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    The Rambler Hotel

    4.1 (217 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Outside chk in area
    Carri F.

    Great place to stay. 70s retro vibe. Comfy beds. Lovely rooms. Arcade located in lobby and small eat lounge to the right of that with more arcades. Heated pool. WiFi. Friendly staff. Clean rooms.

    Board games you can borrow
    Miriam P.

    The motel has a cute vibe! You can buy smores in the lobby to toast in the fire place by the pool. The front desk staff was so friendly. They saw my id and saw I was coming from bakersfield and informed me that the padre hotel where I am from is their sister hotel! What a small world. The rooms were clean the bathroom definitely needs a little revamp but nothing too crazy. I love how they have a cafe on site I woke up and went straight to the coffee shop! Great location would definitely book again.

    Wall in our room

    For a 3 star motel this place was awesome! I initially choose it based on its website followed by its yelp ratings/reviews! We wanted to be close to our concert venue in Chula Vista. The decor here is so cute. The rooms are basic but clean (but nicely decorated with groovy vibes). The property has so much attention to details from the cute pool, to the coffee shop/cafe, the lobby, the complementary beach cruisers, movies by the pool and more. It's centrally located to all the hot San Diego spots. The train stop is walking distance and you can easily get to downtown or the boarder without driving your car. There is a nice wildlife area also in walking distance that also makes for a nice spot to take the bikes to. Only negative is the neighborhood on the other side of the freeway/train tracks is a little rough but the motel is on the outskirts of it. Anyways would def recommend this spot to anyone looking for a nice, reasonably priced spot!

    Maxine P.

    How to describe this renovated motel of times past. It's located right off the Main freeway in Chula Vista. The motel has a Route 66 theme with word designs on the outside of main buildings and the rooms as well. Each room number is designed to look like a mile marker in bright colors. The room itself is tidy and clean, with large words on the wall in bright colors. The bed was comfortable, there were shampoo, conditioner and body soap dispenser in the shower, with a strong shower head spray. Lotion provided as well. We had the bottom room floor near the pool so it could be a little with music and laughter of the families. Didn't bother us, just pointed out in case those interest preferred quiet. The pool area looked well cared for. Charging port for phones were located by the bed side. The office is decorated in bright fun furnishings attached to a restaurant called Rambler Cafe. This came in handy since we were hungry when we arrived. The motel is only 20 minutes from the Gaslight District, Coronado Island and airport when traffic is light. There is a wildlife refuge close by with walking and biking trails. The price was right at 125.00 a night.

    Amanda P.

    Another great stay! Thank you for always making it a smooth experience and the coffee shop never disappoints!

    Rachel T.

    Honestly, we recently stayed at a hotel that was about the same cost and the experience was night and day. The service, cleanliness and charm of the rambler motel is top notch. The decor is so inviting and fun and the extras that they offer make for such a great time. They have a pool, a fire pit, coffee shop, game room and casino. We could have just hung out at the hotel when we came. Fully recommend!

    Such cute decals.
    Kristin J.

    This was such a funky cute hotel to stay at in the south bay area in San Diego. I was visiting family and wanted to have a safe, decently priced hotel to stay one night in. My husband and I checked in at 11pm and checked out the next morning at 10:30am. It was a super quick stay. There was plenty of parking, I felt like my car was safe there overnight. I did the precheck-in that was sent to me via text and email, so when I went to the lobby to check in late at night it was super quick; like just looked at my ID and handed me the room cards quick. Our room was on the ground floor near the pool. It was a very clean room and was such a relief to walk into after a long drive. I adored the decor and all of the cute extra touches to make the room unique. In the morning, I saw a menu on the desk for the coffee shop. We scanned the QR code, which didn't work with my 2018 phone, I pulled up the cafés website and tried to order from there but it said they weren't taking online orders. I then called the reception desk and asked to be connected to the café and tried to place an order for pick up so I could just walk right over and grab it when it was ready. After I was connected to the cafe I was told they don't take orders over the phone. No biggie, just less convenient. My husband walked over and ordered our drinks and waited for them. He got me an Iced Chai Tea Latte which was really really good! Checkout went smoothly in the morning. I really wanted to keep one of our room keys but they have a return the room key box on the counter. The receptionist printed out my receipt and we headed out. It was a relaxing very quick trip. I highly recommend this hotel if you are looking for a spot in the south bay. It is conveniently located right off of the 5 freeway.

    Madelyn T.

    I would highly recommend the Rambler Motel if you're looking for a place to stay outside of downtown SD. It's not the greatest, but they do offer better amenities compared to your typical motels. They do have a cafe on site that is open daily from 7am-8pm if I'm not mistaken. I really like their retro theme throughout the motel. They also offer movie nights at the pool every Fridays. Staff were great upon check in and check out.

    Dirty Horchata
    Ivett G.

    This hotel is so clean and cute! I love the location just off the freeway and plenty of parking! Cute little pool as well. The cafe is amazing and you get a discount if you stay at the hotel. I'm hoping to go back soon!

    Coffee shop inside the lobby with some arcade machines!

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    6 months ago

    Loved the hotel! Super clean and cute themed room! Would choose them again if we are ever back in the area! Their coffee shop is the best!

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    1 year ago

    Quiet and affordable, great location right off the 5. Clean and tidy. Ample parking as well. Friendly front desk staff, too

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    The Rambler Hotel Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Rambler Hotel

    What does the Casino offers?

    It's a card room.

    Is the cafe open to-go? They don't seem to have a website currently.

    Hi Vanessa, Rambler Coffee Shop is open 7AM-3PM SUN-THURS and 7AM-5PM FRI-SAT.

    Is the pool open now?

    Yes, it is. But social distancing is required.

    Is there Continental breakfast?

    No. No refrig or coffee in room either. They are building something in front that looks like a cafe of sorts.

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - The Rambler Hotel

    PROs: great prices, other location reviews are scary with bed bugs, this motel was surprisingly CLEAN I loved that!!

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    El Primero Hotel

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    I booked El Prinero in an effort to be local to a waterpolo tournament rather than spending my time…read morein 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.

    Wonderful, restored, historic (1930) hotel in the shopping part of Chula Vista a short walk from…read morerestaurants, 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.

    Best Western Chula Vista/Otay Valley Hotel - Exterior

    Best Western Chula Vista/Otay Valley Hotel

    (179 reviews)

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    My cousin had our annual Christmas party at his house (we all take turns and I'm up next year,…read moregulp!) which is in CV. We weren't about to make the 130 mile trip back home late at night, so we booked this place (as did my brother-in-law and my other cousin's son (and his GF, hmmmm...) Close to the border in CV, this roadside motel sits inside the driveway to a gas station. Yup, I almost missed it when my nav told me to turn into the gas station. There's ample parking; almost empty when we checked in, though we were surprised that when we returned after our party that the lot was pretty full. The guy at the desk was really nice but wasn't too familiar with any local attractions (we went to Sea World the next day). We volunteered to bring Little Caesars pizza to the party and he did know where that was. In fact, just one exit south off the freeway you'll find a bunch of fast food restaurants and Little Caesars. The room rate was fair for a two queen bed room and a simple breakfast is included. The room was what you would expect from a roadside motel, fairly clean, super simple and basic. The location next to the freeway added to the endless din that made its way through the single pane windows. Partiers who drove the 4 miles across the border to party in TJ made a ton of noise up to 4am, but I won't complain. Just bc I have 4 kids doesn't mean I don't like to have a good time, too. When we packed up the truck to leave, we did smell smoke and it appeared that a homeless person was burning a small on the other side of the wall between the motel and the freeway (no doubt to warm up on a 48F morning... For a motel, it is what it is. However, my wife and I discovered that our kids are bougie since they were looking for the lobby, casino and restaurants... Or was that us???

    My husband and I reserved an overnight stay at the Best Western located at this location for an…read moreovernight anniversary stay ( spontaneous unplanned ) , which obviously resulted in us getting this facility as a result. Upon arrival we had to return the bath towels because they were dirty! The apologies were there ,but a red flag should have gone up! Furthermore, on the mattress's left hand side there was a dip my entire body fell into when I laid down! We thought of calling downstairs but considering it was a holiday weekend we anticipated no other room availability. When we checked out we spoke to the front desk attendant, who came across as completely uninterested in our compliant and his demeanor was completely unprofessional. All he did was hand us a business card for a manager Daniel Escalante. We proceeded to file a formal complaint --resulting in an offer for "reward points!" No thank you we want partial or full reimbursement for this catastrophic experience. Absolutely a NEVER again go back and we have had numerous good experiences with this company. We are awaiting a call back from someone in the customer service department as soon as this coming week.

    Hercor Hotel - Urban Boutique - Commercial area

    Hercor Hotel - Urban Boutique

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    Had a great stay and would absolutely return. The hotel has a clean, modern feel with a subtle…read moreEuropean flair that really sets it apart. Everything felt fresh and well-maintained, which made for a very comfortable experience. One of the highlights was the breakfast. While it's an additional cost (around $13), it was definitely worth it--delicious, satisfying, and a great way to start the day. The room itself was on the smaller side, similar to what you'd expect in a European or New York City hotel, but it was thoughtfully designed and made excellent use of the space. The Nespresso machine was a fantastic surprise and a much-appreciated touch. Overall, a stylish, clean, and enjoyable stay--I'd happily book here again.

    So Disappointed Made a non-refundable, pre-paid 2 nights…read morebooking that was scheduled a few weeks out. I called the Hercor desk that morning of check-in to advise of an urgent inability to travel, but since the reservation was pre-paid/non-refundable I would offer my room to another of the traveling family. The front desk said I needed to go through my Expedia booking to advise whom would use my booking. Okay, I said, I can do that. Sent the message through Expedia to advise the name who would use the 2nd night of my booking, and followed up with a call to the front desk. The clerk told me that my reservation had been canceled for 'no show'. What? I had said I called the previous day to advise, and followed the instructions given. The clerk refused, unwilling to made amends or re-open the booking to use the room that I had already paid for. I kindly asked she push my request up for review/approval, but did not hear back. I called Expedia on that cancellation, they too called the hotel. Expedia said I needed to call the hotel directly and ask for the manager, after the holiday. I did that, and yet still no response, or any sort of acknowledgement. I am not looking for a refund, only a little kindness and empathy for helping travelers in need. I suppose when they already have your money, they don't have to care.

    Comfort Inn Chula Vista San Diego South

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    Great stay, but watch out for hidden "Safe Fees!" I had a…read moredecent one-night stay here. The staff was great, the accommodations were fine, and the included breakfast was actually better than expected. However, be aware of "nickel and diming" tactics. I booked through Priceline and paid $143.97 (including all taxes and fees). A few days later, a separate $1.09 charge appeared from the hotel directly. When I called, I was told it was a "safe fee." We were never informed of this fee, nor was it itemized during check-in or on the third-party receipt. While the amount is small, these types of undisclosed fees feel like a fraudulent business tactic. It's disappointing to see Choice Hotels International, Inc. following this trend. They lost a customer and future word-of-mouth recommendations over a dollar. I'm grateful the fee wasn't larger, but it's the principle that matters.

    So this is my 2nd time staying here, my family comes every year to sesame place and this place is…read morereally close to sesame place so we thought it was convenient. Well, the 1st time we stay here was last year and our experience wasn't bad but also not the best lol our toilet wouldn't flush, then the tub was dirty and yes we reported and got it fix. So this year 7/4/26 we thought we could give it another shot. Well this will definitely be the last lol room curtains are horrible, dirty! We found some very disgusting left over food on the carpet under the bed. When we check in the receptionist told us we needed to request room service if we wanted/needed. Well the next day the cleaners came and we didn't request it, we were ok with it but they told us the day before that we did needed to request it, so not sure what happen there. And the doors were hard to open, front door and bathroom needed to be push hard to open, like push! lol and we were assigned a room right in front of the elevator and gosh it was so annoying when we went to bed. We could hear people come and go and the elevator! Also the microwave had this very funky smell. We decided to not use it at all, the coffee machine also had a funky smell. Breakfast wasn't the best, eggs were salty, waffle maker took for ever, and they didn't have much options. The pool was ok, except that our 2nd day going in the pool, one of the hotel workers came and told us he was going to pour some bleach while my kids were inside! I don't know if that's safe or not but I had my kids (4yrs n 7yrs) get out and wait a bit over hour before I let them go back inside. So yeah we are definitely not staying here again and don't bother to stay here if you are looking into doing it so! Don't!! And if you do, MAKE SURE the room is ACTUALLY CLEAN!! Yes every detail matters!

    The Rambler Hotel - hotels - Updated July 2026

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