We love the rambler. Anytime we come visit from LA. We will always consider staying at the rambler. Always clean, such cute vibes, and amazing staff. read more

Overall, we had a decent stay. The location was one of the biggest highlights. There was plenty of free parking, which made coming and going easy, and having a Walmart along with several fast food options within five minutes was incredibly convenient. We also loved that you could catch a view of the ocean right from the parking lot. That said, there were a few disappointments. The biggest downside was that our room didn't have a refrigerator or microwave, which made traveling with our family much less convenient. The breakfast area also wasn't very family friendly, as the only indoor seating was high-top tables, with picnic tables available outside. The continental breakfast was very basic, consisting of thawed waffles, two cereal options, fruit, oatmeal, and yogurt. It was enough to grab something quick, but we were hoping for a little more variety. Overall, the location and free parking were definite positives, but adding refrigerators and microwaves to the rooms and improving the breakfast and seating options would make for a much better experience. read more

This review is long overdue! My family and I live in Chula Vista, but we always enjoy staying at Rambler for a little staycation whenever my son is off from school. He absolutely loves the pool and spending time at the arcade, and I love that they have a coffee shop right on-site. We recently stayed again and booked a pool party, and the whole experience was amazing. From the booking process to the day of the event, the venue and front desk staff were so accommodating and helpful. They made the party planning process easy and stress-free. The kids had a blast in the pool while the adults were able to relax in the beach chairs under the umbrellas. There was plenty of space and shade for everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy the day. We also booked a suite, and it was very clean, spacious, and perfect for our family. I could honestly go on and on about all the things we love about Rambler. As much as I want to keep this place as our little hidden gem, they truly deserve to be shared and enjoyed by other travelers and locals. If you're looking for a fun and relaxing staycation, especially with kids, Rambler is definitely worth checking out. We'll be back again! read more

Cute, remodeled motel for the hipster in you! I stayed here a few nights while exploring Chula Vista and had a good stay. The rooms have been updated but previously you can tell this is just like any on the side of the road motel. They added nice touches which brought their ratings up. I did come right after an atmospheric river storm and did notice a few of the rooms had water leakage and looked like maintenance was really trying to fix those rooms. I saw 3 of these rooms like this. Bed was comfortable enough, air con are the old school ones where you have to turn them on and they do make quite a bit of noise. TV was fine, the room had a nice table to eat or for work. Bathroom had a tub so that was nice, I prefer tubs. My only gripe was that there was no mini fridge or microwave and those are really useful to have when on a road trip. They do have ice machines, so that helped to keep things cold in my small cooler. There is a cute coffee bar up front and I did stop in one more morning to have a Mazapan latte but it was just so-so. Milk was barely warm and I would have liked my Mazapan be crushed a bit more. I did get a 30% off my drink, which was nice. However, they are doing away with this in 2026. Overall, a good stay, I would stay here again but maybe only for 1 night vs 3. I mainly stayed here so I could visit the nearby wildlife refuge. They are also right next door to a casino that I didn't visit. Ample parking here. Wifi worked fine. Staff were OK. read more

The Rambler Hotel - Room 218 - Comfy & cute - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Best motel I've ever stayed in. It's the little things like incredible water pressure in the shower (and quality shampoo), very comfortable bed and soft pillows. There's a cafe in the main lobby. Great value for your money- I'd book through Priceline read more

The Rambler Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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. read more

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Loved the place. The bed and the pillows were so comfortable. Great room next to pool 107. The only thing was that it was hard to open the door with the key. Didn't know how to swipe the key card. Refrigerator a plus. There is body wash, shampoo and conditioner. https://www.downlitebedding.com/hotel-bedding/enviroloft-down-alternative-firm-hotel-pillow-for-side-sleepers-assembled-in-the-usa-by-downlite-aafa-certified-hypoallergenic/ read more

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I was charged $100 more than the original quoted price, not including taxes or the $100 deposit, which was disappointing. During my stay, I felt what seemed like bed bugs throughout the night, the A/C didn't cool the room very well, and the pool had visible trash, including bird feathers, hair, and leaves. The complimentary breakfast was underwhelming. The waffles were cold, and the options were limited to oatmeal, cereal, toast, and coffee. The coffee also upset my stomach. To make matters worse, they ran out of regular sugar. When I asked if it could be refilled, I was sent to another area, and another employee eventually told me they were completely out. I was also told at check-in that breakfast would be grab-and-go, but when I arrived, guests were dining in. The hotel was sold out due to a Gaylord convention, so I understand the staff may have been overwhelmed. However, that doesn't excuse the rude interactions I experienced. Overall, this stay did not meet my expectations, and I hope the hotel addresses these issues to improve future guests' experiences. read more

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. read more

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Had a great time! Love the vibe, pool area, and the cafe! The casino was nice too! Enjoyed our visit to Chula Vista. read more

The Rambler Hotel - Cool room - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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. read more

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

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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! read more

The Rambler Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

It's a nice place at first sight. The bed and pillows are comfy but the bedding was questionable. We had an extra layer that was on top but it had fitted corners so that was weird. Our second day, we got back to our room and it was HUMID. It was so bad that even the bedding felt wet. We were confused why it would feel that why so we turned the fan on instead of the ac, and that did help a bit or we just adjusted. Waking up after the second night, we were getting ready and I heard steady dripping/pouring which I thought my partner turned the shower on and maybe it was the pipes....? NOPE, I turned the light on and there's water pouring from the ceiling onto his luggage bag... We let them know, and all they said was "oh okay, thank you for letting us know" The humidity already made me feel like there could be mold in the room especially with nasty carpets but the pouring water from the ceiling confirmed that. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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Nostalgic motel. Very clean. Bathrooms and shower curtain clean. Friendly front desk staff. They provide a quick breakfast. You can also purchase items. If you just need an overnight stay, this is the place. Price is great! Highly recommend. read more

Check‑in was smooth, the room was spotless, the bed was super comfortable, and the water pressure was on point. The location is convenient too, only about a 13‑minute drive to Gaslamp. I'd definitely recommend this spot. It's budget‑friendly, and honestly, it's getting rare to find a place that's both solid and reasonably priced. read more

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. read more

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So great for a pleasant, inexpensive stay in San Diego! The motel has such a sweet, vibrant aesthetic about it. There is a pool that I didn't get in but it looked appealing (perhaps at a future visit). Staff was friendly and polite. Checking in was a breeze and there was never an issue with parking. I had delicious iced lattes from the cafe + you get a discount if you're staying at the motel. *Special shout-out to the staff: I did pre-arrival check in the morning of my stay and requested if they could leave a birthday note for my boyfriend a this was the reason for our staycation. Well lo and behold they did and even included a free cafe drink coupon! Very sweet gesture. The room was clean and nicely decorated. There is no coffeemaker or mini fridge so keep that in mind if those are important amenities to you. The bed and pillows were comfortable. Never had an issue with loud noise or feeling unsafe. I will definitely stay here again! read more

I have stayed at this motel a couple of times now and it feels like a home away from home. (I live approximately only 15 mins away) I don't have AC at home and once in a while during hot days I book a room here for a day or two to relax and it has always met my expectations. Rooms are clean, sheets have always been clean and are soft and the beds are super comfortable. The shower pressure is great and has an adjustable shower head. This place also has a cafe attached and has pretty yummy coffees and offer food as well with a 30% discount for guests. The only downside is it can be loud because it is located right next to railroad tracks where the train is constantly honking and moving through... but if you don't mind your stay being a little bit noisy, you should definitely book a room here for an affordable price read more

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! read more

The Rambler Hotel - Dirty Horchata - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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!

The stay was a solid 8/10. Things that went well included helpful staff, free small breakfast, movie at the pool, and cleanliness. Things that could have been better include counter space in the restroom and microwave access. The restroom really gave a gas station feel rather than a home like feel. It had zero counter space to get ready, just basic needs. They did have a shower chair for accessibility. The location of the hotel was about 15-25 minutes away from all the sights we were interested in, and it has easy access to the highway. There was a small fridge in the room, but no microwave to heat up our leftovers. Luckily one of the staff members let us heat up our food in the lobby microwave, but it has a sign that it is only for purchases from their lobby cafe. They have free breakfast in the morning with limited items but more options you can purchase on your own. Overall good stay if you don't care about more amenities! read more

Cute renovated motel in Chula Vista....very So Cal vibe. Loved the heated pool open till 9pm. The customer service was excellent. Everyone is nice here. The room is nicely decorated and it is an okay size for a couple nights of stay for 2 people....prob not more. We had to switch room in the middle of the night because the repairman was doing work next room and strong aceton smell was coming thru the bathroom pipe (along with a roach). What I noticed experiencing two rooms were... first they only put two sets of towels and that's not enough for two queen bed rooms plus the pool facility. Second, they never refill conditioner. We did not have conditioner in either room. Again, there are a few minor thinga they need to fix but for the most part this was a decent stay with free parking close to Sesame Place. read more

Nicest place I've stayed in a long time. Great staff, cool vibe. Clean and Fun! Check out the Café and the arcade! Made my brother & I so comfortable, we stayed an extra nite! read more

Booked a stay here for one night. We were only supposed to be in town for the day as our "day trip" but ended up staying the night lol. We stumbled across this place through Expedia and loved it. The room we stayed in looked like it was remodeled and the graphics on the wall were cool! Nice huge mirror by the sink which I really enjoyed. The room itself seemed clean but the bathroom seemed to have not been a part of the remodeling venture - lol. Nothing too crazy-- overall still got to do what we needed to do. Motel is right by the freeway but I don't think the noise caused us any disturbance. The price was reasonable and we'll definitely be staying again when we're in town. read more

The Rambler Hotel - Coffee shop inside the lobby with some arcade machines! - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Nice clean motel. Easy to find location right off the freeway friendly staff they have a restaurant on site which is convenient. I would highly recommend the Rambler Hotel! read more

Don't be fooled by the term "motel"!Absolutely enjoyed our stay! From the moment we checked in, I couldn't help but be awed by the overall fun vintage decor of this place, also very clean! And free parking! Friendly staff also a huge plus! Rooms did not have a mini fridge or microwave but they do have an ice bucket for the ice machine if you have a little cooler. I believe they also have rooms with a kitchenette available to book, which we may do next time. Shampoo/conditioner, body soap, mini bar of hand soap & lotion (orange scent was fabulous) were provided. Also had a hair dryer. Pool lounging was nice. You can order right from your lounge chair! Also get 40% discount while staying at the motel. We enjoyed it so much we booked another night! We most definitely will be booking our stay here when we're in town! Kudos to the entire team! You're doing an amazing job keeping this place enjoyably clean! read more

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Locals had their neighborhood meetup in the cafe. Took a long walk along the shore. Got a good little connection with the staff asking them for side-trip recommendations. Felt a little reminiscent of the Cars-themed rooms at D. read more

The Rambler Hotel - Cafe' treats a lot of people to quick food and there's grab and go too - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Second time coming to the cafe and it is awesome. Relaxing vibes and great food! Love the classic rock music and the decor. Outdoor seating is my favorite place to sit and eat. Avocado toast, latte with oatmilk, bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich on jalapeno bagel. Food is made to order with quality ingredients. Customer service is great! read more

The Rambler Hotel - Latte with oatmilk - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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So we found this place online when looking to book for an upcoming wedding we had a few weeks ago. I was a little hesitant because it was a motel and some of the reviews weren't good. Apparently, they have remodeled and now it is a hidden gem. This place is definitely a blast in the past from walking into the lobby at check in to your actual living quarters for your getaway. We booked for 2 nights into a premium view room. Our room was on the 2nd floor (only 2 floors) and we overlooked the pool area. Each room is adorned with some pretty far out wall art is pretty cool.Each room is themed differently, so I kinda wanna try out another room to see the style and decor. We were able to get into our room early, good thing because we had a wedding to go to. Upon entry, I noticed the room was pretty clean and was very cozy. There was a desk, love seat, and a big bed (very comfy). I was a fan of the pillows for sure. Vanity was pretty clean and had some words of wisdom on wall which was pretty cool. The shower was nothing spectacular but the water pressure was amazing. Staff was pretty great and helpful. There is a cafe around the corner from lobby, arcade in the cafe, and also a gift shop to take home some cool swag. There are plenty of things in the proximity, like the famous Tacos El Gordo, and not too far from Downtown. We will definitely be back since not too pricey and a genuine fun place to spend time at. Maybe this time, we will get to try out the pool. read more

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We were given the room facing the freeway so you can hear the cars going by in the morning. The body wash, shampoo, and conditioner dispenser was broken in our room. PLUS side: The lobby has very nice decor, and the coffee shop was surprisingly very good! 30% off menu items for hotel guests. If I was to stay here again, I'd definitely have to upgrade my room for better location within the motel. read more

Everything! The people here are so nice. Really cool decor, pool, fire pit and neat little cafe on premises.Casino, the trolley and a cool park on the bay for hikes across the street. read more

Cute place! The rooms are nice and clean. Outlets are in the alarm clock and restroom. Clean bathroom, towels, and sheets. The lobby is nice and the cafe is great. 40% off at the cafe as a guest, and the coffee is delicious. The price point is great and the place feels safe! Definitely recommend. read more

Found this place on Hotel Tonight and was excited to check it out while we were in town for a concert. Checking in to the hotel was an easy transaction. They took credit card for a $50 incidentals hold and provided keys and wifi password once checked in. The lobby was designed with a 80's/70's vibe and it makes you feel like you stepped into another part of history. There is a cafe located to the left of the receptionist area. The service at the cafe is horrible and management should really look into the employees/staff that they hired for their business. Especially if they want to give off this hipster, chill, with great customer service vibe. I'll save the review for the cafe for another post. back to the hotel. Once in my room as soon as I walked in it smelled horrible. Smelled like cigarettes and even after burning some sage it was still pretty bad. This motel felt like a Motel 6 or worse. The bathroom was not thoroughly clean, hardware was old with mold. The toiletries provided were also cheap. The pool area also gave a cool and chill vibe from the 80s but did not go in. Overall, I don't know if I would stay here again but an ok place to stay if you are going to the casino nearby. read more

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Really cute motel in Chula Vista. Was looking for somewhere to stay the night as we were in town to go to sesame place for my baby's birthday. I loved the aesthetic and the theme of the motel. It was very cute. I reserved 5 rooms: 4 double queens rooms and 1 king suite. They each had ac in them. The pool area was cute and included backyard games like giant jenga. And there was even a fire pit. My dad even bought s'mores kits form the lobby area for my nephews to enjoy by the fire pit. I will definitely make this our regular place we stay at when in Chula Vista. read more

I could ramble on for hours about how delightful this motel is but let me just summarize my stay by saying that this is an artfully decorated motel with illuminated arrows on the exterior showing you the way to the lobby! The lobby itself is exquisite with hanging seating pods and contemporary design themes! The room is neat and has vibrant color schemes going on! Motel amenities include a game arcade room, restaurant, swimming pool and laundry room! Only downsides with staying here is there is a $50 deposit required at check in! Also No coffee maker in the room! No microwave and No refrigerator in the room! I would definitely visit this motel again when am in town! read more

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Pros: -themed rooms, aesthetic rooms -by the Chula Vista bay park -has a cafe with many options like sandwiches, candy, ice cream, etc -arcade -pool with games like cornhull, Connect4 -free parking -wifi -security on premises -movie nights on some scheduled evenings -near many food options & the casino -located off the freeway exit -nice staff Cons: -some aspects weren't renovated like shower tile -lighting in our room & bathroom felt dark -kind of pricey for what it is -paid $218 + fees for total $250 for a July Saturday something to consider: read more

The Rambler Hotel - Arcade - Hotels Near Me - Chula Vista, California

There's not a ton of amenities and I don't think it would hurt to add a mini fridge or keep the pool open till at least 10pm. However, overall it's a super cute place to stay and clean. We stayed the entire weekend and all of the staff members were extremely friendly and helpful. Everyone had a positive attitude to match the positive vibes. read more

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