Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG

2.5 star property

Photo gallery for Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG

Pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains
Property preview
Exterior
Hallway
Free daily buffet breakfast

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View map
1430 7th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101
  • Place, San Diego Convention Center
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Place, Petco Park
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, San Diego Zoo
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪5 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible (Comm, Transfer Shower)

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible (Communication, Transfer Shower)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(4 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible (Comm, Transfer Shower)

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Suite, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible (Communications, Roll-In Shower)

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(23 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(51 reviews)
  • 22 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(97 reviews)
  • 25 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Suite, 1 King Bed

7.2 out of 10
Good
(10 reviews)
  • 41 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(6 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Balcony

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(21 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

Similar properties

About the area

San Diego

With a stay at Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG in San Diego (Downtown San Diego), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Port of San Diego and Petco Park. .This hotel is 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from San Diego Convention Center and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from USS Midway Museum.

What's nearby

  • San Diego Convention Center - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Petco Park - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Port of San Diego - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Balboa Park - 3 min drive - 3.0 km
  • San Diego Zoo - 3 min drive - 2.3 km

Getting around

  • 5th Avenue Station - 6 min walk
  • San Diego Santa Fe Depot - 17 min walk
  • San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cocina 35 - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪SHAKE Bar & Lounge - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪The Taco Stand - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Achilles Coffee @ The Rey - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Maestro Lounge - ‬3 min walk

About this property

Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG

Hotel with free breakfast, near Petco Park
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG offers 148 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and hair dryers. Beds feature pillowtop mattresses. Flat-screen televisions come with premium cable channels. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and desk chairs, as well as phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is offered daily and microwaves can be requested.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center.
Make yourself at home in one of the 148 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as a fitness center or take in the view from a terrace. This hotel also features complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and a banquet hall.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at Cocina 35 serving guests of Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served on weekdays from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM and on weekends from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM.
Featured amenities include express check-out, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Planning an event in San Diego? This hotel has 1324 square feet (123 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and a meeting room. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
A complimentary buffet breakfast is served on weekdays between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM and on weekends between 6:30 AM and 10:00 AM.
Cocina 35 - This family restaurant specializes in Mexican cuisine and serves breakfast and lunch.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Height restrictions apply for on-site parking
  • Parking on site (USD 38 per day; includes in/out privileges)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM on weekdays and 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM on weekends
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • Cocina 35

Things to do

  • Gym

Family friendly

  • In-room cot
  • Laundry facilities
  • Microwave on request
  • Mini-fridge

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Shared microwave
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • 1,324 square feet of conference space
  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool
  • Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1969
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes
  • Free cot
  • Pillowtop mattress

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Microwave on request
  • Mini-fridge

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • LED lighting
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 30

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Self parking fee: USD 38.00 per day (in/out privileges)
  • Early check-in fee: USD 30 (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Clean Promise (IHG)
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property
Parking height restrictions apply
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Holiday Inn Express Hotel San Diego Downtown
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown
San Diego Downtown Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown Hotel
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown Hotel San Diego
San Diego Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn San Diego

Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown by IHG Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 813 out of 1516 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 369 out of 1516 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 198 out of 1516 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 65 out of 1516 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 71 out of 1516 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Neda

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice and welcoming staff. Breakfast was good.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tanner

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Michael

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Karen

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not worth the money!

Was very disappointed and upset that for this expensive price yet parking wasn’t included???. Had to pay separately for underground parking. Cleaning services didn’t come first day so that was also upsetting. Also neighbors were loud. Overall, definitely not worth the money.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nyema

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Romeo, Long Beach

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Roxanna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bertha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mai Kou

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The front desk lady was amazing when we checked in. She was super sweet and worked professionally. We were upgraded to a balcony room, the view is of the city and just buildings but I was thankful. The room had a weird smell at first, like the carpet may need a cleaning but after a day, I think we got use to it. The room we had had plenty of space to lay out our suitcases and unpack. You do have to pay for parking and their pool was under construction. Staff was kind and worked hard. Breakfast was amazing and I enjoyed it very much. I had a very long drive back home the day of check out and wanted to sleep in a bit longer and asked for a later checkout and the hotel staff was very accommodating. This hotel location is far away enough from the nightlife so it’s not loud but close enough to Uber or drive there. About 8 mins from gas lamp and 10 mins to seaport village. Loved the location and hotel staff! When in San Diego, I would stay here again. This hotel staff exceeded my expectations! Thank you for being so accommodating.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Nate

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
I enjoyed vacationing in the Gaslamp area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

muhammad

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
location is quite central
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Michele

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property was so bad, I canceled my stay & went to another hotel. Pool was “out of service “, carpet was so stained & smelled moldy, garbage stacked in the hallways , it was ridiculous. Thank goodness Expedia refunded my money
I don’t even know what this is
Your greeting when you exit the elevator
Moldy smelling hallway
Bathroom
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joanna

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Everything was excellent, breakfast was great
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Nate

Liked: Staff & service
The staff were friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Patrick

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Pool was closed with no sign or notice put up. When I needed a bandage for a cut I was informed that there were none in the entire hotel.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Karmen

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maxwell

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Marissa

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great Home Base for Exploring San Diego

Fabulous beds, very comfortable. Bathroom door is more of a barn-style door that does not lock, so make sure you stay with people you are comfortable with. We stayed to visit colleges nearby (UCSD, USD) and it was a quick 15 min drive to both. There was a yummy burger joint just a 6 minute walk from the hotel, however as it got darker out, we were a little nervous walking back to the hotel due to some unhoused people meandering about. The parking situation is WILD the underground parking is tight, so I do not recommend having a large vehicle. We took a 5 minute drive down to the wharf which had easy parking, museums, waterfront restaurants, boat tours, and a pleasant walking path. Highly recommend heading down there for a day, lots to do. The room was clean and had great views of downtown. Downtown can be noisy so just be prepared! No screen on our window, but we were high enough from the street to not be worried about intruders. The complimentary breakfast has something for everyone, and there is plenty of complimentary coffee in the lobby all day and downstairs breakfast area in the morning. We also appreciated the Water Bottle Refill station, we were able to fill up our re-usable water bottles (brought from home) for free before our journeys to visit college campuses.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Calvin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Nicholas

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The one bedroom suite is only a large room, completely false advertising. Other than that the place is pretty good. There are cheaper parking options around instead of using the hotel parking - check parking spot app.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

franchel j

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Stephanie

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience at this hotel was frustrating from the start. Upon arrival, I had to wait well past check-in time for my room to be ready after calling and being told early check in was available. When I was finally given a room, it had a strong, unpleasant odor. I had to go back to the front desk and request a different room, which was inconvenient after a long day of travel. I also paid extra for a room with a balcony, but was placed on the first floor with no view something I felt was misleading and unacceptable. When I brought this up, there was no real effort to correct the issue or offer compensation. Overall, the stay fell far below expectations. I would not recommend this hotel based on my experience with room readiness, cleanliness, and failure to deliver what was promised.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lourdes

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Herlinda hernandez

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Kyle

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025