In my opinion, this is the best hotel in downtown San Diego. The hotel is excellent. The location is excellent, the views are great (especially if you get a higher floor), and the staff is very friendly! Some of the furnishings in our room were a little worn, but still in better shape than other downtown hotels in San Diego we've tried. The bed was very comfortable, and the room was clean. We stayed in the older tower (furnishings are probably more updated in the new tower). Parking is a little expensive at $20/day, but at least it is convenient and there's plenty of parking (we stayed at the Embassy Suites one time...Valet parking was required there...and we waited 30 mintues or so for our car each time we wanted to go somewhere). The SeaPort village is next door...and it is a tourist trap (as someone else alreay mentioned). However, it's a fun tourist trap for my family. We don't usually buy much in the stores, but we like the restaurants like the Edgewater Grill. Another of our favorite restaurants, The Fish Market, is also nearby. We were fortunate to get a better deal than most through a Priceline bid. We paid much less than the typical rate...I'd still pay the full rate to stay here again.

This hotel looks better in the photos and is not so fancy as you would expect. The biggest disappointment for me was that everything costs extra, even ridiculous things. For example, if you place your own juice in the minibar ("refreshment center" as they want to call it), you will have to pay 10 dollars for "restocking fee". If you want to empty the minibar and place your own preferred items there, they will charge 25 dollars handling fee for this. I found this ridiculous! The gym costs as well, even if in the website you get the image that it is free. 20 dollars for three days, just stair machines, ellipticals and free weights! The wi-fi costs extra. You get the impression it would be free. The rooms are ok, but certainly not worth for 300 dollars per night. The bathrooms look old and used. There is no complimentary breakfast and the restaurants are expensive and just mediocre. The Seaport Village next door is a tourist trap and I had worst pizza there I have ever eaten. The pool and the views are nice, though, and the overall impression of the hotel is quite clean.

I stayed here for a work conference and had an excellent experience. The hotel room was comfortable, the meeting rooms were spacious and accessible, and the location was fantastic. There were multiple dining options in the hotel as well as within a 10 min walk. The staff was friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this hotel for both business and personal travel.

We stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt this past weekend. My parents were attending a conference and booked an additional room for us. Despite some initial hiccups, our stay was quite nice. Although my parents booked at the conference rate, they were graciously upgraded to a 28th floor Bay View room for the entire stay. When we joined them over the weekend, my parents were told that the Hyatt would try to accomdate us in a room next to their room. Apparently, the person in the next room was a late check out and there some coordination problems with housekeeping so we ended up waiting almost three hours to get a room. We checked back with the front desk periodically and it was frustrating to be told that it would just take a few minutes longer. To their credit, the front desk was always polite. We were trying to be patient since we had been promised a great room next to my parents. Finally after two 1/2 hours I called housekeeping directly to find out what was going on. To make a long story short, after three hours, we took a room three doors down with the same gorgeous Bay View and a King size bed. With two kids in tow, we would have preferred double beds but we managed. Room service is pricey but the food was pretty good and delivered quickly. It is true that the elavators are a bit slow but the place is incredibly busy! I would have preferred a bigger and less crowded pool too. Otherwise, service was fine. Sally's by the Bay serves an incredible and reasonably priced brunch on Sundays from 10-3. They even have a great kids menu. Overall, it was a very nice experince and I would stay at the Grand Hyatt again.

I stayed at the Manchester Grand for a work conference, and since it was much nicer than the hotels I usually stay at on business, I was pretty satisfied. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. The pool was absolutely beautiful, the view from my room spectacular, and the food at the restaurants and from room service was above average hotel food. The service I received from the concierge and bell staff was also good. The bed was very comfortable. And..the location. Right next to Seaside Village which is full of touristy shops and restaurants, and a short walk from the Gaslamp quarter, which has great shopping and excellent dining choices. You're also a short walk from the marina area where you can check out a giant aircraft carrier and some tall ships. The down-sides: *when I got into my room, the toilet paper roll was half empty as was the bottle of lotion on the sink. This was the first time I have ever experienced that in a hotel, and it kind of grossed me out. When you go to a hotel, you aren't supposed to see any sign of the people who stayed in the room before you!! *Guests had to pay additional costs to use the fitness center and wireless internet. For the cost of this hotel, I would expect these things to be included. Overall it was a good stay, but I don't know that I'd stay there if I was footing the bill myself.