"We were booked in this hotel for the duration of a convention my husband had in San Diego. We loved the resort feel of the hotel compared to the hotels his colleagues were staying at near the convention center. Agree very much with the previous posters that the hotel does not feel like the usual Best Western hotel. We were given a room at the Casa Del Mar building. The hotel has 4 complexes - the Grand Marina, the Sunset Garden, the Casa Del Mar and the Casa Marina. The Grand Marina is where the front desk, the resort restaurant - Blue Wave, the main pool, a small gym and the laundry room are. The Casa Marina is the newest addition. There is another pool (newly remodeled - heated with outdoor fireplace and hot tub) located in the Casa del Mar building. There are 2 tennis courts and complimentary bike rentals for guests to use.

We were given a room at the second floor. Our room had a beautiful view of the bay. The room was very clean. It had a shower with tub and a separate wash area. The room had a microwave oven, complimentary coffee with brewer and a ref (no mini bar). Nice soft king bed (almost too soft) with LOTS of pillows. (pillow count 6 plus additional 2 extra pillows in the closet). Nice big LCD TV, iron and board and a work desk. Shampoo, conditioner and soap were provided but the rest of the usual toiletries (like toothbrushes, shaving kit, etc would only be provided for if requested). There are vending and ice machines located around the hotel property. To access the laundry room, you would have to get the keys from the front desk. You can change quarters with the front desk.

Again the location of the hotel along Shelter Island is great! It’s nice and quiet at night. There is a naval base right across and you might hear some of the jets and the choppers pass from time to time but it never really went on for the whole night nor did it get us up early in the morning. This is not the place for you if you don’t have a car to use. It will be quite a walk (0.7 miles according to Google maps) to the bus stop. The hotel provides free shuttle to the airport but only for a certain period in the day - forgot the time covered. A taxi to the airport (the taxi front desk called in for us had the lowest flag down rate) would be around $15."-- TripAdvisor.com, 5/15/13

"Nice hotel, lovely views of San Diego & the Marina. Only a few restaurant/shops within walking distance although not a problem if you have a car (which is recommended). Very nice Mexican restaurant just down the road. Quiet resort, the rooms could do with a refurb, noisy air con, but comfortable beds and nice swimming pool areas."- TripAdvisor.com, 5/13/13

"Pros -
Harbour view rooms have great view
Friendly staff
Pretty hotel overall
2 pools and hot tubs on marina side
Park across the street for little ones, and a nice walk/run along the ocean!
Close to good restaurants
Cons -
This hotel is spread OUT so get ready for a hike
There is a walk way behind the hotel for the marina and the people can be loud
The Marina is active, lots of boats and people
The hotel restaurant could use some more items"- TripAdvisor.com, 5/12/13

"In San Diego on Shelter Island. Lovely place. Marina on one side with walkway and bay view the other side. You can sit and watch the boats go by for right across the street is the bay and there are benches to sit and a little ways up a small pier where people can fish on. Parking is free at this hotel and easy parking. Rooms are clean and include a microwave and a small fridge. Linens and mattress are nice with many pillows. Big bathroom. Nice big flat screen TV. Staff is very friendly and fast check in even with a fair amount of people checking in. There seemed to be a convention there and lots of people but staff handled them. Ebony checked us in and noted it was my birthday. Someone knocked on our hotel room door about 20 minutes later and Brandon gave us homemade chocolate chip cookies and milk for my birthday. This hotel is easy to get around and anyone who is disabled will find it not much of a problem getting around. There are ground floor rooms and you can park your car very close to the room. We forgot our phone chargers and we told the front desk and Fredrick was able to plug in our phones at the front desk. They were almost completely out of charge so this was greatly appreciated. A wake up call we put in, in person was somehow not put in system and lucky we woke up for we would of missed or be late for a appt we had the next morning. So I would say double check that they have your wake up call. The pool and spa is lovely and faces the marina side. Their restaraunt overlooks the pool and Marina. We have been going here off and on for about 7 plus years and staff is always great. There are different parts of the hotel to stay in from Standard room to Casa Marina and others. First or second floors. Some with balcony and King or 2 queen beds and suites. There is bay view or Marina view. Sea World and Zoo about 20 minutes from hotel give or take traffic and such. Room had wall A/C unit and was not on and GFI was tripped so room was very warm and it was not a hot day. We did report about a loose arm on the desk chair and the microwave turn table did not spin and a repairman was sent out right away. He replaced the chair then and there."- Tripadvisor.com, 5/12/13

"We stayed at this hotel in February of 2012 as a post cruise stay. It was amazing. The staff was fantastic. It had a free shuttle to the airport which was a great bonus. The room was very clean and beautiful and huge. Right outside our room was one of the hotels two pools which we used as well as a hot tub a little cool in February for the pool but the hot tub was perfect. The hotel had an awesome view of the harbor.
The hotel was in an area with very little traffic which was great for us.
We even ate at the restaurant which was really good. If we ever do get back to San Diego we will definitely be staying at this hotel again!"- Tripadvisor.com, 5/11/13

"This is not your regular city hotel. It is located on Shelter Island, still central and close to amenities. Beautiful view from private balcony with cafe table and chairs. Two queen beds with new decor and huge bathroom. Mattress was comfy, linens were nice and I loved the pillows. Staff was very courteous and helpful. I was able to upgrade my room over the phone for minimal charge, so we could stay in the newer building. Only stayed one night, but had a very nice stay. I would recommend this to someone who wants to stay at a more unique location like Shelter Island. Sea World and SD Zoo were close by. I booked using my Air Miles, had good service there also."- TripAdvisor.com, 5/7/13

"We intended to stay for 3 nights in April 2013 as part of a touring holiday, but had such a wonderful experience we changed our plans and stayed for an additional night!
Great location and a good base for seeing the sights of San Diego. Had a very well appointed and quiet room on the third floor (Casa Marina) which has a great balcony view of the Marina and hills in the background" -TripAdvisor.com, 5/7/13 

"We loved this hotel. Had booked it for two nights the week before we went and was over the moon. Fantastic location although not central but great for harbour, beach and prom. We had transport so was OK. The room was pristine. Clean, fresh up to date no faults at all. (why aren't all rooms like this one). The restaurant was great with a good menu great view of all the boats in the marina and the staff were so welcoming, friendly, courteous and charming. Delightful lady on reception, chatty server in the restaurant for dinner and the lady who did breakfast was very entertaining with her tales of the Royal Family and her devotion to them. Would recommend this little gem to everyone. Thank you to all staff for a lovely stay"- TripAdvisor.com 5/7/13

"Delightful BW Plus away from city noise and traffic located on peaceful Shelter Island, with views of either the bay or the marina. From booking to departure, our experience at this hotel was stellar. We were able to book a AAA rate that gave us a healthy percentage off a 2 story suite in the newer Casa del Mar building, with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths upstairs and a kitchenette, living room, bathroom downstairs, with a patio facing the pool, spa, and marina. (Breakfast can be negotiated when booking but rate will be higher). Excellent location for our visits to Old Town, Balboa Park, Point Loma, and the beach communities. Close to Sea World and the airport, with airport shuttle available every half hour. Only down side is that the beds creaked a bit, but the mattresses were comfortable. We had one dinner at the restaurant and it was decent and reasonable. Definitely look forward to returning"- TripAdvisor.com, 5/7/13

"Great location being close to everything but still not being in high traffic area. We liked our room with two queen beds, kitchen and small living area with a flat screen TV that over looked the boats in the harbor including a small patio, grass and walking path next to the harbor. The staff is very nice, and the bar has specials for Happy Hour such as a great margarita and fish tacos. The bartender was excellent with a friendly personality and reported that they recently have a new chef."-TripAdvisor.com, 5/7/13

"great hotel in great location. reasonably priced. food at conference was superior. staff was very nice and accomodating.room was spacious. has shuttle to airport and around city.had great view of marina and ocean. very quite and peaceful_- TripAdvisor.com, 5/3/13

"San Diego Hotels have become very pricey from several years ago when there was no convention center and Gaslamp was not popular.
We like staying on Shelter Island because the marina of boats is so close to where we want to be and go.
The Junior suites are the best value for size of room, kitchenette and views. Some remarkable activity right in the Bay with all the Navy action, cruise boats, and recreational boats.+- TripAdvisor.com, 5/2/13

"This is a great place to stay, it is close to the airport but very quiet. It is like a oasis in San Diego where your are surrounded by water and lush foilage. An exceptionally responsive staff with great rooms. This is the only place I have stayed for the last three years, none of other accommodations compare in cost, safety and ambiance."- TripAdvisor.com, 5/2/13

"This is a great place to stay, it is close to the airport but very quiet. It is like a oasis in San Diego where your are surrounded by water and lush foilage. An exceptionally responsive staff with great rooms. This is the only place I have stayed for the last three years, none of other accommodations compare in cost, safety and ambiance."- TripAdvisor.com, 4/30/13

"We stayed here last Thursday-Saturday.......was so impressed with your newer updated rooms. We stayed here about three years ago and since we had such a great experience we decided to stay there again. The front desk staff were very friendly and welcoming. (especially Eric) Our room was beautifully decorated and the accommodations were amazing....love having a fridge and microwave. We also loved our view....bayside on the second floor. I must say that we stayed at the Hyatt for my husbands business conference and was disappointed in the cleanliness of our room. Actually was more impressed with your hotel. We look forward to returning again in the near future. Thanks!"- TripAdvisor.com, 4/29/13

"The good: Best part of the hotel is the beautifully landscaped grounds. You can almost imagine it's in hawaii. Huge marina one one side of hotel and San Diego Bay on the other side. Nice walking/jogging path along the bay. Very quiet and peaceful at night. Place is sprawling but I had a room close to the lobby. My room had a patio with chairs. Room was big and had refridge, microwave, comfy bed, and flat screen tv. Bathroom had marble and was big but only had shower, no tub.
The bad: there was no hot water! I had to run the water for a few minutes to get only warm water. Took my shower with max hot setting and was only luke warm. Plus the glass shower door locked me in and would not let me out. Had to bang my way out. Not a good shower experience. I did check the temp of the water in the morning and it was still only warm. I reported the problem to the front desk. My buddy in another room had no problem with his hot water so it was just my room. No free breakfast. Wifi did not work.
Overall I had a nice stay and would return again."- TripAdvisor.com, 4/26/13

"I stayed here with some friends visiting from Florida. We didn't have a reservation, but were treated as though they'd been waiting for us! The check-in was fast and courteous, the rooms were clean and comfortable and the bed was heavenly. My room faced Coronado Island and the views were fantastic. Overal a perfect experience."- TripAdvisor.com, 4/24/13

"We had booked a stay at this resort & at the last minute had to cancel due to a family member being hospitalized. We were to be charged a $128 cancellation fee, but after hearing our reason, Brittany waived the fee. Now that is REAL customer service! Believe me, we will be staying here at a future date!" -TripAdvisor.com, 4/23/13

"After a trip here in summer 2011 (when we extended our stay by a day because it was so good), I insisted we return as part of my 60th birthday celebrations. Initially we were disappointed. Although the room was as we recalled; very large with two good sized beds, a decent sitting area and a kitchen/dining area, it was very noisy. I had requested an upstairs room to avoid guests stomping about on our ceiling and that worked well. But we were opposite the smaller of the two pools and it was the end of spring break. So it was full of noisy kids with irresponsible parents until about 10.30. The pool itself does not close until 11.00 which is great for some guests but not for those wanting a quiet night in their room or even some sleep. I think the hotel needs to consider its pool policy or if not, to ensure that the rooms close to the pool are better soundproofed.
Then there was the baby in the room next door. Not much you can do about that if parents insist on inflicting their sleepless nights on others (we did not, choosing not to stay in hotels until our daughter was beyond the screaming stage and we sort of expect the same courtesy of others).
But the mark of a good hotel is the way in which it deals with problems and I can only commend both Danny and Bill for the calm, courteous and helpful way they dealt with us. This was to be the jewel in the crown of my celebratory holiday and it could so easily have been ruined. But they responded extremely sympathetically (especially given that we were a bit edgy having lost sleep) and found a room for us that was quiet and peaceful.
So I got the trip I had been dreaming about and went home happy. I would certainly return again and would recommend this hotel to others. The location, as others have said, is excellent for reaching everywhere in San Diego but without the hustle and bustle of being in the centre. Shelter Island is very quiet and peaceful.
We also enjoyed using the complimentary bikes for a slow cycle around the "island".
If you dont want to eat out, there is a Vons supermarket just a few minutes away in a large complex that includes a number of restaurants." --TripAdvisor.com, 4/22/13

"This is a nice, quiet hotel (especially nice for a Best Western!).
If you are planning to attend a Humphrey's concert, I would most DEFINITELY stay here. You will be within a block walking distance and the rooms are 1/3 the price....so you will save a lot of cash-olla.
The event space here is darling and quite reasonable for the area. The staff is courteous, upbeat and thorough. You'll love the bar/restaurant, delicious food with reasonable prices and a great wine selection."- Tripadvisor.com, 4/19/13

"Lucky pick. I picked this hotel at this last moment for our family holiday. The price was great and when we arrived we couldn't believe what a great property this was. The service was excellent, in particular from the cleaning staff. It is a large property with two great pools. There is a great public space by the pier across the way and we were able to barbecue and have a beach fire while we stayed here. It was close to everything we wanted to do and they have complimentary bicycles if you want to take a little spin. Exceeded my expectations of a Best Western!" - Tripadvisor.com, 4/1/13

"This is our favorite place to stay in San Diego, and we always try to get a water view room with a balcony. It is close to the airport, and the hotel offers a free shuttle to and from, and offers free parking. The staff are top notch, and always very helpful. We especially like the water view so we can watch the navy ships come and go, but the marina on the other side is a peaceful spot too. Two excellent restaurants are the Blue Wave at the Best Western and Humphrey's just down the street. Both have great happy hours too. There are also a couple nice coffee/bakeries a short walk away. There is a grocery store and Panara a short drive away. The rooms are very comfortable with a small refrigerator and a coffee maker in the room. It is very relaxing to just to go for a walk along the bay and around the island and enjoy people-watching, boat-watching, downtown views and a relaxing pace in the middle of a busy city." - Tripadvisor.com, 3/27/13

"We stayed here for 4 nights at the end of a 3 week trip in California, and it was the perfect way to end our stay. The hotel is in a great location on Shelter Island - surrounded by the marina on one side and the beach on the other other. It is only a short drive to the centre of San Diego, and car seemed to be the best option here. I did find it hard to sleep on the first night - the shutters do let in quite a bit of light, and there was a lot of noise from aircraft, but I got used to it. Our room was spacious and comfortable - it was newly refurbished too, and was really lovely. The blue wave restaurant here was good - we had dinner one night and breakfast on our final day, both were very good. There is also a guest laundry on site, which I found very useful. I did find that the housekeepers woke me up every morning shouting "housekeeping". They were persistent too - if you asked them to come back later, they were back in 20 mins.They even did this on our final day, when we had a late departure of 1pm. One day we wanted a lie-in so put the do not disturb sign on the door and our room was not cleaned at all that day. Apart from this, the hotel was a real gem - and I would definitely come back." - Tripadvisor.com, 3/27/13

"Everyone we interacted with was fantastic. The front desk people were AMAZING, they were so friendly and helpful - we didn't want to leave. Our room was the most amazing room I have ever stayed in. The kitchen/dining area was very appreciated; helping us keep our food budget under control and gave us the feeling of "home" to have a table to sit at. The outside patio was my favorite part, to be able to drink my coffee watching the sun come up and listening to the seagulls while my daughter slept-in was just a perfect way to start my day. We LOVED our stay at your hotel and will definitely stay with you again. THANK YOU." - Tina C., 3/25/13

"Starting with a (really) early check in and an upgrade from Danny at the front desk to a beautiful view of the marina and harbor and excellent breakfasts at reasonable prices at the Blue Wave Bar & Grill off the lobby, this visit to Shelter Island was one to remember. We will be going back just to have more time to explore Shelter Island and Point Loma and we would not consider staying anywhere else. Thank you to Danny and all the staff." - Tripadvisor.com, 3/25/13

"We arrived to the hotel in the early afternoon "right at check in" the receptionist was polite and helpful. Mentioned complimentary bike's to ride around the island. The room was clean and neat. A little problem with the handle to turn on the water to the bath/shower but not a huge inconvenience and we had forgotten to let the hotel staff know. The hotel has three stories and we stayed in the Casa Marina Building. Which is quiet. We did not hear anyone above us. They have cute patios and balconies looking out to the marina. The only down fall to where our room was is that it faced the parking lot. All we could see were car's behind the wall of shrubs. Surprisingly enough in having the patio door open the noise level was at a minimum. They have two pools and two hot tubs. The one pool is behind the hotel and it's small. But, that's okay. They are kept very clean. Towels are always there for your use. Plenty of chairs and tables. 

We had two queen bed's. Rather lumpy for our liking. We would all awake stiff and sore. Because of this the first two morning's we would get a late start. So, my suggestion to the manager is to get better mattresses. I actually would awake in a "sink hole". Not only myself but my daughter as she had her bed to herself. 

If you need anything housekeeping is very good about answering your requests.

We didn't go to the blue wave bar and grill. And elected not to have room service with the 18% gratuity. We felt that this was a bit much. We enjoyed all of the sites and other restaurants in the area. We dined at Denny's just down the street both day's for breakfast. The food and service is good. We had gone to most of the beaches within the area, very nice. Visited Point Loma, checked out the lighthouse and walked down the beach to the tide pools. Gorgeous! Even saw a sea lion close up. The other places we visited was Mission Beach, they have a nice board walk. La Jolla Cove, very clear water. We had a full day at the USS Midway. Huge ship. Great museum. Lot's to do especially for young kid's. The docents are very friendly and very helpful. Parking is easy to find and they have varied prices for the time you spend there.Visited the gift shop as well. They have plenty of things to look at and purchase. Kids definitely would love the gift shop! Now, the other restaurants in the area are very good and delicious as well. 

Check out Humphrey's by the bay. Full service seafood, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Another restaurant to go to or if you prefer to have take out which we did as we were exhausted from our day of walking is Miguel's. GOOD food, great price! They give you plenty of food for a hearty appetite! (even take out) I was both surprised and pleased. I ordered a chicken taco, (crunchy shell) superb and a cheese enchilada, with rice and beans, OH SO GOOD! And the chips and salsa SO GOOD Great chips!! 

On our last day we traveled down to Old Town. Great place. Lot's of shops and eateries. My daughter and I enjoyed shopping at a few of the stores. We arrived in the morning and a few were not open yet but the ones that were open, the staff were friendly and the prices were reasonable. We bought a few tee shirts and sweat shirts. We had thought of visiting the historic state park there but had ran out of time. 

The weather is great. Calm, warm. You could easily wear shorts, tee shirts or Capris's for the day if you wish with sandals/flip-flops. Bring a sweater or sweat shirt for layering, a hat and sunglasses and plenty of sun screen. 

One of the hotel guests had elected to stay and booked another room. If you do visit the area, you may want to stay a week at least. There is so much to see and do. 

We will definitely return to Best Western Plus." - Tripadvisor.com, 3/24/13

"This stay was absolutely everything we could have hoped for and more. I chose this hotel based on the Trip Advisor reviews and was not disappointed. QUIET "island" yet close to everything in the heart of Point Loma, wonderful water/boat view (we stayed in Marina building, 3rd floor). Rooms were very spacious, upscale-looking, sparkling clean, with fancy glass-door showers and king bed mattress was absolutely perfect. We slept like babies and are still planning to call the hotel to ask what kind of beds they use (I believe it was specifically indicated in the hotel room because it was so special), as we would like to purchase one in the future -- it was the type of firm-yet-SO-comfortable bed you could get out of and not disturb your partner at all. Additionally, we loved having the refrigerator and microwave. There was a restaurant on-site from which my boyfriend ordered room service, which was not too expensive and arrived promptly. Parking is ample and if you get back in the later evening, there is a well-lit-andnot-at-ALL-creepy-or-out-of-the-way garage right next to the regular lot. We never had a problem finding a convenient ground floor spot just steps to our Marina building (taking the door to the stairs on the left of the building is closer to the garage than the elevator). Felt resort-y, (minus the small-ish lobby) but staff was extremely friendly and grounds are nice -- I can see this as a place where people would enjoy honeymooning. It is exciting (San Diego) and serene (Shelter Island) all at the same time. EXCELLENT value. We were very pleased and would definitely return." - Tripadvisor.com, 3/21/13

"Where to start! The view is awesome, there are no big buildings around you so you can see forever, the bay with the sail boats going by is out the front door and the marina with the shore birds and all the really neat boats are out the back. The breakfast is as affordable as Denny's but the quality, linen table cloths and exceptional service make it head and shoulders above the rest. Fresh waffles, real strawberries and the best whip cream ever is about 7.99. They used to have fresh warm homemade cookies at the front desk around 3pm. I asked when I had to be back for the cookies, they said we are doing fruit now, but that night when we got back to our room here was a plate of homemake chocolate chip cookies and a kraft of milk to go with it!!!!!!!!! 10 stars to you. The ENTIRE staff is knowlegeable, clean and present well, friendly, nothing is too much trouble! Danny on the front desk, Robin and Sam in the dining room, even the security guys on at night kept track of me when I would go on my picture taking outings after dark. I know I am missing some great people for individual stars, but you can not go wrong staying at this Best Western, we travel a lot for my husbands business and lately I have found that a clean room is not a given, it is like do you have a pool and a clean bathroom or just the pool? Not so here, we could not have asked for a better stay. I am already looking forward to next year and we just came home yesterday. Did I mention the sunsets and sunrises and that across the road is the wharf and pelicans, waves, incredible night lighting, every where you look it is a feast for the senses. And they have two heated pools and two hot tubs, easily situated so it is not a long walk to either." - Tripadvisor.com, 2/20/13.

"Unexpected, great hotel! I'm a top level member of HHonors. No H hotels were reasonably available. This BW was fantastic. Bay/park/fishing pier across the street, marina behind. Great room, great views, great service. Loved it!" - Best Western, 2/7/13

"After comparing 4 hotels on Shelter Island, chose BW Palms and we are very happy with our choice. Any time we had questions or needed something (extra towels/coffee) it was there - with a smile. We were in the Casa Marina building and the water view was amazing. The food in the Blue Wave restaurant is not cheap but it is worth it - both in the restaurant and as room service. Lots of food whether it was breakfast or dinner, hot, tasty and simply delicious. Kudos to the chef. Drinks served in the bar - they are skimpy either. One was actually enough. Lovely area along the back to walk along the marina - peaceful, relaxing and felt totally safe. Room was a standard size but had ample room with 2 queen beds and a dream to sleep on. Lots of pillows, nice, ample sized, clean bathroom, good shower head & plenty of towels. Free parking, free wireless internet & a comfy desk chair were also nice to have. The TV selection is average but we didn't really come to watch TV and even though it didn't seem like the fridge was very cold, it kept drinks cold and cooled warm drinks enough that we didn't need ice. Comfy chairs on the balcony and a little table we used to eat breakfast at and a table, 2 chairs and a footstool completed the room. The closet for clothes is small but for a 5 night stay for 2 people it was plenty. I would take this room again in a heartbeat & plan to. Quiet, clean, comfy, good food, friendly staff and the halls always smelled FRESH - what a treat." - Best Western, 2/2/13

"Free parking, which is not common on the island. Pools and hot tubs, one right outside our door. Nice views and walks. And bikes! Most of all we remember Danny who has to be the most helpful, thoughtful, pleasant hotel employee we've ever seen. BW should have their new employees do a one-day internship with him. Really." - Tripadvisor.com, 2/5/13.

"Everyone at this hotel is so nice and accommodating! I was here for a business trip and I extended my stay and my husband joined me so we could see San Diego. They made the stay so easy-nothing was a big deal like it can be at other places-like switching our room to a king bed, giving us real cream for coffe in our room-usually when we ask for something out of the ordinary we get an eye roll or a look-not here! Every thing was quick and easy. Even though the weather did not cooperate we enjoyed our stay. We rented a car so we could come and go as we pleased, but nothing was very far away. Don't miss the lighthouse-beautiful view. Would definitely stay at this location again-good value." - Tripadvisor.com, 2/1/13

"We took advantage of our "free" night coupon from Best Western and chose this location for a weekend get away. We were able to check in a bit early and they upgraded our room from a King to a Suite in the Casa Marina building. Our room was 514 (on second floor) overlooking the marina. The room was so spacious with 2 bathrooms! Our bedroom had a king bed with a door opening onto our private balcony. I love that the room had wood blinds (instead of the nasty curtains).. Very clean. Also had a frig, mw, coffee maker etc. The onsite restaurant Blue Wave I wasn't all that impressed with but came in handy since lots of rain." - Tripadvisor.com, 1/31/13

"It's been several years (and many vacations!) since we stayed at this hotel but it was so wonderful that we just had to give it a big thumbs up, a round of applause, a hearty "good job", a five-star rating and maybe even a little confetti thrown around. We stayed here for Christmas a few years ago and could not have been happier with our stay. The room itself had a large comfy queen size bed, decent television, great coffee provided with coffee maker, small refrigerator, beautiful decor, a small patio and most importantly, a view of the bay. Oh, how we wasted the hours sitting on the patio watching the ships go by, listening to the seals talk to one another and basking in temperatures in the 75 degree range. One tip: the restaurants in the area are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas day (just as it should be) but there is a Denny's about 5 minutes away that was open and there are a couple of grocery stores that were open on Christmas Eve. This is where the refrigerator became the most important appliance in the room --- we managed to get a whole pumpkin pie in there!!

The hotel didn't seem to be very crowded and parking was no problem at all. We saw other guests but only as they quickly made their way to their rooms after noticing us gawking from our patio. Management could not have been more wonderful to us. Not only did they upgrade our room for free, but after hearing our story of devastating illness with a grim prognosis, they gave us rock bottom prices for our room. Truly a nice thing to do and above and beyond what I would have expected after a casual conversation with a front desk woman who turned out to be a hotel manager -- as we found out later. (And yes, we continue to fight a relentless disease that causes lingering, sometimes permanent, side-effects) All in all, we would have to say it was it the top 3 of all the hotel we've ever stayed at and would recommend this hotel to anyone who will listen." - Tripadvisor.com, 1/24/13

"People are correct, this is a great hotel. The best thing about it is the location. It can't be beat. Shelter Island was such a great surprise. It was beautiful. About a mile maybe from end to end with art sculptures, including some from Japan, a playground area, sitting areas, bathrooms and drinking fountains, grassy areas all along plus a fishing pier and beach at one end. The hotel is right in the center. It is the perfect place to run, walk, take kids to play, etc. The location alone is enough to go back. In fact we have already booked another stay here for the spring. We had a room facing the marina. I agree that is probably the better view. We had a first floor room in the Casa Del Mar building. The hotel is quite spread out. Our room was very clean. It was on the small side, but big enough for us and we had a 7 month old. There is an empty fridge and microwave which was great. The tv channels aren't extensive but enough for anyone especially since you should be spending time outside. The bed was on the soft side for me but my husband liked it. The pools were a bit smaller but we didn't go in them. We did not interact with the staff very much, no need to because we didn't have any problems. Housekeeping did an excellent job. It wasn't the fanciest room we've ever stayed in but we were pleasantly surprised. San Diego can be very expensive so finding a hotel that is this nice in such a great location is hard to beat. There is free parking and internet which is very hard to find. We did not eat in the restaurant but the prices for room service were the cheapest I've seen.The island is centrally located too; everything seems to be within a 10-15 minute drive. As I mentioned, we will be going back here again and again." - Tripadvisor.com, 1/21/13.

"This is the best hotel I have every stayed in by a long shot. Everyone was so nice and accommodating. The bartender was the best and the food was great, No, Fantastic. The rooms were great, and so clean, had 42" televisions, fridge, microwave, beautiful private balconies and it is a very secure facility. The rooms were beautiful and their was a digital wall safe in the closet. The bathrooms were beautiful and free Wi-Fi. There was water on both sides. Beautiful harbor on one side and Marina on the other. I would stay again and recommend this place to friends and family" - Tripadvisor.com, 1/21/13.

"We stay at this hotel every time we visit San Diego. Our 2 children live in the area so we visit often. The hotel staff is exceptional and always quite helpful. If there is ever a problem it is solved immediately. The restaurant is very good and the setting is superb. The hotel is located close to downtown, airport and freeways. There are many restaurant choices within walking distance and the views from most rooms are unforgettable. One side has marina views and the other San Diego Bay views. We prefer the marina view because it has a Mediterranean European feel. The grounds are lush and well maintained and most rooms are newly renovated. We just love this hotel!" - Tripadvisor.com, 1/21/13

"Folks - What a place, on the front side, water, on the rear - water. In Australia, you would have to be a millionaire to enjoy a place like this, but this was affordable - a full kitchen, great staff, a lovely restaurant (the size of the scallops - incredible, we still talk about them today). We took a chance and booked via Expedia - and loved every inch of San Diego and the Best Western (our second visit to the area). Close to Down town, Midway, and all the other attractions - what more could you want (oh, close to a supermarket, saved some $$ dining in each night)...San Diego like Melbourne Australia, loved it, can fully recommend the stay here!" - Tripadvisor.com, 1/13/13


"Fantastic location, good standard of accomodation. Apart from the fact that San Diego is just a lovely city-this hotel had it all. Good standard of room (fridge, microwave, v clean), food choices and quality very enjoyable, perfect location for both car-based and foot-based people, such as walking around the harbour or sea front. Only minor grumble was the room seemed to get too warm-and the aircon once on was noisy. But as we'd experienced a very cold spell in the Grand Canyon, we didn't compain! Probably in the top three hotels we stayed on on this trip (think we had 10-12), and that is across all price ranges." - TripAdvisor.com, 1/9/12

"We were made to feel welcome by everyone and this was by far the best place we stayed In our four weeks in California. We will be telling everyone about this hotel. The location and setting are perfect and so convenient to everything. I addition the service, food and staff were exceptional. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. We would have liked to have stayed longer." - Brett G., 1/6/13

"Our favorite. We have been going to this hotel for a number of years. It has great rooms, good staff, a beautiful view, great location on the bay, close to most attractions and FREE parking. We keep coming back two to three times a year. I always bring my road bike and enjoy local scenery and bike routes." - Tripadvisor.com, 12/23/12

"I have told all our friends to check this establishment out if they plan to stay in the SD area!
Service in all aspects was great, everyone on the staff was friendly and polite! Our room was very clean and smelled good, not like some cleaning supplies used. Really liked the non-smoking hotel. And, the bed was very comfortable! Our view of the marina was outstanding and relaxing. We hope to return again in the coming year."
- Tripadvisor.com, 12/22/12

"Hotel is in a awesome location with the ocean on one side and the marina on the other. In short good place and service. excellent view from San Diego Bay or Island Palms Marina (depends on what you choose in your reservation).. highly recommended!" - Tripadvisor.com, 12/18/12

"Wow is pretty much how I could sum up my feelings about this hotel. The room was awesome, the service was incredible, and the setting is probably the most beautiful I have ever experienced. If you go to San Diego- STAY HERE. I'll explain why.

This was our first trip to California. We only had 4 nights/5 days total so we divided it up between LA and San Diego (2 nights in each location), since we wanted to see both. After spending 2 nights in LA, we drove the coastal route (Laguna Beach = beautiful) to San Diego.

After a great deal of research, I had chose the Best Western because of its reasonable price and ideal location (close to everything); as well as its beautiful setting. We arrived at the Best Western and all of my expectations (based on pictures and TripAdvisor reviews) were proved correct. The hotel is located on "Shelter Island", a small strip of land in the San Diego Bay, with beautiful views of the San Diego skyline and surrounding mountains. Kona Marina is on the other side of the "island" (not really an island). Across the street is a beautiful park and fishing pier. On both sides there are walking trails and benches, so you can really sit back and enjoy the views (and amazing San Diego weather).

The room was also incredible. We had a suite in the Casa Del Mar building. The suite had 2 queen beds, a very large living area and a small kitchenette. We also had our own private patio with chairs. The view out of the room's windows was beautiful because of the greenery- it looked very tropical. The beds were comfortable and everything was very clean.
We also had breakfast at the Blue Wave (on-site restaurant), which was very good. The service there was also great- very nice staff.

You can be in Downtown SD in maybe 15 minutes; the SD Airport in maybe 10 minutes (traffic permitting of course); the zoo in less than 20. It's close to everything. There are also plenty of services nearby including shopping centers and restaurants.

Overall I'd definitely recommend this hotel! You won't be disappointed if you stay here while in San Diego. In fact, you'd probably be disappointed if you didn't stay here." - Tripadvisor.com 12/8/12

"No one would believe it but we got stuck out in Sandiego because of Hurricane Sandy and could have spent our last two additional nights at the Hotel Del. We chose to leave the Del and ended up at the Best Western Island Palm at my sister's suggestion so we could see more of the San Diego area. We were sovhappy we did! Make sure to visit Cabrillo National Park just two miles from hotel. The hotel staff was so friendly, it was quiet (the Del had construction going on outside our $700 a night oceanfront room at 8am), the rooms were large and plenty of coffee/sweetener/creamer packs (a peeve but the Del only gave you one of each every day). For the price and location this was a great hotel! We'll be back!" - Best Western, 11/21/12

"Great Service. Not only is it a great location, the staff is among the best we have ever encountered. The rooms are spacious and very well appointed. We are in the bar the first afternoon, food was excellent and service was amazing. The second night we ate in the dinning room again great service and excellent food." - Tripadvisor.com 11/10/12.

"Almost like Maui! My wife and I chose Island Palms based on the Great Reviews and previous experience with Best Western. We were not disappointed. The Grounds were just like being in Maui. Beautiful Tropical Plants everywhere. We spent a little extra and stayed 5 nights in a King Room in the Casa Marina Building. The room was of Asian Decor with a walk-in Shower.The bed was very comfortable and the Linens luxurious. Our room was located on the 3rd Floor Marina side. In the morning you could hear the Ducks and Herons splashing outside. It was awesome. Ebony at the Front desk gave us Great Personal service--Very Professional and Friendly. Food at the Restaurant was very good although some of the Fish items on the Dinner Menu were unusual. One was made with Brussels Sprouts--odd! We can't wait to return!" - Tripadvisor.com 10/22/12

“Not all Best Westerns are the same. This one has the best customer service and people with the best attitudes of any Best Western that I have stayed in. Please let them know this. Thanks.” - July 20, 2012

“Your website showed your hotel EXACTLY like it is!!! We were NOT disappointed!”