I booked El Prinero in an effort to be local to a waterpolo tournament rather than spending my time in my car and my money in businesses that are not local. Chula Vista is a cute neighborhood. The hotel promised quit settings , the smoke store and 7-11 across from it made me doubt that when we first arrived but it turned out to be totally true. The neighborhood is super safe and has everything you will EVER need right on 3rd. The lady running this hotel is super organized. We booked the largest room as we had a 4 night stay. The bed and pillow were cozy. Towels ample in the bathroom. The parking lot on the side dedicated to guests was a life line and so practical. Water pressure and temp were perfect. Spacious bathroom. Cute and large outdoor space. Coffee and tea for guests ready in the lobby every morning. I appreciated that the other guests were equally as quiet as that as it is an old building and you can hear other folks' convo from room to room. As it is often the case no matter how expensive your hotel is. Five star if the trash had been emptied and the bathroom had had a refresh. Booking was easy , payment taken on arrival , easy check out. We'll be back. read more

El Primero Hotel - Ample outdoor space immaculately kept. - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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As you read about El primero you already know it was built in 1930. Knowing that the hotel is cute , quite a little out dated furniture and carpet but that's it's character and you should embrace it. I took my girk friend there for a birthday night. The location was perfect. We walked up and down third avenue enjoying the shops, bars and restaurants. When our night on the town was over we enjoyed walking back to the hotel to our king room . No hassle whatsoever entering and exiting freely. I would recommend this hotel to anyone that is willing to just enjoy where you are and not expect bellboys and fancy amenities. We plan on doing it again for her next birthday. read more

Wonderful, restored, historic (1930) hotel in the shopping part of Chula Vista a short walk from restaurants, brewery and shops, and a short ride to the Gaylord Convention Center. (And a third of the cost of the Gaylord Hotel! With free onsite parking. The Gaylord charges $45 for guest parking. Cost much less for Lyft both ways total than just that parking fee). And a very nice owner who is also the desk clerk. Extremely well renovated and maintained with super soft bedding and towels, very homey and comfortable lobby, excellent breakfast place 3 minute walk away. read more

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Tiny but charming hotel in the heart of old Chula Vista. Conveniently located to restaurants, coffee houses, bars, and shops. Warm welcome and friendly service by Karen (owner). Rooms are small and no frills- but clean and essentially furnished. TV with streaming and free movies, WiFi, and small parking lot with free parking included in the very reasonable room rates. Coffee and tea available in the lobby in the morning. Location, price, and personalized service are all reasons to come back if the need ever arises again. read more

First time guest. I'd like to begin by saying don't book through an online third party online. Call the hotel and book directly with them they will give you the best room they can find. Support this local hotel and book directly with them. When booked through other sites, small businesses like this get charged. The service was 5 star, I was very happy overall with our stay. It's safe and secluded and within walking distance of local restaurants. The owners Kathie and Karen were very attentive and polite. If you're traveling alone you'll feel safe. Noticed couples, solo traveler and small groups like ours, nonetheless there weren't any sus guests. Would totally return. read more

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I stayed at El Primero over the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend for 1 night. It was quaint and charming. The room was very clean and the environment was quiet. It's on a very cute street and gives the feeling of a small town. The innkeepers were friendly and very helpful. I will definitely return1 read more

I stayed at El Primero Hotel for a short weekend. I wasn't sure what to expect, as I tend to stick with larger hotel chains like Days Inn. The reviews absolutely convinced me to book! The room itself is so lovely. There are complaints about the rooms being too small, but it's hard to expect anything else given the hotel is 130+ years old. The staff did an amazing job keeping the hotel clean and spruced up. I was very happy with my experience - 1 night total for less than $140, a parking lot included for guests. This location is a short walk/drive to a nearby mall and many local restaurants (try out La Bella Pizza Garden down the block for some great pizza). I absolutely adore history and old buildings with character, and this hotel fit right in. The bed was comfy, the sheets were clean, and the hotel put out morning coffee and brownies! If I make another trip to San Diego, this hotel is definitely where I'll be staying, and it should be where you are staying too! read more

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My Boyfriend and I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights. It was affordable and the location of it was nice with many places to eat near by. I will say their parking is compact, they unfortunately hit my car and when asked to see the cameras it wasn't the best quality. They should at least invest in better camera quality. read more

Super cute and friendly hotel. Family owned, and operated. Very clean and accommodating. The area had plenty of nightlife too! We will definitely stay again! read more

Pretty nice at this hotel. The transit bus stop is practically in-front of the hotel. The owners were absolutely Professionals. So quiet here and ample off street parking. Rooms are cozy and beds comfy. read more

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Great experience! Clean and cute, and very centrally located. Also, the family that owns the hotel is the sweetest! I was sad to leave. :)

Room was clean. Staff is very friendly. Close to good restaurants. Evening very peaceful. read more

I had to stay overnight for work and I found this Perfect little spot Downtown Chula. The manager/owner "Karen" the nice kind lol made it such a nice stay. She's super sweet and accommodating and goes above and beyond to make sure her guest feel very welcomed. Would stay there again no questions asked. read more

My wife and I had an excellent stay at this historical hotel in Chula Vista. We arrive late at night (almost 10pm) and were greatly kindly and with a smile by Karen, who is the daughter of the original owner. Her customer service was exceptional, and we spoke over the phone with her sister, Kate, earlier in the day... and she was a pleasure to speak with as well. This little hotel was very charming, quaint and cute. If you're looking for all of the up to date amenities, perhaps this isn't the place for you. But, if you're looking for a quality stay, great customer service and hospitality, then El Primero Hotel would be a great choice. If we ever need to stay in Chula Vista again, we'll definitely be staying at El Primero!!! :) read more

This was a nice little hotel. Affordable and comfortable! I didn't know it was family & Filipino owned either! But the staff was super sweet and the rooms were clean and cozy as well. read more

Sol and her daughter were very accommodating. Very nice to communicate with. The room could have been cleaner. read more

Everything went perfect! Great place, wonderful people, good location all at a great price! Feels like staying in different country! read more

Old historical art deco building. Creeky floors and tub. Hard beds caused me to have backache. No hot water but only Luke warm from shower. No faucet hot water as nothing came out of the left knob. Remote for TV don't work. Need new light bulb. Nicest folks as my heart ache writing this truthful review. Location is awesome 1 block from downtown 3rd street restaurants read more

Karen and Sol are a real delight as hosts. They are very friendly people. They treat their guests like family.

El Primero is a quiet and quaint hotel that is family owned and the rooms are very clean. It is centrally located in downtown Chula Vista with everything within walking distance including a 24 hr 7/11 across the street. Fresh coffee from Starbucks is available in the lobby at 6:30 am as well as an amazing assortment of teas. There is also a garden/patio area securely located right outside the lobby to relax as well, I recommend this hotel highly recommended.. Karen will make sure your stay will feel like you are hom. read more

Very cute, historic hotel. Amazing staff, very comfortable and clean. Located in a great part of Chula Vista and is very walkable.

El Primero has a slogan: "ARRIVE AS GUEST, LEAVE AS FRIENDS, COME BACK AS FAMILY" and we were so pleased to see them LIVE IT rather than it being some corporate marketing copy. We had such an incredible time - from the cleanliness of the space, the comfort of the bed, the quality of every amenity, but most importantly, the kindness of the owners and staff. We hope to be back very soon. read more

Super friendly and helpful staff. Clean comfortable room in a great location on 3rd Ave. I will most definitely come back when the need presents itself read more

A quiant charming bed and breakfast with a kind heart.. Owner was so delightful and I differently going back!

Small, old, but very nice hotel. Patio seating, lovely lobby, coffee/tea (and I think hot chocolate) in the AM. Room clean, bed reasonably comfortable, power strip on the desk for your rechargeables. Ice available near the patio. Shower narrow, water pressure not great - but quiet area, parking lot, and overall a good experience. read more

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This hotel is located in a 100 year old building. It is beautifully maintained and has so much character. The hotel has been run by the same family for at least two generations. They take a lot of pride in providing a wonderful experience. The rooms are smaller than what you are probably used to. But they are beautiful, well cared for, and comfortable. The hotel has character and a wonderful unique personality. I would highly recommend this place, and it will be our first choice when we visit San Diego. read more

The rooms are adorable clean and comfortable. The price is very affordable. The hostess is very kind and friendly.

This quaint Art Deco 1930 boutique hotel in Chula Vista has all the charm and warmth you'll need for your visit. Owned and operated by the Roqué family, the El Primero is he best kept secret in Chula Vista. Warm and inviting service and peace and quiet you'll enjoy. read more

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Karen was great! Upon arrival she personally took me to the room and had great tips for restaurants etc,. Bed was comfortable and room was clean.Starbucks coffee and assortment of delicious teas available at 6:30 a.m. Highly recommend this place. read more

Great small hotel with friendly staff. The hotel was the first one built in Chula Vista (I believe 1920s) so it has tons of character. Situated near great restaurants and shops. read more

Excellent stay at this historical, but clean and well-kept hotel. Close to many restaurants and stores in the Chula Vista downtown area. Walking distance. read more

Everything was wonderful and peaceful! Room was very comfortable and very clean. Katy is amazing and the owner is such a lovely loving woman! I will be booking my stays there! read more

Karen was wonderful. She greeted us and gave us a bigger room for free! I love the art deco design and the San Diego theme. Each room has a different historic designation. The outdoor patio and gazebo are wonderful places to relax. The hotel is within walking distance of restaurants, bars and a park. Bravo! read more

The reviews of this place on yelp, and other hotel websites, are definitely accurate! this place was amazing! while it was a small and simple room, all amenities worked great and the lady who owns the hotel is an absolute gem of a human being. While making coffee in the lobby, i complimented her service to my boyfriend, and another guest in the lobby chimed in about their wonderful experience with her as well. who knew that the hospitality would be a connection for me to meet others lol! i will definitely be staying here again the next time I see a concert in Chula Vista. Thank you for a wonderful stay read more

Booking and service were absolutely fantastic. Karen is an absolutely wonderful owner and host. The hotel is very cozy, has a beautiful outside patio and there are many wonderful restaurants within easy walking distance. Absolutely book and stay here. read more

GREAT place to stay and Perfect location! Rooms maybe small but it's a very cozy, quite and clean. The staff was extremely nice and accommodating. Its leas than 15 miles to Old Town SD and less than 10 miles to the amphitheater. In the evening there are local bars that are walking distance they are very chill and not rowdy. There are also 2 food trucks on Third Ave for late night tacos. ;o) I plan to stay here again when I visit San Diego. read more

Very charming historic boutique hotel. Very clean and inviting. We were greeted by Karen who was very hospitable and recommended some places for dinner and drinks. 20 restaurants and bars/pubs within walking distance of a few blocks. We felt safe walking Downtown as there were also many other people walking enjoying the beautiful cool weather. Brought back our dessert and coffee and had it in the nice romantic patio. Beautifully decorated with plants and lighting. Plenty of tables and chairs and the atmosphere was very calm and relaxing. We fill definitely be back!! Thank you very much for hospitality. read more

Cute, boutique hotel at a reasonable price. My husband and I stayed here for a wedding in October. Rooms were quaint, very vintage. The rooms were clean. Bathrooms were a bit small to the point where the door was hard to close in our room, but overall decent for the price. read more

A very pleasant stay, outstanding service. If you are ever coming to this area, you cannot go wrong staying here.

It's a game for me. Finding a great deal for a top rated hotel/motel, then thumbing my nose at those who aren't in the know. Our plans were to celebrate our back to back birthday/anniversary in the lovely, diverse, temperate weather city of San Diego. Since our special dates always fall over Labor Day weekend, I went sleuthing for a deal, starting my search for the day after...i.e. when everyone else went home (We can do that because...don't hate me...we're retired). It is no small surprise that El Primero was ranked by numerous booking websites as being pretty darn near perfect. That is how I noticed them. But I also found that when I went directly to their own website, I could take advantage of far better pricing than the big name booking sites offered. And that is what made my mind up, and how we ended up having a romantic 2 night getaway here, at El Primero. The cozy 20-room hotel oozes of So. Calif-Mediterranean style 1930's quaintness, having been lovingly restored from a sad dump to the charmer it is today. The rooms, typical of that era, are snug, but with quality amenities, a flat screen tv, a desk, plenty of electrical outlets for all your electronic gadgets, air conditioning, super clean, some rooms with mini fridges. The price includes breakfast (eggs, breakfast meats, an incredible array of fresh and exotic fruits, freshly baked, moist banana bread, and good coffee, to name the highlights). It is offered serve-yourself style. You can eat at a small indoor table, or outdoors at tables in their gracious garden patio, or you can even bring a tray to your room. There are big couches and a big coffee table downstairs in the lobby for guests to spread out, socialize, play games. Part of the decor are the framed, black and white historic photographs of this area. There is no elevator, but there is a ramp to accommodate handicapped on the first floor. The neighborhood is good, there is a well lighted parking lot. A short stroll takes you into the Chula Vista old town that features boutiques and plenty of interesting places to eat. And San Diego in all its charm is a convenient, quick drive away. The owners, Pie and Sol, are delightful, easy to talk to, and take pride in making your stay a happy experience. Thank you both for your grand hospitality! read more

El Primero Hotel - Just a block away. A nice area to stroll. - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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