher budget)
- Solo travelers who love vintage aesthetics
- People seeking a quieter alternative to downtown San Diego
- Those planning to mainly relax rather than intensively sightsee
- Mid–century modern and boho style lovers
- People who don’t mind driving to attractions
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Don’t recommend for:
- Families with kids – zero family amenities, no playground, no family rooms
- People looking for ultra–modern hotels with full amenities (gym, spa, etc.)
- Those who don’t like vintage style and background music
- People expecting transparent pricing without hidden fees
- Those planning intensive sightseeing – location won’t be convenient
- Guests expecting luxury amenities and resort character
- People on a tight budget (real costs are higher than they appear)
Would I Book The Pearl Hotel Again?
Honestly? Probably not. Those hidden fees really got under my skin, and the humidity thing was just gross.
Moreover, for $400 a night, I feel like I could find something that doesn’t come with so many compromises.
That said, I don’t regret trying it! It was definitely memorable, and if you’ve got the budget and really value having a place that looks amazing over having everything be perfect, maybe you’ll have a better experience than I did.
For most people though, I’d probably say stay downtown where you’re close to everything and less likely to get hit with surprise charges.
What do you think about The Pearl Hotel? Worth it for the Instagram factor or too many headaches?
And hey, if you want more brutally honest hotel reviews where I actually tell you when things suck, check out my other posts – I promise I’ll always give you the real story!Â
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